San Diego Attractions

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Top 10 Reasons to Rock it in San Diego

Whether you’re gearing up to run the 2009 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, or in San Diego on “stay-cation” or vacation, there are some things you just can’t pass up while you’re here. So when you’ve gotten your fill of long days at the beach, check out what else San Diego has to offer…

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Dining / Nightlife

With some of the most eclectic dining options, San Diego offers something for every palate. Find out what pre-race carbo-loading is really all about! Check out our recommendations:

Chipotle Mexican Grill – various locations
Offering a simple menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bols (a burrito without the tortilla) and salads made from fresh, high-quality raw ingredients, prepared using classic cooking methods and served in a distinctive atmosphere. It is a great burrito joint but more that that. It’s truly gourmet-quality food wrapped up in aluminum foil for the cost of about $8. 12 stores in the greater San Diego area. www.chipotle.com

Family Fun

San Diego is a perfect place to bring the family. With some of the country's most popular attractions, you’ll have to stay an extra week just to fit it all in!

PETCO Park

PETCO Park
Catch a San Diego Padres baseball game with the family at spectacular PETCO Park located in the heart of downtown San Diego. Take in breathtaking views of San Diego from your seat, relax and enjoy the game with a hot dog in hand. www.padres.mlb.com

The San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo is a world-famous 100-acre tropical garden that houses 4,000 animals of 800 rare and exotic species. www.sandiegozoo.org

LEGOLAND
Located 30 minutes north of downtown, LEGOLAND delivers fun, imagination and entertainment geared for kids aged 2-12. The 128-acre theme park features more than 40 interactive attractions and rides that are "kid powered" where kids push, pull, steer, pedal, squirt, climb or build their way through a wonderland of activities. www.legoland.com

The Shamu Show at SeaWorld

SeaWorld
Located on Mission Bay, this 189-acre park features six major shows, fascinating attractions and dozens of exhibits containing marine life from around the globe. www.seaworld.com

USS Midway/San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum
Highlighting San Diego’s rich military history while paying tribute to the hundreds of thousands of men and women who served their country aboard the ship. The USS Midway, part of the Navy fleet for 47 years, was home to more than 200,000 sailors during the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars, as well as other conflicts and crises around the world is now a museum and is located at Navy Pier on San Diego Bay in downtown San Diego. www.midway.org

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center
Get your hands on science at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, located in beautiful Balboa Park! While most of the Fleet's 100+ interactive exhibits are suitable for ages seven to 107, younger children will particularly enjoy Kid City, designed for children ages six and younger. The Fleet also features the world's first IMAX® Dome Theater, presenting educational giant-screen films and planetarium shows. www.rhfleet.org

Old Town Trolley
Two great ways to see San Diego! Climb aboard the Old Town Trolley and enjoy a two-hour, fully narrated, fun-filled tour of San Diego and Coronado! Sights include: Old Town, Seaport Village, Gaslamp Quarter, Coronado, Balboa Park, and the San Diego Zoo. Named by SignOnSanDiego as the "Best Way to See the City". Or, Make a splash aboard San Diego's most unique tour, the amphibious SEAL Tour of San Diego! View "America's Finest City" from a totally different perspective...on a "Boat with Wheels!" Experience San Diego the way it was intended - from Land and Sea aboard our Coast Guard approved state-of-the-art amphibious vehicles for the adventure of a lifetime! www.historictours.com

Beaches/Bays

There’s a stretch of sand for everyone along San Diego’s 70 miles of coastline. Kick off your running shoes and dip your toes into the Pacific. If you enjoy water sports, discover what an aquatic playground the bays can provide.

Mission Bay Park
Covering 4,600-acres, Mission Bay Park is the largest facility of its kind in the world featuring separate, designated areas for sailing, power boating, fishing, swimming and water skiing. A favorite spot for families is Tecolote Shores, an open grassy park popular for flying colorful kites, playing Frisbee and having leisurely picnics. www.sannet.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/missbay.shtml

San Diego Bay
Bustling with activity day and night, the Big Bay serves as the homeport for Navy ships, a large sportfishing fleet, thousands of pleasure craft and an increasing number of commercial and cruise ships. Take in the sights of U.S. Navy ships, San Diego's distinct skyline and the magnificent San Diego-Coronado Bridge. www.thebigbay.com

Coronado Beach
An aquatic wonderland recognized annually (by the Travel Channel) as the best family beach in North America. A vast expanse of white sand stretches in front of Coronado’s opulent oceanfront mansions, and greets families toting umbrellas, sand toys, beach towels and picnic coolers for an all-day stay.

Ocean Beach
Home to the Ocean Beach Pier, is a large sandy beach offering surfing, swimming and other recreational activities. Ocean Beach is most popular for Dog Beach, where even the tail waggin’ members of the family can enjoy San Diego’s surf and sand.

Pacific Beach/Mission Beach
Connected by a three-mile boardwalk that is crowded with inline skaters, skateboarders, runners and bicyclists. Both beaches feature designated areas for surfing and swimming. Sunsets are observed with awe, toasted with libations and followed by barbecues, picnics and lively gatherings.

La Jolla Shores
A quiet and intimate enclave of lovely homes, spectacular scenery and a spacious beach that slopes gently into the turquoise waves, La Jolla Shores is recognized as one of the most family-friendly beaches in San Diego County. The mile-long sandy shore is paralleled by a wide cement boardwalk that separates the beach from a large grassy park that is ideal for picnicking and volleyball games.

Running Trails

Loosen up for the Marathon on some of San Diego’s finest running trails and paths. With options in urban, rural or coastal settings, you will find one that fits your fancy!

Mission Trails Park
Encompassing nearly 5,800 acres of natural and developed recreational land in San Diego’s East County, Mission Trails Regional Park includes more than 40 miles of hiking/running and biking trails that meander along the San Diego River. Be warned, these are NOT flat trails! www.mtrp.org

Mission Bay

Mission Bay Park
Meandering around the beautiful bay's shorelines are 20 miles of paths for runners, bikers and in-line skaters. True fitness enthusiasts can test their athletic abilities at exercise stations located throughout the course. www.sannet.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/missbay.shtml

Balboa Park
Within its 1,200 lush acres lies miles of trails for running and walking alike. With many sights along the way, Balboa Park is a perfect place to combine a pre-race workout with some sightseeing!

Embarcadero

Embarcadero/Harbor Island
A pancake-flat path that starts behind the Convention Center and follows a concrete path through Seaport Village, Cruise Ship Terminal, Coast Guard Station, Star of India and loops around Harbor Island. A great choice for a flat, easy run.

Shopping

If you are still looking for some shopping after patronizing the vendors at the Health & Fitness, experience some authentic San Diego retail therapy at the following locations:

The Gaslamp Quarter

The Gaslamp Quarter
Encompassing 16 1/2 historical blocks in the heart of downtown San Diego, the Gaslamp Quarter features quirky boutiques offering ethnic, cutting-edge and vintage fashions, rubbing elbows with established retailers such as Urban Outfitters and Lucky Brand Dungarees. www.gaslamp.org

Hillcrest
Home to San Diego's gay and lesbian community, Hillcrest offers an exciting shopping experience. Strolling along its main thoroughfares, University Avenue and the tree-lined Fifth Avenue, shoppers can soak up quaint neighborhood charm while browsing through urban-style boutiques and vintage shops stocked with books, clothes and records.

Cedros
Solana Beach’s Cedros Design District runs the length of the hamlet’s Cedros Avenue and is home to a bevy of luxury home décor and design boutiques as well as trendy boutiques offering unique women’s apparel, accessories for the pampered pet and decadent gifts for family and friends. www.cedrosdesigndistrict.com

Little Italy
Located along India Street, the main thoroughfare in quaint Little Italy, are patio cafes, restaurants, pubs, art galleries and shops that are sure to please people watchers as well as serious "shopaholics". www.littleitalysd.com

Prospect Street
Sometimes called the “Rodeo Drive” of San Diego, La Jolla’s Prospect Street overlooks the Pacific Ocean and is lined with small specialty shops, boutiques, antique emporiums and art galleries. Offering elegant, designer fashions in sophisticated apparel shops, La Jolla is also known for its exquisite and original fine jewelry of magnificent and brilliant gems. www.lajollabythesea.com

Del Mar Plaza
Located in North San Diego County, the European-style retail village Del Mar Plaza is nestled gently into a hillside along the coast with walkways of Old World stone winding amid boutiques, galleries and restaurants with ocean view piazzas. www.delmarplaza.com

Seaport Village

Seaport Village
A 14-acre waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment complex along San Diego Bay recreates a California harbor setting of a century ago. With four miles of meandering cobblestone pathways, ponds, fountains and lush landscaping, Seaport Village offers more than 55 theme shops, four award-winning restaurants and 13 sidewalk cafes. www.spvillage.com

History/Culture

More than just a sleepy beach town, San Diego has a rich history that can be explored at the following locations:

Balboa Park
Virtually every community in the United States boasts a city park, but not many compare to San Diego’s Balboa Park. The largest cultural complex west of the Mississippi and the largest urban cultural park in the United States, Balboa Park is often referred to as the “Smithsonian of the West” for its vast concentration of major cultural institutions within its boundaries. Within its 1,200 lush acres are 85 cultural attractions including 15 museums, art galleries, sidewalk performers, theatres, sports facilities and an abundance of lush gardens and trees. For a listing of Balboa Park’s family-oriented cultural institutions visit www.balboapark.org

San Diego Museum of Man, "People, Prints, & Politics: China 1920-1980, Woodblock Prints of Xian Rang Yong." Exhibit
The exhibition features the ancient art of woodblock printing as practiced by Professor Yong, an esteemed educator, scholar, and artist from China. His work includes lovely landscapes, lively cultural scenes, personal portraits, and powerful political images. The exhibition runs through October 20, 2008.

Two other exhibitions are scheduled to open this summer:
Gods and Gold: Ancient Treasures from Mexico to Peru opens May 24. The exhibition will feature the Museum’s stunning collections of Mexican, Central American, and South American archaeological objects, including rare gold and jewelry, exotic figurines, intricate stone work, and exquisite pottery from the ancient world. Visitors will explore distinctions in artistic styles, techniques, and materials used to create the numerous intriguing pieces created by such cultures as the Maya, Aztec, Inca, and many others.

Beyond Reasonable Drought: Water and Culture in a Changing Climate will open July 4, 2008. This exhibition demonstrates the connection between people and water, highlighting the ways people of past cultures managed water resources in arid climates. Understanding their innovation and adaptation can help modern cultures manage today’s water resources.

For more information, visit the Museum’s Web site at www.museumofman.org or call 619-239-2001.

Cabrillo Monument

Cabrillo National Monument
Commemorating the arrival of Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo (sailing for Spain) on the coast of California in 1542, Cabrillo National Monument and the Old Point Loma Lighthouse provide a spectacular panoramic view of San Diego's harbor and coastline as well as an excellent vantage point for observing the California gray whale during migration season. www.nps.gov

San Diego Missions
San Diego's Spanish heritage is preserved in its beautiful missions. Padre Junipero Serra's first mission in California, Mission San Diego de Alcala, still holds services daily in the original mission chapel. Mission San Luis Rey de Francia in Oceanside, the largest and richest of all 21 California missions, is often called the "King of the Missions." View them all at www.missionsandiego.com

Gaslamp Quarter
Founded in 1867 and home to many beautiful Victorian buildings that have since earned historic status, the Gaslamp Quarter is the heart of downtown. However, back in the late 1800’s San Diego was the Wild West and the legendary Wyatt Earp ran three gambling halls in this notorious “red light” district. Today, excitement has returned to this lively dining and entertainment district with more than 100 restaurants, 35 nightclubs and bars, and 100 retail shops. www.gaslamp.org

Spas

You’re running a marathon, you deserve a little pampering! Treat yourself to spa treatments before or after the race at one of the following locations:

Massage Envy
Massage Envy takes massages out of the elite and makes them available to everyone. Massage Envy is affordable, professional and convenient with over 4,000 appointments a month available at 10 San Diego locations. Race Discount: Participants can receive a 90-min. massage for the price of a 60 min. massage from May 27-June 5 at any San Diego County locations. www.massageenvy.com

Spa Tiki – 200 Harbor Drive, Suite 200, Downtown San Diego, 619.231.4363
Where everyday ends and vacation begins. Originating from the exotic cultures of the South Pacific, Spa Tiki’s rituals and treatments capture the true spirit of nature and its healing arts. The essence of island flowers and spices are combined with natural oils and sea minerals to uplift, awaken and transport you from the stresses of everyday to an enchanting island getaway. www.spatiki.com

Spa Velia, 401 West A Street, Ste. 180, Downtown San Diego, 619.235.0000
Nestled between the Columbia/ Little Italy districts of downtown San Diego, Spa Velia provides an intimate old-world boutique spa destination that offers a memorable experience for seasoned and first-time spa guests. Spa Velia is passionate about people. Enjoy an enchanting experience complete with unique and custom spa services in an unhurried, nurturing, and comfortably elegant environment.

*Visit Spa Velia today and experience the enchantment. Return again between May 15 and June 15, mention the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, and receive a $10 discount off any 80 min massage, facial, or body treatment! *Offer not valid with any other offer.