| From its world-famous zoo and
    aquarium to its bountiful beaches, San Diego's vibrant and exciting
    lifestyle has plenty to offer visitors and their whole families. It's the
    kind of city where every day is a beach day, and where everyone is busy
    having as much fun as possible. A relaxed atmosphere pervades the city,
    probably one of the reasons that draw more than 30 million visitors a year
    to San Diego. Given the beautiful weather and outdoor activities abound, San
    Diego is probably one of the most pedestrian friendly cities in America.
    Families walk, skate, and bike their way to over 70 miles of beaches or any
    one of San Diego's numerous attractions. San Diego's natural beauty
    is one of the city's greatest attractions. An officially designated 52-mile
    long Scenic Drive brings visitors through the city and its many
    neighborhoods. From the Harbor Islands through Old Town and Balboa Park all
    the way to La Jolla, the Scenic Drive is a great way to see all of the
    city's beautiful districts and neighborhoods.
     Balboa Park itself is the
    1,200 acre home to the world-famous Zoo and museums. This park is the
    cultural center of the city. The Rose Garden has more than 2,000 rosebushes,
    and the entire park is really one giant botanical garden full of beautiful
    flowers and trees. The Zoo, one of the best in the world, holds nearly 4,000
    animals representing more than 800 species. The animal habitats are designed
    to replicate each animal's original ecosystem as closely as possible, down
    to the type of grass used. Birds, gorillas, tigers, bears, hippos and other
    animals have helped make this one of the most admired zoos in the world. In
    addition to the zoo, Balboa Park is home to over a dozen museums dedicated
    to history, science, art, cars, railroads, mankind, and of course, San Diego
    itself.
     Visitors who want to spend
    as much time as possible near the glittering Pacific Ocean will love the
    Mission Bay area and its greatest attraction: Sea World. The Mission Bay
    aquatic park covers 4,600 acres, and includes 27 miles of bay shore beaches
    and 17 miles of ocean front beaches. Admission to the beaches is free, and
    swimming, sunning, and windsurfing are the preferred activities. Playgrounds
    and picnic spots are found throughout the park, but the best place for kids
    has to be Sea World. Covering over 100 bay-front acres, this park features
    the world famous killer whale Shamu, as well as hundreds of other water
    animals, like penguins, fish, and sharks. Sea World is one of the most
    famous aquatic parks in the world, and kids and adults alike will love it.
     San Diego has it all:
    sunny weather, great beaches, wonderful museums, zoos, and aquariums, and
    history too. Old Town is the historical heart of San Diego, and a great
    place to finish up a visit to the city. The Spanish and Mexican heritage of
    the city is celebrated here, amidst the famous Presidio fortress, the
    historical park, and the adobe houses with Spanish tile roofs. San Diego has
    evolved immeasurably since those early days as a Spanish settlement on the
    Pacific, and that evolution has produced one of the most beautiful and happy
    cities in the world. Visitors to San Diego are always sorry to leave behind
    what residents know is heaven on earth.  
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