San Diego Area

San Diego keeps a lower profile than California’s other major metropolises, but the state’s second-largest city offers a rich array of natural and cultural resources that is anything but modest. Home to the largest Navy base on the West Coast, as well as the first Spanish mission in California, and bordering Tijuana, Mexico, San Diego possesses a flavor and heritage that are brightly multicultural. Balboa Park, the nation’s largest urban cultural park, features museums that showcase San Diego’s Latino heritage, as well as other institutions of all stripes, from modern art museums to a world-famous zoo.

The legions of tourists and retirees who flock here are drawn to the 70 miles of quintessential Southern California beaches and acres of world-class golf. Temperate year-round climes facilitate enjoyment of both. The recently revitalized Gaslamp Quarter, a 16-block historic district downtown, bustles with daytime shoppers and evening diners and club-goers. Thirty minutes north, in the upscale seaside community of La Jolla, The Lodge at Torrey Pines is a rustic and charming refuge overlooking the Pacific Ocean and PGA Tour links.