Uniquely San Diego

If you`ve ever wanted to see the animals of Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Australia, you don`t need to jump on a plane. You can head out into the wilderness right here in San Diego when you visit the amazing San Diego Zoo Safari Park! The free-range enclosures house more than 2,600 animals representing more than 300 species. Plan your own safari! Like tigers? Then Tiger Trail is where you`ll want to cruise first. If nothing makes you smile more than a little monkey business, then head over to the Jungle Ropes Safari, where you`ll get to climb like a monkey on a challenging rope course adventure. Take the Africa Tram, an exciting expedition and relaxing adventure. The ride path takes you around some of the field exhibits, giving you a chance to connect with the animals on a closer level. Enjoy your Safari-It`s all here, out in the "wilderness" (760) 747-8702

Explore where the wonders of the ocean come alive! The Birch Aquarium is located at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UCSD. Birch has so many great exhibits you won`t know where to start! The newest exhibit id Oddities-Hidden Heroes of the Scripps Collection. This comic book-inspired exhibit highlights the astonishing adaptations of ocean species. Walk through the Hall of Fishes, where every kind of fish you`ve ever imagined swims before your eyes? Or check out Elasmo Beach and meet La Jolla`s legendary leopard sharks and other species that make their home in local waters. Birch`s 13,000-gallon tank showcases sharks, rays, and other marine life that live close to shore. Explore Preuss Tide-Pool Plaza, featuring three, living tide-pool displays where visitors can touch and learn about tide-pool animals with docents. If you want to "sea" life in a whole new way, visit the Birch Aquarium. Bus Route 30 BIRCH AQUARIUM (858) 534-3474

A visit to Cabrillo National Monument offers tremendous views of the San Diego region and excellent opportunities to explore the natural and cultural history of the area. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo departed from the port of Navidad, Mexico on June 27, 1542. Climbing out of his boat and onto shore approximately three months later, Cabrillo made history as the first European to set foot on a "very good enclosed port", today known as San Diego Bay. In addition to telling the story of 16th -century exploration, the park is home to a wealth of cultural and natural resources. Proudly standing in Point Loma and offering visitors an astounding view of the Pacific is a statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo erected in 1913, nearly four hundred years after his expedition. Today, the habitat Cabrillo saw is among the rarest in the world with only a remnant of that biologically diverse ecosystem remaining. Bus Route 84

A visit to the USS Midway Museum at Navy Pier at the San Diego Harbor is a wonderful way to spend a few hours on a beautiful San Diego day. There are all kinds of terrific activities: two types of flight simulators, music videos, short films, climb-aboard aircraft and cockpits, over 60 interactive exhibits, "Ejection Seat Theater", and much more. And don`t miss the collection of 29 restored aircraft. The self-guided audio tour narrated by USS Midway is the perfect place to make memories! Afterward, be sure to stop by for a terrific post-Midway meal at the famed Kansas City Barbeque, an easy-going hangout which rose to fame in the blockbuster movie "Top Gun" Trolley Sycuan Green Line, Bus Route 992, 923 USS MIDWAY (619) 544-960 KANSAS CITY BBQ (619) 231-9680

Come to Old Town, where history lives, and the fiesta lasts forever! Old Town San Diego State Historic Park commemorates the early days of San Diego from 1821 to 1872. Enjoy great dining, shopping, entertainment, and museums. You`ll also find many historic buildings, including San Diego`s first schoolhouse, first newspaper office, a working blacksmith shop, a reconstructed cigar store, adobe homes from the days of Mexican California, beautiful gardens, and a stable with a carriage collection. Located within the park in Fiesta De Reyes, offering a festive and fun ambiance with 19 locally owned specialty shops, three distinct restaurants, and a 10-room boutique hotel, all inspired by 19th -century pueblo life. With live music and dancing daily, Fiesta De Reyes is a colorful experience that the whole family will remember. Trolley Sycuan Green Line; Bus Routes 8, 9, 1028, 30, 35, 44, 84, 105, 150 FIESTA DE REYES (619) 297-3100

Bring your child`s Lego-inspired imagination to life! Legoland California Resort, in Carlsbad, has more than 60 rides, shows, and attractions. The rides are made of gigantic Lego bricks, and the park decor is all thing Lego. One of the park`s most popular rides is the Lego Technic Coaster, where the bravest visitors can embark on a seedy and winding coaster ride in a life-sized Lego vehicle. Don`t miss Ninjago World! Its 4-D dark ride is the first in North America to use hand gestures in place of physical devices to control the outcome of the action- in this case, an epic ninja warrior battle! Don`t miss the Lego Star Wars in Miniland USA- the force is strong Whether you are looking to cater to the Lego fanatics in your family or looking for a day of fun at one of California`s top amusement parks, Legoland is the place to be. LEGOLAND (760) 918-5346

Celebrate the wonders of the sea at SeaWorld. You`ll get up close and personal with all kinds of marine life, from the impressive killer whales to the cheerful seals to the sea life that live deep beneath the ocean surface. You`ll experience wildlife on a whole new level! And talk about new experiences! SeaWorld is also home to fun thrill rides and dozens of daily shows! Now open is the Electric Eel. The tallest, fastest roller in San Diego with high-energy twists, electrifying loops, and inversions! For more than five decades, the SeaWorld Rescue team has provided a second chance at life to more than 31,000 animals, always with the goal of rehabilitating them and returning them to the wild. Visit Sea World - its sea life sanctuary for all to explore. Bus route 9

California`s historic missions tell the story of the missionaries whose quest for spreading the word of God laid the foundation on which the state is built. San Diego is home to two of these missions: The Mission San Diego de Alcala and the Mission San Luis Rey de Francia. The Mission San Diego de Alcala was San Diego`s first European settlement, founded on July 16, 1769. A few decades later, the Mission San Luis Rey de Francia was founded on June 13, 1798. This mission is known as the "King of the Missions", as the largest of all 21 California missions, and is home to a Historic Church interpretive museum, various intriguing historical items on display and a Mission Gift Shop. The Mission is also home to the oldest cemetery in North County San Diego and features beautiful gardens, statues, and fountains. Trolley Sycuan Green Line; Bus Route 14

Visit Balboa Park, the nation`s largest urban cultural park is located in the heart of downtown San Diego. Covering 1,200 acres, the park is home to 15 major museums, various performing arts groups, international culture organizations, and beautiful hiking and biking trails. Discover stunning art collections, watch vivid IMAX films, learn from docent-led tours, and enjoy interactive, kid-friendly exhibitions. Other attractions in the Park include the World-Famous San Diego Zoo, art studios, carousel rides, and a mini-railroad. Acclaimed for its horticultural treasure, the Park hosts glorious gardens including an award-winning rose garden, a butterfly garden, rare plant species, 58 different varieties of palm trees and an outstanding botanical building housing over 2,000 different tropical plants. All these botanical marvels are set among manicured lawns, shady groves of majestic trees or nestled within peaceful vistas. Balboa Park is the perfect place to take the family for a fun-filled day! Bus Route 3, 7, 120 and Rapid 215

The World-Famous San Diego Zoo is far more than the premier destination for wildlife lovers. The animals `exhibits are so similar to the animals` native habitats that even the human visitors feel transported into the wild. Come get acquainted with an array of animals, from the King of the Jungle to some of the biggest cats, reptiles, fish, and creepy-crawly insects! The San Diego Zoo is home to over 3,700 rare and endangered animals representing more than 650 species and subspecies, and a prominent botanical collection with more than 700,000 exotic plants. You`ll see all your classic favorites, including Monkey Trails, Polar Bear Plunge, Scripps Aviary, Elephant Odyssey, Tiger River, and the popular "Early Morning with Pandas" tour. A classic way to enjoy the Zoo is a narrated tour on a double-decker bus covering about 70% of the zoo. Come see yourself why the San Diego Zoo has a World-Famous reputation! Bus Route 7 and Rapid 215 San Diego Zoo (619) 231-1515