Around Town

Located in North San Diego County, the laid-back town of Encinitas covers six miles of rugged coastline and 21.5 square miles of land. Visit Encinitas and enjoy beautiful ocean views and a great surfing culture from San Elijo Lagoon on the southern end of this surfer`s paradise to Batiquitos Lagoon to the north. San Diego Botanic Garden is a beautiful oasis to visit with an Amazon Rainforest and the largest display of bamboo in the world. Downtown 101 is a coastal shopping district featuring historic architecture, quaint shops, sidewalk cafes, and restaurants. The San Elijo Lagoon Reserve is the largest coastal wetland in San Diego County and is home to nearly 300 different bird species throughout the year. Whether you visit for the surf, history or culture, life is great, no matter what you do in Encinitas.

Coronado Island is the kind of place where you feel at home the moment you arrive. Situated just across the Big Bay from downtown San Diego, Coronado is known for the historic Hotel del Coronado and the distinctive San Diego-Coronado Bridge. Coronado offers much more: sparkling sand beaches, charming small-town quaintness, cheerful gardens, old-world mansions, unique shopping experiences, and dining options with spectacular ocean views. Take the ferry from Downtown to the Coronado Ferry Landing and enjoy a day on the bay shopping, dining, and playing. You may decide to rent a bike and tour the island via Coronado`s beachfront boardwalk or spend the day exploring on kayak taking San Diego`s downtown skyline and witness the award-winning Coronado Bridge as you paddle beneath its graceful curve. Bus Routes 901, 904 BIKES AND BEYOND (619) 435-7180 BIKES AND KAYA TOURS (858) 454-1010

San Diego`s Little Italy represents Downtown San Diego`s oldest continuous neighborhood business district. At one time, more than 6,000 Italian families live in Little Italy and toiled to build San Diego into the center of the worlds tuna industry. Today, San Diego`s Little Italy is a classic urban neighborhood serving as a model for the handful of Little Italy`s remaining throughout the country. A quaint and lively neighborhood filled with patio cafes, restaurants, pubs, art galleries, shops, hotels, and the beautiful Amici Park. Trolley Sycuan Green Line Bus Route 83

Del Mar is Spanish for "by the sea", and this upscale city considered quite prestigious. Its sunbaked shores are home to internationally renowned horse races, pristine beaches, delectable international cuisine, and quaint seaside hotels. The town was founded in 1800, has inspired songs by the Beach Boys and Bing Crosby, and has attracted an assortment of A-list celebrities over the years. The Village of Del Mar is filled with an array of places to dine, shop and play. At the end of your days adventure, rest your feet and have a drink atop Del Mar Plaza, complete with breathtaking ocean views and incredible sunsets. Whether you are taking a well-deserved vacation, or just playing hooky for the day, Del Mar has a lot to keep you entertained.

Escondido may mean "hidden" but it`s no secret there`s a lot going on here! Located just 30 miles northeast of downtown San Diego and 20 minutes from the coast, Escondido is home to major attractions, beautiful wineries, craft breweries, unique arts and theatre, delicious culinary experiences and a charming historic downtown. Enjoy the beautiful climate with year-round golfing, hiking, biking, fishing, and fantastic events! Escondido is rich in history and culture. Some of the "must do`s" includes the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens, the San Diego Children`s Discovery Museum, and Daley Ranch, a wilderness preserves with extensive hiking, biking, and equestrian trails.

Experience the laid-back, surfer`s town that is Pacific Beach. The two miles of coastline between La Jolla and Mission beach are always bustling with locals surfing, families playing at the beach, and visitors taking in all the sights. The boardwalk in PB (as it called by locals) is the best display of beach culture in San Diego. You`ll find college students studying in beach-side cafes, residents riding beach cruisers, surfers running to get to the water, tattooed skateboarders weaving through the crowd, and children roller skating by. Aside from outdoor activities, Pacific Beach is home to a variety of fun restaurants, privately owned boutiques, hole-in-the-wall food sports, and great nightlife.

Dating back to 1850, San Diego`s Gaslamp Quarter has been the city`s main waterfront district. A long history of development has led to the 16 1/2 - block neighborhood becoming the mail hub for downtown San Diego. With shopping, dining, entertainment, this city center has a wonderfully revived energy. Alfresco dining and rooftop bars are common as well as a wider variety of world cuisines that will surely make your mouth water. Boutique shops, art galleries, and historic cultural sights are all within the district limits, providing a taste of Americas Finest City. Trolley Sycuan Green Line Bus Route 3,7,11,30,50,120,150 Rapido 215,923,992

Visit La Jolla and discover why it has been a favorite vacation destination since the 1880`s. La Jolla in Spanish means "The Jewel" with wonderful beached, cultural activities, top-notch golf courses, art galleries and fine restaurants. La Jolla is an exquisite combination of a southern European resort atmosphere and Southern California fun. For the best way to see La Jolla, grab your flip-flops and beach towels and hop on Old Town Trolleys La Jolla and San Diego Beach Tour! With 70 miles of coastline, San Diego is known for its exquisite beaches; and now you can experience some of the most popular ones all in one day aboard the Old Town Trolley. La Jolla is truly a remarkable destination and one of San Diego brightest treasures! Bus Route 30 OLD TOWN TROLLEY TOURS (619) 821-9466

Ocean Beach, a haven for the free spirited and open minded. The perfect spot to relax, surf, eat, and take in the local flare. This funky little beach town, known as OB to locals, has numerous eateries, surf shops, a diverse selection of locally owned boutiques and an antique district. The pier at Ocean Beach, measuring 1,971 feet, is the second longest pier on the West Coast and the longest concrete pier in the world. Between plating on the sandy shores, shopping at one-of-a-kind boutiques and listening to local music, you`ll create a day to remember.

Carlsbad is known as a family-friendly coastal town with a casual lifestyle and a non-commercialized small-town feel. It is located just 35 miles north of downtown San Diego and 87 miles south of Los Angeles. Boasting seven miles of coastline, nine incredible breweries, world-class resorts, shopping, golf, restaurants and more, something wonderful is around every corner. Discover everything Lego at Legoland California, get wet and wild at California Watersports at the Carlsbad Lagoon or visit the Museum of Making Music, a fun and informative museum that exist to inspire visitors to interactively discover the history of making music, musical instruments and products. Carlsbad has the recipe for fun in and out of the sun!

San Diego`s North Shore, Oceanside is a classic California beach community with its warm sandy beaches, historic wooden pier can Cape Cod-style harbor village complete with unlimited water sports and recreation. Offering a quiet scape from the hustle and bustle, visitors still experience the casual spirit that made Southern California`s beach culture legendary. With over 3.5 miles of spectacular beaches, Oceanside is the ultimate place for sunning, surfing, playing and relaxing. Take a cruise on board beautifully equipped fast catamaran with Oceanside Adventures for an AWE-inspiring adventure of Dolphin and Whale Watching. On Thursday evenings enjoy Oceanside`s Sunset Market featuring live entertainment, delicious gourmet food from around the world, arts and craft fairs and a farmer`s market. OCEANSIDE ADVENTURES (888) 507-1130 MAINSTREET OCEANSIDE (760) 754-4512 VISIT OCEANSIDE (800) 350-7873