San Diego Rich In History, Things To See And Do

Linknet Places - December 30, 2005Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum, San Diego
**Follow the Founders' Trail to relive the early historyModel Railroad Museum, San Diego Museum of Art,
of San DiegoSan Diego Museum of Man, and San Diego Natural
The Founders' Trail consists of seven historic sites inHistory Museum.
the San Diego area where you can learn about theVisitors also can upgrade the Passport with a
early history of the area.one-day deluxe admission to the San Diego Zoo for a
The earliest inhabitants of the San Diego area weresavings of about 50%. Passports are available at the
Native Americans. Mission Trails Regional Park includesBalboa Park Visitors Center.
3000 acres of countryside preserved much as it was**Things to see and do around San Diego
when the Kumeyaay people hunted and harvestedThe California Center for the Arts 2005-2006
here hundreds of years ago.Performing Arts Season presents exciting
The Cabrillo National Monument marks the placeperformances by classic celebrities, jazz legends,
where Juan Rodriguez stepped ashore in 1542 andopera performances and Broadway favorites. Attend
claimed the region for Spain.performances at either the Center Theater or the
It wasn't until 225 years later in 1769 that the firstConcert Hall of the California Center for the Arts,
Franciscan missions were established in the area.Escondido.
Junipero Serra Museum, Mission San Diego de Alcala,Whale watching season runs from mid-December to
and Mission San Luis Rey all display this era in themid-March in San Diego County. More than 15,000
development of the San Diego area.California gray whales head south from Alaska to the
The Mexican era began in 1821 when Mexico won itswarm water breeding areas of Baja California. A
independence from Spain. This was the beginning ofglassed-in observatory at Cabrillo National Monument,
the era of giant ranches displayed at Rancho de loson the panoramic Point Loma peninsula, is a great
Pinasquitos and Rancho de Guajome.place to watch the whales. You can also examine
The Mexican era ended in 1848 after the two yearwhale exhibits, and listen to presentations featuring
war between Mexico and the United States and thethe whales and their habitat. Whale-watching tours
California territory was transferred to the U.S. Revisitare available from local boating companies throughout
this era in local history at the visitor center at Santhe season.
Pasqual, the site of the only major battle of the warSan Diego Beach Scene - Visit San Diego's beaches
fought in the San Diego area.for a wide range of experiences. The Continental
**San Diego to host World Baseball Classic FinalsShelf extends many miles offshore, protecting the
The first ever World Baseball Classic is set to beginarea from localized North Pacific storms and swelss
on March 3, 2006. Sixteen countries or territories arefrom the Southern Ocean. The temperate climate
committed to the event. It begins March 3 in Japan'smakes San Diego's many beaches safe and pleasant
Tokyo Dome and will end with an inaugural championall year-round. Three distinct beach areas offer
crowned on March 20 in San Diego's PETCO Park.variety of experience and scenery. The North County
Those teams so far confirmed have been dividedcoast features sandstone bluffs and fine beaches
into four pools for the first round. They include: Poolfrom Torrey Pines to San Onofre. The Central Coast
A -- China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea; Pool B --is marked by dramatic headlands at La Jolla and Point
Canada, Mexico, South Africa, U.S.; Pool C --Loma with the impressive waterways of Mission Bay
Netherlands, Panama, Puerto Rico and possibly Cuba;in between. In the South Bay, the beaches of
Pool D -- Australia, Dominican Republic, Italy,Coronado and the Silver Strand make San Diego one
Venezuela.of the world's great seaports.
The two big "maybes" for the tournament are theThe Museum of San Diego History is located in
team from Cuba and Alex Rogriguez. The CubanBalboa Park. The museum presents the diverse
team has been told by the U.S. Treasury Departmenthistory of the region, with interpretion of San Diego's
that it cannot participate because of U.S. lawsgrowth since the 1840s. Attend public lectures,
governing financial transactions with Cuba. Rodriguezworkshops and educational programs presented in
has said he will likely not participate because ofthe museum's 100-seat Thornton Theater.
divided loyalties between his birthplace (DominicanThe San Diego Zoo is one of the great zoos of the
Republic) and his adopted home (U.S.) Both issues areworld. It is part of Balboa Park. Zoo features include
the subject of much speculation and are currently* Monkey Trails and Forest Tales, an elaborate
being negotiated.habitat housing more than 30 species of exotic and
**San Diego's Balboa Park largest U.S. urban culturalendangered birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians
parkfrom Afica and Asia.
Balboa Park in San Diego is home to 15 major* The Giant Panda Research Station - the zoo
museums, several performing arts venues, 12houses four giant pandas in an area built especially for
gardens, and many other cultural and recreationalthem. The pandas are in San Diego as the result of
attractions including the San Diego Zoo. Visitors canan agreement between the Zoo and the Chinese
access 13 of the parks attractions buy purchasing agovernment.
"Passport to Balboa Park" for just $ 30.* Absolutely Apes houses the orangutans and
The Passport is good for for seven days and guestssiamangs who have been a major feature of the zoo
can visit the Museum of Photographic Arts, thefor many years. The animals inhabit a naturalistic area
Japanese Friendship Garden, Mingei Internationalwhere they can climb, swing, and live in the same
Museum, the Museum of San Diego History, Reubenterrain as they would in the wild. Visitors can get up
H. Fleet Science Center, San Diego Aerospaceclose and personal with the curious and playful apes
Museum, San Diego Art Institute: Museum of thewhen they choose to sit on the mulch right at the
Living Artist, San Diego Automotive Museum, Sanviewing window.