San Diego’s sun-kissed shores draw millions of visitors each year. But it’s not just sun worshippers that make the trip. Hikers, bikers, animal lovers and artists also gravitate to the California city, which offers an eclectic mix of attractions that spring to life once Old Man Winter exits the scene.
Spring is an especially good time to tour the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Visiting this time of year helps you avoid the large summer crowds and the sweltering temperatures. The zoo is home to more than 4000 animals–from the rare and endangered (think Galapagos tortoises, tree kangaroos from New Guinea, and wild Przewalski’s horses from Mongolia) to the cute and cuddly (think giant pandas and fluffy Koalas). The massive facility also leads the way in offering hands on lessons to kids of all ages.
If walking around the 100-acre zoo was not enough for one day consider taking a stroll along the sands of La Jolla Cove. Most people who visit can’t resist the allure of the cobalt blue waters and they end up taking a dive into the 6,000-acre San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park. The area is considered a scuba diving and snorkeling Mecca because of its abundant marine life.
History lovers flock to San Diego each spring to take in the sights and sounds of Cabrillo National Monument. The popular city attraction features a hodgepodge of history, culture and breathtaking views. The towering monument is named for Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo–the first European to set foot on the west coast of the United States in 1542–and was built on the city’s most popular whale watching spot. Each year tens of thousands of visitors make the trip to the base of the monument to watch the yearly Pacific Gray Whale migrations. If you are slightly more adventurous you can take in the views from the park’s two-mile long Bayside Trail, which winds through one of the only remaining sage scrub coastal habitats in the world.
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