Living in San Diego

Overview: California’s second largest city and the seventh largest in the United States, San Diego has a citywide population of nearly 1.3 million residents, with more than 2.8 million countywide. Once a small seaport town serving a large naval installation, San Diego has become a leading center for growing industries. Its economy centers on tourism, shipbuilding and the military, biotechnology, computer science and electronics, agriculture and trade. The city boasts 70 miles of stunning beaches, an array of world-class attractions and a diversity of geography that mirrors its population.

Attractions:

• Sea World
• Legoland
• San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park
• Old Town
• La Jolla Cove, Cliffs, MOMA
• Gaslamp District and Little Italy
• Balboa Park
• Coronado Island/Historic Hotel Del Coronado
• Mission Bay Aquatic Center
• Petco Park
• Del Mar Racetrack

Known for its countless year-round outdoor activities, San Diego is packed with unique pursuits in the water, on the trails and in the sky. The University of San Diego, on a mesa overlooking Mission Bay, is just minutes from sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and a host of other water sports. Any of the city's beaches are ideal for surfing, body boarding, snorkeling or simply soaking up rays on sand warmed by the ever-present sun.

Hundreds of miles of trails and parks wind throughout San Diego County – from oceanfront land to mountain pine forests – making it very easy to backpack, hike, camp or rockclimb in a variety of elevations and environments. The Pacific Crest Trail, which works its way through 150 miles of San Diego backcountry in its trek from Mexico to Canada, is designated one of America's National Scenic Trails.

Outdoor enthusiasts can take to the sky (after instruction, of course) in hang gliders or paragliders from gliderports around the county. The most spectacular launching site is at top of the sandstone Torrey Pines Cliffs on the coast near La Jolla.

Of course, San Diego has many attractions, including the world-famous San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park; Old Town, a cultural and entertainment center; and the 130-year-old Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre oasis in the heart of the city, complete with 15 museums, eight gardens and the acclaimed Old Globe Theatre.. San Diego is home to one of only three Olympic training centers in the nation. Its coastal waters offer an exceptional, seasonal experience: a first-rate vantage point from which to witness the annual migration of gray whales from Alaskan seas to Mexican lagoons.

As California's first city, San Diego has a rich heritage reaching back to the days of 16 th century Spanish explorers. With these roots, a Spanish influence is felt deeply in the community.

Today's San Diego is ethnically diverse with a countywide population of 2.9 million residents. Events around the county celebrate this diversity, such as Fiestas Patrias , a traditional Mexican Independence Day celebration in Old Town, the weekly cultural programs sponsored by the 26-nation House of Pacific Relations in Balboa Park, and the San Diego Multicultural Festival, held downtown each year. Neighborhoods across the county celebrate their cultural roots with annual festivals that are open to the public.

Once a quiet town known best for its proximity to Los Angeles, San Diego is now a primary destination, and for the lucky few, a place to call home.