The Traveling American has visited more than sixty cities in the United States and Canada over the past thirty years. The task of naming the Top Ten Large Cities in these two countries was a difficult one. We defined large cities as those with a central city population of at least 300,000 and ended up selecting thirteen cities (there were a few ties). We believe these cities are the most memorable places in these two countries for travelers to experience during a short visit.

THE CITY TIED FOR NUMBER THREE IS SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

San Diego is one of the country’s most popular destinations attracting over thirty million visitors each year. Famous for its temperate weather throughout the year, which includes an average of three hundred days of sunshine, the city is also known for its waterfront activities, nightlife, and a diverse culture that adapts and blends the cuisine, festivals and practices of California and Mexico. It is a city that couples, families, and retirees can all enjoy.

A Short History of San Diego

Native American tribes such as the Kumeyaay Indians lived in small villages throughout the area around San Diego for thousands of years prior to the colonial era. While Spanish explorer Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo entered San Diego Bay in 1542, there were no European settlements in the region until 1769 when the Spanish established a mission and a fort in the area now known as Old Town. The settlement expanded slowly under the control of Spain and then Mexico, and San Diego remained a small town after becoming a part of the U.S. in 1848. The Old Town San Diego Historic Park has preserved or reconstructed some of the adobe buildings and the park plaza that once served as the center of the original settlement, along with tourist oriented Mexican restaurants and shops.

The city’s first period of development took place in the 1880s after many military facilities were built there along with docks, warehouses, and factories to serve California’s growing population. During this period, the downtown Gaslamp Quarter attracted a rough crowd of sailors, miners, and fortune seekers to its saloons, rooming houses, and brothels. Between 1930 and 1950, the population of San Diego doubled to 334,000 as large numbers of World War II veterans and defense workers settled there. Subsequent years saw the city’s economy continue to thrive as military employees were joined by workers for companies pursuing technology products, tourism, international trade, and manufacturing. San Diego is now the eighth largest city in the United States with 1.4 million people living in the city and 3.5 million living in the larger San Diego Metropolitan region. Revitalization of the downtown and expansion of the city suburbs continue to reshape the community and attract new residents.

Some of the interesting experiences people should consider when visiting San Diego are the following:

Explore Spectacular Scenery and Animals at the World-Renowned San Diego Zoo

Many cities have built aquariums or zoos as an attraction, but the San Diego Zoo has something special to offer. Established in 1916, this 100-acre zoo located in the city’s Balboa Park has grown to include more than 12,000 animals. Generally considered among the top zoos in the world, the zoo’s design features large open enclosures for most animals that resemble their natural environments. Trails throughout the compound allow visitors to see exotic animals up close and provide plenty of shade and relaxation areas. Since it can take over three hours to walk along all the trailheads, the zoo also offers an aerial tramway that connects the northeast portion of the zoo with the entrance area and provides a treetop view of many animal habitats. There are also guided double-decker buses that tour a substantial portion of the zoo.

But make no mistake, the animals are the star of the show. The 10-acre Elephant Care Center contains several display areas where the elephants can roam, feed, bathe, and relax. The large variety of monkeys and apes including gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, baboons, and smaller species all have suitable habitats with specially designed accoutrements for monkeying around. The extensive list of animals featured at the zoo includes everything from tigers to camels, llamas to meerkats, polar bears to condors, zebras to rhinos, and bears to reptiles. While you can also find plenty of food outlets and gift shops, the zoo takes itself seriously as there are wildlife presentations and curators providing information at most locations.

Visit an Aircraft Carrier and other Ships on the Bay

USS Midway Museum - One of the many maritime oriented attractions along San Diego Bay is the USS Midway Museum which features the decommissioned aircraft carrier named after the important U.S. victory over the Japanese fleet in the Pacific Ocean in 1942. The museum is more than a large ship for several reasons. First, the initial stop on the ship is an informative movie presented in the Battle of Midway Theater which tells the story of that important battle along with the memories of some men that experienced it. Second, there are dozens of jets, airplanes and helicopters on the flight deck and the hangar deck which were used in combat when the ship was in service from 1946 to 1992. In addition to seeing the aircraft up close and sometimes climbing into the cockpit, visitors can speak with docents who flew on the aircraft. Third, the below deck tour provides a look at the sections of the ship where meals were served, officers and enlisted men lived and worked, munitions were stored, and large equipment ran the 1100-foot-long vessel. Although the quarters are cramped, most of the ship is accessible. Finally, younger visitors will enjoy the flight simulators that show you what it was like to experience flying on one of the planes that were catapulted off the flight deck.

Maritime Museum - Just north of the Midway Museum at San Diego Harbor is the city’s Maritime Museum. The collection of restored and original ships there ranges from the iron windjammer sailing ship “Star of India” to a replica British frigate called the “HMS Surprise” to two submarines. Sails around San Diego Bay and whale watching excursions are offered on vessels that frequent the museum along with displays about the city’s former life as an important commercial seaport.

Relax along the Water at Seaport Village and Coronado Island

Large stretches of land on San Diego Bay or facing the Pacific Ocean, once used for military or industrial purposes, have been converted into recreation, shopping, and waterfront activities. Two of the most popular destinations are:

Stylish Seaport Village- A large section of land on the water near the downtown has been developed as a convention center with business hotels, a yacht marina, and outdoor parks. Another attraction is the Seaport Village restaurant, shopping, and entertainment complex. This 14-acre site has dozens of eateries ranging from fine dining to snack shops, specialty stores offering distinctive goods, cafes and bars with live music, a carousel, and a walkway that offers good exercise and excellent views.

Majestic Coronado Island- The island of Coronado located across the bay from downtown San Diego is reached by crossing over the high Coronado Bay Bridge. Some islanders live in quaint residential neighborhoods on interior streets, but many others live in high rise condominiums, apartments, and hotels on the ocean side facing the Pacific. The main attraction on the bay side is the Ferry Landing Marketplace. This shopping and dining area is geared to tourists but the walkway and many of the restaurants provide a spectacular view of the skyline of the city. The ocean side of the island is also accessible. It has a concrete walkway at the top of the dunes that provides public access to the ocean for a four mile stretch of the beach. Along the way walkers will pass by the historic Hotel del Coronado which has attracted the rich and famous to vacation on the island since 1888 and was recently expanded by building luxury cottages, villages, and additional rooms to complement the original beachfront hotel. A stop at the café, taco shack, or gelato parlor of the hotel allows visitors to view parts of the property. The only disappointing thing about Coronado Beach is that its attractiveness is diminished by the pollution that prohibits entering the water.

Party in the Gaslamp Quarter

The transformation and redevelopment of the Gaslamp Quarter from a rundown section of the city into a dining and entertainment district with boutique stores, nightclubs, and restaurants has been underway for fifty years. Aided by the construction of the San Diego Convention Center and Petco Park to the south, the Gaslamp Quarter has developed into a safer and more vibrant place for people to congregate. Fifth Avenue originally served as the city’s primary artery from the foot of San Diego Bay into the city’s commercial sector. Now that thoroughfare has been converted into a pedestrian promenade after 11 a.m. between Broadway and K Street. The promenade has made it possible to preserve the Victorian buildings in the Gaslight Quarter and to add plazas and public spaces there for the enjoyment of visitors.

The Gaslamp Quarter has plenty of shops, clubs with live entertainment, galleries, specialty food outlets, street performers, and restaurants to visit throughout the year. The area really comes alive after baseball games, festivals and other events are held downtown or along the waterfront. Thousands of visitors stream up Fifth Avenue, and a party-like atmosphere develops. Lighted pedicabs play music and ferry passengers from one place to another or to the many nearby hotels.

Enjoy Sea World and Other Attractions near Mission Bay

Families and young people will also find many exciting venues to visit outside of the city center. Approximately eight miles to the northwest of the downtown is a 4,235-acre, man-made aquatic park known as Mission Bay which is full of recreational venues and entertainment options. The foremost is Sea World San Diego on Mission Bay which attracts over 3.5 million visitors annually. It offers marine life, entertainment shows, adventure rides, and a water park that everyone can enjoy. Sea World is famous for its encounter shows featuring marine life trainers interacting with killer whales, dolphins, and tropical birds. Sharks, beluga whales, walruses and polar bears are also on display at Sea World. If you like getting wet, there are rides, water slides, and a wave pool to keep you cool and refreshed throughout the day.

Along the coast, there are activities everywhere on the adjacent Mission Beach. At the northern end of the beach near Palisades Park and Pacific Beach, surfers congregate, and a party atmosphere prevails both day and night. Farther south, the 3.2-mile-long Mission Beach Boardwalk provides a place for walkers, bike riders, and skateboarders to enjoy miles of ocean scenery. The Boardwalk also passes by Belmont Park, a historic amusement park with restored attractions like a wooden roller coaster, wave house, indoor swimming pool and fun activities like miniature golf, bumper cars, a Lazer blast arena, and a carousel.