Page 668 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

666  C ALIFORNIA

San Diego County The Plaza, at its center, was
where parades and fiestas once
San Diego’s character has always been determined by the took place. The old Spanish
sea. Its magnificent natural harbor attracted the Spanish as presidio and mission is now part
well as gold prospectors and whalers. The US Navy arrived of Presidio Park. Crowning the
in 1904, and today San Diego has become one of the hill the Junípero Serra Museum
is named after the founder of
largest military establishments in the world. Extending to California’s missions (see p680).
the Mexican border, its coastline has 70 miles (112 km) of On display are archaeological
stunning beaches, rocky cliffs, coves, and seaside resorts, finds as well as exhibits on San
with plentiful opportunities for leisure activities. Diego’s successive Native
American, Spanish, Mexican,
and American communities.
To the west of Old Town is the
Point Loma Peninsula, at the
southern tip of which is the
Cabrillo National Monument,
named after the city’s
discoverer, Juan Rodríguez
Cabrillo; his statue overlooks
the Bay. Between December
and March, the nearby Whale
Overlook is a popular spot to
watch gray whales.
The peninsula of Coronado
has the city’s most exclusive
The Gaslamp Quarter, the star of downtown San Diego boutiques and hotels. The Hotel
del Coronado, or “Del,” opened
2 San Diego of Contemporary Art, whose in 1888 and is a lovely Victorian
galleries display work by new seaside hotel (see p710). Its
* 1,500,000. k £ 1050 Kettner
Blvd. @ 120 W Broadway. n 1040 artists and selections from its guest list reads like a Who’s Who
W Broadway, (619) 236-1212. large permanent collection. of 20th-century US history,
_ Wine & Food Festival (Nov). The promenades and piers of including Presidents Franklin D.
∑ sandiego.org the Embarcadero waterfront Roosevelt and Bill Clinton, and
pathway lead to the Maritime film star Marilyn Monroe. It has
The museums and art venues Museum and its three historic been the setting for several
of Balboa Park (see pp668–9) are ships. Of these, the highlight is films, including Some Like It Hot,
the prime cultural attractions of the Star of India, an 1863 the 1959 classic starring Marilyn
San Diego, California’s second- merchantman. To the south is Monroe, Jack Lemmon, and
largest city. San Diego’s growth Broadway Pier, where visitors Tony Curtis. The Coronado Ferry
as a modern city began with can take a harbor excursion. ride is enchanting at dusk, when
the waterfront development North of downtown is Old the sun’s last rays illuminates the
initiated by San Francisco Town, site of the original skyscrapers of downtown.
businessman, Alonzo Horton, in Spanish settlement near the San
the 1870s. He also designed the Diego River. Today, more than E Junípero Serra Museum
plan of the Gaslamp Quarter, 20 historic buildings have been 2727 Presidio Dr. Tel (619) 297-3258.
which is now the centerpiece of restored to form the Old Town Open 10am–5pm Sat & Sun.
downtown, and the best place San Diego State Historic Park. Closed Dec 25. &
to shop and dine. The wealth
of period buildings ranges from
a pie bakery to ornate offices
and grand Victorian hotels.
The district is particularly
attractive at night, when it is
illuminated by graceful gas
lamps. Close by is Horton
Plaza, an innovatively designed
shopping center built in 1985.
At the western end of
Broadway is the Santa Fe
Depot, a Spanish-Colonial-style
railroad station dating from
1915. The towering America
Plaza houses the Museum Impressive turrets and gables of the Hotel del Coronado, San Diego
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp710–12 and pp713–15

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