Let's start our tour in Balboa Park,
in front of the beautiful Lily Pond. You’ll find out more about San Diego
and its interesting history in the next part of this tour. Balboa Park is a large historic urban cultural park containing numerous
gardens, walking paths, museums, theaters, and other attractions. The park was officially established in the 19th century, making it one of the
oldest parks dedicated to public recreational use in the United States. Several architectural landmarks were constructed
in the park for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition and the 1935 California Pacific
International Exposition. Visit the Botanical Building (currently in renovation),
the Japanese Friendship Garden, the world-famous San Diego Zoo, impressive Spreckels Organ Pavilion, museums like Natural History
Museum, Museum of Us, Museum of Art, and other attractions. And now a couple of words
about San Diego as a city. San Diego is located on the Pacific Ocean coast in California, 120 miles
(190 km) south of Los Angeles, right on the border with Mexico. This seaside city is known for its idyllic climate,
extensive beaches, beautiful gardens, world-class family attractions, delicious seafood,
and is home to Naval Base San Diego. First settled by Native Americans several thousands
of years BC, San Diego was first discovered by Portuguese explorer
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in 1542. Spain named the first settlement San Miguel, but it would not be
until 1602 before it was renamed to San Diego. In the 18th century, a military post was established,
and more Spaniards settled the area. By 1821, now under Mexican control,
residents started moving outside the confined walls, and the Old Town (now an open-air history museum)
was established. In 1846 California was acquired by the US and San Diego
started gradually developing in its current location about three miles outside Old Town. The Panama Canal construction in 1914 enabled San Diego
to become an important port and naval center, mostly thanks to the US Navy
presence and shipyards. After World War II, San Diego population grew,
and the area became an important hub for IT, pharmaceutical companies,
aerospace industry, and more. The mild climate year-round and the construction
of the San Diego Convention Center construction in 1989 make San Diego
a popular tourist destination. Little Italy is a popular neighborhood in downtown featuring
Italian restaurants, bars, retail shops, home design stores, and galleries. It frequently hosts events such as the Little Italy Mercato,
a weekly farmers’ market that offers a wide array of food choices, including fresh fruits,
vegetables, meat, fish, local specialties, etc. The area started as a fishing community
of Italian immigrants. It eventually became the center of the world’s
tuna canning industry and was often referred to as the “tuna capital”
of the Western U.S. When the tuna business disappeared in the 1980s, Little Italy
transformed into a popular tourist destination. Maritime Museum of San Diego is home to a world-famous collection
of historic sailing ships, boats, and submarines, etc. USS Midway Museum is a decommissioned aircraft carrier
located at Navy Pier in downtown San Diego. The ship now serves as a maritime museum and features
a collection of aircraft, which were mostly built in Southern California. Launched in 1945, just after the end of the Second World War,
USS Midway was the largest ship in the world until 1955. In fact, it was too big
to cross the Panama Canal. Midway served for 47 years in the Vietnam War,
Desert Storm, and other important operations. You can explore the interior of the USS Midway and experience what life
on an aircraft carrier was like during the Cold War. Don’t miss “Unconditional Surrender” statue created by Seward Johnson
and inspired by Alfred Eisenstaedt’s photo of a sailor kissing a nurse in New York City's
Times Square on August 15, 1945. Seaport Village is a unique shopping area located
in the heart of the downtown San Diego waterfront. The entire area is car-free and offers miles
of walking paths and plazas full of shops, restaurants, picnic areas, and amazing views
of the San Diego Bay. The village features several buildings with diverse architectural styles,
from Victorian to traditional Mexican. Musical performances and other events
often take place in the outdoor areas. Seaport Village was built on Punta de Los Muertos,
Spanish for “Point of the Dead,” where the Spanish expedition of 1782
buried those who died during the journey. The Gaslamp Quarter
is a historic downtown district. It is the place to go if you are looking
for entertainment and nightlife. Gaslamp is often a venue for festivities, like the ones
organized around Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day. When the development of the area began in the 1860s,
the Gaslamp Quarter was known as New Town, in contrast to Old Town,
the original Spanish colonial settlement. Now, the district is home to over 180 restaurants,
many nightclubs, dive bars, cocktail lounges, and theaters offering diverse music,
comedy, and drama programs. The name comes from 50 gas lamp street lights that were installed
to light up this modern part of San Diego. Old Town San Diego is a historic neighborhood, consisting
of reconstructed homes and craft shops in the 1800s Mission-style, recreating life in the Mexican
and early American periods. Old Town (presidio) is the site
of the first European settlement in California. Apart from several museums, parks,
and historic buildings, you can dine at one of many traditional Mexican restaurants
with live Mariachi bands. There are over 100 specialty shops
and annual events organized. Don’t miss Dia de Los Muertos in the first week of November,
one of the most important Mexican holidays. This festive two-day event honors the spirits
and memories of those who have died through altars, a candlelight procession, face painting,
costumes, and music. If you have time, visit the nearby ruins
of Presidio of San Diego, a historic fort from 1769.
