Little Italy and Embarcadero

San Diego liegt ganz im Südwesten der USA, direkt an der Grenze zu Mexiko. Mit rund 1,39 Millionen Einwohnern ist sie die achtgrößte Stadt der USA und die zweitgrößte Kaliforniens, wirkt aber entspannter als Los Angeles im Norden. Das Klima ist mild und trocken, mit warmen Sommern und milden Wintern. Im Frühsommer hängt morgens oft Küstennebel, den die Einheimischen „June Gloom“ nennen.Die Stadt hat viele Gesichter: Marinestützpunkte und Flugzeugträger an der Bucht, spanisch-mexikanische Wurzeln in Old Town, die Museen im Balboa Park, Surfstrände von Ocean Beach bis La Jolla und eine der dichtesten Brauereiszenen der USA. Dazu kommen Fish Tacos, California Burritos und eine Küche, die stark von der Grenzregion geprägt ist.

The Gaslamp Quarter is the historic core of Downtown San Diego. Across approximately 38 acres, or about 15 hectares, brick buildings and Victorian facades from the late 19th and early 20th centuries line the streets, now housing restaurants, rooftop bars, and clubs. Since 1980, the district has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the distinctive archway over Fifth Avenue has been in place since 1992.The history begins in 1867, when Alonzo Horton bought about 800 acres of land and developed his "New Town" by the harbor. From the 1880s until 1916, a part of the area was known as Stingaree, a rough district with saloons, gambling halls, and brothels. The oldest surviving building is a prefabricated wooden house from 1850, which arrived by ship from the East Coast and now serves as a museum. A small detail: the streets were mostly lit by arc lamps back then, not gas lanterns.Directly to the east, East Village adjoins, a younger residential district more characterized by new buildings, centered around Petco Park. The San Diego Padres' baseball stadium opened in 2004 and incorporates an old brick warehouse of the Western Metal Supply Co. In East Village, you'll find many of the city's more exciting new restaurants and cocktail bars.During the day, a stroll is worthwhile, looking up at the facades, ideally with a guided tour from the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation. In the evenings, Fifth Avenue fills up, and on Padres game days, it gets especially crowded around the stadium.

Balboa Park, spanning approximately 1,200 acres (nearly 490 hectares), is one of the largest urban parks in the USA and San Diego's cultural heart. It's home to the San Diego Zoo, around 16 museums and cultural institutions, gardens, theaters, and ample space for strolling.The city decided back in 1868 to designate the area as a park. It gained its present appearance from the 1915/16 Panama-California Exposition and the 1935/36 California Pacific International Exposition. The ornate Spanish Colonial and Baroque-style buildings along El Prado date from this period, as does the Cabrillo Bridge from 1914, serving as the main entrance. Since 1977, the park and its exhibition buildings have been a National Historic Landmark. The zoo also traces its origins to the exposition: it was founded in 1916 with animals left over after the show.Plan at least half a day; for the Zoo and one or two museums, allow closer to two days. Many gardens and the architecture can be enjoyed for free, such as the Botanical Building, restored in 2024, or the free organ concerts on Sunday afternoons.Mornings are quieter, and parking is easier to find. In the late afternoon, beautiful light falls on the facades along El Prado. Many museums are not open daily, so check their hours beforehand.

Old Town is the cradle of San Diego. On the hill above the present-day district, the Spanish founded the Presidio and the first mission in 1769, the first of many missionary outposts in Alta California. Below it, a small settlement arose from 1821, which served as the city's center during the Mexican period and its first decades under US rule.This period from 1821 to 1872 is showcased today by the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Restored and reconstructed adobe buildings, an old newspaper office, a school, and a stable with carriages are arranged around a green plaza. Admission to the park and its museums is free. Old Town didn't remain the city center because of Alonzo Horton, who began building his “New Town” by the harbor from 1867, which is today's Downtown.Besides the museums, Mexican restaurants, margaritas in courtyards, and craft shops define the district. This is partly touristy, but especially cozy in the evenings. For a quieter look at the beginnings, a short climb to Presidio Park with the Junípero Serra Museum is worthwhile.It's best to come in the late morning when the museums open and stay until dinner. The museums in the State Park close at 5 PM.

Coronado is located across the bay from Downtown. Although often referred to as 'Coronado Island,' it's actually a peninsula: To the south, the narrow Silver Strand connects it to the mainland. Coronado is a self-contained small town of around 20,000 residents, quiet, well-maintained, and heavily influenced by the Navy.Its landmark is the Hotel del Coronado, opened in 1888 as the world's largest resort hotel. The white wooden structure with red turrets stands directly on the beach and was the setting for Billy Wilder's 'Some Like It Hot' (1959). North is the Naval Air Station North Island, where Glenn Curtiss founded the USA's first flight school in 1911; south, Navy SEALs train at the Naval Amphibious Base.What to do here is simple: Stroll along the wide sandy beach in front of the hotel, browse Orange Avenue with its shops and eateries, and cycle along the bay. The ferry journey is a mini-excursion, with views of the Downtown skyline.Allow half to a full day. In the evening, the illuminated skyline viewed from the ferry landing is worthwhile.