The very first US aircraft carrier. He took part in the Vietnam War and in Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf. For 47 years, he was in the U.S. Navy. In 1992, the aircraft carrier was decommissioned and turned into a museum. Tours for visitors are conducted by volunteers from among the veterans of the fleet. They tell fascinating stories about the design itself and answer questions.

The Spanish navigator H. R. Cabrillo landed on the Point Loma Peninsula back in 1542. In honor of him, a monument was built on the southern cape in 1939, from the observation deck of which a panoramic view of the San Diego Bay and the city opens. Another interesting historical building is the lighthouse of the middle of the XIX century. Today there is a museum inside it. A walking trail has been laid especially for tourists on the peninsula.

San Diego City Park exceeds the size of Central Park in New York. On its territory there are 15 museums and exhibitions, 4 theaters, several themed gardens and a zoo. Many buildings were built in the early XX century in the Spanish colonial style. There are also small international cottages where visitors can get acquainted with the culture and traditions of 30 countries.

The San Diego Menagerie is considered one of the most progressive in the world. Its territory is home to 650 species of animals (more than 3700 individuals). The history of the zoo began after the exhibition of exotic animals in 1915. Many owners simply abandoned their pets after the end of the event. To save the animals, the city administration allocated a plot of land in Balboa Park.

The Botanical Garden unites several territories within its borders: the Japanese garden, the Alcazar garden, the children's ethnobotanical garden, the old cactus garden, the friendship garden and many others. The local variety of plants will amaze even connoisseurs of flora: species were collected not only throughout North America, but also imported from other regions of the world. There are greenhouses, artificial ponds and picturesque alleys.

San Diego State Historical Park and Presidio Park are located on the territory of the Old Town. Here you can see what the first settlements of the colonists looked like, have lunch in one of the many restaurants of Mexican cuisine and watch folklore performances. Sightseeing buses with guides in historical costumes regularly run through the Old Town.

The exposition is located on the territory of Balboa Park. The museum has several thematic sections dedicated to the aircraft of the First and Second World Wars, the "golden age of aviation", modern space technologies, as well as other achievements in the field of aviation. The museum has restoration workshops and a library with technical literature. Many exhibits are original, others are copies of aircraft.

The museum opened in 1948. Its exposition consists of rare ships, each of which has its own unique history. Among the valuable copies of the collection there are "Star of India", "Medea", "Berkeley", "Californian". In addition to ships, there is a variety of marine equipment. The main goal of the museum team is to preserve the maritime heritage of the United States in general and the city of San Diego in particular.

The monument is located on the Point Loma Peninsula. It represents the figure of the Spanish mariner H. R. Cabrillo, who arrived on the shores of Colorado in 1542 and founded the first settlement here. The monument was created in 1939 by the Portuguese sculptor Alvaro de Bray. There is a convenient observation deck near the statue, from which you can admire panoramic views of the city and the bay.

The styrofoam and aluminum sculpture depicts a sailor and a nurse kissing. The original sculpture was created by American artist S. Johnson based on the photograph of A. Eisenstadt, taken in New York on the day of the surrender of Japan. For many Americans, this famous photo has become a symbol of the end of World War II. Johnson's sculpture is very popular with tourists.

The park is dedicated to the inhabitants of the world ocean. Its history began in 1964 with the opening of a restaurant of the corresponding theme. The management then decided to create an entertainment zone for its customers and purchased marine animals. Literally in the first year of the park's existence, several hundred thousand visitors visited it. A large number of entertainment shows are held here, in which dolphins, seals and whales are involved.

An amusement park in the beach area, created in 1925 by magnate D. Spreckels. There are still old carousels from the beginning of the century, such as roller coasters and the "giant bucket", but the most interesting for visitors are the new attractions. Belmont also has a swimming pool where swimming competitions are regularly held, a grill bar with a concert venue and a sports club.

A baseball arena that is home to the San Diego Padres. The stadium was built in 2004 to replace the old Qualcomm-stadium. If a tourist manages to get to the game, he will be able to fully enjoy baseball, as well as the atmosphere that reigns here during the competition. Most of the spectators don't even look at what is happening on the field. They are passionate about communicating with each other and eating burgers.

The church was founded in 1769 by a monk from Spain, Junipero Serra. By 1862, it was already in ruins. The sluggish restoration of the temple continued until the 1930s. In 1941, San Diego de Alcala became a parish church. It still exists in this status. In 1976, the church was visited by Pope Paul VI. The mission is listed as a national historical monument of the USA.

A military cemetery where American soldiers have been buried since the XVIII century. The green lawns of the necropolis are strewn with even rows of modest graves with identical white tombstones. The place evokes philosophical thoughts. Here you can wander in silence and think about the eternal under the measured hum of ocean waves. An active base of the American army is located next to the cemetery.

The bay is located in the northwestern part of the city. Translated from Spanish, its name means "jewel". The bay consists of sandy beaches, caves and rocks. In one part of the coast, seals arrange a rookery, which attracts a large number of visitors here. In the bay there is a residential area of the same name, which is considered one of the most prestigious in San Diego.

A picturesque area covered with rocky plateaus, a favorite place for migrating sea birds. There are also coyotes, skunks, foxes and raccoons. Sometimes from the shore you can see huge whales frolicking in the ocean waters. The coastal area of the reserve was chosen by local nudists. Torrey Pines has bike trails and hiking trails for tourists.

The lighthouse stands on the peninsula of the same name. It was built in the middle of the XIX century, but due to its not very good location, it was closed by the end of the century (constant fog obscured the light coming from the lighthouse and ships could not see it). Today, a museum exposition is located on the territory of the building, where you can see the original furnishings, as well as historical maps and documents.

The bridge over San Diego Bay is not only a recognizable symbol of the city, but also an important transport artery. It was built in 1969. Its construction cost almost $ 50 million. The length of the structure is about 3.5 km, it stands on 27 concrete pillars. Some of them reach a height of 60 meters. Due to the impressive size of the structure, large vessels can easily sail under the bridge.

San Diego is often called the city of beaches and parks, as its territory stretches along the coastline for many miles. In total there are more than 30 beaches suitable for swimming. The most popular and visited are Pacifi Beach, Ocean Beach, Coronado, Torrey Pines and La Jolla. The ocean warms up to a comfortable temperature by mid-May and begins to cool down by the end of August.