This 16-block National Historic District features restored Victorian structures, galleries, shops and approximately 100 restaurants. A walking tour of the area, including haunts of Wyatt Earp and the 150-year-old William Heath Davis House, is offered Saturdays at 11 a.m. Gaslamp Quarter open daily, admission free.

The first Franciscan mission in California, built on Presidio Hill in 1769 and moved to its present site in 1774. Open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission $2.

This quaint, turn-of-the-century-style village features unique shops, cozy cafes, fine restaurants, a charming 1890’s working carousel and strolling entertainment. Nearby, check out Seaport Bike & Surrey Rentals for recreational options. Seaport Village open daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., admission free.

San Diego’s geographic and cultural hub, houses many of the city’s best museums and theaters, a world-famous zoo and numerous cultural attractions. All are set amid 1,200 acres of beautifully landscaped greenery where festivals and free concerts take place year round. You will find a variety of museums, including Timken Museum of Art; San Diego Natural History Museum; San Diego Aerospace Museum and many others. Nature lovers will appreciate the Japanese Friendship Garden and outdoor lily pond. Open daily, admission free.

The zoo is known for its more than 4,000 rare and endangered animals. New residents include the giant pandas, Shi Shi and Bai Yun. Many of the zoo’s residents are displayed in state-of-the-art natural habitats. Open daily 9a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission $16 adult, $7 children.

The museum’s holdings are made up of more than 10,000 works of art spanning Egyptian and pre-Columbian periods to the 20^th century, and include masterpieces by el Greco, Goya, Zurbarán, and the only disputed Giorgione in America. Contemporary Californian art by Ruscha and Hockney; and archaic cloisonné, ivories, jades, and bronzes from East Asia. In Balboa Park, open Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Admission $7.

Located in Mission Bay, the park features more than 20 major attractions. This is your chance to see this watery menagerie in their "natural surroundings". Park highlights include Shark Encounter, a fascinating exhibit with a submerged viewing tube that allows guests to enter the sharks’ habitat. Or there is also Rocky Point Preserve, the world’s largest dolphin and sea otter habitat. The park opens daily at 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission, $6 parking and $38 adult, $29 children.

A park devoted to the preservation of life in early San Diego. Many original 1800s structures in the six-block park have been reconstructed or restored, and interpretive displays, points of interest, quaint shops, and early-California-style restaurants illustrate the changes that have occurred. Bazaar del Mundo is a south-of-the-border-style shopping and divine village, complete with margaritas, mariachis, and hand-crafted treasures from around the world. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., admission free.

The San Diego Maritime Museum

The museum, anchored along Harbor Drive, is a good place to begin exploring the waterfront. Consisting of the century-old windjammer Star of India, the steam ferry Berkley, and the luxury yacht Medea, which showcase San Diego’s rich maritime past. Open daily 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Admission $5.

The world’s largest bronze whale sculpture graces the entrance to the aquarium, part of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego. Featured are more than 30 tanks displaying various habitats, a 55,000-gallon kelp-forest exhibit and the Exploring the Blue Planet museum, the country’s largest museum of oceanography. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission $7.50.

The only park of its kind in the United States, is being created by the Danish toy manufacturer, Lego. The 128-acre park promises to be full of fun and surprises. It’s designed to stimulate the imagination. Six distinctive play areas will feature unique attractions, family rides, restaurants, opportunities to build and areas to explore. Open daily after April 1999.

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