Not to miss

SeaWorld

Undoubtedly one of San Diego's best known and most popular attractions, SeaWorld opened in Mission Bay in 1964, and Shamu, its resident killer whale, has become an unofficial symbol of the city. SeaWorld is very commercial, very entertaining and slightly educational.

There are plenty of whales, sharks, dolphins and penguins on display and, if you like your marine life choreographed, various special animal performances. Note that SeaWorld has steep entry prices and long queues for some shows and exhibits at peak times. The marine park is 8km (5mi) northwest of downtown.

San Diego Zoo

One of San Diego's biggest attractions, this superb zoo has a worldwide reputation, a colourful history and an enlightened zoo management program. Highlights of the zoo include the Tiger River bioclimatic exhibit, which realistically re-creates an Asian rainforest environment, and Gorilla Tropics, which does the same with an African rainforest.

It hosts more than 3000 animals in beautifully landscaped grounds in the northern part of Balboa Park, and also runs a free-range 720ha (1800ac) Wild Animal Park in Escondido, 50km (32mi) north of the city. The zoo and associated park breed endangered species in captivity for re-introduction into their natural habitats. Its successes include the Arabian oryx, Bali starling and California condor.

Other gems are the Sun Bear Forest, where Asian bears frolic, and the African Rock Kopje, where klipspringers display their tremendous rock-climbing abilities. Kids can touch small animals at the Children's Zoo exhibit, and you can also peek at the zoo's latest arrivals in the nursery. This is a wonderful institution; anyone remotely interested in the natural world should set aside a full day to explore it.

Old Town State Historic Park

This park is the site of the original pueblo (village) that sprang up in San Diego below the mission and fortress back in the 18th century. It preserves five of the original adobe (mud brick) buildings alongside scores of recreated structures, including a schoolhouse and a newspaper office.

It's a pleasant place to soak up some history, browse for souvenirs and perhaps enjoy a Mexican meal. Across from the visitor centre is La Casa de Estudillo, a restored adobe home filled with authentic period furniture which is worth a look. Just off the plaza's northwestern corner is The Bazaar del Mundo, a colourful collection of import shops and restaurants, which is open late - a good place for a stroll.