Candice Eley (619) 557-2889celey@sandiego.org

Robert Arends (619) 557-2834rarends@sandiego.org

Sarah Weinberg (619) 557-2838sweinberg@sandiego.org

Edna Gutierrez (619) 557-2887egutierrez@sandiego.org

Twitter @VisitSD_PRwww.sandiego.org

DECEMBER 2010FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EXPLORING SAN DIEGO’S GREAT OUTDOORS

With its year-round near-idyllic climate, varied terrain and

abundance of outdoor activities, San Diego County offers

recreationalists a vacation experience like no other. Along its 70 miles

of coastline, water enthusiasts can surf, snorkel, scuba dive, sail, kayak

and discover hidden and colorful tide pools. Appealing to the more

rugged vacationer, the vast Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and the

rolling hills, canyons, lakes and mountains in the north and east of the

city offer a completely different outdoor experience.

In San Diego, nature lovers can camp under the stars, fish in

sparkling, freshwater lakes, mountain bike and hike in the Cuyamaca

Mountains and trek through the open desert in a four-wheel jeep. The

region’s great outdoors beckons guests to explore and exercise year-

round with a scope of sporting activities as varied as its topography.

PARKS AND RESERVES Visitors can bask in sunshine and take a breath of fresh air while

exploring the various parks and reserves spread throughout San Diego County (www.co.san-diego.ca.us/parks). The following points of interest provide diverse opportunities for endless outdoor adventures like hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, birding, boating, fishing, rock climbing and camping.

Surrounded by an oak woodland forest, pines trees, meadows and creeks, the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park offers a beautiful setting for relaxation. With over 100 miles of trails, visitors can spend the day hiking, biking and horseback riding high above ground with breathtaking views of the desert to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. www.parks.ca.gov

The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California with over 500 miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and numerous hiking trails. Amid 600,000 acres of untouched wilderness, guests encounter soothing warm desert breezes and a beautiful barren land teeming with wildlife like roadrunners, golden eagles, kit foxes, mule deer, bighorn sheep, iguanas and red diamond rattlesnakes. www.parks.ca.gov

Tranquil and protected, the Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma is among the rarest habitats in the world. A diversity of plants and animals live freely on 160 acres sheltered by the Pacific Ocean on the west and San Diego Bay on the east. Here, visitors can enjoy beautiful coastal views and over 200 species of birds and marine plants. As winter approaches, guests can also catch glimpses of California Grey Whales as they migrate south toward Mexico for warm water breeding. www.nps.gov/cabr

Within minutes of downtown San Diego in Mission Valley, Mission Trails Regional Park—the largest contiguous urban preserve in the continental U.S.—provides outdoor enthusiasts with over 40 miles of trails, boating, camping, informative guided hikes and a state-of-the-art Visitor & Interpretive Center. Guests can explore nearly 5,800 acres of both natural and developed recreational land on rugged hills and valley by foot, bike and horseback. www.mtrp.org

Located just north of La Jolla, Torrey Pines State Reserve spans 2,000 acres and preserves its namesake, the Torrey Pine tree, and other indigenous wildlife in its native environment. Among the eight miles of trails, guests can encounter native

chaparral plants, wildflowers, birds, reptiles and butterflies. The reserve also includes a visitor center and hosts guided nature walks on weekends and holidays to view points overlooking nearby Peñasquitos Lagoon and the Pacific Ocean. www.torreypines.org

Palomar Mountain State Park is the Sierra-Nevada of San Diego with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, rugged mountains and 1,863 acres of Coniferous forest. Guest activities include camping, picnicking, hiking and trout fishing. www.parks.ca.gov

Located 25 minutes from downtown San Diego lies Wright’s Field, a natural preserve with over 400 acres of crisscrossing trails and six overlapping ecosystems. Guests can hike, mountain bike and horseback ride through the diverse habitat, which is home to over 300 different plants and animal species. www.bclt.org/wrights.php

TRAILS Runners, walkers, bikers and hikers can enjoy miles of scenic

trails and pathways throughout San Diego County. Two of the most popular places are Balboa Park (www.balboapark.org), with 1,200 acres of beautiful gardens, walkways, biking and hiking trails, and the 4,600-acre Mission Bay Park (www.sandiego.gov/park-and- recreation/parks/ missionbay/index.shtml), with 27 miles of pathway winding through grassy recreation areas.

Following are a selection of lesser-known hotspots for guests looking to hike or bike in the San Diego region:

The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and the neighboring town of Borrego Springs is an expansive playground for outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking, biking and horseback riding are relaxing ways to explore the terrain with routes that travel up rocky paths, along scenic streams and down steep hills. Three notable trails include Elephant Trees, a hike through desert flora and fauna and named after a rare type of tree covered with colorful flower blossoms; Ghost Mountain, a moderate uphill mountain hike ending at an abandoned stone house surrounded by breathtaking aerial views, and Pictograph Trail, a great family hike in which guests pass through an old Indian village to reach a 50-foot dry waterfall. www.parks.ca.gov

Hikers can enjoy spectacular views of the Pacific and San Diego Bay from the tranquil Bayside Trail at Cabrillo National

Monument, San Diego’s only National Park. Hikers can escape the hustle and bustle of the city, as they wind through the 1.2-mile trail. www.nps.gov

San Diego's East County is a hiker's, biker’s and backpacker's paradise with rocky foothills, chaparral-covered canyons and tree-lined mountains to discover. Popular trailheads and hiking areas include Iron Mountain in Poway, San Pasqual Valley and Elfin Forest in Escondido, San Dieguito River Park/Lake Hodges in Rancho Bernardo and Volcan Mountain in Julian. On many of these trails, guests can reach the summit of one of San Diego's mountain peaks and look out on a clear day to the Pacific Ocean.

Mission Trails Regional Park offers miles of hiking and biking trails that meander along the San Diego River. The park's Cowles Mountain (1,591 ft.) offers an impressive hike to the top. www.mtrp.org

Torrey Pines State Reserve spans eight miles of coastal hiking along four major beach trails. The four differing paths intertwine under forested ground displaying diverse scenery of trees, ocean, wildflowers and sandstone formations. During winter, guests can see California Gray Whales migrating south to Mexico in the distanced ocean view. Throughout the year, lucky sightings of bottle nose dolphins make these hikes a truly memorable experience. www.torreypine.org/index.html

COASTAL BIKING San Diego’s varied terrain is a cyclist’s paradise. East County’s

desert trails and rocky mountain paths provide the perfect mix of challenging and leisurely rides, and for rides along the region’s scenic waterfront, coastal bike paths also provide varied opportunities for cyclists of all skill levels.

Pacific Coast Highway, or PCH, stretches up the San Diego coastline alongside the Pacific Ocean and passes through some of the area’s most beautiful beach towns like Del Mar, Leucadia and Encinitas. Cyclists can begin their journey at any location north of the Mexican border, but the most popular rides start in La Jolla or Del Mar, as cyclists travel north to Oceanside before turning around and heading south again. The route combines miles of flat surface along with challenging hills like the Torrey Pines incline, most with picturesque ocean views.

The 27 miles of winding, paved bike paths that circle Mission Bay are car-free and provide a favorable location for family bike rides, leisurely biking and sightseeing. Cyclists can pick a range of distances along the bay, or branch off on side trips to Pacific Beach, La Jolla and Ocean Beach.

The Bayshore Bikeway is a 25-mile ride along San Diego Bay. The majority of the ride runs along bike lanes or separated bike paths, and the scenery varies en route. Riders generally start at the Embarcadero in downtown San Diego and head south through National City and Chula Vista, before looping around San Diego Bay into Imperial Beach, and then catching the Silver Strand into Coronado. At that point, riders have the option of turning around and following the trail back or hopping on the Coronado Ferry to cross over San Diego Bay back into downtown San Diego.

The Silver Strand on the peninsula of Coronado offers an easy 10-mile ride between Coronado and Imperial Beach along a portion of the Bayshore Bikeway. Cyclists pedal parallel to the beach and San Diego Bay along this route, which is often referred to as the most beautiful and cyclist-friendly bike route in Southern California.

A trip to Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma peninsula offers intermediate and advanced riders a taxing coastal ride. While cyclists power up the hills to the tip of Point Loma, early California history surrounds them, as does enticing views of the Pacific Ocean to the west and San Diego Bay, downtown San Diego and Coronado to the east. www.nps.gov/cabr/index.htm

CLIMBING San Diego’s year-round near-perfect climate and short rainy

season make it an ideal place for rock climbing. With over 25 million boulders in the County, bouldering is a San Diego specialty, but climbers can also free climb, sport climb, multi-pitch climb and trad climb among hundreds of vertical rocky paths (www.rockclimbing.com).

Mission Gorge Mountain is San Diego’s oldest and most popular climbing area for climbers of all skill level. Climbs average 30-70 feet with opportunities for guests to free climb along custom made paths. The mountain is divided into three parts: the Main Wall, a complex arrangement of short walls and large ledges; Limbo Area, the broad central region consisting of

small isolated cliffs, and Middle Earth, made of small cliffs and canyons.

Sitting 3,000 feet above El Cajon and Lakeside in San Diego’s East County, El Cajon Mountain, nicknamed “El Cap,” promotes challenging and steep climbs with rewarding panoramic views of the ocean and valleys below. Varied rock formations of walls, ridges, slabs, dihedrals and quarries offer over 25 different routes that climbers can follow or improvise on their upward-bound journey.

Santee Boulders, a very popular field for climbers and outdoor enthusiasts, offers a full-day of challenging climbs. With thick faces and mantles, taxing cracks and steep slopes, the most skilled and novice climbers can enjoy a good climb with nothing more than a sturdy pair of shoes. Guests can find over 30 different sections among the boulders that break out into over 123 climbing routes. www.rockclimbing.com

Front Range Climbing San Diego offers guests half- and full-day rock climbing excursions and courses, including beginners and intermediate rock climbing classes, as well as a lead rock climbing course. Trips and classes take place in Mission Trails Regional Park, a 5,800-acre park of rugged hills, valleys and open areas, and Mount Woodson, located between Poway and Ramona, where hundreds of strewn granite boulders offer routes that rock climbers of all levels can enjoy. www.frontrangeclimbing.com.

CAVE SPELUNKING Combining rock climbing, hiking and exploring into one

fascinating adventure, cave spelunking is the latest trend in outdoor recreation. San Diego County is home to a number of caves whose locations are kept private for preservation purposes; in East County, the Anza-Borrego Desert’s caves are the region’s most treasured taverns filled with unique spelunking surprises.

The Arroyo Tapiado mud caves in the Anza-Borrego Desert are some of the most extensive mud formations worldwide. With 22 different caves to explore, guests can venture deep inside the unknown world of canyons and crevices. Caving enthusiasts have mapped out detailed trails that take visitors inside bat caves, dead ends, narrow corridors, winding paths and rooms with 80-foot ceilings.

COASTAL TREASURES

San Diego is undoubtedly one of the most popular destinations in the world for water sports and activities.

Surfing Opportunities to "hang ten" are abundant up and down San

Diego’s 33 public beaches, from Oceanside in the north to Imperial Beach in the south.

The two-mile stretch along Mission Beach and Pacific Beach offers surf action year-round, from northwest and southwest swells to changing wave shapes with the shifting sandbars. A popular beach for those interested in surfing and sunbathing, a pedestrian boardwalk and the nearby Belmont Park keep both visitors and locals entertained year-round. Lifeguards are staffed year-round, 9 a.m. to dusk, at Mission Beach’s main lifeguard tower. Additional surf opportunities include the Wave House in Belmont Park with San Diego’s only FlowRide, a simulated surfing platform with a non-stop wave.

Swami Beach in Encinitas is one of San Diego County’s prime surf spots. Made famous by the Beach Boys’ hit song “Surfin’ USA,” big waves break off the narrow, cobblestone-strewn beach challenging experienced surfers. Stone Steps Beach, another popular surf spot in Encinitas, is accessible by a staircase that leads from the cliffs to the beach. From the cliffs, spectators have great views of daredevil surfers below and the surrounding area’s magnificent scenery.

Windansea Beach in La Jolla is known for its beautiful scenery and community surf culture dating back to the 1940s. Surfers enjoy hard surf breaks created by underwater reefs common in the area, and although the shoreline is rocky, sandstone rocks help to seclude the beach for sunbathers. Lifeguards staff the beach from 9 a.m. to dusk on weekends in the spring, daily in the summer and weekends in September.

Guests who want to learn to surf can contact a number of local surfing schools offering lessons and camps, including Surf Diva (www.surfdiva.com), Menehune Surf School (www.menehunesurf.com), Mission Bay Sportcenter (www.missionbaysportcenter.com), Ocean Experience (www.oceanexperience.net), San Diego Surfing Academy (www.surfsdsa.com) and WB Surfing (www.wbsurfing.com).

Shore Diving/Snorkeling

A popular place for underwater exploration is La Jolla, the stunning Mediterranean-like community located just north of downtown San Diego. Guests can explore the area’s protected waters on solo adventures or on guided shore tours, offered by a variety of outfitters like Hike Bike Kayak San Diego (www.hikebikekayak.com).

Underwater explorers often refer to the 6,000-acre marine habitat of the La Jolla Underwater Park, part of the La Jolla Ecological Reserve, as the "jewel of the sea." Located between La Jolla Cove and Torrey Pines State Reserve, the park was the first coastal underwater preserve on the U.S. West Coast and is home to a plethora of marine life. www.sandiego.gov

La Jolla Shores is the most popular dive and snorkel site in San Diego, and the La Jolla Submarine Canyon, one of the deepest places in the world, is located just offshore. At around 40 ft., the ocean floor drops in a dramatic series of cliff-like ledges that range in height from 5 to 20 ft. Guests can follow these ledges north or south and explore underwater worlds as deep as 800 ft. The sandy ocean bottom is packed with rays, skates, squids and guitarfish, and the ledges are teeming with marine life ranging from octopus to lobster.

Casa Cove, or the Children’s Pool, in La Jolla is a large man-made reef with convenient beach entry for divers and snorkelers of all skill level. Visibility is best during the summer when guests can catch exquisite displays of underwater sea creatures like leopard sharks, starfish and sea bass. As a year-round beaching location for seals, swimmers often find themselves in playful encounters with these sleek mammals. A short walk down the beach, guests can find South Casa Cove, a recommended site for advanced divers due to the difficulty of exiting and entering the water.

La Jolla Cove is a world-famous dive site located in the La Jolla Ecological Preserve where marine life flourishes and guests are guaranteed to see an array of colorful crustaceans and fish throughout the year. An excellent place for adventure for divers of all skill levels, the Cove is used for both day and night diving.

Boat Diving Local dive and snorkel companies offer boat trips to amazing

locations farther out in the Pacific where the distance from the shore increases visibility and marine activity. Divers can join OEX Dive &

Kayak (www.oeexpress.com) as they take guests out to the following locations:

The Kelp Beds off Point Loma are the fastest growing organisms in the world, growing two feet a day in ideal conditions. Diving and snorkeling conditions vary drastically depending on the weather, but due to the large amount of “tasty” kelp, fish and other marine life are always seen in abundance. The depths of the kelp beds can vary anywhere from 35 to over 70 feet, and visibility ranges 10-20 feet.

Los Coronados Islands, located in Mexican waters approximately one hour away from San Diego, makes for an easy dive for beginners. Diving is done in safe locations protected from oncoming swells, offering a calmer and clearer experience that replicates diving and snorkeling in the Caribbean. The Islands are also home to sea lions and harbors seals that often join guests during their swim.

A short boat trip from Mission Beach, divers can find themselves in Wreck Alley, an area named for the sunken boat wrecks found below. Divers can see fascinating remains of ships like the HCMS Yukon, a 366-foot Canadian destroyer ship, which is located two miles off-shore. This spectacular 600-acre, world-class dive site also includes a sunken kelp cutter, Coast Guard cutter, barge and sports fishing boat; military wrecks include a WWII P-38 bomber, a more modern F-14 aircraft and two submarines. Advanced diving certification is recommended but not required. www.scubasandiego.com

Kayaking Guests can kayak along San Diego’s tranquil waters on their own

or with many local companies that offer instruction, including Aqua Adventure Kayak Center (www.aqua-adventures.com), Hike Bike Kayak San Diego (www.hikebikekayak.com), La Jolla Kayak (www.lajollakayak.com), Mission Bay Sportcenter (www.missionbaysportcenter.com) and OEX Dive & Kayak Centers (www.oexcalifornia.com).

Just off the coast of La Jolla Shores and La Jolla Cove, kayakers routinely glide over the clear blue waters of the Pacific, paddling up to tidal caves and small inlets, as curious sea lions swim alongside and bright orange Garibaldi dart in and out of the kelp beds below. Protected since 1929, The La Jolla Ecological Reserve offers kayakers an up-close experience with marine animals.

Kayaking and canoeing are also popular in the calm waters of Mission Bay; on the west end of the bay is a network of channels and islands, perfect for kayakers.

SAILING Sailing in San Diego Bay and the blue waters of the Pacific

Ocean is another favorite local pastime. Inexperienced guests can sail with a guide on a rented boat or take lessons from a professional instructor, while more experienced sailors can charter their own boat or test their skills aboard an America’s Cup vessel.

Harbor Sailboats’ chartered tour provides guests a unique opportunity to learn about the history of San Diego from knowledgeable sailboat captains. Guests can choose to sit back and relax or help sail one of the company’s 40 yachts, ranging in size from 27 to 47 feet. Sailing occurs on the flat protected waters of San Diego Bay and the passive Pacific Ocean. Sunset sailing and whale watching excursions are also available during the season. www.harborsailboats.com

Located on Shelter Island, J World Sailing – The Performance School allows guests to sail among the big boats on San Diego Bay. J World provides lessons and instruction along with customized yacht and bareboat charters through its partnership with Sunsail, the largest yacht and bareboat charter company in the world. Three different sized boats are available for sailing by teens and adults. www.jworld-sailing.com

Inexperienced sailors can find a variety of sailboats to rent and inexpensive lessons to take at Mission Bay Sportcenter, located on Mission Bay. Its fleet of 25 sailboats, catamarans and sailboards can be rented by the hour or full-day, with private and group lessons available. www.missionbaysportcenter.com

Dennis Conner’s Americas Cup Experience offers a unique experience aboard the America, a historic replica of the world’s first America’s Cup winner. One of the most widely recognized names among American sailing vessels, the America is available for charter on San Diego Bay. Located on the Embarcadero in downtown San Diego, the company offers 2-hour public sailing excursions aboard the 139-ft. racing yacht. www.nextlevelsailing.com

AIRBORNE

Soaring over the blue Pacific can be a truly exhilarating and often daring experience for many. For those thrill-seekers ready to experience the ultimate rush, the following paragliding and skydiving locations will have guests flying high.

Located just south of the Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Torrey Pines Gliderport is a world-class flying site and one of the most successful paragliding schools in North America. Guests can experience tandem hang gliding with a certified instructor seven days a week, year-round, weather permitting. A lesson includes 5-10 minutes of ground and safety school instruction and 20-25 minutes of flight over the beautiful coastal cliffs of Torrey Pines and scenic Blacks Beach. www.flytorrey.com

For experienced paragliders and hang gliders, San Diego’s coastal location offers a variety of cliffside locations to keep every bold glider airborne. Torrey Pines is a world-class flying site and offers seven different launch sites; Horse Canyon, located an hour east of San Diego, is a great destination for thermals and X-C flying conditions; Little Black Mountain, located just east of La Jolla and Del Mar, is a great place for practicing the basics, and Otay Mesa’s launch sites offer a unique birds-eye-view overlooking the city of Tijuana.

First-time free-fallers or seasoned skydivers can find a jump to fit their comfort zone at these three locations: Skydive San Diego (www.skydivesandiego.com), Pacific Coast Skydiving (www.pcskydiving.com) and San Diego Skydiving (www.sandiegoskydiving.com). Single jumps, tandem jumps, certification and accelerated free falls are available.

FOUR-WHEEL EXCURSIONS San Diego’s spacious desert terrain is the perfect location for

fast-paced adventure. Guests can speed through sand dunes and zip around cacti in large SUVs or individual ATVs. Visitors can experience the thrill of off-roading through the Anza-Borrego Desert and Baja California with the following companies:

California Overland takes guests deep into the Anza-Borrego Desert on open-air jeep tours. Day Excursions venture out to remote locations complete with ancient Indian village sites, lush canyon oasis and mysterious geologic formations. As day turns to night, guests can literally camp under the stars on the Overnight Excursions where constellations shine bright without any

distraction from city lights; camping gear and meals are provided. www.californiaoverland.com

ATVs, quads and dirt bikes await the bold and daring at California Motorsport Adventures. One-day tours and customized trips into Mexico take guests into remote locations like secluded beaches and desert sand dunes on trails comfortable enough for beginners and challenging enough for daredevils. Trips can be arranged with meals, accommodations and transportation to and from San Diego. www.letsatv.com

FISHING Inland freshwater fishing at one of San Diego County's many

lakes (www.sdfish.com) is another refreshing way to whistle away the day. Visitors can throw out their lines at popular "fishing holes," including Lake Murray, Lake Cuyamaca and El Capitan Lake, where guests can catch trout, catfish or bluegill.

El Capitan Reservoir, located on the San Diego River outside of Lakeside, is known for bass and crappie, which are regularly caught at the north end of the lake. The lake also has Florida-strain largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, blue catfish, green sunfish and carp. The minimum size for bass is 15 inches and 10 inches for crappie. Fish limits are five bass, five catfish, 25 crappie and no limit on the others. Guests should plan to fish from aboard a boat; there is only approximately 4 miles of shoreline accessible without one.

At an elevation of 4,600 feet, Lake Cuyamaca is an active freshwater and fly fishing lake, and the only San Diego lake able to stock trout year-round. Located within Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, 44,000 pounds of fish stock the lake, including Florida bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill and sturgeon. Guests can also take advantage of Lake Cuyamaca’s GPS fishing guide to find the best spots on the lake. www.lakecuyamaca.org

Located within Mission Trails Regional Park, scenic Lake Murray’s fishing season runs December through September. Guests can hook a Florida-strain largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, black crappie and trout, which are stocked in the lake from November through May. The minimum size for bass is 12 inches; catch limits are five trout, five bass, five catfish and 25 crappie. Motorized boats are allowed; float tubes are also allowed within 150 feet or less from the shore.

SPORTSFISHINGSportfishing off the San Diego coast or in neighboring Baja

California allows guests to experience the thrill of the catch. Leisurely boat excursions depart daily from Shelter Island and Harbor Island marinas, offering half-, full- and multi-day fishing trips.

Fisherman’s Landing’s fleet of 16 vessels, ranging in length from 57 to 124 ft., offers open party, chartered and long-range trips throughout the waters of San Diego and Mexico. Trips last 1 - 23 days, and guests fish for albacore, yellowtail, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and more. Fisherman’s Landing holds the all-tackle yellowfin tuna world record at 388 pounds. www.fishermanslanding.com

H&M Landing offers half- to multi-day trips aboard their seven-boat fleet. Boats depart daily year-round, on a regular schedule; chartered, long-range Baja trips and whale watching excursions are also available. Depending on the season, fishing trips target albacore, tuna and yellowtail in the waters of Southern California and Mexico. www.hmlanding.com

Point Loma Sportfishing welcomes beginners as well as experienced fisherman to their 17-vessel fleet. Boats range in length from 43 to 112 ft. and fish the local waters of San Diego and Baja Mexico. Half- to multi-day chartered or open party trips are available to fish for albacore, bluefin tuna and yellowtail. www.pointlomasportfishing.com

CAMPING The great American enthusiasm for camping is alive and well in

San Diego. From Mission Bay to the Anza-Borrego Desert, visitors can experience a change of pace from San Diego’s urban setting and enjoy the solitude and adventure of the great outdoors.

The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, one of the richest and seemingly boundless living museums in the country, offers a wealth of camping opportunities, from full-service campgrounds to find-your-own-spot settings. In fact, Anza-Borrego is one of the few places in San Diego County where camping is allowed outside designated campgrounds. Desert camping enthusiasts can also enjoy auto touring on 4x4 routes, as well as biking, hiking, horseback riding and sightseeing. One of the most popular times to visit the park is during March and April when a kaleidoscope of colorful wildflowers splash bold colors across the desert dunes, creating a spectacular floral display.

Located in Pacific Beach on the north side of Mission Bay, Campland on the Bay provides 650 tent and RV sites along with its own beach, water sport rentals, pool and Jacuzzi area. Other amenities include a laundry facility, market, boat launch, game room and the Hungry Wolf BBQ & Ice Cream Parlor. www.campland.com

Chula Vista RV Resort & Marina offers 237 RV sites with full hookups and boarder sites for privacy. Nestled along picturesque San Diego Bay in Chula Vista, the resort is surrounded by landscaped parks and adjacent to its own 552 slip marina. Other park amenities include a general store, picnic area with barbecues, swimming pool and spa, laundry facilities, full restrooms, club rooms and two full-service restaurants with waterfront dining. www.chulavistarv.com

Mission Bay RV Resort, located in De Anza Cove on the north side of Mission Bay, provides 260 full hook-up RV sites with free cable and wireless Internet access. The park offers a boat launch on-site and is within walking distance to a beach and 18-hole public golf course; other amenities include a laundry site and full restrooms. Mission Bay RV Park accepts 1990 or newer model class A & C motor homes, travel trailers and 5th wheels. Older models are accepted on an individual basis at the sole discretion of management; pop-up tent trailers and converted school and transit busses are not accepted. www.missionbayrvresort.com

NATURE WALKS A nature walk in San Diego is an ideal way to spend the day and

gain inner peace. With spectacular botanical gardens that are tantalizing to the eye and soothing to the soul, and with a diversity of scenic settings from the ocean to the desert, San Diego offers numerous places where one can find sanctuary with the environment.

Walks along Batiquitos Lagoon, one of the few remaining tidal wetlands on the Southern California coast, are easy to moderate with many stops along the way. Group led tours point out interesting plants, birds, insects and geology en route; public walks are offered during weekends and cover an array of topics like “Looking for Reptiles,” “Walk like an Indian,” “Feet and Feathers” and “What’s Bugging You?” www.batiquitosfoundation.org

The San Dieguito Park in San Diego’s North County offers a walking trail for visitors along the San Dieguito Lagoon Boardwalk & Trail. Winding around the 150-acre San Dieguito

Lagoon, the 2-mile trail offers guests an expansive, picturesque view of the lagoon with information posted along the route highlighting the 150 rare bird species that live there. www.sdrvc.org

One of the most lushly planted parks in North America, the 1,200-acre Balboa Park includes 180 varieties of roses in the Inez Rose Garden, the ornate Spanish-inspired Alcazar Garden, a 2.5-acre Desert Garden featuring succulents and the Japanese Friendship Garden, complete with a soothing Zen rock garden and koi pond. The park also offers a variety of tours that offer insight to the park’s rich history, horticulture and botanical beauty. www.balboapark.org

San Diego Harbor, one of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders, is part of San Diego Bay, a bustling waterway plied by ferryboats, cruise ships, sailboats, yachts, fishing vessels and the U.S. Navy’s armada of battleships and aircraft carriers. Surrounding the Bay are 16 public parks, and their 250 bayfront acres and miles of landscaped promenades provide ideal vantage points to view the ever-changing seascape and gleaming San Diego skyline. Public art can also be seen everywhere, with popular displays ranging from sculptures and murals to mosaics and pottery works. www.thebigbay.com

San Diego’s numerous beaches are where the sands of time stand still and the rhythm of the waves brings guests into a world of complete comfort and relaxation. Some of the nation’s finest beaches are located in San Diego County; for example, Coronado Beach is consistently rated among “America’s Top Ten Beaches” by the Travel Channel. Whether sauntering along the shoreline or exploring the amazing world of tide pools, guests are sure to find themselves at ease along San Diego’s beaches and waterfront. http://www.sandiego.org/what-to-do/beaches.aspx www.

The San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas has garnered international attention for its diverse collection of rare and endangered species and gardens dedicated to flora from Africa, Australia, California, Central America, the Mediterranean and Middle East, just to name a few. Free docent-led tours are available at 10 a.m. every Saturday with paid admission. www.sdbgarden.org

Happiness is calling in San Diego. For more information on San

Diego’s offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable

coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego

Tourism Authority’s website at www.sandiego.org.

# # #12/10

“Funded in part by the San Diego Tourism Marketing District with City of San Diego Tourism Marketing District Assessment Funds.”