Out and about: Visit San Diego's outdoor attractions
From the March ACP Observer, copyright © 2007 by the American College of Physicians.
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Although Internal Medicine 2007 offers enough activities to fill most of your waking hours, San Diego's temperate climate and beautiful surroundings are sure to lure you outside for at least part of your stay.
Bordered by Mexico, the Pacific Ocean, the Anza-Borrego Desert and the Laguna Mountains, California's second-largest city offers the sophisticated entertainments of an urban area along with a wide range of outdoor activities.
Whether you're up for a wild night across the border in Tijuana or want to take the little ones to see Shamu, San Diego has entertainment to suit the whole family. Here are just some of the attractions available to fill your spare time during Internal Medicine 2007.
San Diego Zoo. Although the pandas are by far the most famous residents, the 100-acre zoo is home to over 4,000 rare and endangered animals representing more than 800 species, and a prominent botanical collection with more than 700,000 exotic plants. The zoo is located just north of San Diego in Balboa Park and is accessible by car or the #7 bus line from downtown. Open daily 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Wild Animal Park. If you long to see the animals in an even more natural habitat, visit the wild animal park, an 1,800-acre wildlife preserve owned by the zoo. Riding on a tram or a small-group safari, you can watch rhinos, cheetahs, giraffes, even a baby elephant roam as they would in their native lands. The park is in Escondido, 35 miles north of San Diego. Open daily 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Balboa Park. As well as housing the zoo, the park contains 15 major museums, including the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (with a planetarium and IMAX), the San Diego Museum of Art, the San Diego Natural History Museum and the Museum of Photographic Arts. The park, which spans 1,200 acres, also has several award-winning gardens and hosts concerts and plays. Located just north of San Diego, hours vary by attraction.
Cabrillo National Park. Admire sweeping ocean vistas, hike rocky cliff tops along the coast, or tour the restored Point Loma Lighthouse at this park, the site of the first European visitors to San Diego. The park offers information about the history and marine life of the area, from whale watching to tide pools full of crabs. The park is just west of San Diego, accessible by car or bus. Open daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Maritime Museum. This nautical history museum is located within six restored and replica ships, including the Star of India, the oldest active iron sailing ship in the world. In addition to touring the ships, weekend visitors can sail on the Californian, a replica of a 19th century tall ship. There's also a special, temporary exhibit on Pirates of the Pacific. The museum is located on Harbor Drive 2 miles from the Convention Center, on the trolley line. Open daily 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Legoland. Using more than 30 million LEGO pieces, the builders of Legoland have created attractions ranging from life-size elephants to a miniature version of New York City. The theme park also has rides for the entire family. Legoland is located in Carlsbad, 30 minutes north of San Diego. Open daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Seaworld. Watch the killer whales leap through the air, get nose-to-nose with sharks, or plunge 60 feet to explore the lost continent of Atlantis. Seaworld San Diego has a wide variety of exhibits, activities and shows centered on marine life. Seaworld is located in San Diego and is accessible by car or public transportation. Open daily 10 a.m. - dusk.
Old Town State Historic Park. A six-block recreation portrays San Diego life from 1821 to 1872. Five original adobes are part of the complex, which includes shops, restaurants and a museum. In all, the park contains 20 historic or replica structures, including a mansion, a schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, San Diego's first newspaper office, and a stable with a carriage collection. Located in Old Town San Diego, the park is accessible by car or trolley. Open daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Theater. From Shakespearian plays to controversial performance art, San Diego's many theaters offer a wide variety of entertainment. The Old Globe Theater is the best known and often attracts Hollywood stars as guest performers. Tickets for most performances (including last-minute half-price deals) are available through ARTS TIX at their booth downtown or online.
Music. San Diego has its own symphony and opera, as well as frequent live music performances in local clubs and bars. During the weekend of April 21 & 22, the Adams Avenue Roots Festival will take place at Adams Park, north of downtown San Diego. Six stages will host vintage blues, folk, jazz, country and international music. The festival is free and runs Saturday 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Baseball. Across Harbor Drive from the Convention Center is PETCO Park, the open-air stadium that has been home to the San Diego the Padres, since 2004. During Internal Medicine 2007, the Padres will be playing Arizona Diamondbacks at home on Wednesday, April 18 at 7:05 p.m. and Thursday, April 19 at 12:35 p.m.
La Jolla. A chic seaside community with pretty beaches and snazzy shops and restaurants, La Jolla is also home to the main branch of San Diego's Museum of Contemporary Art (the other, smaller branch is in downtown San Diego), the hiking trails of the Torrey Pines State Beach and Reserve, and the Stephen Birch Aquarium. La Jolla is 14 miles north of San Diego.
Pacific Ocean. You have to be brave to swim the chilly Pacific in April (average water temperature is around 60 degrees), but there are plenty of other ways to enjoy the ocean in San Diego. Catch a water taxi over to Coronado for a view of the city and the scenic Coronado Bridge or explore on your own in a rented kayak, sailboat or personal watercraft. Surfing and dinner cruises are other popular aquatic activities.
Beaches. In total, San Diego has more than 70 miles of beaches. Mission Beach is the most popular beach in the city, with a wide boardwalk and a roller coaster. Pacific Beach has bike trails, picnic tables and a lively weekend scene. Ocean Beach is popular with volleyball players, sunbathers, and swimmers and has a pier for fishing and walking, as well as a dog park.
Land sports. In addition to the beach sports of volleyball and rollerblading, the San Diego area is home to 92 different golf courses, including the legendary Torrey Pines. You'll also have 1,200 tennis courts to choose from, as well as miles of trails for hiking or biking. With four 'microclimates' in the immediate area (mountains, deserts, inland valleys and beaches), the city's population participates in an enormous variety of sports.
In the air. To get a different perspective on the city, consider heading up. Launching daily at dawn and dusk, hot air balloons offer a panoramic view of the ocean and the city. For fans of more extreme sports, local tour operators also offer hangliding lessons, biplane trips and helicopter tours.
Casinos. If you're looking for a little Vegas-style action, check out San Diego's gambling options. Within 45 minutes of the city, there are eight casinos, built by Native Americans on tribal lands. The casinos are open 24 hours a day and offer elaborate entertainment and amenities, in addition to games ranging from blackjack and poker to Pai Gow and progressive slot machines.
Mexico. A foreign country is just a trolley ride away from San Diego. The Mexican border town of Tijuana is 16 miles south of San Diego, and offers plentiful cheap souvenirs, as well as greyhound racing, Mexican history and a large number of restaurants. Be aware that the State Department has issued an alert about dangers to U.S. citizens on major highways outside Tijuana.
Science center offers family fun for children of all ages
Science-minded visitors and families can enjoy lighter presentations at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center ("the Fleet"), which features seven interactive exhibit galleries. For current information, call (619) 238-1233 or visit here. The science center is located 1875 El Prado, Balboa Park, two blocks south of the San Diego Zoo.
Here's a round-up of events at the Fleet while Internal Medicine 2007 visits:
"GROSSOLOGY: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body"
Based on the best-selling book, this popular traveling exhibition uses sophisticated animatronics and imaginative exhibits to tell you the good, the bad and the downright ugly about runny noses, body odor and much more.
"More Than Meets the Eye: The Science of Seeing"
This exhibition spans the kaleidoscopic range of what we know about vision, from the physical (behavior of light) to the social and philosophical (subjectivity of visual interpretation).
"Aging for All Ages"
Created by the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center staff, "Aging for All Ages" is a 1,200 square-foot exhibition designed for all ages! Families, adults and school groups can learn about wellness and healthy lifestyle choices through fun and engaging interactive exhibits.
"Kid City"
From the Factory to the Grocery Store, to the Book Nook and Block Corner, infants through children age six will create, play and learn as they experience the wonders of the everyday working world within this colorful, interactive exhibition.
"Origins in Space: Spin-Offs in Science and Technology"
This new exhibition looks at the scientific accomplishments and technological spin-offs that have resulted from NASA missions.
"San Diego Science Showcase"
This interactive display features technological and scientific breakthroughs being made by San Diego-based companies.
At the IMAX Dome Theater
The Alps: Giants of Nature is a breathtaking journey to the heart of the Alps, where one man's mission to climb the Eiger North Face becomes the quest of a lifetime.
Hurricane on the Bayou takes viewers on a breathtaking IMAX tour of the Louisiana bayou and New Orleans while offering an emotional portrayal of the region's most pressing environmental calamity, the rapid decline of bayou wetlands, and the staggering effects of one of the worst natural disasters in American history, Hurricane Katrina.
Coral Reef Adventure invites viewers to soar over the volcanic peaks of Tahiti, dive 350 feet to explore deep corals off the shore of Fiji and swim among hundreds of sharks in the canyons of the Rangiroa atoll.
Enjoy up to four IMAX films for only $7 each every Friday night. Two different IMAX classics will show each week at 6 and 7 p.m. followed by films at 8 and 9 p.m. are from the current schedule. On April 20, classic include Cosmic Voyage at 6 p.m. and Lewis & Clark at 7 p.m.
Other Programs
Family Science Days offer hands-on activities that complement interactive exhibits and are designed for children and adults to work together. All activities are included free with paid Science Center admission. Saturday, April 21, noon - 3 p.m. offers Illusions.
Weekend Program Series is designed to inform the public about science in ways which are intriguing, user-friendly and, whenever possible, hands-on. Weekend programs are suitable for ages eight and up. Saturday, April 21, noon to 3 p.m. offers Astronomy Day.
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