The Place for Government Per Diem Rate Hotels

City Overview

Government rate per diem hotels in San Diego offer a wide range of facilities to suit your accommodation needs. There is a wide variety of choice for federal, state government and military travelers looking for great hotels with per diem rates.

Sun, surf and exquisite scenery are the qualities most visitors seek in San Diego. Nestled in the southern-most corner of California's coastline, the city is blessed with sun and temperate weather year round. Pristine beaches and blooming gardens are among the unique characteristics of this city.

Attractions like SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park incorporate San Diego's casual, outdoor lifestyle in their exhibits, and a laid-back air prevails everywhere. Suntanned, barefoot, bikini-clad surfers and sun lovers fill the city, especially in Ocean, Mission and Pacific beaches, just three of many seaside towns along San Diego's 112 km (70 mile) long coastline. Long stretches of sand are filled with sunbathers who wander to the surf shops, coffee houses and cafes that represent the heart and soul of the Southern California lifestyle.

Historic downtown communities like the Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy are now centres for dining, nightlife and the arts. Downtown has grown to incorporate eight distinctive neighborhoods and is the epicentre for all that's cool and hip in San Diego.

Music is an integral part of San Diego's heritage and popularity. Budding musicians in all genres develop their talents at San Diego clubs, while well-known acts perform on outdoor stages and intimate indoor venues all around town. Home to dozens of cultural organisations, writers' guilds and artist co-operatives, San Diego is one of Southern California's most important centres for the arts.

In addition, thanks to its history of Spanish missionaries here, Spanish influences remain strong to this day, especially as San Diego is barely an hour's drive from the border with Mexico. The evidence of this inextricable connection with its Hispanic beginnings is everywhere, in the mix of Spanish and English used in local slang and in the regional cuisine.

San Diego, the eighth largest city in the USA, is far more than one single city; it is a patchwork of cultures, neighbourhoods and small, uniquely defined communities - the epitome of the American melting pot. Many travellers come here just to bask in the warmth and experience a Southern California paradise.

Getting Around

Airport

San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Tel: (619) 400 2400.
Website: www.san.org

San Diego International Airport is located at Lindbergh Field, less than 10km (6 miles) from downtown San Diego. While it is not the largest airport in California (Los Angeles International and San Francisco International are more than twice its size), it is filled with public art and handles close to 300 flights per day, including connecting flights from most US hubs. Many of these connecting flights use the airport's Commuter Terminal, a five-minute drive from the two main terminals. A red shuttle bus travels between the three terminals.

ApproximateflighttimestoSanDiego: From London is 13 hours 35 minutes; from New York is 6 hours; from Los Angeles is 50 minutes; from Toronto is 6 hours 30 minutes and from Sydney is 15 hours.

Airportfacilities: Facilities include ATMs, money exchange kiosks, over 30 food and beverage establishments and several gift and newspaper stores. Wi-Fi access is available throughout the three terminals. All of the major car hire operators have offices at the airport, including Avis, Budget, Hertz and National.

Transporttothecity:SanDiegoMetropolitanTransitSystem (tel: (619) 233 3004; website: www.sdcommute.com) operates a regular bus service that connects the airport terminals with the Downtown quarter and provides easy connection to bus, train and trolley services within the city. Bus 992 leaves for Downtown approximately every 10 minutes, connecting bus, trolley and Coaster train services to outlying areas of the county.

Additionally, most of the major hotels in San Diego's Hotel Circle and surrounding areas offer an airport shuttle service, either free or for a nominal cost. ExpressShuttleofSanDiego (tel: 1 800 900 7433; website: www.xpressshuttle.com) offers a shared shuttle service.

Trains

Amtrak (tel: 1 800 872 7245; www.amtrak.com) operates from Santa Fe Station, 1050 Kettner Boulevard, corner of Broadway. Facilities at the station are limited to a snack bar, vending machines, phones and washrooms, but the architecture (in Spanish Mission style) is magnificent.

Rail Services

Amtrak operates the Pacific Surfliner train service stopping at multiple stations along California's scenic west coast and offering 11 daily round-trip journeys between San Diego and Los Angeles, continuing to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. Journey time to Los Angeles is two hours 45 minutes.

By Road

Southern California has an excellent network of interstate and state highways. Interstates are designated by an 'I' and a corresponding number. Speed limits on interstate highways vary from 96kph (60mph) to 112kph (70mph). Urban speed limits are generally 40-48kph (25-30mph). Traffic drives on the right. U-turns are legal in the State of California, unless posted otherwise, as is turning right at stoplights. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.08%. The minimum driving age is 16, with restrictions. Children under the age of six years or less than 22.39kg (60lb) must be carried in a child restraint seat.

California does not require International Driving Permits. It accepts all foreign driving licences. Car insurance is mandatory in the state of California.

The local automobile association is Automobile Club of Southern California (tel: 1 800 400 4222 for roadside assistance, and 1 877 428 2277 for membership services), a regional affiliate of the American Automobile Association (www.aaa.com). There is a reciprocal service agreement between the AAA and the UK AA.

Emergency breakdown services

ACSC (tel: 1 800 400 4222) or Good Sam RV Roadside Service for RVs and travel trailers (tel: 1 800 842 5351).

Routes to the city
San Diego is California's most southern coastal metropolis. It is the hub of three major interstate highway systems - I-5 (running north-south from the US-Canada border to the US-Mexico border), I-15, which begins in San Diego and runs northeast to Las Vegas, Nevada, and I-8 East, which also begins in San Diego and connects with I-10 outside of Phoenix, Arizona. San Diego also has an east-west corridor, which was designed to accommodate the increased rush-hour traffic to suburban areas east of San Diego. The four-lane State Route 56 (SR 56) highway, also called the Ted Williams Parkway, has helped ease much of the congestion on San Diego's main easterly corridor, the I-15. The I-5 is the connecting artery for most of California's large cities - Los Angeles and San Francisco are both directly north of San Diego via I-5.

Coach services

Greyhound (tel: 1 800 231 2222; www.greyhound.com) operates buses throughout the USA, as well as to numerous destinations in Canada and a limited number of locations in Mexico, from the Greyhound Terminal (tel: 619 515 1100), 120 West Broadway, at First Street. Tickets for specific destinations can be purchased at the terminal before departure.

Local Transport

Public Transport

San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (tel: (619) 233 3004 or 511; www.sdcommute.com) operates three types of public transport within the County of San Diego. Public buses and the trolley operate daily throughout the city every 10 to 20 minutes, with buses generally operating from 0600 to 2400 and trolleys around 0400 to 0100 (times vary depending on the route).
 
The Coaster train service provides increased transport to outlying areas, linking seven coastal communities as far north as Oceanside. Six Coaster trains serve the morning rush hour and six run during the afternoon rush hour, with two extra midday services. There are also four services throughout the day (approximately 0930-1930) on Saturday.
 
Day Tripper Passes give unlimited access to buses and the trolley for one, two, three or four consecutive days. Available from The Transit Store, 102 Broadway (tel: (619) 234 1060).
 
The San Diego-Coronado Ferry (tel: (619) 234 4111; www.sdhe.com) shuttles commuters and visitors between the Broadway Pier at the intersection of Broadway and Harbor Streets and the Ferry Landing shopping and dining centre on Coronado. The ferry leaves the Broadway Pier every hour on the hour and leaves the Coronado Ferry Dock every hour on the half-hour.

Taxis

Yellow Cab (tel: (619) 234 6161) operates throughout San Diego County. It is best for visitors to request a taxi by telephone, although it is possible to hail them in the street in Downtown. A 10-15% tip is appropriate for good service.

Driving in the City

San Diego is well laid out with several well-maintained highways that serve as major arteries to outlying districts. Highways are generally easy to follow, although California's Interstate highways maintain high speeds and can be unnerving for first-time visitors. As in most Southern California cities, early morning (0630-0900) and late afternoon (1500-1900) are peak rush-hour times and driving during these periods should be avoided. Areas such as Downtown, Mission Bay, Coronado Bridge and the major beach areas are high congestion areas during rush hour - highways and major streets leading into these areas are usually heavily congested. The high occupant vehicle lanes (HOV) are designed for vehicles carrying two to three passengers or more (highways differ in their minimum limit of passengers). There are stiff fines for vehicles carrying less than the stated minimum number of passengers. Left lanes that are not HOV lanes are reserved for passing vehicles.
 
Public parking in the Mission Beach and Pacific Beach areas is usually at a premium on weekends and holidays. A few residential areas have signage indicating the days and hours that visitors are allowed to park on the street. Vehicles that do not obey the regulations may be towed away. Most hotels provide parking to guests for a fee. If you have abundant free time, it is best to use the bus, trolley or train to reach most areas. Public transport is not efficient, however, and doesn't reach some popular attractions. If time and efficiency are issues, driving is the best way to get around.

Car Hire

Car hire agencies in the USA require a credit card or cash deposit when hiring out a car. The minimum age to hire a car is usually 25 years and the driver must be in possession of a valid driving licence - an international driver's permit is not required but is accepted. Some agencies (Budget and National specifically) will allow drivers aged 21-24 years to drive but will charge an extra fee of US$20-25 per day. Insurance is mandatory when driving and car hire companies normally carry their own optional insurance. Customers who have their own US car insurance are normally covered while driving a hired vehicle.
 
There are several major agencies located in the city. These include Avis (tel: (619) 688 5000 or 1 800 331 1212; www.avis.com), Budget (tel: 1 800 527 0700; www.budget.com), Hertz (tel: 1 800 654 3131; www.hertz.com) and National (tel: (619) 497 6777 or 1 800 227 7368; www.nationalcar.com).

Bicycle Hire

Cycling is a popular past-time in San Diego and the city has no shortage of bicycle shops to accommodate this. Bike Tours San Diego, 509 Fifth Avenue (tel: (619) 238 2444; www.bike-tours.com), provides both bike hire and guided bike tours and is centrally located in the Downtown area. They also offer both standard scenic tours and trail bike tours within the San Diego County.
 
 Cheap Rentals, at 3221 and 3689 Mission Boulevard (tel: (858) 488 9070 or 1 800 941 7761; www.cheap-rentals.com), has all kinds of bikes (as well as skating and surfing equipment) for hire from their shops in Mission Beach, close to the boardwalk and parks.

General Information

Location

California, San Diego County, southwestern United States, USA.

Time zone

GMT - 8 (GMT - 7 from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).

Electricity

110 volts, 50Hz; round two-pin plugs are standard.

Average January temperatures

18.3°C (65°F).

Average July temperatures

24.4°C (76°F).

Annual rainfall

254mm (10 inches).

Things to do

Sightseeing Overview

The city's beach areas (La Jolla, home of the Birch Aquarium at Scripps and a famed scuba diving area, and the seaside towns of Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach and MissionBeach) provide all the sunbathing and swimming that visitors could need.

Coronado (the tip of a long land spit just west of Downtown) also has several famous beaches, including the Silver Strand State Beach. The historic Hotel Del Coronado, north of the Strand, has been a favourite filming location for many years and is worth a visit.

The Downtown area is home to the historic GaslampQuarter, with wildly popular bars and restaurants in 19th-century Victorian mansions and saloons.

The lush BalboaPark a few blocks north of Downtown is home to more than 15 museums and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. OldTown, California's 18th-century birthplace, is located just north of Downtown and contains the majestic Presidio (Fort), which overlooks San Diego Bay amid spacious manicured lawns.

Some visitors consider SeaWorld, in San Diego's popular Mission Bay area, to be one of the city's key attractions, thanks to its heavily promoted orca shows, nightly fireworks and amusement rides.

Northeast of Downtown is the Wild Animal Park, a larger, unique version of the San Diego Zoo. Outlying parks like the Mission Trails Regional Park (again northeast of Downtown) are a nature-lover's paradise.

South of Downtown is Mexico, with the quirky curio shops and classic border town ambience of Tijuana.

Tourist Information

International Visitor Information Center
1040 1/3 West Broadway (at Harbor Drive)
Tel: (619) 236 1212.
Website: www.sandiego.org
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1700 (Jun-Aug), Thurs-Tues 0900-1600 (Sep-May).

Passes

The Southern California Value Pass allows admission to both SeaWorld San Diego and Universal Studios Hollywood, within a 14-day period. You can buy the pass at either attraction or on their websites.

The Two-Park Ticket includes a ‘deluxe' admission to San Diego Zoo (with a narrated bus tour and aerial tram tour) and a Wild Animal Park general admission. The ticket, which is available for purchase at either establishment, must be used within five days.

The San Diego 3-for-1 Ticket entitles holders to five consecutive days at San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park and SeaWorld San Diego. It can be bought at any of these attractions or on their websites.

The Passport to Balboa Park Pass provides access to 13 of the museums within Balboa Park. The pass lasts seven days and can be purchased from the House of Hospitality, within the park.

Attractions

Mission Trails Regional Park
This 2300-hectare (5750-acre) park on the east side of San Diego is a naturalist's paradise. On any given day, you can see animals indigenous to this semi-arid landscape, including coyotes, fox, hummingbirds and the small gecko lizard. The park hosts ecology and guided interpretive walks year round. It is also possible to camp in the park during the summer (Thursday through Sunday), as there are 46 fairly primitive campsites accessible to vehicles. Reservations may only be made through the website.
1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, off Highway-8 East
Tel: (619) 668 3281.
Website: www.mtrp.org
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1700.
Free admission (park and interpretive centre); charge for camping.

Seaport Village
Named for its historic waterfront setting on the shores of San Diego Bay, Seaport Village is one of the city's more unusual ‘malls'. Located at the southern edge of the city's old Embarcadero wharf area, the village is primarily a shopping and eating district with paths, ponds and lakes providing scenic views of the waterfront.
849 West Harbor Drive
Tel: (619) 235 4014.
Website: www.seaportvillage.com 
Opening hours: Shops open daily 1000-2100 (until 2200 in summer).
Free admission.

Restaurants

Gastronomic

George's California Modern
Spectacular coastal scenery and terrific contemporary Californian haute cuisine. The combination is likely to make any visit to this La Jolla standout a memorable experience. The elegant fine dining restaurant is located on the main floor, and the menu is seasonal with a strong emphasis on fresh ingredients and a creative approach to regional cuisine. Upstairs, the rooftop Ocean Terrace offer a more casual menu and breathtaking views of La Jolla Cove.

1250 Prospect Street, La Jolla
Tel: (858) 454 4244.
Website: www.georgesatthecove.com
Price: $$$$

The Marine Room
Right on the beach at La Jolla Shores, The Marine Room blends an incredible location with expertly prepared French, Mediterranean and Californian cuisine. Famous for the dramatic pounding surf right outside its windows, the restaurant also deserves its reputation for culinary excellence. During the winter, the restaurant hosts special 'High Tide Breakfasts', with the waves crashing against the windows.

2000 Spindrift Drive, La Jolla
Tel: (858) 459 7222.
Website: www.marineroom.com
Price: $$$$

Mille Fleurs
Ensconced in the highly exclusive enclave of Rancho Santa Fe, Mille Fleurs is one of the San Diego region's very best French restaurants, boasting haute cuisine, elegant décor, top-notch service and an intimate hacienda setting. An exclusive culinary experience.

6009 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe
Tel: (858) 756 3085.
Website: www.millefleurs.com
Price: $$$$

Business

El Agave Tequileria
There are many good Mexican restaurants in San Diego, and among the very best is El Agave Tequileria in Old Town. This Mexican nouvelle cuisine restaurant serves a wide range of authentic dishes from various Mexican regions while also giving many of them a modern twist. In addition to the top-notch food on offer, El Agave has an impressive tequila selection; more than 100 brands are served by the shot.
 
2304 San Diego Avenue, Old Town
Tel: (619) 220 0692.
Website: www.elagave.com
Price: $$

The Fish Market
The Fish Market and its upstairs, the more upscale Top of the Market, are a fish lover's paradise. The casual, busy and bustling downstairs offers an enormous selection of totally fresh seafood, while the Top of the Market is more formal and serves fish and seafood dishes in more elegant surroundings. Both levels offer remarkable views of the harbour and the Coronado Bridge. Downstairs there is a retail seafood market and a sushi bar.

750 North Harbor Drive
Tel: (619) 232 3474.
Website: www.thefishmarket.com
Price: $$

Sally's Restaurant
Located right on the waterfront in Seaport Village, Sally's Restaurant is a friendly place with a lively atmosphere and excellent food. The main focus of the cooking is fresh seafood, and the restaurant's open kitchen allows guests to see the chef in action working his magic with the ingredients. Sally's is famous for its generous portions and for serving the best crab cakes in town.

1 Market Place
Tel: (619) 358 6740.
Website: www.sallyssandiego.com
Price: $$

Trendy

Bertrand at Mister A's
The 12th-floor panoramic views of the city are unbeatable, and the cuisine (a contemporary combination of French and Californian influences) and wine list are top notch. Casual elegance characterises both clientele and ambience at Bertrand at Mister A's, where guests can enjoy patio dining at eye level with the planes heading for the nearby airport.

2550 Fifth Avenue
Tel: (619) 239 1377.
Website: www.bertrandatmisteras.com
Price: $$$

Laurel Restaurant & Bar
Laurel Restaurant & Bar in Banker's Hill near Balboa Park has stunning, glamorous interiors that perfectly match the chef's creative interpretations of traditional French and Mediterranean cuisine with Asian accents. The menu is a fascinating list of innovative and flavoursome dishes, and the extensive wine list has won the acclaim of critics. Try the happy hour specials for a less-expensive sampling of the menu's best offerings.

505 Laurel Street
Tel: (619) 239 2222.
Website: www.laurelrestaurant.com 
Price: $$$

Quarter Kitchen
The trendy Ivy Hotel's spacious restaurant draws rave reviews for its Kobe beef pot pie, caviar tacos and pretty, pricey dishes presented by runway-worthy servers. Tables by the sidewalk windows offer views of the entire dining room and the queues of eager clubbers awaiting entrance to the hotel's chic clubs. An expense account comes in handy.

600 F Street
Tel: (619) 814 1000.
Website: www.quarterkitchen.com
Price: $$$

Budget

Café Chloe
A charming cafe, wine bar and bistro in one, the elegant, European style Café Chloe in Downtown's up-and-coming East Village is a chic and friendly place with award-winning French-inspired dishes on offer. The food is fabulous, from the steak frites to the chicken and wild mushroom vol au vent, and the prices are very reasonable.

721 Ninth Avenue
Tel: (619) 232 3242.
Website: www.cafechloe.com
Price: $$

El Indio
A San Diego culinary institution since the 1940s, El Indio in Little Italy/Middletown not far from the airport is probably San Diego's most famous Mexican restaurant. It is rumoured that three US presidents have ordered food from El Indio to be sent to Washington DC. Abundant portions of fresh, high-quality Sonora-style Mexican food await visitors to this popular restaurant and take-out stand. The vegetarian menu is highly recommended.

3695 India Street
Tel: (619) 299 0333.
Website: www.el-indio.com
Price: $

Café 222
Pumpkin and wholegrain waffles, peanut butter French toast and other bountiful breakfasts draw crowds of downtown residents and office workers to this offbeat cafe with a tiny dining room and a few sidewalk tables. The wait for a table is eased by coffee and conversation. The owner is a seasoned restaurant critic and consultant who knows her stuff and nourishes a loyal clientele.

222 Island Avenue
Tel: (619) 239 9902.
Website: www.cafe222.com
Price: $

Personal Recommendations

The 3rd Corner
Funky Ocean Beach is the unlikely setting for this chic bistro with a spectacular wine list and French-California small dishes like baked Humboldt fog goat cheese, sublime steamed mussels and perfect duck confit. Cases of imported wines divide several intimate dining areas; choose a bottle for sampling for a surprisingly low corkage fee. Local chefs are known to gather here for late-night confabs.

2265 Bacon Street
Tel: (619) 223 2700.
Website: www.the3rdcorner.com 
Price: $$

Hash House a Go Go
Hash House a Go Go in Hillcrest lives up to its mission statement of keeping the fun in food and maintaining a level of excitement and entertainment during the dining experience. Huge portions of innovative and utterly delicious versions of classic American dishes and a friendly, bustling atmosphere ensure that visitors take enjoyment both from the food and the ambience. Long queues on weekends are proof of the enduring charm of this modern-day diner.

3628 Fifth Avenue
Tel: (619) 298 4646.
Website: www.hashhouseagogo.com
Price: $$

Point Loma Seafoods
This seafood cafe and retail fish market is always noisy and jammed, for good reason. The crab sandwiches on soft sourdough, ceviche still tasting of the sea, fresh albacore salad with mayonnaise, celery, and red onions and heaped plates of fried shrimp, scallops, fish, and squid with fries and slaw are enough to make a fish lover out of the most dedicated carnivore. Take your food to the enclosed patio or the outdoor tables by the waterfront for a postcard view of the marina.

2805 Emerson St
Tel: (619) 223 1109.
Website: www.plsf.com
Price: $

Night Life

Downtown's historic Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy neighbourhood are at the epicentre of San Diego's nightlife scene. New clubs open with amazing frequency, while older standbys constantly refresh their vibe. Rooftop bars with day beds and firepits are all the rage in Downtown, as are small jazz clubs and exclusive lounges. The beach towns all have casual local hangouts, many with outdoor seating. La Jolla, approximately half an hour north of Downtown, is well known for its classy nightlife.

The minimum legal age for drinking in California is 21 years and photo ID should be carried. Alcohol licensing stops at 0200.

Listings and information for nightlife in the city are available online at http://entertainment.signonsandiego.com and www.gaslamp.org.

Bars:Altitude Sky Lounge, 660 K Street, is a casual, fun rooftop bar overlooking Petco Park. Crowds assemble early for a bird's eye view of baseball games and brilliant sunsets. The attitude is a bit more upscale a few blocks away at Eden, 600 F Street, the above-it-all poolside rooftop bar at the ultra-chic Ivy Hotel. The Hard Rock Hotel's outdoor Moonstone Lounge and street-level Sweetwater Saloon, 207 Fifth Avenue, rock late into the night.

Clubs:Café Sevilla, 555 Fourth Avenue (website: www.cafesevilla.com), is a popular Gaslamp Quarter club featuring Latin, Brazilian, and Spanish rock. Regarded by many as the place with the best ambience in the Gaslamp Quarter, Café Sevilla has been visited by many notable musicians, such as the Gypsy Kings and Grace Jones. The Bitter End, 770 Fifth Avenue (www.thebitterend.com), is famous for its unusual California martinis and its live music in The Underground nightclub, with a full stage for live music, a dancefloor and a state-of-the-art lighting and sound system. Martini Ranch, 528 F Street (website: www.martiniranchsd.com), is a classic, elegant nightclub filling the gap between casual and upscale and offering a relaxed atmosphere, virtuoso bartenders and great drinks. Stingaree, 454 Sixth Avenue (website: www.stingsandiego.com), covers all the bases with six venues including a members-only VIP club and Rooftop Oasis. The movers behind the club have expanded their act into Pacific beach with Bar West, 959 Hornblend Street (www.barwestsd.com).

Comedy:Mystery Café serves up comedy with a dramatic twist. Located at the Imperial House Restaurant, 505 Kalmia Street (website: www.mysterycafe.net), the dinner theatre includes a four-course meal and award-winning performance that involves audience participation. The National Comedy Theatre, 3717 India Street (website: www.nationalcomedy.com), offers a hilarious, interactive improvisational comedy show that is based entirely on audience suggestions. Budding comedians test their material at the La Jolla branch of LA's famed Comedy Club, 916 Pearl Street, where established acts are often showcased as well.

LiveMusic: Undoubtedly one of the city's most famous dining and lounge establishments, famed for its live jazz, blues and folk, is named after the American blues artist Jim Croce. Croce's, 802 Fifth Avenue, corner of F Avenue (website: www.croces.com), was opened by his wife, Ingrid and often stars the couple's son, A.J. Croce. The venue hosts a wide and changing variety of musicians throughout the year. Top jazz, blues and classic rock musicians delight in the intimate supper-club setting at Anthology, 1337 India Street (website: www.anthologysd.com), at the juncture between downtown and Little Italy.

House of BluesSan Diego, 1055 Fifth Avenue (website: www.hob.com), houses a multi-level music hall featuring national and local live entertainment and a full-service restaurant. Musicians have several other venues to choose from in Downtown, including On Broadway, 615 Broadway (website: www.obec.tv), and 4th&B, 345 B Street (website: www.4thandb.com). Humphrey's, a long-time favourite venue on Shelter Island, 2241 Shelter Island Drive (website: www.humphreysconcerts.com), hosts blues, folk, jazz and rock concerts at its outdoor theatre beside the bay. For more than 30 years, rock and blues bands have drawn crowds to North County's Belly Up Tavern, 143 South Cedros Avenue in Solana Beach (website: www.bellyup.com), about 30 minutes north of Downtown.

Shopping

San Diego has several distinctive shopping areas. Typical Californian gifts range from T-shirts (a Southern Californian favourite) to expensive artwork from one of the area's many art galleries. A bottle of California wine is always a popular choice.

Markets

There are a number of farmers' markets scattered across San Diego County. Among the most popular is in Ocean Beach, where Newport Avenue is closed to traffic on Wednesday 1600-2000, when vendors sell everything from organic veggies and bundles of flowers to incense and tie-dyed T-shirts. 

Shopping centres

Built to take advantage of Southern California's sunny weather, Horton Plaza, at Fourth Avenue and F Street, Downtown, is one of San Diego's more compact shopping malls, with a bright, airy interior that is built in multiple levels and designed for easy accessibility. Fashion Valley, 7007 Friars Road, features many upscale shops including Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, Burberry and Bose.
 
San Diego is a book-lover's paradise with several excellent specialist bookshops. Oldest and largest is Wahrenbrock's Book House, 726 Broadway, which has been dubbed the grandmother of all bookshops. Three storeys packed with second-hand and new books on all kinds of topics should keep any bibliophile happy for hours. D.G. Wills, 7461 Girard Avenue in La Jolla is popular with scholars from nearby universities. Southern California's New Age vibe thrives at Controversial Bookstore, 3063 University Avenue.

Key areas

Hillcrest is where visitors can find local grocery stores and funky gift shops. Babette Schwartz, 421 University Avenue, specialises in 'Californian' gifts and personal items. Little Italy, Downtown, offers a tasteful selection of shops that are focused around Mediterranean cooking and culture.

San Diego, like most Californian cities, has a wide range of supermarkets and speciality food stores. Ralphs and Vons are only two of the major markets and are located conveniently in most residential districts. Both are generally open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Alternative grocers including Trader Joe's, Henry's and Baron's have a wide range of gourmet produce, cheese and wines.

Shopping hours

Most shops are open Monday to Saturday 0800-2100, and Sunday 1100-1800, although hours will vary.

Tax information

Sales tax stands at 7.75% in San Diego. There are duty-free stores located in San Ysidro, directly south of San Diego, via I-5, at the US-Mexican border. These stores are tremendously popular and offer a wide selection of products for reduced prices. California sales tax is non-refundable.

Events

PGA Buick Invitational Golf Tournament
January
Torrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla
Website: www.buickinvitational.com

Artwalk
April
Annual walk focusing on the city's artistic scene.
Downtown quarter of Little Italy
Website: www.artwalkinfo.com

Annual San Diego American Indian Cultural Days
May
Traditional singers and dancers, American Indian food and arts and crafts.
Park Boulevard, Presidents Way, Balboa Park

Annual San Diego Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade and Festival
July
Hillcrest and Balboa Park
Website: www.sdpride.org

Annual US Open Sandcastle Competition
July
Parade, competitions, fireworks.
Imperial Beach Pier, Imperial Beach

Annual World Body Surfing Championships
August
Oceanside Pier, Oceanside
Website: www.worldbodysurfing.org

Julian Fall Apple Harvest
September-November
Julian

Fleet Week San Diego
October
Air show by the Blue Angels, aviation exposition hosted by the US Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
Various venues
Website: www.fleetweeksandiego.org

December Nights
December
Evening music, food and craft displays and a regional cultural parade.
El Prado
Website: www.balboapark.org/december_nights.html

Old Town Holiday in the Park
December
Candlelit tours of historic buildings.
Old Town

History & Culture

Artists and musicians from San Diego reflect a diverse and colourful heritage, with Downtown probably the best evidence of the city's diversity. San Diego lives up to its reputation as a bastion for up-and-coming musicians including Jewel and Jason Mraz  - with the Gaslamp Quarter and its blues and jazz performers (see Nightlife). Little Italy is also known for its artistic contributions and music clubs. San Diego County's Chicano (Mexican-American) population has had a strong and valuable influence on San Diego's art community, mainly in festivals, such as the annual Latino Film Festival. Tickets for cultural performance and events are available for purchase from Ticketmaster (tel: (619) 220 8497; website: www.ticketmaster.com). Half-priced same-day tickets are available from Arts Tix (tel: (619) 497 5000; website: www.sandiegoperforms.com).
Cultural listings are available online at San Diego's performance and events website (www.sandiegoartandsol.com). The San Diego Performing Arts League, (tel: (619) 238 0700; website: www.sandiegoperforms) also offer listings and background info on the local arts scene.

Music: The San Diego Symphony, 1245 Seventh Avenue (tel: (619) 235 0800; website: www.sandiegosymphony.com), is known as much for its versatility as for its excellence. Its concerts range from classical symphony pieces to indigenous cultural music and summertime pop concerts at the seaside. Its indoor events are generally held in the Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B Street (tel: (619) 235 0804). There is also Mainly Mozart, featuring music by baroque, classical and romantic composers (including Mozart), at selected venues in San Diego and Baja California (tel: (619) 239 0100; website: www.mainlymozart.net).

Theatre:The Old Globe Tony-award winning theatre, located in Balboa Park (tel: (619) 234 5623; website: www.oldglobe.org) produces a wide range of plays on three stages throughout the year, including a summer outdoor Shakespeare festival. Another Tony favourite, the La Jolla Playhouse (tel: (858) 550 1010; website: www.lajollaplayhouse.org) has sent several plays to Broadway. The Starlight Theatre company (tel: (619) 544 7827; website: www.starlighttheatre.org) is one of San Diego's oldest musical theatre companies, showing musicals under the stars at the Starlight Bowl, by Presidents Way and Park Boulevard in Balboa Park. The Spreckels Theatre, 121 Broadway (tel: (619) 235 9500), is a magnificent theatre-palace from 1912 with nearly 1500 seats and a programme ranging from classical theatre pieces to musicals and opera to rock and rap. The Lamb's Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Avenue, Coronado (tel: (619) 437 0600; website: www.lambsplayers.org), with its intimate character, is one of San Diego's oldest venues for professional theatre.

Dance: The California Ballet, 4819 Ronson Court (tel: (858) 560 6741; website: www.californiaballet.org), has seasonal performances of contemporary and classic ballets, performed at a variety of venues. Malashock Dance (tel: (619) 260 1662; website: www.malashockdance.org) is one of San Diego's leading dance companies, offering classes, workshops and performances.

Film: Most San Diego malls have cinemas. The Horton Plaza shopping mall in the Downtown area has a United Artists theatre, 475 Horton Plaza (tel: (619) 234 8602), that shows first-run movies. The Mission Valley Center, Mission Valley, 1640 Camino del Rio North, has a 20-plex AMC theatre (tel: (858) 558 2262). Art house films are shown at Ken Cinema, 4061 Adams Avenue (tel: (619) 819 0236), which is an important centrefor independent and foreign films in SanDiego. Another well-respected art house cinema showing quality films from around the world is the Hillcrest Cinema, 3965 Fifth Avenue (tel: (619) 819 0236).

The San Diego Latino Film Festival takes place every March with screenings at Mann Theatres Hazard Center. Showings include productions from the United States as well as Latin America. Most films are in Spanish with English subtitles.

San Diego is a popular filmmaking centre. The most famous San Diego film is Top Gun (1986), which starred Tom Cruise. Some might argue that the real standout is Some Like it Hot (1959) with Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon frolicking at the Hotel del Coronado. Will Ferrell's character in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2003) behaved foolishly against San Diego backdrops. The Kid from Left Field (1979), starring Gary Coleman and Robert Guillaume, was a San Diego favourite, about a small boy who guides the San Diego Padres baseball team to the World Series. James Cameron's epic movie Titanic (1997) was filmed less than an hour from San Diego, near the Mexican resort town of Rosarito.
 
Literary Notes: Part-time home to L Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz (1900), and Dr Seuss, San Diego has enjoyed a thriving literary community for many years. The much-loved Dr Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel), author of The Cat in a Hat (1957) and Green Eggs and Ham (1960), resided in San Diego. His book How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957) was turned into a film starring Jim Carey in 2000. Dr Seuss was born in Massachusetts in 1904 but called San Diego his home for most of his adult life. His residence on Mount Soledad included a tower with a spectacular 360-degree view of the countryside. Following his death in 1991, his widow had the main residence renovated, although Dr Seuss's 'tower' still remains.

L Frank Baum's most famous residence, 'The Ozcot', may have been in Hollywood, California, but he was a regular visitor to the shores of Coronado Island. Baum and his wife spent many months at the famous Hotel Del Coronado, which may have been his inspiration for the architecture of the Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz. He is also credited with designing the chandeliers in the historic hotel. Born in New York, in 1856, Baum was a prolific poet, novelist and playwright.
The San Diego Writers Cooperative (website: www.sandiegowriters.org) sponsors readings and classes for local writers. Many bookshops host readings from local authors, including D G Wills Books, 7461 Girard Avenue, La Jolla.

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