24 Hours: San Diego West Coast Eclectic
San Diego will soothe your soul with its glorious sunshine, soft ocean breezes and stunning vistas. But behind that laid-back California facade lurk hip, urban attractions. by Kerry Banks
EXPLORE BALBOA PARK'S (balboapark.org) magical mix of Spanish architecture and fragrant gardens. The 486-hectare green space is home to more than 15 museums, such as the small but impressive Timken Museum of Art (timkenmuseum.org), which fea- tures works by Rembrandt and Rubens. The park also houses the San Diego Zoo (sandiegozoo.org) and its amazing menagerie of 4,000 beasts, including rare giant pandas.
TAKE THE TROLLEY to Old Town, a state-protected enclave that preserves and re-creates the city as it existed during the Mexican and early American periods, from 1821 to 1872.
• Watch cavorting sea lions at Sea World (seaworld.com).
Occupying 76 hectares along the shore of Mission Bay, this marine theme park is famed for its spectacular animal shows, aquari- ums, rides and dining facilities.
• Ramble through Hillcrest, a trendsetting neighbourhood
known for its quirky boutiques, vintage-clothing shops and cozy wine bars. Find hipster, retro-cool sneakers at Mint (mintshoes.com); Provençal ceramics and table lin- ens at Maison en Provence (every
• Head to the harbour and soak up the view from the aircraft carrier
USS Midway (midway.org), which, at the time of its launch in 1945, was the biggest naval vessel in the world. The Midway saw action in Korea, Vietnam and the fi rst Gulf War, and now serves as a naval aviation museum.
thingprovence.com). • Sip cocktails on the terrace of George's at the Cove (georgesatthecove.com) in the seaside suburb of La Jolla, then slip away for a romantic seafood dinner at the Marine Room (marineroom.com), where the ocean surf pounds against fl oor-to-ceiling windows.
The Spanish colonial-style Casa del Prado at Balboa Park; (far left) the surface of the aircraft carrier USS Midway; (below) the Grand Lobby of the US Grant hotel; (top) an iconic San Diego trolley car.
A CITY LANDMARK SINCE 1910, the US Grant (usgrant.net), a swank downtown hotel named after former U.S. president and Civil War general Ulysses Simpson Grant, has 47 suites and 223 rooms, and a fi ne art gallery on site. From here, it's a short stroll to the Gaslamp Quarter (gaslamp.org), a 16-block heritage district packed with more than 160 restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Chow down at Croce's (croces.com), a red-brick diner that combines live jazz and contemporary cuisine. Or party with the in-crowd among three-storey waterfalls and translu- cent staircases at Stingaree (stingsandiego.com).
AMA MEMBERS SAVE MORE
Before you go: Purchase a Go San Diego card and get free admission to more than 55 attractions, including the San Diego Zoo, harbour excursions and Gaslamp Quarter Walking Tours. From US$74 per person. 1-866-667-4777; AMATravel.ca While you're there: Save up to 15% on SeaWorld San Diego tickets at CAA.ca/ Seaworld, and 10% on a one-day pass at: AMARewards.ca/SearchforDiscounts
6 WESTWORLD >> SEPTEMBER 2012
(centre) Michael Seljos /Getty Images, (top left) iStock, (bottom left) US Grant Hotel, (top) Rob Hurlbut
