San Diego, California

:"San Diego" redirects here. For other uses, see San Diego (disambiguation).

Culture

Cuisine

Owing to its privileged position on the Pacific Ocean and its warm Mediterranean-style climate, San Diego enjoys an abundance of quality produce and dining. With a myriad ethnic and cultural mix, San Diego is well known for its wide selection of cuisines. One can find excellent Mexican, Italian, Greek, Latin, Central and East Asian, Middle Eastern and Pacific Islander food throughout the city. The city's long history and close proximity to Mexico has endowed an endless array of Mexican cafes and restaurants. Regional homemade specialties, border fare and haute cuisine are all easily available.

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San Diego's warm, dry climate and access to the sea have also made it a natural center for the production of fruit and vegetables. Long a center of the tuna industry, San Diego benefits from an abundant seafood supply.

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Several of the finest choices of dining can be found in the Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, La Jolla and Old Town. The city's many immigrant and ethnic groups have heavily influenced local eating habits and tastes.

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Local specialties include:

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• Mexican cuisine (including carne asada, burritos, fish tacos, enchiladas, and ceviche)
• Woodfired, California-styled Pizza
• Wide variety of salads made from fresh, local produce (including Caesar, Greek, Mixed, and Caprese Salads)
• Southern Italian-styled pastas, panini, and pizzas
• Varieties of shish kebabs, shashlyk, and Gyros
• South Asian specialties including spring rolls and pho
• Locally produced, artisan bread
• Local Wines (San Pasqual Valley, Rancho Bernardo)
• Locally produced (from the mountains near Julian) hard and sweet cider
• Various fruits and vegetables (including avocados, tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, eggplant, oranges, lemons, limes, strawberries, grapefruit, grapes, apples, pomegranates, persimmons, and melons)

Several chain restaurants have gotten their start in San Diego. These include Jack in the Box, Pat & Oscar's, Souplantation (March 1978), Rubio's, and Anthony's Fish Grotto. Rubio's fish tacos were also featured at the 1996 Republican National Convention.

Related Topics:
Jack in the Box - 1996 Republican National Convention

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Events

• Comic Con
• Holiday Bowl

Shopping malls

• Fashion Valley
• Westfield Shoppingtown, Mission Valley
• Westfield Shoppingtown, Horton Plaza
• Westfield Shoppingtown, Parkway Plaza
• Grossmont Center
• College Grove
• University Towne Centre
• The Shops at Las Americas (Also a U.S.-Mexico Port of Entry walkway and Duty-Free centre)
• Viejas Outlet Mall
• Westfield Shoppingtown, North County Fair
• Westfield Shoppingtown, Plaza Camino Real
• Westfield Shoppingtown, Plaza Bonita
• Las Americanas (Outlets)
• The San Diego Factory Outlet
• Carlsbad Premium Outlets

Sites of interest

San Diego is a major tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the world. Among the many attractions are its beaches, climate, and deserts. Noted San Diego tourist attractions include:

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• Balboa Park *
• Berkeley, ferry boat*
• Gaslamp Quarter
• La Casa de Estudillo *
• Little Italy (see also Little Italy)
• Mission Bay Park
• Mission Beach Roller Coaster at Belmont Park
• Mission San Diego de Alcala *
• Mount Soledad in La Jolla
• Old Mission Dam in Mission Trails Regional Park*
• Old Town
• Petco Park
• Point Loma
• Qualcomm Stadium
• San Diego Aerospace Museum
• San Diego Presidio*
• San Diego Wild Animal Park
• San Diego Zoo
• Seaport Village
• SeaWorld
• Star of India, barque sailing ship *
• Torrey Pines Golf Course
• Torrey Pines State Reserve
• USS Midway (CV-41), aircraft carrier museum

(* An asterisk designates National Historic Landmarks)

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San Diego is about two hours south of Los Angeles and north adjacent to Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.

Related Topics:
Los Angeles - Tijuana, Baja California - Mexico

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Sports

San Diego has several sports venues. Jack Murphy Field at Qualcomm Stadium hosts football and soccer games. Baseball can be seen at Petco Park and Tony Gwynn Stadium. iPayOne Center, formerly the San Diego Sports Arena, hosts hockey, arena football, and basketball, which is also hosted at Cox Arena at Aztec Bowl. Jenny Craig Pavilion at the University of San Diego hosts basketball and volleyball games.

Related Topics:
Qualcomm Stadium - Football - Soccer - Petco Park - Tony Gwynn Stadium - IPayOne Center - San Diego Sports Arena - Hockey - Arena football - Basketball - Cox Arena - Jenny Craig - University of San Diego - Volleyball

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SDSU Aztecs (MWC) and the USD Toreros (WCC) are

Related Topics:
SDSU Aztecs - MWC - USD Toreros - WCC

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NCAA Division I teams. The UCSD Tritons (CCAA) are members of the NCAA Division II while the PLNU Sea Lions (GSAC) are members of the NAIA.

Related Topics:
NCAA Division I - UCSD Tritons - CCAA - NCAA Division II - PLNU Sea Lions - GSAC - NAIA

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San Diego in popular culture

Being the home of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego is the primary location for the 1986 movie Top Gun about the real-life TOPGUN program.

Related Topics:
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar - 1986 - Top Gun - TOPGUN

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San Diego and Los Angeles are part of the futuristic utopian megacity San Angeles in the 1993 movie Demolition Man.

Related Topics:
Los Angeles - Megacity - 1993 - Demolition Man

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In the comic book series Aquaman, half of San Diego was plunged into the Pacific Ocean by an earthquake.

Related Topics:
Aquaman - Pacific Ocean - Earthquake

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The fictional town of Neptune, California (as portrayed in the hit television show Veronica Mars) is said to be a suburb of San Diego.

Related Topics:
Fictional town - Veronica Mars

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San Diego of the 1970s is the setting for the 2004 comedy film ' starring Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy. The Burgundy character is partially inspired by former San Diego television news personalities.

Related Topics:
1970s - Will Ferrell

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In Jurassic Park II, a T-Rex rampaged through the city.

Related Topics:
Jurassic Park II - T-Rex

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