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During your San Diego vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Villa Montezuma
This exquisite mansion just southeast of downtown was built in 1887 for internationally acclaimed musician and author Jesse Shepard. Lush with Victoriana, it features more stained glass than most churches are blessed with; windows depict Mozart, Beethoven, Sappho, Rubens, St. Cecilia (patron saint of musicians), and other notables. The striking ceilings are of Lincrusta Walton -- pressed canvas coated with linseed oil, a forerunner of linoleum, which never looked this good. Shepard lived here with his life companion, Lawrence Tonner, for only 2 years, and died in obscurity in Los Angeles in 1927. The San Diego Historical Society painstakingly restored the house, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, and furnished it with period pieces. The neighborhood is not as fashionable as the building, but it's safe to park your car in the daytime. If you love Victorian houses, don't miss this one for its quirkiness. Join the 45-minute docent-led tour, which begins every hour on the hour (except the last tour, which starts at 3:45pm).
San Diego Zoo
More than 4,000 creatures reside at this celebrated and influential zoo, operated by the Zoological Society of San Diego. The Society was founded in 1916 with a handful of animals originally brought here for the Panama-California International Exposition (many of the buildings you see in surrounding Balboa Park were built for that fair). Legend has it that the zoo's founder, Dr. Harry Wegeforth, a local physician and lifelong animal lover, once braved the fury of an injured tiger to toss medicine into its roaring mouth.In the early days of the zoo, "Dr. Harry" traveled around the world and bartered native Southwestern animals such as rattlesnakes and sea lions for more exotic species. The loan of two giant pandas from the People's Republic of China in 1996 was a twist on the long-standing tradition: Instead of exchanging exotic species, the San Diego Zoo agreed to pay $1 million annually for the pandas, to aid conservation efforts in China. The 100-acre zoo is also an accredited botanical garden, lavished with more than 700,000 plants. Dr. Harry brought home plants from every location where animals were acquired, ensuring what would become the zoo's naturalistic and mature environment. The species of flora from a variety of climate zones are said to be worth more than the animal collection, and in many cases (such as the eucalyptus for the koalas) the plants also serve as the primary diet of the animals.The cuddly pandas may be the most popular attraction, but the zoo has many other rare and wondrous species: Buerger's tree kangaroos of New Guinea, long-billed kiwis from New Zealand, wild Przewalski horses from Mongolia, lowland gorillas from Africa, and giant tortoises from the Galapagos. The Zoological Society is involved with animal preservation efforts around the world and has engineered many "firsts" in breeding: It was here that the Anegada iguana was successfully bred in captivity for the first time, and where a home for a captive-breeding group of the recently discovered Visayan warty pigs was created.Of course, the zoo's traditional beasties -- lions, elephants, giraffes, tigers, and bears -- prowl around as well, and a diverse collection of tropical birds is experienced via sprawling walk-through aviaries with 50-foot trees. The zoo was a forerunner in creating bar-less, moated enclosures that allow animals to roam in sophisticated environments resembling their natural habitats. The newest is Absolutely Apes, a habitat that opened in 2003 to showcase orangutans and siamangs of Indonesia; it marked the first time these primates of a single ecosystem share an enclosure at the zoo. Nearby is Gorilla Tropics, where two troops of Western lowland gorillas roam an 8,000-square-foot habitat. A $28 million "heart of the zoo" project in this area, designed not only to enrich primate and other quarters but to improve human traffic flow in the most congested part of the zoo is due to be completed mid-2005.Despite the hype, I find the Panda Discovery Center to not be worth the hassle when a long line is in place (lines are shortest first thing in the morning or toward the end of the day). More noteworthy is Ituri Forest, which simulates a central African rainforest with forest buffaloes, otters, okapis, and hippos, which are superbly viewed underwater from a glassed-in enclosure; the Polar Bear Plunge, where you'll find a 2.2-acre summer tundra habitat inhabited by Siberian reindeer, yellow-throated martens, and diving ducks, along with the playful titular heroes. The Children's Zoo features a nursery with baby animals and a petting area where kids can cuddle up to sheep, goats, and the like. There's also a sea lion show at the 3,000-seat amphitheater (this is easy to skip if you're headed to SeaWorld). If you come in spring, be sure to walk the Horn & Hoof Mesa, a less-crowded part of the park where unusual plants are often in flower.My favorite way to experience the zoo is to spend the day on foot navigating the lush canyons and dry mesas that bisect the facility. But if a lot of walking -- some of it on steep hills, some of it quite exposed to afternoon sun -- isn't your passion, the zoo offers a 40-minute guided bus tour that provides a narrated overview and covers about 70% of the facility. It costs $10 for adults, $5.50 for children 3 to 11, and is included in the "Best Value" admission package. You get only brief glimpses of the enclosures, and animals won't always be visible, so you'll be enticed to revisit some of the areas (note that lines for the bus tour can top 1 hr. at midday). Included in the bus ticket is access to the non-narrated Express Bus, which allows you to get on and off at one of five different stops along the same route. You can also get an aerial perspective from the Skyfari, which costs $2.50 per person each way. The ride lasts about 5 minutes -- but it's better for a bird's-eye view than it is for spotting creatures. Ideally, take the Skyfari to the far side of the park and wend your way back on foot.In addition to several fast-food options, the zoo has Albert's, a beautiful oasis at the lip of a canyon and named after the zoo's most famous ape. It's located behind Gorilla Tropics. Although the food and service is not flawless, Albert's is a lovely place in which to break up the middle of the day (when the animals are laziest) -- entrees, sandwiches, and salads run $12-$18 and there's a full bar.
Riverwalk Golf Club
Completely redesigned by Ted Robinson and Ted Robinson Jr., these links wander along the Mission Valley floor and are the most convenient courses for anyone staying downtown or near the beaches. Replacing the private Stardust Golf Club, the course reopened in 1998, sporting a slick, upscale new clubhouse, four lakes with waterfalls (in play on 13 of the 27 holes), open, undulating fairways, and one peculiar feature: trolley tracks! The bright red trolley speeds through now and then, but doesn't prove too distracting. Nonresident greens fees, including cart, are $79 Monday through Thursday, $89 Friday, and $99 weekends; twilight and bargain evening rates are available.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott San Diego Rancho Bernardo/Scripps Poway
SpringHill Suites, Marriott's new moderately priced all-suites hotel, is designed for guests who want spacious and functional accommodations when on the road even for a few nights at a time. Enjoy one of our suites, which offer a separate area for eating, sleeping, working and relaxing. Special amenities include a pantry area with a mini-refrigerator, microwave, sink and coffee maker, a well-lit work area with an ergonomic chair, pull-out sofa bed, and comfy lounge chair with an ottoman. To ...
Comfort Inn & Suites Zoo/Sea World
The elegance of Mission Valley's newest hotel. From the elegant marble lobby to the 200 finely appointed guestroom and suites, we reflect an image of style and Comfort. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the combination of our fine amenities, convenient location and our award winning customer service staff will ensure your satisfaction at "your home away from home". Choice Gold Hospitatlity Award for 1997, 1998 and 1999. San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau Inn of the Year ...
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