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During your San Diego vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Botanical Building and Lily Pond
This serene park within the park is one of my favorite hideouts. Ferns, orchids, impatiens, begonias, and other plants -- about 2,100 tropical and flowering varieties, plus rotating exhibits -- are sheltered beneath a domed lath house. The graceful 250-foot-long building, part of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, is one of the world's largest wood lath structures, and emerged from a complete renovation in 2002. Kids love the "touch and smell" garden and the smelly bog of carnivorous plants. The lily pond out front attracts sun worshipers, painters, and street entertainers.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
This beautiful facility is both an aquarium and a museum, operated as the interpretive arm of the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography. To make the most of the experience, be sure to pick up a visitor guide from the information booth just inside the entrance, and take time to read the text on each of the exhibits. The aquarium affords close-up views of the Pacific Northwest, the California coast, Mexico's Sea of Cortez, and the tropical seas, all presented in more than 60 marine-life tanks. The giant kelp forest is particularly impressive. Exotic highlights include the fanciful white anemones and the ethereal moon jellies, which look like elegant parachutes. The sea horse propagation program here has met with excellent results -- nine different species of sea horse are on display in one of the aquarium's best exhibits. The outdoor demonstration tide pool not only shows visitors marine coastal life but also offers an amazing view of Scripps Pier, La Jolla Shores Beach, the village of La Jolla, and the ocean. Free tide-pool talks are offered on weekends, which is also when the aquarium is most crowded, and off-site adventures are conducted year-round (call for more details). The museum section has numerous interpretive exhibits on current and historic research at the Scripps Institution, which was established in 1903 and became part of the University of California system in 1912. You'll learn what fog is and why salt melts snow; the number of supermarket products with ingredients that come from the sea (including toothpaste and ice cream) might surprise you; and you can feel what an earthquake is like and experience a simulator ride, Morphis. The bookstore is well stocked with textbooks, science books, educational toys, gifts, and T-shirts.
Maritime Museum
his unique museum consists of a quartet of classic ships, led by the full-rigged merchant vessel Star of India (1863), whose impressive masts are an integral part of the San Diego cityscape. The ship is a National Historic Landmark and the world's oldest ship that still goes to sea; in her day, the Star sailed around the globe 21 times, and carried salmon fishermen to Alaska and British emigrants to New Zealand. The gleaming white San Francisco-Oakland steam-powered ferry Berkeley (1898), worked round-the-clock to carry people to safety following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake; you'll find a museum with fine ship models on display. There's also the elegant Medea (1904), one of the world's few remaining large steam yachts, and Pilot (1914), which was San Diego Bay's official pilot boat for 82 years. You can board and tour each vessel; allow an hour for your visit.A new addition to the collection is the Californian, a 130-foot replica of the 1848 cutter C.W. Lawrence; the majestic ship is used for day and weekend sails. In July and August you can watch movies aboard the Star of India.
Best Western Seven Seas
The Best Western Seven Seas is centrally located on Hotel Circle in beautiful Mission Valley, across from the Town & Country Convention Center. Guests are ideally situated to visit many of San Diego's major attractions, including Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, Old Town and several beach and marina areas. We are within a short walk of excellent shopping at the Fashion Valley Mall. The Best Western Seven Seas offers a comfortable and friendly resort atmosphere with an array of deluxe ...
Holiday Inn Express SAN DIEGO-SEA WORLD AREA
The Holiday Inn Express San Diego - Sea World Hotel is conveniently located only minutes away from the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Sea World, Downtown San Diego, San Diego Old Town and the San Diego Waterfront. The Holiday Inn Express San Diego - Sea world is also only a few minutes drive from the San Diego Airport. Hotel features include complimentary continental breakfast and free local phone calls. Visit San Diego, CA and stay smart at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel. This hotel is committed ...
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