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.

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego Downtown
Opened in 1993, the downtown branch is the second location of the Museum of Contemporary Art (the original branch is in La Jolla). Two large and two smaller galleries present changing exhibitions of nationally and internationally distinguished contemporary artists; plan to spend about half an hour here. Lectures and tours for adults and children are also offered. The first Thursday evening of every month is "TNT" (Thursday Night Thing), with eclectic artist events and drawing the martini set. In 2005 MCA will take over the baggage building of the Santa Fe depot across the street, which will almost triple the exhibition space at this branch, making it the preeminent museum in downtown. Docent tours are available on request.

William Heath Davis House Museum
Shipped by boat to San Diego in 1850 from Portland, Maine, this is the oldest structure in the Gaslamp Quarter. It is a well-preserved example of a prefabricated "saltbox" family home, and has remained structurally unchanged for more than 150 years. A museum, on the first and second floors, is open to the public, as is the small park adjacent to the house. The house is also home to the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation, which sponsors walking tours of the quarter for $8 ($6 for seniors, students, and military), every Saturday at 11am.

Hampton Inn San Diego-Kearny Mesa
Hampton Inn San Diego-Kearny ...

Comfort Inn Downtown
FREE shuttle service to and from airport. FREE continental breakfast. FREE in room coffee and local phone calls. Walking distance to shops and restaurants. Over-sized spa and valet laundry service on premises. Valid credit card required upon check-in. Parking Charge - 12.00 USD per ...

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***A non smoking Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter***The Gaslamp Plaza Suites is an historical building built in 1913. Originally built as San Diego's first "skyscraper"- 11 stories of marble, brass, mosaic tile and Australian gumwood. This excellence was then extended into a banking office. Thereafter jewelry trade became prominent and 1951 the building was described as having 125 offices. In 1988 Gaslamp Plaza Suites opened as a 60-suite hotel, exuding the quiet elegance befitting a historic ...