Knott's Soak City USA
Themed to replicate San Diego's surfer towns around the 1950s and 1960s, this 32-acre water park is San Diego's only facility of its type. There are 22 slides of all shapes and sizes, a 500,000-gallon wave pool, a 1/4-mile lazy river, and assorted snack facilities. The park is located about 25 minutes south of downtown, just north of the border line.

Torrey Pines Golf Course
These two gorgeous, municipal 18-hole championship courses are on the coast between La Jolla and Del Mar, only 20 minutes from downtown San Diego. Home of the Buick Invitational Tournament, and the setting for the 2008 U.S. Open, Torrey Pines is second only to Pebble Beach as California's top golf destination. Situated on a bluff overlooking the ocean, the north course is picturesque and has the signature hole (no. 6), but the south course is more challenging, has more sea-facing play, and benefits from a $3.5 million overhaul in 2002 (the north course will get a similar facelift some time before 2008).In summer, course conditions can be less than ideal due to the sheer number of people lined up to play, and "tee scalpers" aren't uncommon. Tee times are taken by computer, starting at 7pm, up to 7 days in advance and by automated telephone only -- it takes only 20 to 30 minutes for all tee times for a given day to sell out. Confirmation numbers are issued, and you must have the number and photo identification with you when you check in with the starter 15 minutes ahead of time. If you're late, your time may be forfeited. Golf packages double the cost, but give you much better odds of actually getting onto the course. Golf professionals are available for lessons, and the pro shop rents clubs. Greens fees on the south course are $105 weekdays, $125 weekends; the north course is $65 weekdays and $75 weekends. Cart rentals are $30, and twilight rates are available.Tip: Single golfers stand a good chance of getting on the course if they just turn up and get on the waiting list for a threesome. The locals also sometimes circumvent the reservation system by spending Friday or Saturday night in a camper in the parking lot. The starter lets these diehards on before the reservations made by the computer go into effect at 7:30am.

SeaWorld San Diego
One of California's most heavily marketed attractions, SeaWorld is a big draw for a number of visitors coming to San Diego. The aquatic theme park celebrated its 40th year of operation in 2004. With each passing year the educational pretext increasingly takes a back seat to slick shows and rides, but the park -- owned by the Anheuser-Busch Corporation -- is perhaps still the country's premiere showplace for marine life, made politically correct with a nominally informative atmosphere. At its heart, SeaWorld is a shoreside family entertainment center where the performers are dolphins, otters, sea lions, orcas, and seals. The 20-minute shows run several times each throughout the day, with visitors rotating through the various open-air amphitheaters and aquarium features.Several successive 4-ton black-and-white killer whales have functioned as the park's mascot, and the Shamu Adventure is SeaWorld's most popular show. Performed in a 5,500-seat stadium, the stage is a 7-million-gallon pool lined with plexiglass walls that magnify the huge performers. But think twice before you sit in the seats down front -- a high point of the act is multiple drenchings in the first 12 or so rows of spectators. Most days, the venue fills before the two or three performances even start, so arrive early to get the seat you want. The slapstick Fools with Tools (sea lions and otters), the fast-paced Dolphin Discovery, and Pet's Rule are other performing animal routines, each in arenas seating more than 2,000. There are also shows focusing on humans: a "4-D" movie; R.L. Stine's Haunted Lighthouse, starring a roster of multisensory effects; and in summer, Cirque de la Mer, which features acrobatic acts.The collection of rides is led by Journey to Atlantis, a 2004 arrival which combines a roller coaster and log flume with Atlantis mythology and a simulated earthquake. Shipwreck Rapids is a splashy adventure on raftlike inner tubes through caverns, waterfalls, and wild rivers; and Wild Arctic is a motion simulator helicopter trip to the frozen north. The Skytower and Skyride each cost an additional $3 to ride.Guests disembarking Wild Arctic (or those using the ride bypass) find themselves in the midst of one of SeaWorld's real specialties: simulated marine environments. In this case it's an arctic research station, surrounded by beautiful beluga whales, walruses, and polar bears. Other animal environments worth seeing are Manatee Rescue, Shark Encounter, and the Penguin Encounter. Each of these attractions exits into a gift shop selling theme merchandise. The 2-acre hands-on area called Shamu's Happy Harbor is designed for kids, and features everything from a pretend pirate ship, with plenty of netted towers, to tube crawls, slides, and chances to get wet.The Dolphin Interaction Program creates an opportunity for people to meet bottlenose dolphins. Although the program stops short of allowing you to swim with the dolphins, it does offer the opportunity to wade waist-deep, and plenty of time to stroke the mammals and to try giving training commands. This 1-hour program includes some classroom time before you wriggle into a wet suit and climb into the water for 20 minutes with the dolphins. It costs $140 per person (not including park admission); participants must be age 6 or older. One step further is the Trainer for a Day program, which is a 7-hour work shift with an animal trainer. Food preparation, feeding, a training session with a dolphin, and lunch is included; the price is $395 per person. This program is limited to three participants daily, and the minimum age is 13. Advance reservations are required for both programs (tel. 877/436-5746).Although SeaWorld is best known as the home to pirouetting dolphins and fluke-flinging killer whales, the facility also plays a role in rescuing and rehabilitating beached animals found along the West Coast -- including an average of 200 seals, sea lions, marine birds, and dolphins annually, almost 65% of which are rehabilitated and returned to the wild.

Hotel Solamar - a Kimpton Hotel
Located 3 miles from San Diego's Lindberg Field Airport, Hotel Solamar sits among the Gaslamp Quarter's historical architecture, eclectic shopping and premier dining establishments. Hotel Solamar is also within walking distance of the San Diego Convention Center, Petco Park and the trolley system, which provides easy access to the Civic Center and Old Town. The San Diego Zoo is 3 miles and Sea World is 8 miles away. -Surrounded by "East Village" and its multitude of artisans. -2 ...

W San Diego
Nearby Airports: * San Diego International Airport-Lindbergh Field - 2 Miles Nearby Cities: * Hillcrest - 3 Miles * Port Loma - 4 Miles * Coronado - 5 Miles * Mission Valley - 5 Miles * North Park - 6 Miles * Pacific Beach - 9 Miles * National City - 11 Miles * La Jolla - 12 Miles * Scripps Ranch - 12 Miles * Tijuana - 15 Miles * La Mesa - 15 Miles * Chula Vista - 16 Miles * Mira Mesa - 16 Miles * ...

Comfort Inn At The Harbor
Nestled across the Harbor in the exclusive Point Loma area of San Diego, the Comfort Inn at the Harbor is well located - one mile north of San Diego International Airport. With 46 beautifully decorated and well appointed rooms in a non-smoking environment, with complimentary deluxe continental breakfast, complimentary USA Today, free wired & wireless high speed internet access, outdoor heated pool, refrigerators, coffee makers, hairdryers, iron & ironing boards, guest laundry facilities and ...