San Diego, California has got to be one of the most beautiful and exciting cities in the United States. If you can, if you are able, visit San Diego during the winter months, it will be an exceptionally wonderful experience! There are 5-star, 4-star, 3-star hotels, B & Bs (bed and breakfasts), home rentals (through Realtors), time shares, and if you're lucky enough to be a veteran, no shortage of veteran friendly accommodations of every shape and size (just check all the e-bulletin boards, military magazines, veteran's association web-sites and brochures, as well as the military bases community boards).
San Diego has a huge population of retired servicemen and women, an unbelievably huge active duty military population, and some of the coolest and best designed buildings and parks in the world. If you like fitness, if you like the outdoors, if you like having fun in the Sun and sharing it with others with similar interests, San Diego is the place!
San Diego Airport is right smack in the middle of everything; beautiful marinas nearby, The U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot and the U.S. Navy Recruit Depot are right there. As you land, you see thousands of recruits in varying stages of recruit training; running, jumping, marching. It's pretty motivating! Also, as the plane is landing (and if it's daylight), you'll see the skyline of the city and you can't help but notice almost every building in the entire city has an American Flag on it (big ones, little ones, they're everywhere). Man it makes you proud to be an American!
Like so many other places in Southern California, there are hills and valleys galore. As you leave the airport on ground transportation, your eyes will be drawn to the surrounding hills. Many of the houses, and buildings have those red tiled roofs and a distinct spanish-aire to them. Add to that, how well everything just seems to fit right where it is, it's "so cool"!
San Diego has to be "experienced", meaning you have to get out and get busy. You don't have to rush anywhere, but you "have to get out" because "out" is where "it's all happening". The Park system is "HUGE"! There are miles and miles of seemingly endless well paved and maintained bike paths / walkways. You'll see people of every size, shape, age, color, creed, biking, roller-blading, walking, running, sitting. You can go miles and miles and "never have to compete with motor vehicles". The walkways / paths go over, under, around, beside the roads so that there is less distraction and less danger to the people enjoying the outdoors.
Following the walkways (and the park maps), you can go to the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, Mission Bay Park, Sea World, Mission Bay, La Jolla, Old Town, just about everywhere and you can do it by foot (if you're healthy enough). You can also opt to take ground transportation to any of the above, and for a small fee, park near your destination.
The San Diego Zoo is one of the largest Zoos in the United States. All the animal exhibits were constructed using the lay of the land / the terrain, to its full advantage. The result is incredible, the habitats look like they were meant to be "there" (only there). You definitely should be prepared to spend the day there. There's plenty to do, to see, to eat, to drink, and plenty of people to meet (if so inclined).
Mission Bay Park stretches along the coastline for miles; with its wide walkways, drinking fountains, scenic ocean views, its a great place to get lost in thought or captivated by beauty (man and nature). Sometimes you'll see whole military units running miles along these walkways singing their songs and looking really sharp (the vision of them, there, probably does more for recruiting than all the ads on TV combined).
Sea World is another fantastic destination, with no shortage of fun and excitement available. The shows are unbelievable and very enjoyable! Once again, you should plan on spending the day so you can really enjoy all it has to offer!
The beaches are numerous, boating readily available, but do bear in mind the water temperature is chilly during the winter months. During the day, every outdoor activity you can think off is available and not hard to find. The daytime temperature averages between 64-69 degrees F. When the Sun goes down, it can feel pretty chilly if you're not prepared with a hooded sweatshirt or jacket and possibly pants. In the early morning, in case you're camping out at any of the many campgrounds, the morning dew (chilly moisture), can give you ample reason to want to exercise at a vigorous pace to warm up.
"My" absolute favorite place of all, in the entire city, was and is the United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot. You can visit the Depot. Obviously access is controlled because recruit training is in progress. Why do "I" love it so? Because "to me", it represents "hope", "faith", "belief", and "love". To me; it represents "hope" because the young men and women are there "voluntarily" ("they" care), it represents "faith" in my fellow man that they can and will work together as a team (united, as are these States, "they" are focused), it represents "belief" that all men are created free with equal rights ("they" are willing to defend it), and it represents "love" of country (because "they" will endure any hardship, sacrifice any comfort, and if need be, give "their" life to save another). "They" are United States Marines, and "that" (San Diego Recruit Depot) is one of the two places "they" call home (the other is Parris Island, S.C.). To see those recruit platoons on "that massive" parade ground, moving in perfect harmony, with such precision, detail, and grace is truly a sight to behold (one that will never be forgotten). The commands from "their" Drill Instructor "sharp" and "crisp", "their execution flawless". Yes, they are "the few, the proud, The United States Marines"! Need I say more?
So, if you get a chance during your wonderful winter vacation in beautiful San Diego, California, stop on by there and have a look for yourself. You will enjoy it!
Wishing you the best! Have fun in Sun!