California Official Visitor's Guide - UK - 13

gateway
cities

45 minutes north of
the golden gate bridge
Balboa Park

San Diego Zoo

winning breweries like Ballast Point
Brewing (three locations in San Diego) and Stone Brewing (near downtown in Liberty Station, and north
in Escondido) don't just make great
brews, but also house beer gardens,
cafés, and live entertainment. Visit
these and other breweries with Brew
Hop or other local tour companies.
While the coast often gets the
spotlight in San Diego County, the
rugged inland mountains offer hidden gems too. Rural communities
such as the Old West town of Alpine
(settled in the late 1800s) and Julian
(known for apple orchards, cider,
and flaky pie) are easy day expeditions. About an hour's drive north is
surprising wine country in the lovely
Temecula Valley. San Diego is also a
gateway to the resort communities
of Greater Palm Springs, with golf,
festivals, and a year-round party atmosphere. Surrounding the region is
the California desert, with dramatic
scenery and wildlife at Joshua Tree
and Death Valley National Parks, and
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

MORE INFORMATION SANDIEGO.ORG; VISITCWC.COM

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PAGE 13
Sonoma
Wine Country

JIM BLUBAUGH/GETTY IMAGES; DAVE LAURIDSEN

Balboa Park
has more than
20 cultural
museums and
entertainment
spaces.

trattorias and chic wine bars. The
historic Gaslamp Quarter is San Diego's hot spot for clubs and nightlife.
Leafy Hillcrest, on the city's north
side, is the city's LGBTQ hub, with
coffeehouses and vintage boutiques.
Adjacent Balboa Park has more than
20 cultural museums and entertainment spaces, including the worldclass San Diego Zoo.
Continue north to relax in a
sidewalk café in elegant La Jolla,
or play at outstanding Torrey Pines
Golf Course, then splurge with a
stay at The Lodge at Torrey Pines, a
truly stunning course. Further north
in Carlsbad, LEGOLAND California
Resort has rides and attractions
based on the popular plastic building blocks. A few miles inland, San
Diego Zoo Safari Park (sister site
of the San Diego Zoo) lets you ride
aboard open-air trams to see exotic
animals roaming in huge naturalised
enclosures.
Throughout San Diego County,
tap into the craft beer scene, one of
the hottest in the country. Award-

Discover world-class
food and wine,
redwood forests and
ocean beaches.
www.SonomaCounty.com

http://www.SonomaCounty.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of California Official Visitor's Guide - UK