Although temperatures can vary dramatically due to the surrounding topography that includes beach, mountain and desert landscapes, San Diego offers a relatively consistent climate with an annual average daily temperature of 70.5 degrees Fahrenheit with the lowest average temperature of 48 F in January to a high of only 78 F in August. Rainfall amounts range between a low of .01 inches in July to a high of 2.11 inches in January and the city receives an average sunshine amount of approximately 70-percent each year.
The San Diego region includes more than 70 miles of beautiful beaches that include some of the best in the state. According to the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau, there are 19 beaches that they consider "San Diego's Best Beaches" including the famous Coronado Municipal Beach. This wide, family-friendly location is divided into three areas (North Beach, Central Beach, and The Shores) that showcases historic oceanfront mansions and luxury yacht clubs but also provides clean beaches with lifeguards. The beach is also the home of the famous Hotel Del Coronado that dates back to 1888. For those who prefer more isolated beach locations, there is Solana Beach located north of San Diego, that provides many deserted locations right at the water's edge. Its five main spots include: Seaside (known for its surfing), Tide Beach, Fletcher Cove, Seascape Beach and Del Mar Shores.
San Diego is conveniently located near four major family attractions: Sea World San Diego in Mission Bay (home of the famous killer whale, seal, and dolphin shows and the rare Beluga whales), the 100-acre San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park (that includes giant pandas and other rare animals), the San Diego Wild Animal Park in Escondido (offers guided tours through African and Asian landscapes), and LEGOLAND in Carlsbad (with more than 50 rides, a water park and other attractions).
New York City has its Central Park, and the city of San Diego has Balboa Park. In addition to being the home of the San Diego Zoo, this 1,000-acre park located within San Diego offers 15 museums, a wide array of gardens, three leash-free dog parks, lawn bowling, hiking trails and a golf course. Many of its historic structures date back to the 1915 Panama-California Exposition and stand as fine examples of Spanish Colonial Revival. The park is also culturally diverse with many attractions ranging from the World Beat Center (celebrating African culture) to the Japanese Friendship Garden. It receives approximately 14 million visitors each year who come to explore the attractions or simply sit on the landscaped lawns.
Although there is evidence that indigenous tribes lived in the San Diego area more than 9,000 years ago, most of the city's documented history includes the period after the Spanish arrived in the 16th century. Old Town San Diego is the location of the first permanent Spanish settlement in California and considered as the "birthplace" of the state. This district includes many historic structures such as San Diego's first one-room school house, the El Campo Santo Cemetery, notable Victorian homes, and Presidio Park, which includes the first San Diego mission by Father Junipero Serra. For those who enjoy exploring the paranormal, there is also the Whaley House that is an officially designated haunted house.
