Sunny San Diego

Over the first weekend of April, most of my family and I jetted off to San Diego for a quick spring break. It was a short flight from home, and to my surprise we started our landing descent in what seemed like the heart of downtown. Turns out I wasn't wrong! San Diego's international airport is actually right downtown. Because of this wildly convenient city planning feature, no downtown building can be taller than 50 stories.  

We stayed right downtown, on the boardwalk and in the heart of the tourist area, at the Marriott Marquis and Marina. 

I rarely stay in such nice digs! Check out the pool and the selection of local California wines on tap. 

Fresh off the plane, our first activity was an orientation tour through downtown on Segway. We. Are. SO COOL!

Once we got the hang of things, we took in the downtown scene, starting with Martin Luther King walk and a freedom statue. 

Then off to Petco Park which the San Diego baseball team (the Padres) call home. The stadium was built around a historic metal supply building, which has been converted into premium suites. 

(Look back and to the right and you can see the metal supply sign)

We zoomed around and through the Gaslamp Quarter which houses restaurants, shops and night life. 

The design of San Diego was quite deliberate. A local real estate developer, Alonzo Horton, saw an opportunity to increase the city's prosperity by developing in the waterfront close to the harbours. He bought the land in the 1860s in hopes of creating a new city center closer to the bay. The name comes from the distinctive gas lamps that lot the quarter. 

In order to encourage growth and prosperity in "New Town", the first business were largely saloons, bordelloes and gambling halls. It seems to have worked well as its a vibrant city centre now! And there are strict guidelines in place to ensure historic buildings are preserved and the look of the quarter is respected. Even new buildings have to look old. 

Zooming by the huge convention centre, we were on the boardwalk and ogling mega-yachts. 

After parking our Segways and rediscovering our legs, we made dinner plans to eat by the water. Our table had a fifth when a harbour seal swam by! Although my cell phone photo of a black seal in the black water at night didn't turn out for some mysterious reason...