San Diego’s famous Balboa Park is a one-stop shop for the arts and culture-minded visitor. Home to 15 museums, a replica of Shakespeare’s theater and the world famous San Diego Zoo, the park could keep you busy for weeks. Once the museums close, take advantage of San Diego’s lively theater scene. The city’s Latino heritage comes alive at Old Town and Chicano Park, called “the museum without walls.”

California beach culture is alive and well in San Diego. For locals, it’s a way of life. The area’s undeveloped beaches give you an idea of what Southern California’s coast must have looked like when Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo first set eyes on it in 1542. At the other end of the spectrum, Pacific Beach is the place to see and be seen.

San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter is the city’s entertainment hub, with over 30 bars and nightclubs all within a short distance of each other. Throughout the city, you’ll find DJs spinning the latest grooves, flamenco dancing and kitschy-cool, as well as laid-back beach bars and pubs. Live music venues bring the stars of yesterday, today, and tomorrow to downtown, the beach, and Shelter Island.

Recreation in San Diego revolves around the beach, and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t with the area’s 70 miles of coastline and ideal climate. There’s a list as long as your arm of all the things you can do, either in the water (swimming, surfing, snorkeling), on the water (coastline tours, sailing, sport fishing), at the beach (skateboarding, sunbathing, rollerblading), or very nearby (hiking, biking, camping). In the heart of the city, Balboa Park offers hiking and mountain biking trails.

Several San Diego neighborhoods should make your short list. The Gaslamp Quarter, Hillcrest, Little Italy, and La Jolla are communities packed with boutiques and galleries. Outdoor shopping complexes can be found around every corner, and bargain hunters will rejoice at the region’s outlet malls.

Just 45 minutes north of downtown, San Diego’s North County is among the finest wine-growing regions in western U.S. There are 14 wineries, many open to touring. San Diego’s restaurant scene bustles with newcomers and old standbys alike, 100 of which are in the Gaslamp Quarter. The fare is infinitely varied, including pan-Asian, Hawaiian, Mediterranean, plenty of surf-and-turf, and even a new, risqué cook-your-own-steak joint.

Your spa options in San Diego provide a distinctly southern California flavor. Predictably, several luxury hotels offer spa treatments — some even will even send a technician to your room. (Now that’s luxury!) Other unique offerings to help you relax include private outdoor gardens, treatment and yoga combinations, and a Pacific Island theme.

Sun cascading along stretches of white sandy beaches, relaxing resorts, shopping, dining, and partying are legendary in this region. As a golf destination, San Diego has over 1,800 undulating greens to conquer, 4,000 bunkers to avoid, and countless ball-swallowing water features within the 90+ courses. Combine the regions golf scene with their numerous attractions and you’ll understand why San Diego is one of the top golf spots in the universe.

California has family-friendly fun for every member of your brood, young or old. From theme parks galore with the latest rides and roller coasters, to up-close encounters with animals and history alike, grab the relatives and hit the road for a groovy California getaway!