Disneyland

You can't visit California and not visit Disneyland. It's a big MUST GO. I simply love the place where imagination is the destination. For young and old, big and small — it's the happiest place on earth! It's a place to build memories with your family that last a lifetime as you discover the wonder of this magical, fantastical world. It really last a lifetime because I still remember my first time there. When you enter one of the Lands that comprise Disneyland Park, stories come to life around you, immersing you in tales from some of your favorite Disney films. There are so much to do and so much to see. Hurry up!!!!        

                       

Here are my favorite attractions:

Space Mountain

 Rocket into the outer reaches of darkest space on this high-speed thrill ride that hurtles you into the final fun frontier! Enter the crisp launch bay as it orbits a nearby planet. The bay welcomes you with its sweeping overhead lights and shiny metallic interior as imposing machinery captures your attention from above. Once you and your fellow space travelers are scanned and prepared by the control crews, board a sleek shuttle rocket and receive a safety check in the cockpit.

 Matterhorn Bobsleds

 Slide down Matterhorn Mountain on a daring bobsled run past icy slopes, through twisting caves, near plunging waterfalls, over stone bridges, and maybe even experience a thrilling encounter with the legendary abominable snowman. 

Brace against the howling winds as you climb 80 feet into the air inside an icy cave. Take in the sweeping view at the summit and hang on, because the only way off this mountain is down! Careen around corners, plunge into shadowy caves, weave around mysteriously glowing ice crystals and splashdown in an alpine lake.

Splash Mountain

 Take a musical journey aboard a hollowed-out log through a colorful bayou populated with cheerful critters. One of the most elaborate attractions, It culminates in a daring 5-story plunge down rustic Chick-A-Pin Hill. During the approximately 9-minute water flume voyage, a cast of 103 backwoods critters tell the tale of carefree Brer Rabbit's plucky escapades as he strikes out on his own in search of a little bit of adventure. Drift past unforgettable sights and sounds that recreate memorable scenes from the classic Disney film Song of the South — including the pursuit of the crafty Brer Rabbit by the scheming Brer Fox and his bumbling partner in crime, Brer Bear.

 

San Diego

                        

San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round climate, natural deep-water harbor, extensive beaches, long association with the U.S. Navy, and recent emergence as a healthcare and biotechnology development center. The population was 1,322,553 based on latest population estimates for 2012.

Historically home to the Kumeyaay people, San Diego was the first site visited by Europeans on what is now the West Coast of the United States. Upon landing in San Diego Bay in 1542, Juan Cabrillo claimed the entire area for Spain, forming the basis for the settlement of Alta California 200 years later. The Presidio and Mission of San Diego, founded in 1769, were the first European settlement in what is now California. In 1821, San Diego became part of newly independent Mexico, and in 1850, became part of the United States following the Mexican-American War and the admission of California to the union.

The city is the county seat of San Diego County and is the economic center of the San Diego–Carlsbad–San Marcos metropolitan area as well as the San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. San Diego's main economic engines are military and defense-related activities, tourism, international trade, and manufacturing. The presence of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), with the affiliated UCSD Medical Center, has helped make the area a center of research in biotechnology.

Here are some of my favorite SD's attractions:

Beaches

San Diego beaches are great in any season. Winter is often too chilly to get in the water, but a sunny winter day is still a good time to go for a waterfront walk, and winter Pacific storms sometimes bring sensational waves. Many travel articles and publications tout Imperial Beach as San Diego's "hidden" beach, a wonderful find, and the ambiance there is charming, but it and other beaches south of San Diego have problems with water quality, especially after a winter rain and we do not recommend it. (About.com)

Gaslamp Quarter

The Gaslamp Quarter is the historic heart of San Diego, California. It is a 16½ block historical neighborhood in Downtown San Diego and is the center of downtown night life. The Quarter is home to many events and festivals, including Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp, Street Scene Music Festival, Taste of Gaslamp and ShamROCK, a St. Patrick's Day event. PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres is located one block away in downtown San Diego's East Village. (Wikipedia.org)

Gaslamp Quarter

Balboa Park is a 1,200-acre urban cultural park in San Diego, California. In addition to open space areas, natural vegetation green belts, gardens and walking paths, it contains museums, several theaters, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. 

(Wikipedia.org)

Sea World

SeaWorld San Diego is an animal theme park, oceanarium, and marine mammal park, located in San Diego, California, United States. The park is owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a division of The Blackstone Group. 

SeaWorld San Diego is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It was 

founded in 1964 by four graduates of the University of California, Los Angeles. Although their original idea of an underwater restaurant was not feasible at the time, the idea was expanded into a 22-acre (8.9 ha) marine zoological park along the shore of Mission Bay in San Diego. (Wikipedia.org)

San Diego Zoo

The San Diego Zoo is a zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California housing over 3,700 animals of more than 650 species and subspecies.[1] It is also one of the few zoos in the world that houses the giant panda.

It is privately operated by the nonprofit Zoological Society of San Diego on 100 acres (40 ha) of parkland leased from the City of San Diego, and ownership of all animals, equipment and other assets rests with the City of San Diego. The San Diego Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the American Association of Museums (AAM), and a member of the Zoological Association of America (ZAA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). (wikipedie.org)

TIP: If you are going to San Diego from L.A, go by train. It's an amazing trip. It's very fast, comfortable and the view is just insane. I love it !!!!