The cradle of the state of California, the much-touted “melting pot of cultures”. This is San Diego. While the Californian metropolis on the border with Mexico was the destination of countless gold prospectors in California in the 19th century, today it is above all a magnet for thousands of students from all over the world. San Diego is one of the most popular locations for studying in California.
There are certainly enough reasons for studying in San Diego: America’s Finest City attracts with around 300 days of sunshine a year, miles of sandy beaches, an almost limitless range of leisure activities and first-class universities.
Although almost 1.4 million people live in California’s second largest city, there is little trace of hectic city life. Instead, Californian casualness dominates in San Diego. While studying in San Diego, you can experience the Californian lifestyle up close.
From Old Town to La Jolla: boroughs of San Diego
A stroll through the different parts of the city shows that San Diego is a diverse city. There are neat beach areas such as Pacific Beach and La Jolla, the historic Old Town and, last but not least, the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego.
An overview of the most famous districts:
Gaslamp Quarter
Anyone who decides to study in San Diego will sooner or later be drawn to the historic Gaslamp Quarter, because there is something going on here at any time of the day. At night, numerous gas lamps illuminate the streets after which the district is named.
The Gaslamp Quarter is San Diego’s nightlife and shopping district. Live music can be heard everywhere. Numerous restaurants, cafes, night clubs and boutiques line the streets.
The district is also a popular address for food lovers due to its growing number of first-class restaurants.
Old Town
To get a feel for the “old” San Diego, you should go to the old town of the southern California metropolis. The first Spanish settlement of California was founded in 1769 on what is now the Old Town. This is where the Hispanic influences are particularly evident. In the famous Old Town San Diego Historic State Park, visitors can walk in the footsteps of the past and see old buildings in Spanish adobe style.
The proximity to Mexico is also evident elsewhere: In the old town there are many authentic Mexican restaurants that serve Mexican food at comparatively low prices. Learn more about Mexico and North America on franciscogardening.
La Jolla
La Jolla – the jewel. The name of the suburb to the north of San Diego speaks for itself. The seaside resort is one of the posh residential areas of San Diego and is located on one of the most enchanting stretches of coast in Southern California.
The numerous fine sandy beaches are therefore among the main attractions of the district.
There is a suitable beach for every taste: The La Jolla Shores are very popular with fans of water sports. The Black’s Beach is one of the best surf spots in California and La Jolla Cove is ideal for snorkeling, diving and swimming. With a little luck you can see sea lions there.
By the way: La Jolla is the location of UCSD, one of the member universities of the renowned University of California System. The UCSD campus is located directly on the Pacific coast – a real “sea value” for students.
Pacific Beach and Mission Beach
South of La Jolla are two other popular areas of San Diego with high entertainment and recreational value: Pacific Beach and Mission Beach. The two districts are connected by an approximately five kilometer long beach promenade, which is popular with joggers, cyclists and inline skaters.
Pacific Beach is known for its lively nightlife, which is particularly geared towards the young. Accordingly, many students are drawn to Pacific Beach for their studies in San Diego.
Several beach bars, restaurants and clubs invite you to linger. This is also where the famous Crystal Pier is located, from which there is a fantastic view of the Pacific.
Mission Beach, a narrow strip of land between the Pacific and Mission Bay, is almost completely surrounded by water, making it another favorite place for sunbathers, swimmers and surfers.
However, the district has also made a name for itself as an entertainment district. The biggest attractions: the underwater theme park ” SeaWorld San Diego ” and the amusement park ” Belmont Park “.
Top spots and things to do in San Diego
San Diego is one of the cities with the highest quality of life in the United States. This is not only due to the relaxed lifestyle of the Californians, but also to the extensive range of leisure activities and the numerous attractions in San Diego. There is a small selection here:
Balboa Park
Students looking to balance their studies in San Diego can find it in Balboa Park in the heart of the city. The park serves as a local recreation area for the residents of San Diego and forms the largest ” Urban Cultural Park ” in the USA.
The Balboa Park not only houses wonderfully landscaped gardens such as a rose garden or desert garden, but also serves as an event location. Concerts, plays and musicals are regularly presented here. In addition, more than a dozen museums are spread across the site.
A highlight of the park is the San Diego Zoo. With its lifelike enclosures, it is one of the largest and most beautiful zoos in the world.
