Keys to the City

Facts & Fundamentals

As part of the 17th largest metro area in America, San Diego County has a population of approximately 2,814,000. The city has a population of about 1,223,000. It's the state's second largest city and among the country's ten largest cities.

Biotechnology research, computer sciences, electronics and defense-related manufacturing, agriculture and software development are just some of the industries fueling growth in the region. Well-known brand headquarters located here include Qualcomm, Neurocrine Biosciences and Nventa Biopharmaceuticals. Major employers include federal, state and local governments, area universities and private companies such as Scripps Health, Kaiser Permanente, Qualcomm Inc. and Sempra Energy.

San Diego sales tax is 7.75%.

City Orientation

Located in SoCal (Southern California), San Diego sits at the southwestern corner of the US, just north of the Mexican border and the large city of Tijuana. The area features an ideal climate, plenty of sandy beaches and more than 15 different military facilities. The area has canyons separating mesas, easily defining neighborhoods and serving as landmarks. The downtown or central area stands along San Diego Bay and includes the Gaslamp Quarter and Balboa Park, a man-made park that spans 1400 acres situated between downtown and Mission Valley. The Coronado and Point Loma peninsulas stand between the shoreline and the Pacific Ocean. To the east, mountains loom large, followed by desert land. The county spans 4200 square miles in total.

Weather

San Diego experiences almost ideal weather conditions, with average daily temperatures settling around 70.5 °F. Mild, sunny weather is experienced throughout most of the year, with the exception of what locals refer to as "May gray and June gloom." These downers occur when a marine cloud layer settles over the area. The area can experience higher temperatures during times when the Santa Anas, easterly winds, bring dry, hot air from the deserts. Most of the rain comes December-March. However, the overall yearly precipitation is generally under 12 inches.

Holidays & Business Hours

On federal and state holidays, many offices and businesses close or have truncated hours. Naturally, policies vary, but in general, the following holidays are broadly observed:

Coming & Going

Located three miles northwest of downtown, the San Diego International Airport witnesses approximately 300 departures each day, with several Mexican and Canadian destinations served by direct flights. Upon arriving in San Diego, you have a number of transportation options, but car rental is probably the best, as most residents and visitors do get around by car. See the "Making Your Way" section for car rental agency contact information.

Amtrak and Coaster trains link the airport to downtown and surrounding communities, providing access as far away as Los Angeles. Commuters traveling from the airport to nearby destinations can take the Metropolitan Transit System Flyer Route No. 992 from the airport (service runs every 10 minutes from 5am-12:50am) to Amtrak's Santa Fe train station downtown where they can board Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner or the Coaster on the appropriate train to surrounding locations. Although Amtrak operates daily, Coaster operates only Mon-Sat. For Amtrak train information, contact 800-USA-RAIL. For Coaster train information, contact 800-262-7837.

The Flyer Route No. 992 is a Metropolitan Transit System bus that makes its way between the airport and downtown, with stops between the airport's 1 and 2 terminals and the commuter terminal. The bus does make connections with Coaster and Amtrak trains as well as with the Trolley.

The airport operates the Red Bus, a shuttle which provides free transportation between terminals. Buses generally run every 10 minutes. For more information, call 619-291-1508.

If you need a charter bus, contact Cloud 9 Shuttle at 800-974-8885; A Blue Shuttle at 800-719-3499; or Access Shuttle at 800-690-9090. For shared shuttles, make your way to the airport's Transportation Plaza where a transportation representative will direct you to available transportation.

Making Your Way

The main way to get around San Diego is by car. If you plan to be in the city for any length of time, consider renting a car. Area car rental agencies include:

Avis Rent a Car
3180 N Harbor Dr
619-231-7171 or 800-852-4617

Enterprise Rent a Car
1691 Hancock St
619-225-8881 or 800-270-8881

Hertz Rent A Car
3202 N Harbor Dr
619-220-5222 or 800-654-3131

Thrifty Car Rental
1120 W Laurel St
619-429-5000 or 800-847-4389

It's helpful to be familiar with some of the major highways when making your way, so we've included some brief information here. I-5 runs north/south, and I-8 runs east to Arizona. I-15 also runs north, to the Canadian border. CA-94 connects the downtown area with I-805, the highway that breaks away from I-5 at Sorrento Valley and joins it again near the border with Mexico. CA-163 connects downtown to the city's northeast.

The city has a trolley that runs downtown and into area suburbs, Mission Valley, East County and the coastal south bay. Amtrak and Coaster trains run regularly along the coast, easily connecting the San Diego area with Los Angeles, Orange County and San Bernardino. Amtrak stations can be found at Old Town, downtown's Union Station and Sorrento Valley.

Bus transportation is also available, with most stops being located in the city's central district.

Ferries also ply the waters of the Bay to Coronado every 30 minutes.

News & Views

The San Diego Union-Tribune and The San Diego Daily Transcript are two area newspapers. The San Diego CityBeat and the San Diego Reader, alternative weekly publications, provide additional insight into the goings on in the community. The North County Times covers topics of importance to those in San Diego's North Country. The San Diego Metropolitan Magazine and the San Diego Business Journal are two local business publications.

Local radio stations include:
KOGO AM 600
KFMB AM 760
KCEO AM 1000
KCBQ AM 1170
KLSD AM 1360
Air America
KFSD 1450 AM
KPBS 89.5
Z 90.3
91X
Magic 92.5
Channel 933
Star 94.1
FM 94/9
KyXy 96.5
Free Radio San Diego (aka Pirate Radio San Diego)
96.9FM FRSD
KSON 97.3/92.1
KIFM 98.1
XMOR Blazin 98.9
ESPN Radio 800
XX Sports Radio AM 1090/FM 105.7
Jack-FM 100.7
101.5 KGB-FM
KPRI 102.1
Rock 105.3

Quirks & Curiosities

With its close proximity to the Mexican border and the large Mexican city of Tijuana, San Diego bears many cultural influences from Mexico. You'll hear it in the music, taste it in the foods and experience it at special events honoring the Latino heritage. The Hispanic population accounts for roughly 25% of the city's population.

Due to its topography and layout, San Diego is most easily accessed by car, as the city is comprised of distinct neighborhood locations rather than being one contiguous unit. Attractions are quite spread out, too.

Getting Your Bearings

When visiting a new city, it's helpful to know where to find help should you need it. The city's visitor information center is located at:

The San Diego International Visitor Information Center
1040 1/3 West Broadway (at Harbor Drive)
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619-236-1212
Fax: 619-230-7084
http://www.sandiego.org/
sdinfo@sandiego.org
Jun-Sep Daily 9am-5pm; Oct-May Daily 9am-4pm

With the Go San Diego Card (800-887-9103, http://www.gosandiegocard.com/), you can visit some 55 of the metro area's attractions for one price, including the San Diego Zoo, LegoLand, Belmont Park, Del Mar Racetrack, and all of the city's museums. Cards come in increments of 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 days. Adult $60-190, Child (3-12) $40-145. You can order the cards online or pick them up at the Visitor Center.

If you plan to visit some or all of the museums at Balboa Park, consider a "Passport." All 13 museums for one price: Adult $39, Child (3-12) $21. If you add the zoo, the cost is Adult $65, Child $36. 619-239-0512 http://www.balboapark.org/

Common Courtesies

Although tipping is generally a personal matter, there are some guidelines that prove helpful to travelers. At restaurants, servers typically get 15% of the bill, although 10% acknowledges basic assistance, and 20% awards exceptional service. Taxi drivers usually fit into similar guidelines by receiving a tip equivalent to 15% of the tab.