Everyone knows San Diego for its beautiful beaches and laid-back atmosphere. But the city is so much more than just a coastal paradise.
Tap through some of the curious facts about one of the most vibrant Californian cities!
San Diego is the 2nd-largest city in California and the 8th largest in the United States and is known as the “birthplace of California”.
The San Diego–Tijuana conurbation is the 2nd-largest transborder agglomeration in the US, after the Detroit–Windsor conurbation.
The name “San Diego” is Spanish for “Saint Didacus”. This Spanish Franciscan saint from the 1400s is regarded as the patron of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego.
Balboa Park in downtown San Diego is America’s largest urban cultural park with 15 museums, a zoo, and three world-famous theaters.
San Diego is the famous destination of cruising enthusiasts. Every year, more than 200 cruise ships anchor in the San Diego harbor.
The world’s oldest sailing ship – the Star of India – berths in the San Diego port. It’s a 150-year-old vessel that is still in active use.
The San Diego area boasts more than 7,000 farms. Moreover, about 90% of America’s avocado produce grows in San Diego.
San Diego is home to one of the only two wooden oceanside roller coasters on the West Coast – the Giant Dipper.
America’s first ever drive-in restaurant, Oscar's Drive-in, was founded in San Diego by Robert Oscar Peterson. Later in 1951, he also founded America’s famous fast food chain, Jack-in-the-box.
Despite being a coastal city, about 80-90% of San Diego’s usable water is imported from outside. That makes up around 168 million gallons of water per day.