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With 1.3 million residents, San Diego spans quite the cultural spectrum.
Diverse neighborhoods and quaint communities provide a unique international flavor that often surprises newcomers, plenty of whom don't know, for example, that San Diego has its own Little Italy. It's obvious that residents take lots of pride in their home turf: Signs bearing neighborhood names stretch high over streets, and on just about any weekend, you can find a festival or street party that shows off an area's distinct cuisine and culture.
Of course, San Diegans have perfected the art of chilling out, too. Stroll along the waterfront in Coronado, cruise up to La Jolla to enjoy some of the West Coast's most gorgeous coastline, or pop into a waterfront seafood shack for some exquisite fish tacos, a beloved local specialty that still hold their own, even amidst San Diego's recent culinary renaissance. But that doesn't mean the city doesn't have its fair share of cultural institutions, as well. Just look at Balboa Park: Within the 1,200 acres of San Diego's answer to Central Park, you'll find 15 major museums, perfectly manicured botanical gardens, a theater modeled after Shakespeare's Globe, and one of the most famous zoos in the world.
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San Diego's natural beauty really blossoms from February through April, when the region's wildflowers and succulents burst to life in a spectacular show of color. Nature's artistry is on display at several flower shows and events, including the Coronado Flower Show, one of the largest on the West Coast, now in its 88th year.
During the summer months, the San Diego Zoo stays open three hours later, until 9 p.m., for a special party called Nighttime Zoo. Each year's festivities include a special theme, such as 2012's China Celebration, which honored the Year of the Dragon with a 20-foot serpent puppet, Chinese acrobats, and stilt walkers. You'll see the park in a whole new, er, dark.
San Diego Beer Week highlights the city's booming craft brew scene, which boasts more than three dozen breweries. This 10-day, suds-centric festival is a tasty way to toast the arrival of fall, and many brewers showcase rich porters and stouts with autumnal flavors of caramel and chocolate.
In San Diego, holiday parades look a little different than they do in most towns across America. At the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights, more than 80 boats are decked out in themed light displays and sailed past Shelter Island, Harbor Island, the Embarcadero, Seaport Village, and Coronado. For those who prefer four-legged fun instead, the Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade showcases costumed canines (and kitties) and their owners marching down the decorated streets of the historic Gaslamp Quarter, with awards and complimentary swag bags full of pet-centric goodies.