World City Guide

Excursions

For a Half Day

Carlsbad Ranch: The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch (tel: (760) 431 0352; e-mail: info@theflowerfields.com; website: www.theflowerfields.com) are a relaxing way of experiencing the Southern California countryside in springtime. The Flower Fields includes a new rose garden and educational displays and is open mid-March to early May, from 1000 until one hour before dusk. Admission is US$5. The Ranch is close to the beaches and town of Carlsbad and can be reached by I-5 north, turning east at the Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad. It is located very near Legoland – the two can be combined for a full day excursion.

San Juan Capistrano Mission: Every March, crowds gather at the San Juan Capistrano Mission (tel: (949) 234 1300) to welcome back the Mission’s beloved swallows. The event is celebrated with a one-day festival and is one of the highlights of the region. Built in the early 1800s, the Mission is considered one of the more beautiful examples of early Southern Californian architecture. The mission is open all year round but is best during the spring, when its carefully sculpted gardens are also in bloom. The Mission is located at the intersection of Ortega Highway and Camino Capistrano, which can be reached by taking I-5 north to Ortega Highway.

For a Whole Day

Disneyland: Not surprisingly, Disneyland Resort, 1313 Harbor Boulevard, Anaheim (tel: (714) 781 4565; website: http://disneyland.disney.go.com), is still one of Southern California’s most popular attractions, especially since it is within easy driving distance of both San Diego and Los Angeles. In addition to its old favourites, such as Main Street USA, where visitors can walk through replicas of early American stores, and Fantasyland, which celebrates some of Disney’s greatest character creations, there is now a brand-new entertainment park. California Adventure is an innovative combination of old-style American amusement parks and 21st-century Disney technology. Its Golden State attraction integrates modern-day concerns about ecology and wildlife preservation with the public’s old-fashioned love for entertainment and adventure. The Paradise Pier is a reminiscent journey back to the days of the original American amusement park, with 1950s version rides and Coney Island-style entertainment. A third attraction, Disney Downtown, recently has been added to the Disney complex. This includes 12 state-of-the-art cinemas, a jazz bar and restaurants featuring North American cuisine.

The easiest way for visitors to reach Disneyland from San Diego is by Greyhound bus (tel: (800) 229 9424; website: www.greyhound.com) or by Amtrak rail (tel: (800) 872 7245; website: www.amtrak.com). Both companies provide a direct service to Anaheim and stop in Disneyland. By car, Disneyland is situated on the I-5 north to Anaheim.

A one-day admission to either Disneyland or California Adventure costs US$45. Multi-day tickets with admission to both parks are available and range from US$114 for three-day admission to US$141 for a four-day admission ticket. Other discounts and packages are also available. Standard hours for Disneyland are 0800-2300 and 0800-2100 for California Adventure. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online.

Tijuana, Mexico: Located less than one hour south of downtown on I-5 is the Mexican border and the town of Tijuana (or TJ to friends). Once considered simply a place for curio shopping and casual dining (as well as gambling), Tijuana is now regarded as a viable vacation destination. Part of its notoriety is due to the increasing partnership between Mexico and the USA in promoting their tourist attractions. An example of this new partnership is the Fox Studio filming lot, located at the south end of Tijuana, in Rosarito Beach. The birthplace of James Cameron’s Titanic (1997), the studios now include a display of the sets and technology that was used in making the film. Visitors can also wander about parts of the studio and get a bird’s eye view of Fox’s upcoming creations.

Tijuana also includes a number of interesting cultural and historical attractions. The Tijuana Cultural Centre has a museum, performing arts theatre and an Omnimax theatre. Paraiso Azteca (Aztec Paradise) incorporates family entertainment with ancient Mexican history. For a tour of one of the area’s newest breweries, the TJ Brewery offers guided tours and has a bar on site. Tijuana also has a new racetrack and sportsbook facility, although most visitors to San Diego these days prefer Southern California’s new casinos, only minutes from downtown.

Most of the downtown attractions and shopping in Tijuana are accessible by walking paths. The San Diego transit goes straight to the border, where it is possible to enter Mexico by foot. Taxis are also available for outlying attractions. However, it is advisable for tourists to ask a hotel or tourist information bureau to call a taxi, as there have been some problems with some taxi operators and crime. It is also advisable for visitors to check directions before setting out and generally go to areas that have been recommended. Travellers intending to travel south of the Tijuana area – specifically further south than the town of Ensenada – or who are planning to remain in the country more than 72 hours, must first pay a Non Immigration fee of US$17, at any Mexican consulate (San Diego has a consulate office). Passports and US visas must be carried, even if one is only going to Tijuana for a shopping trip, as US Immigration will need to see them when re-entering the USA. Security precautions recently have been tightened at all US borders, which means that travellers should be prepared for extra long waits when re-entering the country and to show their purchases and receipts to the customs officials. Equally important, when driving a vehicle over the border, visitors should remember that most US insurance policies do not cover driving in Mexico. Insurance can now be purchased from roadside vendors on the US side of the border, prior to entering Mexico.

Further information can be obtained from the Tijuana Tourism Board in Tijuana, at Condominio Paseo I, Paseo de los Heroes 9365, 201, Zona Rio (tel: +011 (526) 684 2854 or 634 0223, in Mexico or (888) 775 2417, in the USA; fax: +011 (526) 684 2108; e-mail: info@seetijuana.com; website: www.seetijuana.com).