San Diego is an enormous city-the second largest in the state and the eighth largest in the country. It can be a little confusing to navigate, but the way it's laid out is this: San Diego includes 18 incorporated cities and other neighborhoods and communities as well (such as Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, Coronado, La Jolla, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Hillcrest, Escondido, La Mesa, Chula Vista and Barrio Logan). Because it is such a big city, it would be wise to go over the visitor safety tips that are located on a number of its visitor websites. Even if the tips seem like common sense, they are wise to remember, and you may see some that are specific to San Diego, especially when it comes to local transportation.

San Diego has such vast riches of incredible places to visit aside from the beaches, that we'll just list the major beaches here so we have enough space to cover some of the other amazing attractions in the area.

Here are the best beaches:

• San Onofre State Beach
• Leucadia
• Carlsbad State Beach
• Solana Beach
• Encinitas
• Del Mar Beaches
• Cardiff Beaches
• La Jolla Beaches
• Torrey Pines State Beach & Park
• Pacific Beach
• La Jolla Reefs
• Mission Beach
• Mission Bay
• Point Loma Beaches
• Ocean Beach
• Silver Strand State Beach
• Coronado Municipal Beach
• Dog Beach
• Imperial Beach
• Oceanside City Beach & Environs

San Diego happens to be especially dog friendly, and you can find out specific information about traveling with your pet. Rover can even go to the beach with you.

Now that you've done the sunning, swimming, surfing and relaxing thing, let's take you to some of the other great places to see in San Diego.

It's strongly recommended that you plan a day trip to Balboa Park. There you'll find some of the most popular attractions in San Diego. One is the San Diego Zoo. Almost 4,000 animals in as native an environment as the experts can construct to make them comfortable, including their rare indigenous plants, roam in the 100-acre zoo. It's a pretty big undertaking for visitors, but fortunately there are tour buses that give about a 40-minute guided

tours through the zoo. There is even an aerial tram that goes through the zoo. Make it an early visit, unless you don't mind a 45-minute wait on line to get on the bus, especially the top tier of the double-decker. Truth be told, you'll have the best experience when you wander through it on foot, even if you miss a few species. Take a look on the internet before you leave to read about some of the exhibits of note. Also located in Balboa Park is the fascinating interactive Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. There's a simulator that lets you take different kinds of virtual voyages-the futuristic space station is particularly popular. There's also an IMAX film.

Balboa Park also contains a good number of other museums and attractions. Here's a partial list:

• Mingei International Museum of Folk Art (another goodie)
• Museum of Photographic Arts
• San Diego Model Railroad Museum
• Timken Museum of Art
• San Diego Museum of Man
• San Diego Natural History Museum
• Botanical Building
• Japanese Friendship Garden
• Carousel (antique)
• Miniature Railroad
• Globe Theatres
• Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater
• Marston House
• Morley Field Sports Complex
• Flamingo Café
• Waters Café