The San Diego Wild Animal Park is like no other zoo. Here, large wild animals are free to roam within huge enclosures that replicate the wilds of Africa.

Clustered in these fenced-off acres are water buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest, rhino, and several other impressive herds of different species. The animals mingle and romp up hills, through gullies, around waterholes and under trees. A motorized tram tour takes visitors around the perimeters of the enclosures, and for an extra fee, guests can ride on the back of a truck into the world of Africa itself on a Photo Safari.

Summer is synonymous with the word vacation. Most of us dream of romantic walks on a tropical beach, umbrella cocktails or maybe just hiding away with a great book. The months of July through August in Del Mar, California, spell out quite a different experience for about a million spectators and dozens of the most finely tuned athletes in the world. I am not talking about pre-season football or the incredibly talented surfers that blanket the coast of southern California all year long. No, the athletes I am referring to have four legs and a tail. They are a very specific breed of

San Diego is one of the jewels in the crown of California's coast and ranks as its second largest city. Diverse and vibrant, San Diego is rich in history, shares a border with Tijuana, Mexico, is home to University of California San Diego, offers miles of beautiful beaches and a Mediterranean-like climate, and houses 16 military facilities. From the historic Presidio of Old Town to the Waterfront, Little Italy to the Gas Lamp Quarter, the city has been undergoing gentrification since the 80's.

There may be no better way to start a perfect day in San Diego than to wake up at the Hotel del Coronado -- affectionately nicknamed "The Del." The classic Victorian hotel located on Coronado Island is just a half-mile bridge ride - that offers spectacular coastal views - from the city. Minutes from Sea World, the San Diego Zoo and other world class attractions, take a day on this island retreat for rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.

As an East Coast transplant, the term "San Diego winter" seems like an oxymoron. Temperatures rarely drop below 60 degrees and the sun shines even on these cooler days. It's during this winter, though, that you're forced to find something other than sun tanning or swimming to occupy your time. Whale watching tours seem like the perfect way to stay outside December through March, and offers a chance to get a glimpse of these large wonders as they slowly migrate south from the Arctic sea to Baja, Mexico for the winter.

Every visitor to San Diego must make room in their schedule for the amazing, "world-famous" San Diego Zoo. The Zoo covers 100 acres on very hilly terrain in the heart of down-town, transforming an urban jungle into a real rainforest. The Zoo is a privately-funded non-profit organization and is one of the best-kept zoos in the country.