Balboa Park

Balboa Park was made into a beautiful San Diego park in 1892, after the land was untouched for over 20 years. It began with the one hundred trees planted by Kate Sessions, "The Mother of Balboa Park". Some of those original trees are still alive today.

Many of the park's Spanish-Renaissance style buildings along the El Prado walkway, were constructed for the 1915-1916 Panama-California Exposition, held in the park. The historic Cabrillo Bridge and the park's landmark tree, the Moreton Bay fig, are a result of the Exposition.

The Museum of San Diego History & Archives, San Diego Model Railroad Museum and the Museum of Photographic Arts, are housed in the historic Food and Beverage Building, built for the Exposition. In 1916, the San Diego Zoo was developed on the park grounds. Several additional San Diego attractions are also located in the park, in historical buildings.

While visiting this wonderful 1,200 acre park, be sure to view the Kate Sessions statute, stroll through the Veterans Memorial Garden and ride the Balboa Park Carousel. Stay close to this incredible park, in a comfortable Best Western guest room and enjoy a wonderful night's rest.

Naval Base Coronado

Since 1997, Southern California has been the home to the largest military command in the country's southwest region. The Naval Base Coronado encompasses more than 57,000 acres of land, in San Diego. The base is comprised of eight military facilities: Naval Outlying Landing Field, Silver Strand Training Complex-Coronado, Remote Training Site-Warner Springs, Naval Auxillary Landing Field-San Clemente Island, Naval Air Station North Island-Coronado, Naval Outlying Landing Field-Imperial Beach, Camp Michael Monsoor Mountain Warfare Training Center-LaPosta and Naval Amphibious Base-Coronado.

This impressive aerospace-industrial complex is the largest of its kind in the United States Navy. Although one Commanding Officer is in charge over the entire base, it employs more than 36,000 civilian and military personnel. It remains one of the largest employers in San Diego County. The base provides the space for air, ground, undersea and sea operations. While in town, choose one of the several San Diego Best Western hotels, to enjoy comfortable accommodations and excellent guest services.

Old Point Loma Lighthouse

The southern tip of San Diego in the San Diego Bay, was kept lit for thirty-six years by a faithful light. The Old Point Loma Lighthouse was completed 1855, at a height of forty-six feet, on top of a 400-foot cliff.

It was one of the first eight lighthouses to be built on the west coast. This historical white brick lighthouse features a green lantern and was visible for twenty-eight miles.

Due to the location of the "Old Spanish Lighthouse" on top of Point Loma, the low fog and clouds often made it hard to see the light. By 1891, the light was discontinued and no longer used.

The New Point Loma Lighthouse was built on the tip of the point at eighty-eight feet above sea level. While in San Diego, make time to visit the historical Old Point Loma Lighthouse to stroll through the lighthouse, see the living quarters and walk through the museum. The lighthouse is located in the Cabrillo National Monument. Stay close to a wonderful variety of landmarks, museums and attractions as a guest of one of the San Diego Best Western hotels.

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

The Old Town San Diego State Historic Park offers visitors a glimpse into what life was like in San Diego from 1821 to 1872. Visitors stroll through the restored 5 historic buildings, adobes, museums and shops from this once Mexican pueblo town, to see how it was transformed into an American Settlement.

Step into La Casa de Estudillo, La Casa de Machado y Stewart, Mason Street School, the first public school in California, the San Diego Union Printing Office and the Seeley Stables Museum. Enjoy your time learning about the history of San Diego. Choose from several San Diego Best Western hotels, to settle in and rest comfortably, while visiting San Diego and southern California.

Petco Park

Major League Baseball in San Diego is alive and well. Petco Park has been the home ballpark for the San Diego Padres since 2004, after they left Qualcomm Stadium. The stadium's first baseball game was part of a four-team NCAA invitational tournament with the San Diego State Aztecs baseball team. A record crowd was in attendance as they beat Houston. Fans love to watch the games from the "Park at the Park" area near the outfield fence. In addition to baseball games, the stadium hosts concerts and special events.

Top entertainer concerts performed in the ballpark include The Rolling Stones, Madonna and Taylor Swift. From 2007 to 2009, the USA Stevens rugby sevens tournament was held at Petco Park. Additional events hosted at the park include American Idol auditions and the Food Network's "Chairman's Challenge". To cap off a fun-filled day at this wonderful San Diego ballpark, check into a comfortable Best Western guest room where quality lodging and services await.

Qualcomm Stadium

Southern California residents and visitors in the San Diego area, have supported the San Diego Chargers professional football team since 1967. Qualcomm Stadium, a multi-purpose facility, has been home to Chargers from the beginning. The stadium was named San Diego Stadium from 1967 to 1980, then named Jack Murphy Stadium from 1980 to 1997, then finally named Qualcomm Stadium since 1997.

The San Diego Padres professional baseball team played in the stadium from 1969 to 2003, when they moved to Petco Park. Located in San Diego's Misson Valley area, the stadium is also home to the San Diego State University Aztecs football team. Three Super Bowl games have been held at the stadium in addition to Major League Baseball All-Star Games and World Series games. After a fun night at a Chargers game, check into one of the several Best Western hotels for comfortable accommodations and excellent guest services.

San Diego International Airport

San Diego International Airport originally known as the San Diego Municipal - Lindbergh Field, was constructed at the encouragement of Charles Lindbergh, in 1928. By 1934, the airport was designated as an international airport. The airport was also used by the United States Coast Guard Base. In 1942, this San Diego area airport was used during World War II. After the war, commercial flights were available via Pacific Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Western Airlines, Bonanza and PSA. The airport has become the busiest single-runway commercial airport in America.

Sixteen airline support providers and seven airfreight companies also contribute to the traffic at this busy airport. Passengers have a choice of eighteen commercial airlines for flights to many major U.S. cities. Once at the terminal, passengers have a variety of restaurants and shops to choose from, in addition to several private airport club rooms. General and Corporate aviation needs are provided by Landmark Aviation Services. Enjoy your time in the San Diego area, by checking into one of the several Best Western hotels for comfortable accommodations.

San Diego State University

Established in 1897, San Diego State University is situated northwest of downtown San Diego, and is a wonderful attraction within the San Diego metro area. Visitors from nearby cities like Oceanside, and Chula Vista make frequent trips to SDSU during the fall to catch all of the Aztec football action at Qualcomm Stadium. Academically, SDSU offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees, and is a member of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges.

While in San Diego visiting SDSU, many visitors enjoy taking time to explore the local attractions like Balboa Park, and the famous San Diego Zoo. During the winter, many sports fans enjoy the high-energy, alley-oop action of SDSU Aztec basketball. Head to Viejas Arena and watch as both the men's and women's Aztec basketball teams compete against the rest of the Mountain West Conference.

San Diego Zoo

A full day of fun awaits at the San Diego Zoo, located in San Diego's Balboa Park. Stroll through the Discovery Outpost, Lost Forest, Asian Passage, Panda Canyon, Polar Rim, Elephant Odyssey, Urban Jungle, Africa Rocks and Outback to visit all of the animals. The zoo has been providing fun times with animals since its opening in 1915. Enjoy a relaxing ride on the gondola, the Skyfari, for a birds-eye view of the entire zoo.

Ready for a unique zoo adventure? Sign up for one of the special zoo tours. The Backstage Pass - Ultimate Encounter allows visitors to meet many of the exotic animals up close. Additional options include the Inside Look tour, the Discovery tour and the Horticulture tour. Take a break from the action as a guest at one of several Best Western hotels in San Diego.

SeaWorld San Diego

SeaWorld San Diego, located near the sun and sand of San Diego’s Mission Bay, is the original marine mammal park and aquarium. Home of Shamu,the magnificent and talented killer whale featured in popular daily shows is arguably the park’s most famous resident. This family-friendly park is full of world-class marine exhibits, aquariums and rides - providing a full-days fun and entertainment.

Optimize your SeaWorld experience by checking feeding times and visit your favorite exhibit at the designated time. Special reservations can also be made for behind-the-scenes tours, or the Dine with Shamu programs - offering back-stage access to the killer whale habitat and trainers.

Best Western hotels offer over 25 locations near SeaWorld in the San Diego Metro area. Travelers looking for a San Diego hotel have a great choice of locations with Best Western – choose from accommodations to fit any itinerary and budget.