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When Fred Coleman discovered gold here in 1869, scores of prospectors poured into the region. The boom was over in less than five years, but some stayed on in this charming little community surrounded by oak and pine forests high in the Cuyamaca Mountains. Now this designated Historical District is filled with B&Bs, and is a popular weekend getaway. Julian is also well-known for its apple orchards (see Julian).

Spectacular and rich, with a gorgeous location and elegant restaurants and shops, this is an ideal destination. However, La Jollans do not sit around idly basking in their good fortune. Just north of the village along Torrey Pines Drive, some of the most prestigious research institutions in the world, many underwritten by La Jolla’s residents, contribute to the good of humanity. Across the freeway, an area known as the Golden Triangle has become the new telecommunications Silicon Valley (see Tijuana).

Children are fascinated by the 30 million plastic bricks fashioned into famous landmarks, life-sized African animals, and landscapes. In Fun Town, kids can drive real electric cars or pilot a helicopter; at the Imagination Zone, they can build race cars and robots. Magicians, ventriloquists, and puppeteers add to the fun.

This theme park is devoted to the plastic brick. Little ones enjoy the hands-on activities, rides, and models (see Legoland).

The 21st century hasn’t yet hit this sleepy little town. Sidewalk-less roads haven’t changed in decades.

One of the more recent neighborhoods to undergo revitalization is also one of San Diego’s oldest. Genoese fishing families were the first Italians to settle along the waterfront in the 1860s. Along with Portuguese immigrants, they founded San Diego’s prosperous tuna industry. Little Italy, sometimes also known as Middletown, has now become a fashionable address. While retaining its Bohemian character, Italian restaurants, antique and design stores, and hip cafés distinguish its streets.

Named after the park’s beloved “puppet lady” who delighted audiences with her magical skills, the Balboa Park Puppet Guild entertains kids and adults alike with a wonderful collection of marionettes and hand, rod, and shadow puppets. The Magic of Ventriloquism, Pinocchio, and Grimm’s fairytale classics are some of the shows presented. Guest puppeteers are often featured as well.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the quaint Spanish-Colonial buildings were designed by Bertram Goodhue, architect of several buildings for the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park (see Balboa Park). The Command Museum displays the history and traditions of the Marine Corps in Southern California and the wars in which they fought. Exhibits include photos, paintings, training films, weapons, and a World War II ambulance and jeep.