MAJOR ATTRACTIONS

In March 2013, LEGOLAND California Resort in Carlsbad in San Diego's North County introduced a new 4-D movie entitled LEGO Legend of Chima. Showing throughout the day, guests participate in a wild chase through the imaginary land of Chima with young animal characters based on the LEGO World of Chima products, including a battle between Laval the Lion Prince and Cragger the Crocodile Prince.

In May 2013, the San Diego Zoo will open the Conrad Prebys Australian Outback exhibit showcasing wonders from the country of Australia. Visitors can venture through a eucalyptus grove and discover species from wombats to wallabies and kookaburras to cockatoos. The Australian Outback exhibit ends at a Queenslander house-style care center that overlooks a forest for the Zoo's Queensland koala colony – the largest koala colony outside of Australia.

Opening June 1, 2013 in Chula Vista in San Diego's South Bay, Aquatica SeaWorld's Waterpark™ is a new waterpark that features exciting waterslide attractions in addition to guest experiences with a variety of exotic animals. Aquatica San Diego blends up-close animal experiences, waters from serene to extreme, high-speed thrills and a sandy beach for guests of all ages to enjoy.

In June 2013, SeaWorld San Diego will debut Madagascar Live: Operation Vacation, an original 20-minute live musical show featuring the characters from the Madagascar movie franchise. The show features rock/pop music performed by a live band and includes both classic and original songs. The characters will also conduct meet and greets with park guests.

MAJOR EVENTS

In 2015, Balboa Park, often referred to as the “Smithsonian of the West” for its vast cultural offerings, will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Panama-California Exposition of 1915, which initially developed the park's stunning gardens and striking Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Edge 2015, a year-long festival, will highlight the region's history, both past and future, through the lenses of art, commerce, culture and technology.

Residents and visitors alike show their pride during the 39th Annual San Diego LGBT Pride Parade and Festival, July 12-14, 2013, one of the most popular events of its kind in the U.S..  Highlights include a mile-long parade through Hillcrest and two-day festival in Balboa Park.

Visitors can be Super Man or Wonder Woman for a day at Comic-Con International, July 18-21, 2013, at the San Diego Convention Center in downtown San Diego. Comic-Con has become a signature summertime event for San Diego; it is the largest comics and pop culture event in the United States, attracting thousands of artists, celebrities and fans of comic books, movie memorabilia and all things related to pop culture.

The 4th annual La Jolla Fashion Film Festival, the only fashion film festival in North America, occurs July 26-27, 2013 at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego−La Jolla. Top fashion film directors, producers and filmmakers from around the world join the public in nightly screenings, after parties, seminars, art installations and more.

NEW HOTELS

In April 2013, LEGOLAND California Resort opened the world's first LEGOLAND Hotel in Carlsbad in San Diego's North County. The new hotel, adjacent to the famous theme park, features 250 LEGO-themed guest rooms, themed elevators and play areas, a buffet restaurant and heated swimming pool, all located at the main entrance of the LEGOLAND California theme park.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

In January 2013, The Adventuress Catamaran, a gorgeous 60-ft. sailing yacht, began offering private chartered tours on San Diego Bay and the Pacific coastline. The 48-passenger yacht, which houses multiple spacious outdoor decks, four staterooms and a 75-bottle wine locker, is available for year-round whale and dolphin watching trips, private sailing excursions, weddings, and brunch and sunset cruises.

PERFORMING ARTS

The Tony Awardâ-winning Old Globe theatre in Balboa Park presents its Summer Shakespeare Festival, June 2 through September 29, 2013.  The Old Globe presents a rotating repertory of three classic Shakespearean-style plays; this season's plays include William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Merchant of Venice and Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. All three productions are performed under the stars in The Old Globe's beautiful outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.

TRANSPORTATION AND TOUR COMPANIES

Another Side of San Diego Tours is offering the San Diego Highlights Tour, a 7-hour sightseeing experience that takes guests to some of the most beautiful spots in the city. Beginning in San Diego's historic Gaslamp Quarter, guests are transported around downtown before heading over to Coronado, “the Crown City.” Guests are then taken to La Jolla, the “Jewel” of San Diego, where they eat lunch along the Pacific coastline before heading to the picturesque Torrey Pines State Reserve. The tour is available year-round and begins at 9 a.m. daily.

AWARDS

In December 2012, San Diego ranked #6 in Travel + Leisure magazine's 2012 "America's Favorite Cities" survey. San Diego was recognized with high marks in a range of categories including visitor experience, dynamic nightlife, culinary offerings and as a destination for all types of visitors to travel throughout the year. San Diego was also rated as America's #1 city for athletic/active people and placed in the top 10 position in 39 of the 66 individually ranked categories according to visitors in this prestigious annual survey.

Happiness is calling in San Diego.  For more information on San Diego's offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority's Web site at www.sandiego.org or call 619-236-1212.