For New Postdocs: San Diego Information

San Diego is located on the southernmost tip of the State of California. It is approximately 120 miles south of Los Angeles and 20 miles north of Mexico. San Diego is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, by the mountain areas of Laguna and Palomar, and the rugged Anza-Borrego Desert National Park. It has an excellent natural harbor, which has made it an important shipping and receiving point for Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico's Baja California. It is also headquarters for the 11th U.S. Naval District and houses major naval and marine training bases.

Demographics
In population, San Diego is the seventh largest city in the United States (approximately 1.2 million residents), and is the second largest city in California. The county’s population (2.7 million) is a little more than 1% of the total U.S. population. Thirty-seven percent of population speaks a language other than English at home. The median age of San Diegans is 32 years, with 11% over 65, and a 27% under 20. Thirty-five percent of San Diegans have a bachelor's degree or higher, and San Diego has the fewest cigarette smokers among the major US cities. The median household income is $45,733; the per capita income is $23,609. San Diegans spend a median rent of $763 per month and the median price for existing homes is $468,450 (January 2004). Of the registered voters in the county, 41% are Republicans, 36% Democrats, and the remainder are unaffiliated or affiliated with other parties.

Climate
San Diego has one of the best climates in the world. The average year round temperature is 72º Fahrenheit (23º Celsius) and the change of temperature on any given day is never more than 20º Fahrenheit. The average temperature along the coast in the summer is 78º Fahrenheit (25º Celsius) and about 64º Fahrenheit (18º Centigrade) in the winter. During the fall months, the Santa Ana winds blow east from the desert creating very hot and clear weather conditions. Generally they last 2-3 days. San Diego is considered a semi-arid area and is very dry due to the lack of rain. The average rainfall in San Diego is 10 inches per year, most of which occurs from November to late March. Some of the cloudiest months occur in May and June (notably called "May Gray" and "June Gloom"). During these two months, the areas along the coast are generally somewhat foggy during the morning hours. The clouds generally dissipate by noon. The ocean temperature in San Diego averages 70º Fahrenheit (21º Centigrade) in the summer and 56º Fahrenheit (14º Centigrade) in the winter. In addition, if you are an avid skier, the nearest ski slope is located 2-3 hours away by car.

Media
San Diego has two major newspapers, the San Diego Union-Tribune and the Weekly Reader. The Union-Tribune is the dominant citywide daily paper, while the Reader offers a different perspective to local and regional news and offers comprehensive arts and entertainment coverage.

The following is a list of a few local FM radio stations and network television:

• KPBS 89.5: National Public Radio
• Z 90: R&B and hip hop
• 100.7 JACK: A mix of music from the 80s to now, top 40
• 103.7 The Planet: Oldies from the 60s to 80s.
• KGB 101.5: Classic Rock.

Television:

• KFMB 8: CBS
• KGTV 10: ABC
• KNSD 7/39: NBC
• KPBS 11: PBS
• KSWB 5/69: WB
• XETV 6: FOX
• UCSD-TV

Public Transportation
Southern California is known for its ‘car culture’ and it follows that the majority of workers in San Diego commute by car. The public transportation system is not particularly strong here, though you do have several options if you want to attempt to move about town without a car:

• Metropolitan Transit System 619-233-3004: The buses will get you where you are going for a relatively low fare. Schedules can be obtained from the San Diego Transit Store (619-234-1060) or at public libraries and some post offices. See MTS maps and timetables & North County Transit maps and timetables.
• The Coaster 1-800-COASTER: You can ride from Oceanside to Downtown in about one hour on the Coaster. The train makes eight stops and runs Monday through Saturday. An added bonus is that the fare includes free transfers to all connecting San Diego buses and trolleys. See Coaster schedules.
  
• San Diego Trolley 619-231-8549: From Tijuana to Santee to Mission Valley, the bright red trolley is one of the best ways to get into Downtown and to shuttle around the metropolitan area. Trolleys run every 15 minutes and tailor their rates to fit your needs. You can buy single passes for short trips, or a one- to four-day "Day Tripper" pass buys you unlimited access to all routes, anytime.
  

Dining
The TSRI Cafeteria is located in the TSRI conference center at 3300 Torrey Pines Court. Its operational hours are from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm. See weekly lunch menu.

UCSD’s Cups Café, Green Hospital Cafeteria, and several coffee cart stations are short walks from Campus. La Jolla restaurants are 5-10 minutes away. The area includes numerous options for fine dining and a wide variety of inexpensive eateries:

• UCSD survival guide list of restaurants.
• TSRI Graduate Department's cuisine-specific restaurant guide.
• San Diego Union Tribune restaurant reviews.

Banking
The following major banks have multiple branches in San Diego:

• Bank of America
  local branch: 8813 Villa La Jolla Dr (858) 452-8400
• Washington Mutual
  local branch: 7777 Girard Ave # 1 (858) 454-6133
• Wells Fargo
  local branch: 8657 Villa La Jolla Dr # 201 (858) 455-9590
• US Bank
  local branch: 4180 La Jolla Village Dr # 570 (858) 597-0997
• San Diego National Bank
  local branch: 4270 Executive Sq # 100 (858) 623-0990
• Union Bank
  local branch: 7807 Girard Ave (858) 551-4780

Recreation
San Diego is world famous for its beautiful beaches and great surfing conditions. Del Mar, Torrey Pines, Pacific Beach, La Jolla Shores, Blacks Beach, Ocean Beach, and Sunset Cliffs are all popular surfing destinations. The beaches also host a number of other activities, including the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition in August. In addition to the beaches, there are numerous spots for biking, running, rock climbing, sailing, fishing, camping, and scuba diving. Mainstream sports are prevalent as well – San Diego is home to a professional football team (Chargers) and baseball team (Padres). Several festivals, fairs, and parades occur annually, including a huge summer music and food festival in the streets of downtown San Diego called ‘Street Scene.’

PLACES TO GO

• Balboa Park - The site of the world famous San Diego Zoo, as well as museums, art galleries, a botanical garden and many spots for picnics.
• Birch Aquarium - Offers visitors an up-close view of sea life off San Diego's coast with marine life displays, outdoor tidepools, classes for children, and a museum located at Scripps Intitution of Oceanography.
• Cabrillo National Monument – This landmark commemorates explorer Juan Cabrillo's discovery of the California coast in 1542. Tour the lighthouse, explore the tidepools, watch for whales, and enjoy the breathtaking view. Located at the tip of Point Loma.
• Hotel del Coronado – San Diego landmark made famous in the Marilyn Monroe movie "Some Like it Hot." Unique architectural design and picturesque backdrop, located on the island of Coronado. Explore the museum at the hotel and don't miss the quaint shops and restaurants that Coronado has to offer.
• Sea World – Popular marine theme park located in Mission Bay. Offers a variety of animal shows, including a killer whale show featuring, "Shamu," and special exhibits such as the Shark Encounter. Spectacular water-skiing shows and fireworks displays are offered during the summer months.
• San Diego Zoo – World-famous zoo located in Balboa Park. Home to a wide variety of species and state-of-the-art climate zones. Offers a petting zoo for children, animal nursery, ‘Skyfari’ tram rides and a bus tour.
• San Diego Wild Animal Park – Recognized worldwide, this unique 1,800-acre wildlife preserve allows animals to roam freely in settings similar to their native homelands. Offers exotic animal and garden exhibits, exciting animal shows, private safari photo tours, and a fascinating monorail ride through the park. Located six miles east of Escondido.
• Palomar Observatory – The visitor center offers an excellent view of the 200-inch Hale telescope. Star-gazing offered in the summer. Located atop Mount Palomar.
• Gaslamp Quarter – There are a wonderful variety of restaurants, dance clubs, and shops to explore in this historic district in downtown San Diego.
• Mission Trails Regional Park - Encompasses nearly 5,800 acres of both natural and developed recreational acres. Includes the highest point in the city of San Diego, Cowles Mountain (1592ft).
• Cuyamaca State Park - Though Devastated by the October Wildfires of 2003, selected campgrounds and trails are re-opening. Near the Historic mountain getaway town of Julian.
• Anza Borrego State Park - With over 600,000 acres, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest desert state park in the contiguous United States. About a 2-hour drive from the city of San Diego.

Places of Worship

• TSRI Graduate Department list
• USD's "Other Faith Communities" list