Inland city names are just as easily recognized Beverly Hills, Universal City, Hollywood, Burbank, and Pasadena. Theaters, large and small, offer classical to contemporary dramas, The Music Center presents opera, musical comedy, symphony productions and more. Tourism is the area's number one economic interest, although in the past, fishing, whaling, and sardine harvesting played important roles. Today conservation and preservation of the area's natural beauty and resources are most important. This can be witnessed at the Monterey Bay Aquarium with its more than 500 species of marine life and over 100 exhibits.
Visitors can choose to tour the valley by train, car or bicycle.
Should you wish a bird's eye view of the area, there are numerous hot air balloon ride offerings. Visit historic Old Town San Diego, the birthplace of California. A park passport, valid for a week, can be purchased. Travel north of San Diego proper and you will find La Jolla, home of the world famous Scripps Institute of Oceanography. What is known today as San Francisco Bay was one of the main enticements for the first wave of Spaniards traveling up California's coast to pitch camp and stay.