The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition's recommended route incorporates almost six miles one way of flat, scenic bike paths along the northeast corner of San Diego Bay. With the exception of one short section and the easy going roads of Liberty Station, this bike route is vehicle free.

"It's really difficult to imagine any stadium topping Petco Park — it's simply the best."

Those could well be the words of any fan who's had the pleasure of taking in a Padres game — or a pop concert, or a fireworks show, or college football's Holiday Bowl — at San Diego's beautiful downtown ballpark. But the quote happens to be from a sportswriter with USA Today, which has named Petco Park the nation's best MLB ballpark more times than any other stadium.

It's easy to see why: With stunning skyline views, proximity to the city's sparkling waterfront, awesome food and beverage options, inviting event spaces and much more, Petco is (as USA Today describes it) "the perfect ballpark."

Whether you've made the pilgrimage to the home of the Padres many times or are looking forward to your first visit, here's your complete guide to the Petco Park experience.

With so many exceptional bars and eateries within—yes—pitching distance, it's no wonder Petco Park allows baseball fans to exit and re-enter the stadium at any time, and to bring food inside. That means you can enjoy the spoils of the neighborhood before, after, and even during a game. And there are many places to do just that. Here are seven options, from divey to classy and a few in between.

With its unique identity as a beach town, a border city, a bustling international port and a former frontier burg, San Diego has mixed and matched architectural styles to surprising and sometimes dazzling effect over the decades. While the influence of the region's early Spanish settlement remains prominent, plenty of signature architectural sites here draw on other, more disparate traditions. Here's a look at 7 eye-catching San Diego buildings and districts that architecture-minded visitors will love discovering.