San Diego pairs a mild coastal climate with parks, beaches, and a deep naval history. Balboa Park gathers museums, gardens, and the San Diego Zoo across a large mesa above downtown, the USS Midway Museum lets visitors walk the decks of an aircraft carrier on the bay, and Old Town preserves the site of the first European settlement in California. La Jolla Cove offers sea lions, kayaking, and cliff views, Coronado Beach stretches wide and flat across the bay, and the Gaslamp Quarter brings Victorian buildings, restaurants, and nightlife to downtown streets.