SAN DIEGO COMMUNITIES
Downtown/Gaslamp Quarter [top]
Downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter is Southern California’s premiere dining and entertainment district where you’ll find a truly eclectic blend of food, fun and culture—all within one of San Diego’s most historic areas. Stroll past the district’s grand, historic buildings restored to their original character—A place where you can see charming Victorian-style buildings constructed between 1880 and 1910. Covering an area more than 16 blocks and 38 acres, the Gaslamp Quarter was named for the gas lamps that glowed there in the late 19th century. By day or by night, the Gaslamp Quarter has something for everyone whether you’re seeking theatre, upscale shops, fine dining (at over 60 restaurants), pubs or nightclubs, or major league baseball.
Coronado/Imperial Beach [top]
Connected to San Diego by the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge with its distinctive curved span, Coronado offers great views of downtown San Diego from Ferry Landing Marketplace, a bayside complex comprised of shops and restaurants. Downtown Coronado is often described as charming with its many cafes and restaurants offering outdoor dining and unique shops. Swim, surf, sail, fish, bike, skate, golf, or play tennis—Coronado is definitely the place to be if you love the outdoors. The great lady, the Hotel Del Coronado, is located at the south end of the city. The Del, as it is known, is a National Historic Landmark dating back to 1888. South of Coronado across the Silver Strand lies Imperial Beach. This low-key beach community bordering Mexico is popular with local surfing enthusiasts.
Little Italy [top]
A stable ethnic business and residential community since the 1920’s, Little Italy today represents downtown San Diego’s oldest continuous neighborhood business district. At one time, more than 6,000 Italian families lived in Little Italy and toiled to build San Diego into the center of the world tuna industry. Located just north of downtown and straddling Columbia, India and Kettner Streets between Beech and Grape, Little Italy is a culturally-vibrant neighborhood that has recently seen the growth of skyscraping condominiums, a number of popular restaurants, quaint cafes, and delightful pubs, and a variety of shops including art galleries, markets, home
furnishing stores and clothing boutiques. Check Little Italy’s event calendar online (www.littleitalysd.com) before your visit so you won’t miss a
fun event.
Old Town [top]
The historic seat of San Diego, Old Town is a step back to the Wild West. Once home to a tribe of Kumeyaay Indians, Old Town was ‘settled’ by Spanish padres in 1769. For a glimpse of days gone by and great Mexican food (and an occasional ghost sighting), visit Plaza del Pasado where painstaking care has been taken to restore authentic details of the past. From “period” murals to furnishings reflecting the area’s rich history, the Plaza offers both a good time and a truly educational look at San Diego’s rich Mexican-American heritage. For colorful artisan shopping, visit Bazaar del Mundo (off Taylor Street, just east of Juan) or drop by the Old Town Market.
Point Loma/Ocean Beach [top]
First discovered by Juan Cabrillo and his crew in 1542, Point Loma (the home of the Cabrillo National Monument) was settled in 1884 by Portuguese fishermen and whalers. Today, the area’s architecture, fishing ambiance and a strong Portuguese community still tell of days gone by. Neighboring Ocean Beach’s alternative culture, secondhand shops, clubs and casual restaurants are in stark contrast to quaint Point Loma. This region is a “must see” for those seeking authentic San Diego.
La Jolla/La Jolla Shores [top]
Most visitors to San Diego know about La Jolla long before their planes land. The idyllic enclave with its widespread reputation for being a place of wealth and status is a big reason many people come to our city in the first place. Although you’re sure to find the well-known shops and restaurants of downtown La Jolla on your own, be sure you don’t miss visiting Birch Aquarium, hiking over Black’s Beach and kayaking into the mysterious Seven Sister Caves. Beachgoers, surfers, and swimmers will also enjoy the long, narrow beach and relatively gentle surf of La Jolla Shores. Here, outdoor activities, upscale shopping and dining peacefully coexist.
Mission Beach/Pacific Beach [top]
Mix a couple of university populations, warm beaches, great surf and more bars than a street in Dublin, and you get San Diego’s Mission Beach and “PB”. Together, the two towns make up the quintessential California dream, especially on weekends when the numerous hot spots are packed with hunky collegiates and girls-gone-wild-wannabees. In short, it is a study in shades of pink, tattoos and piercings in places too painful to think about. The 20-to-30-something crowd who frequents the area enjoys proximity to everything under the sun, all within walking or cycling distance – which is the way many of the locals travel. Surf shops and fashion boutiques abound, and everything and everyone are packed-in pretty tight around here (just another part of the fun). Parking in this part of town is manageable but traffic can be traumatic on the weekends so plan a little ahead.
Hillcrest/Mission Hills/Adams Avenue [top]
With an abundance of shops, restaurants, and entertainment, Hillcrest, Mission Hills and Adams Avenue are three of the liveliest destinations in America’s Finest City. From fashion to fine dining and everything in between, these neighborhoods are the pulse of San Diego’s ultra-hip urban and gay scene. If it’s collectible, cool or just plain kitschy, you’ll find it (and much more) here! Busy outdoor cafés line the sidewalks, lending the area a neighborly, friendly vibe.
Del Mar/Solana Beach [top]
From beaches to shopping, surfing to equine pastimes, Del Mar and Solana Beach are two of San Diego’s biggest attractions. The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club is a big piece of Del Mar’s heart and soul. And no visit is complete without a leisurely browse through Del Mar’s upscale boutiques, galleries and restaurants. Torrey Pines State Reserve and Del Mar’s beaches are two more reasons to go. Solana Beach offers more beautiful beaches, dining, performing arts and the Cedros Design District.
Encinitas/Cardiff-by-the-Sea [top]
Yet another cute, seaside area, Encinitas still fosters a charming, old-school surf culture. The neighborhood feel is evident as you drive down the town’s main strip, a business-filled section of Coast Hwy. 101 (between K Street and Encinitas Blvd.). Even before you’ve gotten out of your car, you’re likely to witness the friendly, easy-going attitudes of most Encinitans who rarely honk and actually wave at you on occasion. The shopping and dining scene here is warm, environmentally-friendly and often, a refreshing step into the past. But the beaches are why most people head to Encinitas and its neighboring enclave, Cardiff-by-the-Sea. Wide, sandy beaches that provide bluff-side camping (Cardiff State Beach) make this one of the most popular stretches of oceanfront in the county. Surfing, swimming, boogie boarding, biking, and beachcombing are the activities of choice.
Carlsbad/Oceanside [top]
Thirty miles north of San Diego hides one of Southern California’s most charming getaways. Originally known for its healing mineral waters, Carlsbad remains an idyllic community where traffic slows for surfers crossing to catch a morning wave. In the village, visitors experience the slow pace of a surfside lifestyle. Trendy shops, coffee houses, cafes and restaurants line the streets. A meandering beachwalk and lots of fluffy, white sand are what you’ll love most about your visit to Carlsbad. North of Carlsbad lies Oceanside. Once a strictly military town, “O-side” is now a booming “bedroom community”. Good waves and a variety of events at Oceanside Pier are among the town’s most popular attractions.
Baja California, Mexico [top]
From San Diego, it’s easy to get to Mexico. Tijuana, gateway to Baja California, is less than half an hour from downtown San Diego. Rosarito Beach is 20 minutes beyond Tijuana. Ensenada is about an hour away. These cities are within 75 miles of the border so you don’t need a travel card if you return to the U.S. within 72 hours. Effective December 31, 2006, passports are required for all U.S. citizens traveling by air or sea to or from Mexico.
When you cross into Mexico, the shopping is terrific with good values. From the U.S. border, it’s a short walk or taxi ride to Tijuana’s famous shopping area, Avenida Revolucion. World-class golf, fishing, surfing, scuba diving, wine tasting and whale-watching await in Rosarito Beach and Ensenada.