Various neighborhoods in San Diego are known for particular characteristics.
Hillcrest is a tolerant, diverse region northwest of Balboa Park which is the hub of the gay and lesbian community. It is characterized by small business, restaurants and clubs.
Pedestrian travel is common due to high population density.
Little Italy is located in downtown San Diego. Historically the home of Italian fishermen and their families, at the present time it is a scenic neighborhood with events that celebrate the Italian heritage. There are a number of Italian restaurants and shops.
Delmar is the home of the San Diego Fairgrounds and Race Track. It is also the locale of the largest holiday light show on the west coast.
Mission Beach contains a two-mile long beach, The Strand. There is a boardwalk for walking and biking, and the area includes night clubs and a summer circus.
Coronado Island is about one mile from downtown, accessed by a bridge. With sandy beaches, and a quaint downtown it is a popular tourist attraction.
The historic Hotel de Coronado, where “Some Like it Hot” was filmed, is found there.
Old Town is known at the “state’s birthplace.” It is the site of the first European settlement in California, and has many craft shops, restaurants and historic buildings.
La Jolla is a hilly seaside community with wealthy residents. University of California, San Diego is located there.
LA JOLLA
When visiting San Diego, you can also visit La Jolla and enjoy great food, beautiful beaches, the arts, and great shopping.
Whether you want casual or fine dining, La Jolla has it.
Jack's La Jolla on Gerard gives fine dining a new name. Owned by chef Tony Di Salvo, you may enjoy a meal in one of their three restaurants followed by a cocktail in one of Jack's five lounges.
Other restaurants in La Jolla include the French Pastry Cafe, Crab Catcher, and Donovan's of La Jolla.
Whether you like snorkeling, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, or just sun bathing on the beach, La Jolla has it.
La Jolla is home to many beaches including Marine St. Beach, La Jolla Cove, La Jolla Shores, Torrey Pines State Beach, Windansea Beach, and La Jolla Children's Pool (Casa Beach). Pack up a lunch and head out to one of La Jolla's beaches!
If it culture you are looking for you cannot miss the La Jolla Art Association Gallery on Herschel Ave. They show art from some of the area's most inspiring artists. Some other area attractions you will want to include are the Museum of Contemporary Art, Joseph Bellows Gallery, La Jolla Fiber Arts, and Artful Soul.
Shopping in La Jolla is an enjoyable experience no matter what you are looking for. Shop for clothes at Melange, Gambucci Boutique, Donna Marsh, or other La Jolla boutiques. Jewelry, swimwear, and just about anything else can be found in one of La Jolla's shopping venues.
Make sure that you visit La Jolla while visiting San Diego. La Jolla houses some of the most interesting, unique, and enjoyable attractions in all of California.
OLD TOWN
Old Town San Diego is one of the most historic areas in America's Finest City, and it's a great place to visit. Old Town San Diego is home to many early California museums and attractions, and it's a State Historic Park, so you can visit some of San Diego's oldest buildings, sample Mexican and early American fare in the many restaurants, and stay in one of the area's many hotels and resorts. It's only a few miles from many of San Diego's other major attractions, like the San Diego Zoo, area beaches, and Balboa Park, too.
When you visit Old Town San Diego, you're stepping into the birthplace of California, as San Diego was the first city founded by Father Junipero Serra and his friars after the modern discovery of the area. One of the best ways to see this unique and treasured area is to take a trolley tour. Start at the San Diego Trolley Transit Center, and take a ride on the famous San Diego Trolley for a leisurely tour of the area. Then, get off the trolley and explore some of the many shops and museums scattered throughout Old Town.
Once you visit Old Town San Diego, you'll see why San Diego is truly the birthplace of early California history, and how the Golden State was hundreds of years ago.
LITTLE ITALY
Little Italy, San Diego, is the historic home of fishermen and their families who moved to the area after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The ethnic area fell into decay in the 1970's with the decline of the tuna industry. In 1996 the Little Italy Association was formed, and works to preserve the cultural and business vitality of the neighborhood.
Festivals throughout the year celebrate Venetian costumes, art, Sicilian culture, Italian motorsports, and the Precious Festa, the second largest Italian festival in the United States.
The restaurant district has experienced a renaissance, and now offers a large variety of ethic foods. Fine dining, grilles, cafes, lounges and clubs offer fare for any occasion. At Taste of Little Italy in November guests may sample a palatte of offerings from Little Italy’s many restaurants while strolling along the tree-lined streets.
Every Saturday, the Mercato, a fresh-air farmer’s market offers shoppers fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs, eggs, cheese, flowers and more.
In April, one can take the Art Walk viewing murals by over 300 artists featuring the ethnic and historic heritage of San Diego.
Little Italy is becoming increasingly known for night life. The Waterfront and Princess Pub are long-time favorite bars. Sophisticates enjoy the Airport Lounge and an Italian-Asia club named Crudo (“raw” in Italian).
HILLCREST
Hillcrest, San Diego, Lifestyle Hillcrest is an older neighborhood of San Diego, northwest of Balboa Park. It is the center of San Diego’s gay and lesbian community.
Each year, in July, the Gay Pride parade is held, followed by two days of festivities in Balboa Park.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center in Hillcrest provides services to create community, offer resources, advocate for rights, and promote diversity.
Many bars cater to the gay community. Several receive top ratings. The Universal Hillcrest offers a different event every night, and is sometimes referred to as “omni-sexual.” The Urban Mo’s is known for country-western Saturdays. Martinis Above Fourth is known for martinis, and Numbers is a popular dance bar with two separate rooms with Hip Hop and Techno. The Brass Rail is another dance bar, where Monday is 80's night and Saturday is Latino.
There is a range of ethnic choices in restaurants including, Thai, Italian, Asian Fusion, Sushi, Mexican, French, Chinese, Spanish, Moroccan, Vietnamese, Mediterranean, and Indian. Of course, one can also find American food including sandwich shops, and bakeries as well as fine dining. Many restaurants feature music in addition to dining facilities.
Informal choices abound with cafes, delis and markets throughout the neighborhood.
MISSION BEACH
Mission Beach is in the San Diego, California area not far away from the world famous SeaWorld amusement park. The Mission Beach location is the most densely populated beach location in Southern California. Due to the original planning, this two-mile stretch of beach front community has extremely small lot sizes so that many summer cottages could enjoy this sunny sandbar location that is nestled in between two piers.
Over the years, Mission Beach has become a hot-spot for younger tourists to meet and associate. Thong bikinis are technically illegal on this beach, but with many college aged students using the beach, that law is not often enforced. This is a lively and noisy stretch of beach that those looking for solitude might not enjoy. Beach sports, entertainment groups, community functions, and a general party nature is how this beach area operates.
Historic Belmont Park in South Mission Beach has amusement park rides, food, and entertainment with the crowd pleasing favorite Giant Dipper Roller Coaster open to the public all summer. Surrounding Mission Beach there are a number of young adult oriented restaurants and nightclubs that makes this area a very popular gathering place after the sun goes down at night.
Overnight camping is not allowed on the beach, and during busy tourist months hotel rentals often need to be booked months in advance. Some have found better success at finding quick accommodations when needed at Mission Beach by exploring privately owned rental offerings. It is good to remember that completely furnished beach cabins are available to rent online for overnight stays while area hotels are full.
CORONADO ISLAND
Coronado, California is a popular region commonly referred to as Coronado Island, because of it's beautiful beaches and island-like appeal for tourists.
Coronado Island has many sights to see and plenty to do. The gorgeous, sunlit beach is a popular attraction, as is the town's library, which offers free wireless internet access to visiting patrons and has been newly redecorated. Every 1st and 3rd Sunday the town holds an art show for local painters and artists to display their works. After taking in some culture, why not take a shopping trip through Orange Avenue's many quaint stores and restaurants. If you're looking for a little adventure, try to hunt down Kate Morgan's ghost at the Hotel Del Coronado. A walking tour of Coronado can be taken for a small fee, and will take you through time to the history and the best sites of this beautiful town.
When you're ready to rest for the evening, there are many hotels to choose from in Coronado. Many of these hotels include luxury at its finest, including the use of spas, exercise equipment, pools, hot tubs, and some hotels even feature aerobics classes for the health conscious travelers.
The next time you're hoping for an island retreat, think of Coronado Island.
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