San Diego Neighborhoods, Locations and Districts

(San Diego, California - CA, USA)

Located just miles from the Mexican border, San Diego is a laid back version of Los Angeles - a proud naval port boasting a superb climate and many interesting districts. San Diego is also home to some truly awesome beaches, countless museums and galleries, several famous water fun parks and a lively dining and nightlife scene.

Despite San Diego being the sixth-largest city in the US, many of its best sights are concentrated together in San Diego's downtown district, while the city's excellent bus network ensures easy transport between them. Balboa Park is home to over a dozen major museums along with the famous San Diego Zoo, while the Old Quarter district houses historical buildings and Mexican cuisine. Mission Bay is sure to have a beach with your name on it and La Jolla and Hillcrest boast great restaurants and chic boutiques.

Downtown District

Looking out over the beautiful harbor is San Diego's downtown district - the business, shopping and entertainment heart of the city. Here you'll find a range of different attractions and facilities including the hip Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, the Convention Center, the Embarcadero and the Horton Plaza for shopping aficionados. There are lots of bars and night clubs spread around the downtown district, suiting those thinking about taking in some of the city's nightlife.

Hillcrest District

Located to the north of downtown San Diego and close to Balboa Park, the Hillcrest district boasts plenty of historic charm along with popular restaurants and upmarket shopping opportunities.

Gaslamp Quarter District

Located downtown, this 16-block area of San Diego was once a seedy backwater, but due to extensive redevelopment in the mid-1980s, the Gaslamp Quarter district is now famous for its interesting shopping, art galleries, great restaurants and lively nightlife. The well-preserved Victorian buildings in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter district have earned it status as a National Historic District.

La Jolla District

The La Jolla area is home to some of San Diego's wealthier residents, boasting a lovely beach, an infinite variety of restaurants and shopping opportunities, and the University of California, San Diego.

Mission Bay District

San Diego's Mission Bay district is the place for beach lovers and water babies. Home to an array of aquatic activities, lively nightlife, sunset dining and a colorful boardwalk between Mission and Pacific beaches; the bay is ideal for people watching.

Old Town and Mission Valley District

Old Town is a favorite tourist drawcard in San Diego and is home to several museums and the Old Town State Historic Park, authentic and reconstructed period buildings and great shopping and dining with a Mexican twist. Mission Valley also boasts some large, air-conditioned shopping malls.