Old Town San Diego Favorite Tips by lmkluque

Old Town San Diego

Favorite thing: What made this section of San Diego so attractive to the first inhabitants and later, to the Spanish settlers was the San Diego River that flowed by. These days the only evidence of the San Diego River in this area, full of roads and freeways, is the flooding that happens every time it rains for more than a day.

After a fire in, 1872, which destroyed most of the area of Old Town San Diego, the move west to the harbor was complete, leaving Old Town abandoned as a town.

However, much of the residential section remained here and it wasn't until the late 1960's when the State of Califronia claimed a portion of this area and turned it into a State Historic Park.

Today it is apparent that Old Town has been revitalized. Look up in the hills and see some of the lovely homes or take a drive past the Presidio into the neighborhoods and see the luxury.

Aside from Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, San Diego Avenue and Congress Street are the focal points of Old Town that attract the touist. These streets are full of restaurants, bars, museums and plenty of shops. One of the most popular is the shop filled with Mexican type pottery.

Fondest memory: There are plenty of shops in Old Town and the inventory of these pottery shops reminds me of Tijuana. Especially because I recognize the many years worth of shopping history found here as well as the current craze.