Old Town San Diego

Walking through Old Town San Diego gives the visitor that magical feeling of time travel. Within just a few blocks of towering, sleek skyscrapers, tourists and locals can peer into the past. Buildings made of adobe brick hundreds of years ago have been beautifully restored. Others artfully crafted in the Victorian style dot the landscape. Museums, shops, restaurants and huge expanses of green areas in Heritage Park and Presidio Park provide lots to see and do during a delightful day in Old Town San Diego.

Some of the must-see structures in Old Town San Diego include the Whaley House, professed to be a favorite paranormal place that is acclaimed as one of America’s Most Haunted and the Serra Museum, a gem of Spanish Revival architecture. Other worthwhile stops in Old Town San Diego are the many Casas (Homes) of well-to-do former residents who lived in the neighborhood during the mid 1800s; Cosmopolitan Hotel (formerly Casa de Bandini); the Old Adobe Chapel and the Racine and Laramie Store, a reconstructed and well stocked shop full of 1860s period pieces, are just a few Old Town San Diego landmarks worth seeing.

Special Events and seasonal happenings - Throughout the year, festivals, fairs and other special events to commemorate special days are scheduled in Old Town San Diego. Some of the most popular crowd pleasers are the July 4th celebration, Stagecoach Days and Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) a Mexican tradition that takes place the day after Halloween each year in Old Town San Diego.
Old Town Saturday Market - Fans of handmade art should not miss this weekly event each Saturday on Harney Street. Potters, glassblowers, clothing designers and other artisans gather at this Old Town San Diego venue and offer their wares. Call 858-272-7054 for more info.

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