SAN DIEGO
COMMUNITY GUIDE

The City of San Diego is home to over 100 neighborhoods, 70 miles of coastline, 33 glorious beaches, 90+ public/private golf courses, 18 state parks, 1 National Monument, and over 120 craft breweries. San Diego has pleasant year-round weather, a welcoming neighbor vibe, and lots of friendly residents. The best way to explore these neighborhoods is to dine, play, and drive around!

Downtown San Diego

The metro downtown area includes the Gaslamp District, East Village, and Little Italy. This area is an urban playground with plenty of nighttime activities, restaurants featuring world-renowned chefs, the newly renovated Westfield Horton Plaza park and mall, Embarcadero Marina Park North, cruise ship terminal, Waterfront Park, Petco Park baseball stadium, and much more. Mid to high rise buildings are popular with residents in this area.

Beaches

San Diego is known for it's pristine coastline, flat beaches, coastal bluff lookouts, and unique communities full of character. Along this mid-city stretch, you'll find La Jolla, Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, and Point Loma. Activities in the water include whale watching (to spot one of the 20,000 gray whales that migrate to Baja California in the winter and spring), surfing, diving, and kayaking. In these beach towns, you'll find plenty of dining options with ocean views, tiki bars, a dog-friendly beach, Westfield UTC shopping mall, Liberty Station, and more. You'll find an assortment of townhouses, condos, single family homes, and luxury estates along the beach cities.

North County Coastal

Six seaside towns, consisting of Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Cardiff, Solana Beach, and Del Mar, contain an eclectic assortment of shops, arts and culture events, the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the Belly Up Tavern concert venue,  a modern park with a 13,000 square foot skate park, cafes, a dog-friendly beach, The Shoppes at Carlsbad, The Forum in Carlsbad, wine tasting rooms, and more. This area features beautiful beaches, charming villages, and a laid back lifestyle. Residents along the northern coastal corridor typically live in single family homes or condos.

North County Inland

A scenic drive north on Interstate 15 will lead you to diverse suburban communities (Escondido, San Marcos, Vista, Valley Center, Palomar Mountain, Rancho Santa Fe, and more). You will find rolling hills and open spaces, casinos, arts and culture, breweries, hiking, camping, farm lands, horse properties, Westfield North County mall, and an observatory. Single family homes and luxury estates are predominantly the most popular living arrangement in this area.

Central San Diego

Slightly north of Downtown San Diego, there is a myriad of communities including North Park, Kensington, Hillcrest, Normal Heights, University Heights, Mission Hills, Bay Park, Old Town, Mission Valley, Fashion Valley, Clairemont Mesa, and the Convoy District. In this area, you will find Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, a historic Spanish village, nightlife, a few malls including Fashion Valley, unique stores, diverse dining options, IKEA, Qualcomm Stadium, and many museums. Residents in Central San Diego live in a variety of housing including condos, bungalows, townhouses, and single family homes. 

Eastern San Diego

San Diego's eastern-most towns and communities are appealing to those looking for a slower-paced lifestyle, farmers, desert dwellers, and homeowners that want gorgeous views of open space. Cuyamaca, Julian, Laguna Mountains, and Borrego Springs are popular to visit year-round to see the native spring wildflowers, play in the snowy mountains, and eat fresh apple pie with apples from local farms. Residents of El Cajon, La Mesa, Alpine, Lemon Grove, Santee, Spring Valley, and other East County cities can escape the urban hustle, take a scenic drive, and enjoy the seasonal family-friendly annual events hosted in this area. Many people that live in Eastern San Diego own single family homes, and some own vacant or agricultural land.

South Bay/Coronado

Just a short drive from Downtown San Diego, South Bay and Coronado offer scenic bike paths, athletic facilities (e.g. U.S. Olympic Training Center), the legendary Hotel Del Coronado, natural spaces like the Tijuana Estuary, Suzie's Organic Farm, and many restaurants, bars, and breweries. Single family homes, luxury homes, beachfront condos, and bungalows are popular living spaces in this area.

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