San Diego is the southernmost city in California. It is adjacent to the Mexican border. Its beautiful surroundings and pleasant Mediterranean climate are one of the reasons why locals and visitors alike are so attracted to this city.
San Diego has miles of beautiful beaches and many other attractions ( Sea World, San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, Old Town and Nearby Lego Land).
It is also home to the US Pacific Fleet, a large Biotech Industry and a good number of well known companies. San Diego also has first rate educational institutions ( USD – University of San Diego, UCSD- University of California San Diego and a few others).
San Diego’s proximity to Mexico allows for short trips to Tijuana and Rosarito, offering a culturally diverse experience.
San Diego’s best areas are:
La Jolla (Spanish for Pearl)
La Jolla truly lives up to its name. It is a beautiful coastal community centered around Mount Soledad, a picturesque hill side overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
La Jolla has a quaint little village center surrounded by mostly multimillion dollar single family homes and estates. Each little quarter in La Jolla has its own name and character. It is a very exclusive and prestigious neighborhood offering everything from beautiful beaches to trendy restaurants and cafes.
Pacific Beach/Mission Beach
These two beach communities south of La Jolla almost have the feel of living on an island as both are surrounded by the ocean and Mission Bay. They are known as the ultimate place to live or visit for any sports or water enthusiast. Its locals are mostly young hip professionals and students. The community is also frequented by a large numbers of tourists in the summer.
Unlike La Jolla, housing here is very dense, mostly small apartment/ condo complexes, modest single family homes and smaller hotels. Yet make no mistake, PB and MB as both are called among locals are not inexpensive. Some of its ocean or bay front homes can are also in the million $ plus range. The streets behind the waterfront homes and the areas around Grand and Garnet Avenue are less expensive. The center of PB has many shops, nightclubs and restaurants. It is the young and cool trendsetters that give the PB/MB area its vibe and character.
Del Mar
Del Mar , just North of La Jolla is another beautiful beach community. It has a charming village center of beautiful shops, café’s and restaurants and stunning beaches. It is less elegant than La Jolla, yet very upscale. Perhaps, it is just a bit more casual. Del Mar is divided into two separate areas by Interstate 5, the freeway connecting San Diego to the North (Los Angeles and beyond). The western side of Del Mar borders the Pacific Ocean and is the nicer and more expensive of the two areas. Housing is mostly high end single family homes and a few condos and smaller hotels. The eastern side is mostly new tract housing and condominiums.
Rancho Santa Fe and Fairbanks Ranch
These two communities lie to the North East of Del Mar. Although not ocean front, like La Jolla, they are among the most exclusive communities in San Diego and the United States. Fairbanks Ranch and Rancho Santa Fe are made up of very large houses and estates. The lots are typically at least an acre in size, some much bigger. A number of well-known celebrities and wealthy people from across the world own property here.
Local residents prefer the fact that they are away from the busy parts of town and cherish their exclusive and private lifestyle. Despite being farther away than many other exclusive communities, most parts San Diego can be reached within a 30 to 40 minute commute. The beaches are only a short 5- 10 minute drive away.
Downtown
Its geographic location on beautiful San Diego Bay and its mix of renowned Victorian-era architecture next to new luxury condominiums and office towers give the area a cosmopolitan atmosphere.
In the past, Downtown was mostly the city’s business centre. Since, it has evolved into a vibrant shopping and entertainment area. It is anchored by Horton Plaza, one of San Diego’s largest outdoor shopping centers. Horton Plaza is surrounded by the historic Gaslamp Quarter which dates back to the Wild West Saloon days of Wyatt Earp. Today, Downtown boasts many of San Diego’s finest restaurants, hotels and night clubs. Nearby are also the city’s new sports arena and the vast convention Center.
Coronado
This elegant residential community is across the Bay from Downtown, connected by the famous Coronado Bridge. It is home to high end condos and many beautiful homes showing the influence of the Spanish missionaries that were among the early settlers of San Diego. Coronado is also known for its long sandy beach and the landmark Coronado Hotel which has been visited by dignitaries and royalty from all over the world.