Location

Step out of penthouse glitz or condo comfort into a current of activity in Downtown San Diego. From Gaslamp Quarter to Little Italy on its northwest corner, residents participate in a symphony of sights and delights within Downtown's seven districts. Avenues numbered First to Eleventh make getting around easy amid a graceful clutch of high-rise architecture. Its largest vein is Broadway, which runs straight to the waterfront. Ken Kaplan, real estate agent and analyst for Fox 5 Morning News who has earned the moniker "No Bull Agent," says, “Downtown San Diego is both historic and modern. You have the nostalgia of the vintage district and an eclectic mix of character throughout, depending on which neighborhood you’re in.”Life here buzzes with possibility while honoring a rich maritime heritage that’s been evolving since Spanish expedition ships arrived in 1782. Today, a stunning archway announces the Gaslamp Quarter’s eminence as the Historic Heart of San Diego. And even though Downtown holds fast to landmarks like the Seaport Village Carousel built in 1895, it’s now an array of art installations, walkable grocery and boutique stores, and tourist attractions. Many turn-of-the-century buildings with stately Victorian and French Provincial flair constructed by visionary immigrants in the late 1800s remain strong through seasons of repurposing. On more modern streets, sidewalks connecting high-rise sheets of glass are embraced with soaring palms.

Residents and tourists routinely explore the busy Embarcadero Park area, a waterside hub for cruise ships, seafood eateries and shopping at the Seaport Village complex. Sidewalks wide enough to welcome 10-across are bordered with pristine green spaces such as Ruocco Park. Bayfront Park trims the water with large lawns, and Instagram-worthy artworks — such as the famous Kissing Statue — decorate the coastline. Quieter retreats include Cesar Chavez Park or the wide-open Martin Luther King Promenade. Locals with children love having the New Children’s Museum and its adjacent park close to home.

There’s always something happening in and around the community, from the local Gaslamp Artisan Market to the international Comicon at the massive San Diego Convention Center. On date nights or weekends, locals kick back at Mike Hess Brewing or surround themselves with ocean views at Ketch. Families share meals in Parisian-blue tufted booths at Union Kitchen and Tap.