Old Town San Diego - Mission Valley Neighborhood Guide
Bazaar Del Mundo in Old Town
Home of the San Diego Chargers
The native Kumeyaay Indians knew it. So did the Spanish missionaries and American settlers who arrived after them. The San Diego River Valley is a good place to call home.
You'll find established residential neighborhoods, a major university, big shopping centers, hotels, and the Chargers football stadium.
It's literally the center of town, where all roads in San Diego lead. Those early residents wouldn't recognize their pastoral farming community now, but San Diego's Mission Valley neighborhood remains synonymous with prosperity, just as it always has been.
Cruising around
The Interstate 8 freeway corridor follows the river inland from the coast, through Mission Valley, to the old residential communities of La Mesa and El Cajon, and on into the spectacular wilderness of San Diego's rural East County region. You'll have little trouble trouble finding your way around by car here, but to make things even easier, the San Diego Trolley and Bus system serves Old Town, Qualcomm Stadium and the major shopping centers.
Old Town San Diego is the perfect place to start your tour. The Old Town State Historical Park maintains a collection of 19th century homes and businesses that give visitors a glimpse into colonial life in San Diego. It takes a little work to find the old adobe ranch homes, schoolhouse and graveyard spread among the occupied areas of the neighborhood, but it's well worth the effort (check with the park service at 619-220-5422). Kit Carson was among the first pioneers to raise the American flag here in 1846. There are numerous rumors of ghost sightings in the area - most persistently at the old Whaley House Museum on San Diego Avenue. Just up the way is Heritage Park with its magnificently-restored Victorian houses and, on the hillside overlooking Old Town, is Presidio Park where Father Junipero Serra founded the first of California's Spanish missions in 1769. The museums here (619-692-4918) and at the current Mission site, the Basilica San Diego de Alcala in Mission Valley (619-281-8449), both have excellent exhibits about the area's early history.
Traveling eastward through the valley, you'll come to the aptly-named Hotel Circle, an area of hotels, restaurants and recreational facilities catering to business and vacation travelers alike. On the north side of the river is Fashion Valley (619-688-9113), an upscale shopping center with high-end department stores like Neiman-Marcus and premium brands like Tiffany and Apple Computers. Just the other side of the river, on the other side of the 163 Freeway, is Mission Valley Center (619-296-6375), a more mainstream mall offering value-conscious shopping options like Target and Nordstrom Rack, plus a 20 screen movie theater and dozens of family-oriented eateries. Together, these two complimentary shopping centers offer something for everyone.
Continuing east past the malls, the Valley becomes more industrial. Hard to miss Qualcomm Stadium is home to the San Diego Chargers NFL Football Team. From auto racing in the parking lot to bowl games on the gridiron, there's always something going on at the "Q." Beyond the Stadium, across the 15 Freeway on San Diego Mission Road you'll find Mission San Diego De Alcala, the site to which Father Serra's mission was relocated early in its history and still serves to this day, a beautiful and enduring symbol of San Diego's prosperity.
Inside tips
Just as the early pioneers came west looking for a better life and remained in San Diego when they found it, visitors who come to Old Town to see the sights often make a day of it when they discover the wonderful shops and excellent restaurants in Bazaar Del Mundo. Needless to say, Mexican cuisine is the specialty in Old Town, and you'll find authentic fare at Casa de Bandini, the Old Town Mexican Cafe or any of the other local cantinas. The unusual is the norm, with most of the shops selling one-of-a-kind items and exotic imports. You'll also find an assortment of art galleries and watering holes around the Plaza, and all along San Diego Avenue.
There's nothing particularly unique about the merchandise on offer at the malls, but where else would you find such a variety of stores and services all in one place? Movie theaters, sports bars and video arcades make Mission Valley's shopping centers the perfect meeting place for fatigued families after a long day of sightseeing, while solo travelers can indulge themselves at finer establishments or check out the singles scene at one of the Valley's rockin' nightclubs.
Accommodations run the gamut, from the modest roadside motels around Old Town to the modern high-rise hotels in Mission Valley. Check ahead to see if there's a game on at Qualcomm Stadium (877-242-7437) or a concert playing at San Diego State University (619-594-5200). You can hike and bike at Mission Trails Park, or play a round of golf at one of Mission Valley's public courses. If you're feeling lucky, try the tribal gaming casinos at the far end of the valley. When you've exhausted all the resources at hand and grown tired of the city, head for the hills. Mission Valley is the gateway to the unspoiled mountain hideaway of Julian, the remote desert oasis of Anza Borrego and other exciting San Diego frontiers.
Getting there
Old Town San Diego is located 3 miles north of downtown San Diego at the junction of the 5 freeway and Interstate 8. Exit off the 5 FWY at Old Town Avenue and continue east.
Old Town is also serviced by the Trolley and the Coaster.
