The Best of San Diego’s National City

Established by Elmer Niederfrank in 1948, this vintage ice cream parlor with a walkup window on A Avenue remains San Diego’s longest-running creamery. Frozen-treat enthusiasts from all over the county regularly make the trek to Niederfrank’s for a cone to enjoy on its sidewalk benches or a half-gallon to dig into at home. Choose from a wide selection of ice creams and sorbets — homemade in small batches with the shop’s original machine — in creative flavors ranging from rum raisin and Mexican chocolate to avocado-pistachio, Thai tea and passionfruit.

Once dotted with citrus and avocado farms, National City is less focused on agriculture now but there are still opportunities to experience the bounty of produce that can grow in the San Diego climate. There’s Stein Family Farm, which features an orchard, farm animals and an 1880s farmhouse museum, along with Olivewood Gardens, a stately Victorian mansion on 7-plus acres of educational garden space that hosts monthly open-house events, farm dinners and cooking classes for kids.

Open on Saturdays and Sundays, this volunteer-run free museum is a living testament to San Diego’s role in the early railway system, as the building — built in 1882 and restored in 1998 — is the county’s oldest railroad structure and the only remaining terminus station of the original transcontinental railway. Accessible from the National City/24th Street stop on the San Diego Trolley’s Blue Line, the charming museum features a model-railroad exhibit as well as equipment dating to its 19th century original. Visitors can even see modern freight trains roll by the station.

San Diego is home to one of the largest Filipino-American communities in the United States, with many of those families residing in National City. Beyond bakeries and supermarkets that center around Filipino specialties and ingredients, the area is a hub for Filipino restaurants of all kinds, from “point-point” joints (which combine home cooking with fast-food service) to modern eateries. In addition to a menu of classic dishes such as kare-kare, sisig, and chicken adobo, Villa Manila is the only restaurant to offer kamayan, a communal dining experience in which the food is laid on banana leaves and eaten with hands, sans utensils. And don’t miss the rousing karaoke nights on Fridays.

Get some steps in and take a waterfront stroll through National City’s marina district on an urban art walk that includes large-scale steel and glass sculptures, murals and ceramic tile art created by renowned artists. Start at the north end of the self-guided tour, which is less than a mile long, and end your walk at Pepper Park, a 5.5-acre park next to the Pier 32 Marina with views of San Diego Bay and the surrounding wetlands. The family-friendly park includes a kids play area, picnic tables and barbecue pits, a boat-launch ramp and a fishing pier.

This beloved steakhouse has been feeding National City since the 1940s and retains a retro look and feel, with classic red leather booths and glossy black-and-white photos of Old Hollywood film stars, some of whom reportedly would stop in back in the early days to try their luck in the restaurant’s secret gambling room. Today, nightly entertainment, from live jazz and blues to Latin music, provides a soundtrack for indulging in a menu of steakhouse favorites, including slow-roasted prime rib, filet mignon and tomahawk steaks that can be upgraded with lobster tails and shrimp scampi.

National City hosts community events throughout the year, from an annual Salute the Navy luncheon to free movie nights. One of its most popular yearly happenings is its Fourth of July festival. Organized by the local chapter of the Lions Club, the celebration is held at Kimball Park, named for Frank Kimball, an early pioneer in the city’s development. Stretching over five days, the carnival offers fun for the whole family, featuring rides, dancers and singers, food, activities for kids, and of course fireworks.