Golden Hill
With its once stately old mansions, quaint bungalows and apartment buildings, Golden Hill is enjoying a rejuvenation. Located next to East Village and on the southeast end of Balboa Park, Golden Hill has some fine views of downtown.

East Village
East Village is Downtown's largest neighborhood - and the home of Newport Place. Artists' homes, studios, galleries and shops are scattered throughout the area. San Diego City College, the New School of Architecture and two high schools are also in the area. A dramatic tree-lined walking promenade is being built on Park Boulevard, linking San Diego Bay to Balboa Park.

Horton Plaza
Horton Plaza is a major San Diego landmark named after the 19th century businessman: Alonzo Horton. With its striking blend of colors and styles, it is an innovative example of post-modern architecture. The open-air, five-level shopping center covers 6½ city blocks and is adjacent to the historic Gaslamp District. The plaza began as a downtown redevelopment project and is now a premier shopping, dining and entertainment destination hailed locally and nationally as an overwhelming success since its opening in 1985. It has won dozens of awards in design, architecture and urban development. You will not forget one of the nation's most visually memorable shopping centers.

Little Italy
The sloping landscape of the northern edge of San Diego Bay was once home to a highly successful tuna fishing industry with many Italian families who derived a living from it. India Street is alive with restaurants, small cafes, galleries and specialty shops. Nearby Amici Park is a new school playground and community park.

Gaslamp Quarter
The Gaslamp Quarter began in the 1870's with a wharf built by Alonzo Horton at the end of 5th Avenue to facilitate trade and commerce. This 16.5-block neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places with 94 structures identified as historically or architecturally significant. This neighborhood now house more than 70 restaurants, nightclubs, movie theaters, retailers, offices, galleries and urban live/work lofts. Don't miss the charming landscaped park at the Trolley stop across from the Convention Center that features a playful water fountain

Core
Broadway is downtown's ceremonial "Main Street". It has medians containing lush foliage and lit banners creating a spectacular welcome into the downtown area. With the greatest concentration of government and commerce, this is San Diego's central business district where banking and hotel high-rise buildings define both the skyline and the street level.

Cortez Hill
Anyone who has driven down Cortez Hill on Ash Street in the spring can recall the beauty of the jacaranda trees in purple bloom against San Diego's blue sky. Dotted with Victorian-style homes, this area has been distinguished as one of San Diego's oldest residential neighborhoods. It owes its name to the famous El Cortez Hotel. Views include Balboa Park, downtown San Diego the ocean, and the urban scene below. The hilly topography separates it from much of downtown's hustle and bustle.

Marina
Formerly warehouses and vacant lots, this neighborhood stretches from the waterfront to Horton Plaza and downtown's office towers. The open spaces of Pantoja Park, Children's Park and the linear Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade provide an ideal setting for families, professionals, retirees and travelers. Included in the area's rich cultural history is the Asian Pacific Historic District recognizing the contributions of San Diego's Asian cultures to the development of this city.