CBN San Diego

Downtown San Diego is the place to be. With over 12,000 housing units just built or in the works, downtown is once again becoming the center of San Diego. Within walking distance is an ever-growing abundance of old, new, and exciting restaurants, shops, theatres, the bay, Seaport Village, and a large outdoor mall. You can also find Petco Park, the new home of Padres baseball which opened Spring of 2004.

Downtown San Diego real estate is booming with apartment and condo housing moving in an upward direction. Dilapidated buildings and neighborhoods have given way to upscale hotels, condominiums, restaurants, shopping centers, and night spots. Downtown is rapidly growing, as condos have filled quickly and local businesses settle into the 8 neighborhoods of the city. Downtown includes Columbia, Core, Cortex Hill, East Village, Gaslamp Quarter, Horton Plaza, Little Italy, and Marina.

Bay-side Seaport Village shopping center has a feeling of Cape Cod with open air eating and specialty shops. The Victorian section has been restored and renamed the Gaslamp district – full of trendy restaurants, bars, antique stores, galleries, lofts, night clubs, brick sidewalks, and of course the infamous gas lamps. Embarcadero Marine Park on North Harbor Drive is a 22 acre man made park extending into the bay with great views of the marina. Summer offers open air concerts.

Behind the Zoo and Sea World, Horton Plaza is San Diego's third most popular tourist attraction. There are approximately 150 stores including Nordstrom's, Macy's and Mervyn's and it covers 6-1/2 city blocks equaling 11-1/2 acres! Just north of Downtown is Balboa Park with many museums including the San Diego Natural History Museum, Museum of Man, Museum of Art, Automotive Museum, Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater & Science Center, the Museum of San Diego History. The San Diego Zoo is also located here.

Downtown also has the city's largest theater, Civic Theater, the 1929 Symphony Hall, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the San Diego Children's Theater, The Star of India and its Maritime Museum, the circa 1911 Spreckles Theater, the newly expanded San Diego Convention Center, the Central Library, and the San Diego Cruise Terminal.

You'll find The Marriott Hotel & Marina, Pan Pacific, Embassy Suites, U.S. Grant, Horton Grand and Hyatt Regency. Downtown is also the city's transportation center with the Santa Fe Depot train station, Lindbergh Field, the area's major airport, and the San Diego Trolley's main station which connects downtown with the Mexican border, Old town and Qualcomm Stadium.