Old Town San Diego State Historical Park Travel Guide

 
by Yaqui
 
  •   Things to Do
    by Yaqui
  •   Things to Do
    by Yaqui
  • First San Diego County Courthouse
      First San Diego County Courthouse
    by Basaic
  • Visitors Center
      Visitors Center
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  • McCoy House Museum
      McCoy House Museum
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Explore Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

Things to Do  

Bazaar del Mundo

Bazaar del Mundo, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 3 Reviews  I know this isn't the "Restaurant Tips" Section, I just wanted to show you the best place to be sitting when the free performances begin. We'll have a great view of the stage from Casa De Pico's patio. Let's sit at a table near the wall and order a Margarita! Update: The free performances I spoke... 

Take A Walk Through Presidio Park

Take A Walk Through Presidio Park, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 lmkluque Says:  There is a lovely expanse of park area in Old Town just behind Fiesta de Reyes. Most tourists miss it, but if you are traveling with children who need to run off some excess energy or if you'd rather a picnic on the lawn, this is a place to be. There are little surprises... 

Visitor's Center

Visitor's Center, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 lmkluque Says:  Headquarters for the park is located in the Robinson-Rose House at the north/west corner of the town square. The house was built in the Spring of 1850 by a Texas lawyer, James Robinson. The San Diego Herald, the San Diego and Gila Railroad offices were not the only offices... 

Restaurants  

Casa De Reyes: This Has Replaced Casa De Pico

Casa De Reyes: This Has Replaced Casa De Pico, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 lmkluque Says:  Though Casa de Reyes occupied the same space that Casa de Pico had, the difference was immediately noticable. The bright, colorful umbrellas, which covered each table on the patio, has been replaced by a few beige tarps spanning the patio. The over all effect is that the... 

Cosmopolitan Restaurant and Hotel: House of Juan Bandini

Cosmopolitan Restaurant and Hotel: House of Juan Bandini, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 lmkluque Says:  Juan Bandini came from Peru to San Diego in 1819. His home, La Casa de Bandini was completed ten years later and he lived there with his wife, daughter of Capitan Jose Maria Estudillo, the commander of the Presidio, until Bandini sold the home in the early 1850's. Since that... 

Casa de Pico has Closed & Reopened!: So Many Items to Choose from!

Casa de Pico has Closed & Reopened!: So Many Items to Choose from!, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 lmkluque Says:  Casa de Pico is my favorite restaurant in Old Town. There are many other very good places for a meal. What makes it my favorite? The fantastic memories I have of sharing a meal with a friend? Spending the evening laughing with friends? Oh, the stories I could tell. Yes, this... 

Nightlife  

Casa de Guadalajara: Order the Margarita

Casa de  Guadalajara: Order the Margarita, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 lmkluque Says:  Margaritas are delicious here and they come in so many sizes!Old Town isn't a place for late night parties, most restaurants and bars close by 10 p.m. Casa Guadalajara does close early, but is such a lively place I suggest you try it for an evening. The food is good, full... 

Cosmopolatain Hotel: Only at the Restaurants!

Cosmopolatain Hotel: Only at the Restaurants!, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 lmkluque Says:  There is nothing much in the way of nightlife in Old Town San Diego State Historical Park as the only places that remain open past 5:00 p.m. are it's restaurants.Casa de Bandini serves great cocktails and for an intimate evening of converstaion with a friend or loved one,... 

Ghosts & Grave Stones Tour: More Hauntings!

Ghosts & Grave Stones Tour: More Hauntings!, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 lmkluque Says:  I didn't "see" a ghost, but honestly felt a presence. Could it just be my imagination? The Whaley house, might be considered Americas Most Haunted House, it is not the only haunted structure around Old Town or even San Diego. Robinson-Rose House, El Campo Santo Cemetery,... 

WHALEY HOUSE--HAUNTED: WHALEY HOUSE 1856

WHALEY HOUSE--HAUNTED: WHALEY HOUSE 1856, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 lmkluque Says:  The Whaley House is one of several throughout Old Town San Diego State Historical Park that is believed to be haunted. There is an admission charge to tour the house and many people do in hopes of seeing one of the ghosts.The house belonged to Thomas Whaley who supplied... 

Transportation  

Parking Lots Surround the Park

Parking Lots Surround the Park, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 lmkluque Says:  Driving is the easiest way to get to Old Town San Diego State Historical Park, but once you get there you may have to circle the various parking lots numerous times before finding an open space. Especially during holidays and the summer this popular visitors site is very... 

San Diego Trolley--Blue Line

San Diego Trolley--Blue Line, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 lmkluque Says:  San Diego Trolley--Blue line--will take you to the Old Town Trolley Station which is just a couple of blocks from Old Town San Diego State Historical Park. This station is also a hub for many of the buses in the San Diego area. So, if your hotel is not near the SD Ttrolley... 

Old Town Trolley Tours

Old Town Trolley Tours, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 lmkluque Says:  The Old Town Trolley Tours bus makes a stop in Old Town San Diego State Historical Park. It is an expensive form of transportation, but not so expensive as taking a taxi. The convenience of being guided to the most interesting spots in and around San Diego might be worth the... 

Old Town Horse Soldiers

Old Town Horse Soldiers, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 lmkluque Says:  Keeping in with the Old Time flavor of the area you can see soldiers on horseback, especially fun for the little kids.Walking is the only way to roam through this life sized museum. The streets are closed to any type of vehicle--except wheelchairs. However, the streets are... 

Shopping  

Bazaar del Mundo

Bazaar del Mundo, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 1 Review  There are things from all over the world to buy here, of course you do know that "del mundo" means "of the world." The court yard in Bazaar del Mundo is surrounded by at least sixteen shops selling, from exotic lands, items such as clothes, books, children's toys, cooking ware, chimes, garden... 

Miner's Gems & Minerals: Gems, Rocks and Fossils!

Miner's Gems & Minerals: Gems, Rocks and Fossils!, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 lmkluque Says:  Miner's Gems and Minerals is housed in the historic home of Don Miguel de Pedrorena (Junior) built in 1869.Now it is home to the Miner's Gems & Minerals shop. I am not particularly interested in rocks and such but know that many people are so I suggest a stop in this... 

The San Diego House: Coffee & Tea

The San Diego House: Coffee & Tea, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 lmkluque Says:  Mr. Light and Mr. Freeman were freed slaves who bought this building, in 1846, from a Captain Fitch who had owned it from 1841 to 1846. In 1974, Mr. Light's freedom papers were found under an old window sill by construction workers and copies are on display at the San Diego... 

Local Customs  

Vacation All Year Round

Vacation All Year Round, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 lmkluque Says:  As with many of the most interesting tourist spots in San Diego, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park is popular with the residents also. The bad news is that this means that parking is a royal pain, but the good news is that a trolley station is just a block or so... 

Off The Beaten Path  

San Diego Mission de Alcala

San Diego Mission de Alcala, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 lmkluque Says:  Mission San Diego de Alcala is an active neighborhood parish located at:10818 San Diego Mission RoadSan Diego, CA 92108-2429 The Mission is also open to the public. There is a nominal donation requested, $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children under twelve. This donation is... 

Favorites  

Old Town Map

Old Town Map, Old Town San Diego State Historical Park

 lmkluque Says:  Sorry the map is a bit crooked. Here are marked, the location of the Old Town Cottages, a Liquor/Deli a block away and the direction of the offices to the Old Town Cottages.The streets colored brown are Old Town State Park and the other streets are Old Town. The freeway exit... 

Comments

Map of Old Town San Diego State Historical Park