San Diego County Cities
Carlsbad
Carlsbad, located 35 miles north of San Diego and 90 miles south of Los Angeles, benefits from its proximity to both metropolitan areas. With over 7 miles of coastline, Carlsbad enjoys an excellent year-round climate that makes it a destination spot for visitors. The world renowned La Costa Resort and Spa and the Four Seasons Resort call Carlsbad home, and the championship golf courses are some of the finest in San Diego County. Carlsbad is known for its high standards of living, excellent homes and family atmosphere.
Chula Vista
Chula Vista is a diverse city with an international setting and a casual, recreational lifestyle. Located near the U.S. - Mexican border, Chula Vista is home to an estimated 44 percent of all businesses in the South Bay region of San Diego County. The second largest city in San Diego, Chula Vista boasts three golf courses, two harbor marinas, major shopping centers, a community college, miles of pedestrian, biking and equestrian trails, numerous parks, and is home to the ARCO Olympic Training Center, the nation's first warm-weather, year-round permanent Olympic center.
Coronado
Separated from downtown by the impressive Coronado Bay Bridge, Coronado is an upscale "island" which has a small-town feel with an uptown price tag. For over a hundred years, Coronado has been the area's premier resort destination, home to Le Meridian Resort and the legendary Hotel Del Coronado. The town itself is peaceful and idyllic, complete with sidewalk cafes, theaters and tree-lined streets of Victorian homes and California bungalows. Much of Coronado is occupied by the North Island Naval Air Station and the U.S. Naval Amphibious Base. The Old Ferry Landing serves up bayside shopping and dining, as well as a magnificent view of downtown San Diego.
Del Mar
Del Mar means "by the sea", and is an exclusive, upscale community separated from La Jolla to north by the Torrey Pines State Reserve. The City of Del Mar is two square miles of coastal land that boasts the highest percentage of college graduates in the city, if not the nation. The main attraction of visitors is some of San Diego's best beaches and sunny weather. The annual Del Mar Fair is the county's largest and most popular, and the renowned Del Mar Racetrack summer season brings in visitors from throughout the United States.
El Cajon
El Cajon is Spanish for "The Box," which describes its valley location surrounded by mountains. El Cajon is San Diego's largest eastern city, accessible by Interstate 8 just east of La Mesa and south of Santee. El Cajon has witnessed incredible growth over the last few decades. It is home to busy Parkway Plaza mall, Gillespie Field Regional Airport, and the annual Mother Goose Parade.
Encinitas
Located 25 miles north of San Diego north of Solano Beach and south of Carlsbad, Encinitas covers over miles of coastline and extends inland to border San Marcos. Encinitas is famous for its many beaches, and is extremely popular with the surfing crowd. More recent development has occurred inland with construction and commercialization along the sprawling El Camino Real. Encinitas includes the communities of Cardiff and Leucadia, with business and retail development along Highway 101.
Escondido
Settled in a long valley in the coastal mountains of Southern California, Escondido provides a thriving urban environment in the midst of gentle rolling hills and avocado and citrus groves. Escondido lies about 18 miles inland, 100 miles south of Los Angeles and 30 miles north of San Diego. Inland North County, of which Escondido can be truly called the hub, is emerging as a regional economic leader, in the forefront of job development and new industries. Escondido is also home to the modern California Center for the Arts.
Imperial Beach
Imperial Beach, "The Most Southwestern City in the U.S." Imperial Beach is at the heart of San Diego's South County, a land link between downtown San Diego, Coronado, Chula Vista, and the growing business and industrial community in the areas of Tijuana and Baja California. Imperial Beach has the comforts of a small beach community. Complete with a fishing pier that stretches 1,500 feet out over the Pacific Ocean, sandy beaches and excellent surfing conditions and climate, Imperial Beach is a less crowded, more affordable option to San Diego's northern beach communities.
La Mesa
Located east of San Diego and accessed by Interstate 8 and 94, La Mesa is ideally situated close to Grossmont Center shopping complex and San Diego State University. With 14 parks and numerous recreational facilities such as a golf course, public pool, and Lake Murray recreational center to the north, La Mesa is a laid-back community full of new housing developments and families
Lemon Grove
Just east of Encanto and south of La Mesa, Lemon Grove was so named for the lemon orchards planted more than 100 years ago. Lemon Grove is a small, idyllic community known for its youth sports organization and community recreation.
National City
Much of National City's economy relies on the 32nd Street Naval Station, where shipbuilding and related industry thrives. The city is very industrial, with manufacturers of all goods, especially machine equipment and ship cables. The Mile of Cars is one of the largest automobile retail centers in the city. National City lies just north of Chula Vista, between the Pacific Ocean and Paradise Hills.
Oceanside
San Diego's County most northern city and its third-largest, Oceanside is a beach resort and a trade center for a rich farm area. Tucked against the southern side of Camp Pendleton, Oceanside serves as the county's northern gateway and home to many of the base's 35,000 Marine Corps members and their families. With 3-1/2 miles of beaches and the Oceanside Harbor, the city lives up to its name and reputation as a lively beach community. Oceanside is home to the California Surf Museum. Each year the city hosts Harbor Days in October. Buena Vista Lagoon serves as a wetlands preserve with hiking trails, special events and a Nature Interpretive Center. On the city's eastern edge is the Mission San Luis Rey. Founded in 1798 by Father Junipero Serra, it was called "The King of Missions," because it was the largest and most prosperous of the state's missions.
Poway
The name of the beautiful valley of Poway (Pau-wi) is derived from the language of the Diegueno and Luiseno Indians. The accepted translation signifies: "the meeting of little valleys" or "end of the valley." Poway is well-known as an ideal place to raise a family and its school district continually ranks among the highest in the state. Most of the commercial development lies along Poway Road, and the rest of the community is marked by landscaping, trees, and open area. Poway is also known for its large number of horses and stables.
San Diego
California's second largest city and the United States' seventh largest, San Diego boasts a citywide population of nearly 1.3 million residents and more than 2.8 million residents countywide. Within its borders of 4,200 sq. miles, San Diego County encompasses 18 incorporated cities and numerous other charming neighborhoods and communities, including downtown's historic Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, Coronado, La Jolla, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Escondido, La Mesa, Hillcrest, Barrio Logan, Chula Vista and more.
San Marcos
Situated between the state's two largest cities, Los Angeles, 90 miles to the north, and San Diego, 30 miles to the south. The resort climate, rural setting, central location and affordable housing prices make San Marcos an attractive place to live. San Marcos blends small town informality with forward-looking development. Bordered to the west by the unclouded beaches of the Pacific and on the east by the magnificent Laguna Mountains and Anza Borrego Desert, San Marcos offers a dynamic environment in the midst of fruit orchards, horse ranches and farms.
Santee
Tree-lined streets and abundant housing in a friendly, family-oriented atmosphere aptly describes Santee. Bordered on the west by Mission Trails Regional Park and on the South by El Cajon, Santee has benefited recently by the extension of Highway 52 and the metropolitan trolley line. Major draws in Santee are the commercial Santee Town Center and the Santee Lakes Regional Park, a series of lakes that provide ample fishing and boating opportunities.
Solana Beach
Solana Beach is a beautiful, upscale community that lies between the Pacific Ocean and exclusive Rancho Santa Fe. Just north of Del Mar, Solana Beach enjoys the perfect climate and excellent beaches of its neighbor. The Belly Up Tavern is a San Diego nightlife tradition. The northern part of Solana Beach is almost entirely occupied by the San Elijo Lagoon County Park & Ecological Reserve. A new Amtrack station recently opened in the city.
Vista
Vista is an inland community that blends seamlessly from eastern Carlsbad and Oceanside. It has one of the top ranked high schools in the State and six times the national average number of parks. Vista features wonderful organic Farmer's Markets every Saturday morning and Thursday afternoon.
City of San Diego Neighborhoods
City Heights
Just over a mile east of Balboa Park, past where I-805 and I-15 crisscross, is City Heights, home to over 60,000. Businesses line University and El Cajon Boulevard, and City Heights is home to a large Asian population, among many other ethnicities, as evidenced by a large number of oriental restaurants and supermarkets.
Clairemont
With over 80,000 residents, Clairemont rests on the hills east of Pacific Beach overlooking Mission Bay and the Pacific Ocean. A large area of mostly residential homes, the community is divided by Tecolote Canyon. Clairemont is the essential Southern Californian burb complete with lazy neighborhoods and strip malls along Genesee and Balboa. Mesa Community College is located in Clairemont.
Downtown San Diego
Downtown San Diego is the heart of one of the most desirable cities in the nation. In the center of the first great city of the 21st Century, Downtown San Diego offers a breathtaking waterfront location, warm year-round temperatures and an exciting 24-hour live - work - play environment. The Downtown San Diego Partnership is a leading advocate for the economic growth and revitalization of Downtown. The Partnership works closely with regional business organizations and government agencies to identify needs, develop strategies, shape public policy and implement programs that strengthen the business climate and quality of life in Downtown San Diego.
Encanto/Paradise Hills
Geographically speaking, Encanto is San Diego's largest neighborhood, and home to over 60,000. Encanto is located East of Logan Heights, and west of Lemon Grove. The hub of Encanto is Imperial Avenue, that runs right through its heart. The Trolley East Line also runs through Encanto and Paradise Hills, a community just south of Encanto and bordering National City on the east.
Hillcrest
Hillcrest is an eclectic mix of restaurants, coffeehouses, nightclubs and medical offices. A vibrant shopping scene is also one of big draws. Its hub of University and 5th is lively any time of the day, any day of the week. Nearly 30,000 call Hillcrest home, many subscribing to an alternative lifestyle, as Hillcrest hosts the largest concentration of gay and lesbians in San Diego. It is host to the annual Gay Pride Parade.
University Heights
These communities, just south of Mission Valley and I-8, are distinctive, peaceful, residential neighborhoods. The Ken theater in Kensington is a city landmark and showcases many independent films. A large number of antique shops spot the area, especially along Adams Avenue, which intersects each community and each year is host to a festive street fair.
La Jolla
La Jolla is Spanish means "The Jewel" and this posh community of over 47,000 north of Pacific Beach takes this moniker quite literally. La Jolla is home to many outstanding beaches and surf spots, posh neighborhoods, and upscale dining and shopping locales. Prospect Street near the La Jolla Cove is littered with boutiques and jewelers, as well as numerous restaurants. La Jolla is bordered on the north by the Torrey Pines Golf Course and the beautiful campus of the University of California San Diego. Other prime attractions include the Stephen Birch Aquarium Museum at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography and the Contemporary Museum of Art on Prospect.
Logan Heights
The Coronado Bridge jumps from Logan Heights, just south of downtown. The community of over 45,000 has a heavy Hispanic influence, and you can witness some really far-out murals and spray paint art. This area is worth the trip to check out some of the city's best Mexican food finds.
Mira Mesa
Mira Mesa is a community of tract homes, condominiums and strip malls, typically Southern Californian. Located north of the Miramar Naval Air station between I-805 and I-15, it is home to Sorrento Valley that hosts scores of business parks and new technology firms, most notably Qualcomm. Mira Mesa is served by its own mall, and includes the peaceful, family-friendly Scripps Ranch to the east.
Mission Beach
Over 45,000 people call Mission Beach home, and most are young and single. The standard Californian surfer community, Mission Beach is a narrow area that runs along Mission Boulevard from the south peninsula into Pacific Beach. The attitude here is laid back, and the transportation of choice is either bicycle or skateboard, since parking is damn near impossible. South Mission is less hectic with a more young, professional crowd, and the recent addition of over two dozen volleyball courts makes it a recreational destination. The obvious attraction is Belmont Park, which houses arcades, clubs, and the famous Belmont Park Rollercoaster.
Mission Hills
Mission Hills is home to some 30,000 residents, many who live in the beautifully restored homes that distinguish this neighborhood. This community was once home to many of San Diego's pioneer families. Most business are along Washington Street. Mission Hills is south of I-8 and east of Old Town.
Mission Valley
Mission Valley is a moderately populated area just north of I-8 in central San Diego. It hosts some of San Diego's many business and commercial monoliths--including the Mission Valley Center, home of the AMC 20 theaters, Qualcomm Stadium and Hotel Circle. Mission Valley is otherwise mostly condominiums and apartment complexes.
North Park
North Park takes its name from it proximity to nearby Balboa Park, and in recent years has transformed into an idyllic, peaceful community of over 25,000. The North Park Theater is a landmark, and most of the businesses are on University Avenue and 30th Street. North Park is home to some eclectic bars and hang-outs.
Ocean Beach
Newport Avenue is the main attraction is this ocean side community of over 28,000. The surf community is well represented here, as well as a large neo-hippie contingent, as evidenced by the many smoke shops. Inland and to the south near Sunset Cliffs the situation becomes a bit more conservative and family-oriented. There is great fishing off the Ocean Beach pier, and Dog Beach in north Ocean Beach is a great place to walk your pet without incurring a fine. A few miles from the coast is the San Diego Sports Arena and many commercial strip malls.
Pacific Beach
Situated between Mission Beach and La Jolla, Pacific Beach combines elements of both. It's a rambunctious community of over 44,000 filled with young, laid-back types sprinkled with the more conservative, young professional. As expected, surfing and beach related sports are a focal point of Pacific Beach, and its famous boardwalk that rolls from Crystal Pier into Mission Beach is great for rollerblading, biking and people watching. Garnet Avenue is the hub of Pacific Beach, with an abundance of bars and nightclubs that are extremely popular with the younger crowd.
Rancho Bernardo
Rancho Bernardo is a family community that has been carefully planned, with specific areas for residential and commercial development. The community of close to 50,000 has recently come into favor with new technology and electronics firms, including Hewlett Packard. Rancho Bernardo is accessed by way of I-15, hosts three golf courses, and is bordered on the north by Lake Hodges.
This is not intended to be a complete and comprehensive list of all communities in San Diego County. Please contact your Ashlon Realty associate about all of the wonderful communites and opportunities available today at (619) 754-6166.