State Park #6: Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

Step back in time to the 1820s to 1870s when you take your family to the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.  You'll stroll among many firsts including the first brick building built in San Diego and San Diego's first public school.  The entrance has no fee, but bring your purse for the shopping.

Old Town San Diego, Photo by Krenda

In 1769, Father Junipero Serra built the first of 21 missions, next to the Presido, a Spanish fort on a hill overlooking the San Diego River.  A community formed when Spanish Soldiers began building residences below the hill in the 1820s.  Old Town California's first settlement.  Now you can visit up to 32 historic sites including chapels, newspaper office, hotel, schoolhouse, courthouse, stable museum, and houses at the park.  If you time your visit to Wednesday or Saturday, you will likely see staff in period costumes st
rolling around the grounds.  Perhaps you'll see a blacksmith or woodworker.

Besides history, you'll find plenty of entertainment including shops and restaurants.  With over 100 shops, you'll find two main shopping areas: 1) Bazaar del Mundo or "Marketplace of the World" with clothing, jewelry, and pottery.  Besides the touristy clothing, I found decorative, bright flowers for our home.  Keep walking to shopping area number 2) Fiesta de Reyes with 19 specialty shops.  My friend found a new favorite tea.  Just look for the water fountain and arch for the entrance.  Kids may enjoy make your own candles at Toby's Candle and Soap shop.

The walking made us hungry for Mexican food.  There's more than one Mexican restaurant and we chose Cafe Coyote.  The women making hand made tortillas enticed us into the hacienda-style hideaway up to the second floor patio.  Later I learned that customers voted it the best Mexican restaurant in San Diego 15 years in a row. 

After lunch, we had more energy to visit the Whaley House Museum which includes a fee.  While I didn't see any ghosts, it's considered the number one most haunted house in the United States according to the Travel Channel's America's Most Haunted.  The house was constructed in 1856 on a former gallow's site where a thief was hung five years prior.  It doesn't take long to look at the 13 room house, but we ended the tour listening to a super enthusiastic guide who made the fee worthwhile.

If we had more time, I would have visited Presidio Park located above Old Town.  It includes the Junipero Serra museum and would have continued the history lesson.

If I could choose a specific time, I would visit during Cinco de Mayo for their three day event including music, wrestling, and Ballet Folklorico dancers.