North San Diego and the Old Town Historic Park
North San Diego is where popular attractions like the big Seaworld theme park meet historic sites that have shaped today's city. The Old Town San Diego State Park is a large collection of historic homes, adjacent to Heritage Park, an open-air preservation museum of significant houses gathered from around the city. Up the hills, Mission San Diego de Alcalá is the very first European settlement in all of California. Along the western coastline, you'll find the stunning recreational area of La Jolla, where the coves offer breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.
How much time is needed for touring North San Diego and Old Town Historic Park?
To explore Old Town San Diego, Seaworld, and Mission San Diego, it's recommended to set aside half a day to a full day, depending on how much time you want to spend at the large amusement park.
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What must you see and do in North San Diego and the Old Town Historical Park?
- Have fun with the kids at SeaWorld
- The stunning caves of La Jolla
- The historical core of San Diego and California at the Mission San Diego de Alcalá
- The important historical houses around Plaza de las Armas in Old Town San Diego
- The historical museum at the Mormon Battalion
- See 19th-century San Diego in its full glory at Heritage Park
- An urban texture at a former military base at Liberty Station
- Climb the fort and visit the archaeological museum at Presidio Park
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What are North San Diego and the Old Town Historic Park?
- The area north of downtown San Diego and the city's financial district is essentially the city's ancient urban core and the cradle of European settlement in all of California
- The cornerstone of all settlement in California is the Mission San Diego de Alcalá, after which the city is named, established in 1769
- Not far from there is Old Town San Diego and the themed amusement park SeaWorld, the most popular park south of Disneyland in Anaheim
- North of SeaWorld, you'll find the charming relaxation and beach area of La Jolla, known for its famous caves
- The Old Town San Diego Historic Park is a fascinating blend of museum and active urban space
- The park opened as an open-air museum in 1968 with the aim of preserving the historic homes of San Diego's core, which were previously part of the city's fabric
- Old Town is located north of downtown San Diego, where the Gaslamp Quarter developed separately and became the city's financial district
- The original core of San Diego was absorbed into a residential urban area near the main transportation hub of the metropolis, where highway 5 intersects with highway 8
- The buildings of Old Town were constructed in the early to mid-19th century, down the road towards the port from Mission San Diego de Alcala, for which the city is named
- The Old Town was built as a base for the Spanish army called El Presidio Real de San Diego, where Presidio Park is today.
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Map of North San Diego and Old Town Historic Park
Itinerary for North San Diego and Old Town San Diego Historic Park
- Exploring the parts of San Diego north of downtown is simple and easy. It's best to start your day at a fine beach hotel in La Jolla, perhaps the most beautiful coastline south of Santa Monica.
- The main attraction in the northern part of the city is the San Diego SeaWorld, a large theme park known mainly for its marine mammal performances, led by the orca whales.
- From SeaWorld, it’s worth hopping over to Liberty Station, an emerging urban space in the heart of what was once a training base for the US Navy.
- The Old Town San Diego is a large site where you can see a row of historic houses from the city
- Nearby, at Heritage County Park, all the important county houses have been brought to the park for museum preservation
- Above the Old Town lies the large Presidio Park
- A bit to the east is the famous mission after which the city is named, the first settlement in California
All the sites and attractions in North San Diego
Mission San Diego de Alcalá
The mission of San Diego de Alcalá is the second mission established in New Spain, mid-18th century California. It was preceded by Mission San Fernando in Baja California, the large peninsula south of San Diego, now part of Mexico. Today's California is divided between the USA and Mexico, and the mission in San Diego is the first one established in the present-day state of California.
The mission was established in 1769 by the Spanish Franciscan monk Junípero Serra. The city is named after the mission to this day. The mission today is open to the public and serves as a historical museum. It is located near the intersection of the I-8 freeway with the I-15.
Address: San Diego Mission Rd. 10818, San Diego
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SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld San Diego is a massive theme park of the popular network, located in the northern part of the city. It sits on the southern shore of Mission Bay near the western end of Interstate 8, about a five-minute drive from Old Town San Diego. The park combines aquariums and habitats for sea mammals and large fish, as well as a popular amusement park with roller coasters and other rides.
The amusement park features a large variety of roller coasters at different speeds, including some on the more extreme side of the spectrum. There are also plenty of other attractions such as a Ferris wheel, drop rides, and more.
In the aquarium section, there are 19 different segments where you can see fish and marine mammals. The most popular among them are:
- The dolphin aquarium and the dolphin show
- The Killer Whale or Orca aquarium (where an orca named Shamu became a park icon over the years), also hosts the famous Orca Encounter show
- Sea Lion and Seal Aquarium
Address: Sea World Dr. 500, San Diego
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Liberty Station
Liberty Station is a vibrant and trendy urban area that used to be a massive training base for the US Navy. It's located a five-minute drive south from Old Town towards Downtown. Adjacent to the large harbor channel in the southern part, you'll find the Esplanade at Liberty Station, a green and pleasant place with a stunning view of the city and the bay.
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Old Town San Diego
Plaza De Las Armas
The cradle of California, Plaza de las Armas, is the heart of the urban expanse that was San Diego two hundred years ago. It’s the center of the first (European) settlement in all of California, continuing the missionary settlement in the city at Mission San Diego de Alcala. The square served the settlement’s homes as a place of gathering, trade, and political organization, and even today you can feel the character of early 19th-century San Diego life in the wide, sun-drenched square.
The Robinson Rose House in the western part of Plaza de Armas serves as the official visitor center of the historical park. This is the restored home of attorney James Robinson. Next to it is La Casa de Machado y Silvas, which is now a restaurant. In the square, you can also see a replica of a Covered Wagon, close to the active Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant. Right next door is the Seeley Stable, where you can see replicas and original models of historical wagons used by the settlers.
Address: Wallace St. 4002, San Diego
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McCoy House
The McCoy House is located behind the Robinson-Rose House. It was the home of the town's sheriff, James McCoy, who later became a senator. He built the house in 1869 as a wedding gift to his wife Winifred. Today, the house is open to the public as a period museum with furniture inspired by the Victorian era in Britain.
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La Casa de Estudillo
The house with the most Mexican style in Plaza de las Armas is located on the eastern side of the large square. The house was built in 1829 as the residence of the commander of the nearby presidio, José María de Estudillo. The house is U-shaped, built around a stunning courtyard with a small fountain. It is one of the finest examples in all of California of the local style known as Mexican-Californian. The house has a bright white facade facing the square and inside is a large historical museum spread across all its rooms.
The Mormon Battalion Historic Site
The Mormon Battalion house is located slightly east of Plaza de las Armas on the slopes of Presidio Park. This huge house also now serves as a historical museum where you can learn about the role of the American battalions that took part in the battles of the Mexican-American War in 1846-7. The battalion consisted of 500 residents of Iowa who marched toward San Diego as part of the American army.
Heritage County Park
The Heritage County Park is an open museum complex near the Old Town San Diego area. The county has gathered several important historical buildings for preservation from around the city in this park. These buildings have been renovated and are now a stunning street filled with tourists. The most impressive house in the park is the Sherman-Gilbert House, built in 1887, which served as a guest house in the city.
Opposite is the Beth Israel Synagogue, the first synagogue that opened in the city. The park also features several historic mansions from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century, including the Senlis Cottage, the Bushyhead House, the Christian House, and the Burton House.
Address: Heritage Park Row, San Diego
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Whaley House Museum
Not far from San Diego's Heritage Park stands one of the scariest houses on the West Coast. Whaley House is where the city's legendary thief, Yankee Jim, was hanged, and since then, the house has had a reputation for being haunted. The city, of course, capitalized on the house's status since 1857, and today ghost tours are held there.
Address: San Diego Ave. 2476, San Diego
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Presidio Park
The historic park overlooking Old Town San Diego from above remains an active archaeological site. The park was the site of the founding of the fort and the mission by the Spaniards in 1769. Archaeological finds are housed in the Junípero Serra Museum located in the northern part of the park. The museum showcases ancient Spanish military tools and many artifacts related to the mission. On the park's western slopes, you can see what's left (not much) of the historic Fort Stockton.
Address: Presidio Dr. 2727, San Diego
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La Jolla
San Diego's charming recreational area, located north of the city in a hilly region with cliffs dropping into the sea, just a fifteen-minute drive from Old Town San Diego. The heart of La Jolla is the Village of La Jolla, where you'll find restaurants, resort hotels, and all the fun of the American holiday on California’s golden beaches.
The Village's beach is what is known as the La Jolla Cove, stunning cliffs that descend into coves that were popular among smugglers and are now a favored hiking spot for tourists. You can see seals in their natural habitat there.
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South of the village are excellent bathing beaches and resort hotels, as well as the new San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art.
