Hillcrest

Walk to anything you would ever need from this neighborhood. Unique shops, bookstores,coffee shops, every kind of restaurant you can imagine. Whole foods, Trader Joes, Ralph's, bars with great Happy Hour menus. Hillcrest has a vibrant community. Retirees, students, straight and gay people are all welcome in this friendly community. The summer host the annual Pride parade which is always fun and exciting. It is a very progressive place to live. There is a farmers market every Sunday, you will find a wide array of fruits, vegetables and other wonderful organic goods. Balboa Park is world class . We have the fabulous San Diego Zoo , Museums are all located in the park area. There is plenty of parking but if you live in Hillcrest you can walk to the park. It is that close! I can't say enough great things about this area. Wonderful urban area.

Hillcrest is the IT place in San Diego; an all-inclusive area which has somewhat become our de facto gay community. However, there are students, families and retirees who also call Hillcrest home.

To get straight to the point about this busy community - if you like the idea of doing most of your social activities, shopping and dining right where you live, then you'll love this colorful area! Just a short walk in any direction from the starting point of University Avenue at Fifth Ave will lead you to unique shops and scrumptious delicacies. Just East of our starting point is City Deli, which has been a hot spot for decades!

In the area is UCSD medical Center and also Mercy hospital and medical plaza. Driving down 5th Avenue, one could arrive in Downtown in under 10 minutes. Drive down Park Blvd and you'll be at Balboa Park or the San Diego Zoo in a flash. If you want to do some major shopping, continue down 5th to Horton Plaza or hop on the 163 North at University and ma

Hillcrest is one of the best and well known neighborhoods of San Diego. There are a multitude of restaurants from every part of the world imaginable in this small section of uptown SD. There are so many shops, boutiques, and retail chains that you can do all of your shopping in this neighborhood. If you're looking for the mall, all you have to do is jump on the 163 and head north for 2 miles to Fashion Valley or Mission Valley. The downside of shopping in Hillcrest is that many retail stores and restaurants are struggling to stay open due to the high property values in the area. In the few years that I have lived there I have seen stores come and go.

Another downside is the parking situation. I used to live on Essex st, one block south of University and I was constantly circling around looking for a spot, sometimes up to 5 blocks away. If you are ever looking for a parking spot on a Friday or Saturday night, Good Luck! Hillcrest is home to many gay and lesbian bars, as well as straight, in the neighborhood. Most clubbers use residential street parking in the vicinity of University Ave.

If dancing and drinks are what you are looking for, you do not have to go very far because Hillcrest has something for everyone. If you're looking for an escape from city life and need some trees or some culture, all you have to do is venture south about a mile to Balboa Park. Balboa Park is home to most of the city's museums, world famous San Diego Zoo, Velodrome, and plenty of hiking trails. I truly believe that Hillcrest is one of the best neighborhoods to live in San Diego, provided you have your own parking space for you and your guests.