An Evening Walk in Old Town San Diego
While staying alone in San Diego, I was wondering where to take an evening walk and headed to Old Town San Diego. Just hearing the name, I expected a dusty cowboy town or a desolate desert straight out of a Western movie. I was just looking for a nice place to walk after dinner, so I went with a light heart.
But once I passed the entrance sign and walked inside, it felt much more like a Mexican village had been picked up and moved here rather than the Wild West. Since San Diego is right on the Mexican border, it seems to have been heavily influenced by it. It's kind of like a traditional folk village back in Korea, but with a much more exotic landscape.
Looking at the map, the museum, restaurant, and shopping areas were quite expansive. It was too dark to explore every nook and cranny, but the overall size was just right for a stroll.
As I walked along, a rather impressive two-story wooden building caught my eye—the sign said Cosmopolitan Hotel. Seeing the illuminated balcony and rustic wooden stairs, I could easily imagine the days when horse-drawn carriages would pull up and travelers would stay the night. It isn't flashy, but it still holds onto the rugged charm of that era.
I found something pretty fun while walking. Right in the middle of the historical park stood a sign advertising a haunted house tour. A ghost hunting tour! I wondered if it was genuinely supposed to be haunted or just a fun concept, but I didn't have the courage to go in alone, so I just looked from the outside. Near the sign, there was a wish-granting Zoltar machine—like the one I saw in the movie 'Back to the Future' or maybe 'Big'—which gave me a bizarre feeling.
Walking a bit further, I spotted an old-fashioned leather workshop. It looked like a place selling leather belts and saddles, and with its weathered white exterior walls and green doors, it really felt like a Western movie set. Honestly, just because it's called Old Town doesn't mean there are incredibly special or flashy attractions. The real charm of this place seems to be just walking around and browsing these little shops.
When I properly entered the market area, there were plenty of places selling souvenirs like brightly patterned traditional Mexican clothing and unique skull decorations. It was full of things you'd expect to see if you were browsing a market on a trip to Mexico. I took my time looking around and ended up buying a skull souvenir that I liked.
On one wall, there was a timeline explaining the history of Old Town San Diego. I heard this is where Europeans first settled in California back in 1769. That's why it's also called the birthplace of California. Later on, as the new downtown area was developed, the city center shifted, and this area was preserved as a historical park. At first, I thought it was just a theme park with a bunch of old buildings, but it turns out it actually holds a lot of historical significance.
Near the plaza, a trolley bus for tourists was parked. It was brightly lit up for the night, and it looked like a comfortable way to take a lap around the area. I was actually a little tempted to hop on, since I had walked so much earlier in the day during my itinerary exploring various stores like Best Buy and Ross.
To be honest, if you come here expecting a flashy amusement park or spectacular sights, there's a high chance you'll be disappointed. It's not a place where attractions are constantly thrown at you. I just recommend it for people who enjoy leisurely walks and want to look around with a relaxed mindset.
It didn't feel incredibly special, but it was a pretty nice place to take a walk while getting a glimpse of San Diego's old Mexican-style atmosphere. If I ever come back to San Diego, I wouldn't necessarily force it into my itinerary, but it's definitely a place worth strolling through again if I happen to be passing by.
