One of the most exciting and sophisticated metropolitan regions in the country, San Diego comprises more than 100 colorful and unique neighborhoods.  Each of these communities has a style and personality of their own, and their dynamic medleys of outdoor activities, arts and culture, dining and shopping opportunities reflect the rich diversity of the San Diego region. 

From downtown's trendy East Village, to the laid-back community of Ocean Beach, to the luxury enclave of La Jolla, the following are a few of San Diego's colorful neighborhoods.

EAST VILLAGE: VIBRANT URBAN LIFE

The revitalization of this warehouse district in downtown San Diego was ignited in 2004 with the opening of Petco Park, the San Diego Padres' baseball stadium. Today, visitors can enjoy luxury hotels, fashionable restaurants and cafes, rooftop bars, boutique shops and live music venues scattered throughout the neighborhood www.sdeastvillage.com 

GASLAMP QUARTER: SCENE AND BE SEEN

As the historic heart of downtown San Diego, the 16½-block Gaslamp Quarter combines Victorian-charm with urban living to create a lively dining, entertainment and shopping district.  Once home to San Diego's "red light" district in the late 1800s, the area once held three gambling halls run by Wyatt Earp. In recent decades, revitalization efforts have spurred the growth of more than 100 restaurants, 40 bars and nightclubs and 100 retail shops, as well as theaters and art galleries.  www.gaslamp.org   

LITTLE ITALY: A DELICIOUS PLACE FOR FOOD AND CULTURE

Little Italy in downtown San Diego is a quaint and lively neighborhood filled with outdoor patio cafes, restaurants, pubs, art galleries, boutique shops and the beautiful Amici Park.  India Street, Little Italy's main thoroughfare, is lined with restaurants featuring the neighborhood's namesake cuisine, while the Kettner Art & Design District offers unique shops and gallery spaces featuring modern art, contemporary home furnishings and more.  Little Italy is also host to a number of annual cultural celebrations and festivities including ArtWalk, the Annual Sicilian Festivalandthe Annual Little Italy Festa. www.littleitalysd.com   

HILLCREST: AN ECLECTIC HOTSPOT

The hub of San Diego's LGBT community, Hillcrest is an uptown neighborhood located just minutes from downtown and next to Balboa Park, where visitors can experience the city's openness, warm hospitality and diversity throughout the year.  Hillcrest is well-known for its unique mix of casual eateries, exotic bistros, chic boutiques, vintage clothing stores, eclectic nightlife and more.  In July, San Diego LGBT Pride attracts more than 150,000 attendees each year with festivities that include a parade through Hillcrest and two-day festival in neighboring Balboa Park. www.hillquest.com   

NORTH PARK, SOUTH PARK AND GOLDEN HILL: HIPSTER HAPPENING 

Theeclectic neighborhood on North Park, located east of Balboa Park, offers a dynamic mix of coffee houses, cafes, retail shops, art galleries and the city's most up-and-coming restaurant row, complemented by a dynamic local craft beer scene.   Located adjacent to North Park and just outside of downtown San Diego, Greater Golden Hill is home to the blossoming neighborhoods of Golden Hill and South Park, havens for independent shops, galleries and restaurants featuring innovative menus, complemented by the region's award-winning craft beer.  www.northparkmainstreet.com and www.southparkscene.com .

BARRIO LOGAN: LIVELY HISPANIC CULTURE

Originally a refuge for Mexican residents fleeing the revolution in the early 20th century, Barrio Logan today is both the epicenter of San Diego's Hispanic community and a welcoming neighborhood where young urbanites and artists are spurring a creative renaissance.  Located just south of downtown, diners in Barrio Logan can sample some of San Diego's most authentic Mexican cuisine, and the colorful neighborhood's art scene is one of the city's most unique. In the early 1970s, the Latino community established Chicano Park beneath the San Diego-Coronado Bridge overpass; the park is home to a dazzling display of colorful sculptures and murals painted on the bridge's pillars and is a local cultural icon. www.chicanoparksandiego.com

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS: WARM AND WELCOMING

Surrounded by historic and renovated California craftsman-style homes, University Heights is a neighborhood that embraces San Diego's love for quirky and lively dining, shopping and nightlife.  Adjacent to Hillcrest, University Heights is hip, yet friendly, and welcomes everyone with creative tastes to its main thoroughfare, Park Boulevard, home to popular eateries, shops and lounges.  www.uhsd.org

NORMAL HEIGHTS: ABNORMALLY FUN

Neighboring University Heights and home to unique antique stores and quirky coffeehouses, Normal Heights takes pride in creating a free-spirited environment where resident artists and hippies prove that what's “normal” in San Diego is a fun-loving attitude.  Antique aficionados love Adams Avenue, its main thoroughfare that is also known as Antique Row, for its nearly a dozen vintage, antique and consignment shops. Normal Heights also celebrates live music day and night with annual music festivals like the San Diego Adams Avenue Roots Festival as well as live music venues booking up-and-coming artists throughout the year.  www.normalheights.org

OLD TOWN SAN DIEGO: WHERE HISTORY MEETS ENTERTAINMENT

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is the site of San Diego's first “downtown.” Old Town San Diego is the first Spanish settlement on the U.S. West Coast and features 12 acres of Mexican lore and historical sites, colorful shops, early-California-style restaurants, museums, a theater and the newly restored Cosmopolitan Hotel.  Located in Old Town is the Whaley House, one of only two officially designated haunted houses in California. Known for authentic Mexican cuisine, dining is lively and vibrant, and shopping in Old Town reflects the history of the 1800s and captures the essence of San Diego's colorful past.  www.oldtownsandiegoguide.com

OCEAN BEACH: A LAID-BACK BEACH TOWN

With perpetual sun, swaying palms and sparkling surf, the funky neighborhood of Ocean Beach, referred to locally as O.B., is the epitome of Southern California beach culture.  Newport Avenue, its main street, can be both laid-back and energized with boisterous bars, cafes, surf shops, tattoo parlors and a 1960s hippie attitude.  Ocean Beach is one of San Diego's prime surf spots.  O.B. is also popular for its kid-friendly tidepools and Dog Beach, where even the tail-waggin' members of the family can play Frisbee and romp in the surf.  www.oceanbeachsandiego.com

PACIFIC BEACH/MISSION BEACH: THE BEACH AND THE BEAUTIFUL

Pacific Beach,referred to locally asP.B.,is a seaside mecca and surfer's paradise for college students and the younger set with boisterous bars, cafes and casual restaurants aplenty. Located just south of P.B. and connected by a popular three-mile boardwalk, Mission Beach is another popular surf spot and hip hangout for the younger set. Located along the boardwalk in Mission Beach, Belmont Park features the “Giant Dipper” wooden roller coaster, a National Historic Landmark, carnival rides, amusement arcades and The Wave House, with an on-land, water wave simulator.   http://www.pacificbeach.org/

LA JOLLA: THE JEWEL OF SAN DIEGO

The treasures of this Mediterranean-style village make La Jolla one of the most sought-after vacation destinations in Southern California.  With luxurious and historic hotels, fine dining and shopping, world-class arts and culture, unbeatable outdoor recreation and a strikingly beautiful setting, it's no wonder La Jolla is nicknamed the “jewel” of San Diego. La Jolla's beautiful beaches and coastline provide endless opportunities for outdoor recreation, and the area is home to the internationally recognized Torrey Pines Golf Course.  La Jolla is also one of San Diego's most desirable shopping districts, and its restaurants offer some of San Diego's finest dining experiences.  Additionally, La Jolla also offers a dynamic and diverse display of cultural opportunities with live theatre, museums, music and spectacular public art.   www.lajollabythesea.com

Happiness is calling in San Diego. For more information on San Diego's offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority's website at www.sandiego.org.