Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter District includes 94 historic buildings, most of which were constructed in the Victorian Era. Today, sidewalk cafes and open air restaurants, jazz clubs, late night dancing, resident artists, distinctive hotels and micro breweries are scattered throughout the 16 square block district.

A diverse, lively, hip and colorful neighborhood, Hillcrest has been dubbed the "Castro" of San Diego. This gay-friendly neighborhood is a mix of apartments and bungalows along with a pedestrian-friendly business district. Iconic '50s style restaurants and storefronts add to this neighborhood's eclectic personality.

One of San Diego's oldest residential neighborhoods, Kensington, is situated north of El Cajon Boulevard and east of Interstate 15, above the south rim of Mission Valley. There's a small business district along Adams Avenue, featuring the famous Ken Cinema, the Ken Club bar, Kensington Video, Ponce's Mexican Restaurant, Kensington Coffee.

With its dramatic coastline and spectacular views, it's no surprise that La Jolla was one of the first San Diego neighborhoods to be settled, and has since become some of the most prized real estate in the nation. La Jolla, or "the jewel" in Spanish, is one of the most affluent communities in San Diego County.

An elegant ethnic enclave within downtown, Little Italy is a scenic neighborhood composed mostly of Italian restaurants, Italian retail shops, home design stores, art galleries and residential spaces. Host to frequent festivals and events, Little Italy is one of the more active downtown neighborhoods.

San Diego's Mission Hills is the country's fifth most overpriced area, according to the new Forbes.com article, "America's Most Overpriced Zip Codes." As you head west on Washington Street, Hillcrest turns into Mission Hills, and the aura becomes more low-key.

The most sprawling of the urban neighborhoods, North Park is a hodgepodge. Cozy, tidy pockets of Craftsman homes on the north edge of Balboa Park, dense apartments, and the pre-interstate retail stretches of University Ave and El Cajon Blvd define North Park. Ray Street, a small street containing a number of art galleries, hosts "Ray at Night" on the second Saturday evening of each month.

From bars to burger shacks, this "laid-back" beach offers several amenities, including surfing, swimming, volleyball and fishing off the Ocean Beach Pier. A unique community, it is like a town within the city; one steeped in '60s and '70s old school culture. Ocean Beach has a funky charm that some say is like a time capsule of the 1960s beach scene.

All roads in San Diego lead to Old Town. This center of town is abundant with artisans, dancers, galleries, hotels, mariachis, professional theater and shops. Home to established residential neighborhoods, a major university, big shopping centers, hotels and the Chargers football stadium, history, food and fun are all within easy walking distance.

Pacific Beach started in the early 1900's as a seasonal summer vacation resort and has grown into one of San Diego's hippest year-round residential neighborhoods and party hot spots. The same carnival atmosphere that arose from the old Belmont Park amusement center has spawned the three-ring circus of Mission Blvd and the Mission Beach Boardwalk with taco stands, tattoo parlors, roller coasters, and sushi bars.