Mission Hills is located above Old Town on the rolling hills that overlook the harbor. The area was home to many of San Diego’s pioneers and many of the homes are historical. Architect Irving Gill designed many of the houses that are now lovingly preserved and renovated. There are California bungalows, craftsman homes, Spanish Revival and Mission-style homes and many other one-of-a-kind residences.

Kate Sessions, the landscape artist for Balboa Park, started the Mission Hills Nursery over a century ago in the area and it still functions as the center of the neighborhood. Washington and Goldfinch Streets are the commercial center of the neighborhood and provide residents with shopping and services. Small cafes and specialty retail shops line the streets and offer unique goods.

Houses range in price from moderate to estates and are not clustered strictly by price. Many homes have views of the entire harbor and city. Every Friday during the summer concerts are held in Pioneer Park.

Old Town is located just below the site of the original Presidio created to protect the Spanish settlers from the Indians. The town was the first European settlement in San Diego and is now a California State park.

Its adobe structures, built by the first settlers, have been restored to look as they might have in the early 1800s, and the area is a thriving tourist attraction. There are a number of shops that specialize in Mexican imports, decorator items and the arts. Numerous restaurants serve various cuisines. A blacksmith, newspaper office and woodworking shop offer glimpses of early industry in the area.

Homes in this area are often Craftsman bungalows, many with colorful gardens. Parking can be a challenge with the daily influx of tourists. The area is now on the trolley route and that helps alleviate the congestion. Residents and tourists alike find Old Town a pleasant destination for a meal and a look at how San Diego lived its earliest days.