Your Guide to Seaport Village

Seaport Village is one of the hottest tourist destinations in San Diego. The charming, one-of-a-kind seaside shops and restaurants are a big draw for visitors. Originally built in 1980, Seaport Village has been a fixture in San Diego ever since. The charming neighborhood center is located on the bay and it is just a short walk from the convention center and the Gaslamp Quarter. Because of its proximity to these high traffic areas, many people mosey over to Seaport Village for an afternoon stroll or a dinner with a view. If you have some time to play tourist and revisit the neighborhood or if you have relatives in town who would love to experience some good, old-fashioned seaside charm, here is our guide to all things Seaport Village.

The Village is home to buildings of varying architectural styles, from Victorian to traditional Mexican. The boardwalk at Seaport Village is not designed for cars, instead, 90,000 square feet of winding paths connect the various buildings. Take advantage of the bay view and watch the sailboats float by as you stroll the winding cobblestone paths.

This area was historically know as Punta de los Muertos, “Point of the Dead,” where in 1982, the Spanish buried those who had died of scurvy. Later, the area was a railroad yard where goods and products were unloaded from ships and reloaded to trains for shipment. Seaport Village was then created in 1978 and opened in 1980 to become the San Diego tourist site and local attraction it is today.

At the center of the village is the historic carousel. This beautiful ride was built in 1895 and features hand carved animals. If you’re a kid at heart (or if you have kids of your own), take a spin and enjoy this piece of history.

Seaport Village is full of kitschy little shops that sell the most peculiar items, but that’s all part of the charm and intrigue. One of our favorite stores to peruse is American Nostalgia. This store has all the memorabilia of yesteryear that you can imagine: Comic books, vintage lunch boxes, toys, t-shirts, games, candy and more. This novelty shop is a great place to pick up a souvenir and take a trip down memory lane.

Another one of our favorite places to visit in Seaport Village is Hot Licks. The shelves are stocked with hundreds of different hot sauces from around the world (some of which require you to sign a waiver at point of sale due to their extreme spice). If you’re brave, Hot Licks has a sample table set up, but remember: if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

If you’re hungry during your visit to Seaport Village, we suggest grabbing a bite at The Harbor House. This establishment was the first restaurant in Seaport Village and they serve fresh fish, shellfish, premium steaks and local draft beers. The patio offers a great view of the harbor and entertaining people-watching.

Seaport Village gets much busier the closer it gets to summer, so if you prefer the calm and quiet we suggest you visit soon. If you like the hustle and bustle of major tourist destinations during the summer, then save your trip for a few more weeks. Also be sure to check out the street artists that perform regularly during peak seasons at Seaport Village. We hope you stop by soon to browse the unique shops and enjoy the harbor views that make Seaport Village such a major attraction for our city.