La Presa - Spring Valley, CA Area Guide

La Presa was once part of the neighboring city of Spring Valley from 1970 to 1990. The city earned its name from a nearby spring in the vicinity that attracted people to the area thousands of years ago. The Chamber of Commerce became the sole owners of the land in 1940; from there, residential neighborhoods and commercial buildings sprung up everywhere.

Bancroft Ranch House Museum remains a free historical landmark preserving the history of Spring Valley. This mid-1800s, two-room adobe was the first house built by a Caucasian man in the eastern part of San Diego County.

Residents also frequently visit Balboa park, just 15 minutes to the west, due to the fantastic art scene and many seasonal events. The San Diego landmark features 17 museums, including the San Diego Natural History Museum, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, and San Diego Air and Space Museum.

A multitude of fast food chains are spread throughout the area, however residents enjoy a few notable mom and pop restaurants as well.

Mariscos La Sinaloense, one such eatery, acts as an authentic Mexican joint with the best seafood in town and top-notch service. For fantastic Asian food, head to Linlee's Chinese Cuisine, which serves many tasty dishes. The beef and broccoli or beef and chicken remain popular choices, as well as the tender and juicy moo goo gai pan. For starters, be sure to try the hearty won ton soup.

For a more upscale dining experience, Gaslamp, to the west, remains a popular area among locals. Visitors find many establishments providing a wide range of entertainment to go along with their meals, including plays, live music and even murder mystery-themed productions at The Dinner Detective. Enhance your senses by dining in the dark at Opaque.

The nightlife in La Presa proves relatively laid back and casual; a few bars sporadically dot the neighborhood. Joycee's Cocktails, arguably the most popular local dive bar, offers standard cocktails and beer, in addition to pool tables and sports televisions. For a more lively scene, take a drive to Downtown San Diego for a variety of night clubs and bars.

Driving remains the most common way to get around the neighborhood. Locals also frequently ride the bus, the only public option in town. If you plan on relying on this form of transportation, choose a residence near Jamacha Boulevard to avoid long walks to your stop. Hailing a cab does not prove to be an option, although a quick phone sends one to your door; Uber also responds to calls in La Presa as well.

You can find an abundance of free public parking nearly everywhere in the city. Furthermore, the neighborhood borders Highway 125, which gives residents quick access to Highway 54 and Interstate 8. Locals also enjoy taking long walks and bike rides on a sunny afternoon, as pedestrian walkways and bike lanes line the major streets.

Bring your kids to Spring Valley Country Park to spend the day, and find two playgrounds, shaded picnic tables, a large grassy field for pick-up games and big, shady trees. Locals also love walking their furry friends on the pathways; for an off-leash area, head north to Vista La Mesa Park.

Sweetwater Summit Regional Park remains the most popular destination for outdoor recreation, including camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding and exercising with the challenging workout course. The park also caters to children with a playground, tot lot and many picnic tables.

La Presa residents also have the luxury of neighboring the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge. There, locals and visitors alike enjoy various hiking and biking trails, woodland and grassland nature walks, bird-watching locations in a range of habitats, and private ranger-led tours.

The cost of living in La Presa sits lower than the city average; the median rental rate for a one-bedroom residence costs about $1,049 per month, a decent rate for the location. Since few bars surround the area, expect to pay around $6 for a pint. Gas prices, however, stand 20.8 percent above the national average, common for San Diego.

For the closest major shopping area, head to Westfield Horton Plaza in Downtown San Diego for the most variety of high-end shopping. You can also find many speciality shops dispersed throughout The Gaslamp, and visitors love walking up and down 5th Avenue.

For a unique experience, try Seaport Village. Not only does the establishment feature live music and fine dining, the outdoor village also features an eclectic group of shops. It has everything from the Village Hat Shop to Hot Licks, a shop with hot sauces from all over the world, to The Toy Cottage, a store that features unique and hard-to-find toys for kids. One of the most visited boutiques in Seaport Village sells art from internationally renowned marine life artist Wyland Galleries. This location overlooks San Diego Bay and features astounding street performers and events on the weekends. Local families come here often for picnics under the shady trees in Embarcadero Marina Park North, the park next to Seaport Village

Vons services the area for groceries in addition to a few smaller neighborhood stores. For farmers markets, residents have a few choices, including College Area to the north, Chula Vista in the southwest and Horton Square Downtown.