Morena - San Diego, CA

Many of the homes in and around Morena were built in the early '40s as part of a government project to house aircraft workers for the war effort, which resulted in 3,001 houses built in 200 days.

Residents of Morena have the luxury of being mere miles away from Old Town, the site of the first European settlement in present-day California, which features the popular Whaley House Museum. Rumored to be haunted due to several supernatural sightings, highlights of this San Diego landmark include a spinet piano from "Gone with the Wind" and Abraham Lincoln's life mask.

Home to the San Diego Museum of Art, Balboa Park, only 10 minutes south east, has a tremendous art scene and a multitude of annual events. The Ethnic Food Fair remains a local favorite where the public can taste food from virtually any country around the world.

Morena provides a little bit of everything from restaurants, small shops, and a little bit of nightlife. You will find a good amount of take out options and a few formal restaurants ranging from BBQ, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Thai, Italian, and American.

If you get a late-night craving for a massive, mouth-watering burrito, then trust JV's Mexican Food for authentic food grub and huge portions at affordable prices. A favorite among locals, its fresh salsa bar, huge selection, and friendly staff also keep customers coming back for more.

If you would rather have a nice sit down atmosphere, try the family owned and operated, Sardina's Italian Restaurant and Bar, an established casual eatery with dishes from Southern Italy and daily happy hours. Its pasta, pizza and veal won't disappoint, and don't forget to pick up a delightful sandwich during lunch.

Morena houses a number of places to let loose and have fun. For a no-nonsense live music venue, Brick by Brick, features a lounge, pool tables and popular acts. However, if you are interested in going club and bar hopping, head north west to Pacific Beach for a lively nightlife.

The most common way to get around the neighborhood is by car. If you plan on taking the bus on a regular basis, be sure to live near a stop to avoid long walks; you can find routes on Morena Boulevard and Linda Vista Road. Moreover, taxi services are widely available, Uber is a great option due to the close proximity of USD, and the neighborhood also has a train station 2 miles south in Old Town.

Free public parking is widely available but can be a challenge some days due to heavy traffic from the college. Since the neighborhood is tucked in the corner of Interstate 5 and Interstate 8, accessing highways are no problem. Don't forget to take a stroll or bike ride around town as there are bike lanes everywhere, making this a safe place for pedestrians.

There are plenty of beautiful landscaped spaces on the USD campus, but for a more kid-friendly and exercise-centric park experience, head to the north side of Morena to Tecolote Canyon Natural Park. There you will find the Tecolote Recreation Center with facilities to keep you fit and entertained, including five baseball fields, a flag football field, outdoor basketball courts and picnic areas. Nearby you will also find the Tecolote Nature Center and the Tecolote Youth Baseball field equipped with batting cages. For a fun afternoon with your four-legged friends, check out Fiesta Island Park, a huge island off Mission Bay that features fire pits, dog parks, water sports and 27 miles of beach.

Morena is a fantastic affordable option in San Diego as there are some homes priced a little under the county average, which is rare being so close to the coast. The rent for a one-bedroom residence averages at $1,357.37, and there are some great finds below this price as well.

One great thing about living in a college town is all the great happy hours happening at any given time; you can expect to pay $5, on average, for a pint of beer. On the other hand, gas prices sit 28.4 percent higher than the national average.

The major shopping area for all residents is the outdoor Fashion Valley Mall in Mission Valley, which has both high-end and high-values stores, from Neiman Marcus and Guess to Forever 21 and JC Penney. Fashion Valley has always been popular place for the locals to meet up for lunch on a sunny afternoon.

Boutiques are peppered all over the city, but if you desire a group of funky specialty stores, head west to Pacific Beach or south to Downtown San Diego. For a local women's clothing store featuring an upscale beach chic vibe, head to E & Ocean Boutique for the best selection of casual and formal wear. Take a trip slightly south of Interstate 8 to The Enchantress when searching for speciality bras; it has everything from larger-size bras and swimwear options to nursing bras and bridal wear.

For your grocery needs, there are a few small neighborhood shops, but for residents' big shopping days, they usually head east to Mission Valley where they will find Ralph's, Food 4 Less and Trader Joe's. Those who love spending the afternoon at a farmer's market head on over to the Linda Vista location just north west of Morena.