Point Loma Heights - San Diego, CA

Portuguese explorer Juan Cabrillo landed at Point Loma in 1542, the first time a European had ever set foot in California. The beach at Point Loma served as San Diego's main port until the harbor was built in the 1870s.

The U.S. military has had a presence in Point Loma since the mid-1800s, with Fort Rosecrans taking over much of the peninsula; the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery and the Cabrillo National Monument remain today. The National Monument at the southern tip of Point Loma contains a lighthouse and museum.

Just on the bay side of Point Loma Heights, residents gather each December for the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights, with hundreds of boats decorated for the holidays showing off for the assembled crowds. ArtWalk San Diego also stages an event at Liberty Station just east of the neighborood, featuring art from local artisans, great food and live music.

Point Loma Heights is primarily a residential area, so most of the restaurants frequented by locals are a little closer to the ocean or in different areas of San Diego. However, Point Loma Heights features many casual Mexican restaurants, taco stands, and cafes.

Vegans are happy to find all their culinary needs met at Peace Pies, which also serves organic and gluten-free dishes. Choose from zucchini linguini, vegan mock tuna or the renowned magical mushroom quesadilla. Everything served here is made from scratch in the kitchen, with no processed food allowed.

If you're in the mood for a quick burger or a cookies-and-cream malt, stop by the Classics Malt Shop on Midway Drive. The 1950s vibe and killer chili cheese fries are as welcoming as the friendly staff. You'll find quick food at Ortiz's Taco Shop, where locals rave about the California burrito, a treat native to San Diego that includes French fries with the meat. If pizza's more your style, you'll want to try the Venetian Restaurant's Genovese pizza, a unique pie featuring caramelized scallops, roasted garlic, pesto sauce and pine nuts.

When it's time to celebrate a special occasion, head to Humphreys Restaurant on Shelter Island, just to the east of Point Loma Heights. With beautiful views over the bay and the marina, Humphreys is a local destination for Sunday brunch, where locals enjoy live music while they dine. Try the sriracha honey shrimp, the swordfish Oscar or the macadamia-encrusted sea bass for a taste sensation. With the concert venue right on the water, you get the best of all worlds at Humphreys.

While Point Loma Heights itself carries much too residential an attitude to be the center of nightlife, off the hill you can find plenty of choices to suit your budget and your partying style. Head to Westy's Antiques and Tavern when you want to shoot a game of pool or play some foosball or even board games. Yes, the antiques in the pub are all for sale, and you'll find friendly bartenders and a relaxed vibe.

For live music, head to Winstons Beach Club in Ocean Beach for comedy on Fridays, an open mic night on Mondays and a band every other night of the week. The Irish pub The Harp, also in Ocean Beach, features Celtic music and cover bands, and it's the perfect place to cheer for your favorite soccer team.

While San Diego bus routes don't run through the residential neighborhood of Point Loma Heights, you can grab routes 28 and 84 connecting Point Loma to the Old Town neighborhood of San Diego. Route 923 runs to the nearby Charles Lindbergh International Airport and continues to downtown San Diego. Taxis, Uber and airport shuttles are available on an on-call basis.

Most residents of Point Loma Heights have their own cars, and free street parking is abundant in the neighborhood. Both Interstate 5, which heads south to downtown San Diego and north toward Los Angeles, and Interstate 8, which heads inland toward the Cleveland National Forest and ultimately to Arizona, are close by to make Point Loma Heights commuters' travel a little easier.

While the hills of Point Loma Heights may be daunting to the casual bicyclist, nearby Liberty Station, a former naval training center now turned into a park, features many bike paths and jogging trails. Walkers, runners and cyclists can also enjoy heading all the way down the peninsula to the Cabrillo National Monument.

As the largest park within the boundaries of Point Loma Heights, Bill Cleator Community Park attracts plenty of locals, provides a home for the local YMCA, and also features a couple of baseball diamonds, a soccer field and a playground for the kids. Just to the west of Point Loma Heights, in the neighborhood of Loma Portal, you can find Plumosa Park, a tiny pocket park surrounded by stunning Craftsman and Spanish revival homes, perfect for an afternoon picnic and popular with many dog-walkers.

When you're ready to soak your feet in the Pacific Ocean, head to neighboring Ocean Beach. Enjoy the mixture of families, surfers, and hippies that frequent this casual beach, and don't forget to bring your four-legged friend for a romp at nearby Dog Beach. Sunset Cliffs faces the Pacific Ocean with a perfect view of the sunset, and you can watch the surfers from your vantage point at the top of the cliffs. You'll find plenty of moms and their toddlers at Kellogg Beach, unofficially known as "Mother's Beach," thanks to its clean sand, climbing rocks and gentle bayside water.

Although quiet Point Loma Heights doesn't host any annual festivals, just head to Liberty Station, where you'll find something happening every season of the year. Head to the Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Festival in June to enjoy eating, drinking and dancing. The San Diego Asian Film Festival packs in avid filmgoers every fall, with special deals offered at various Liberty Station restaurants as well. The summertime Doggie Street Festival provides a chance for you to adopt a new pet to come join you in your Point Loma Heights home.

The cost of living runs a bit higher in Point Loma Heights than in San Diego in general, not surprising given that the average income in the neighborhood runs 25 percent higher than that for the region. However, apartment dwellers get a bit of a break, since the average apartment rental runs about 10 percent lower than those throughout San Diego, with the average one-bedroom rental sitting at about $1,685 per month.

The cost of gas in Point Loma Heights runs about 11 percent greater than the national average. If you plan to keep your car in the garage and take the bus, it'll cost you $4.75 to $5 to head to downtown San Diego. If your plans involve a little pub crawling down in Ocean Beach, expect to pay between $5 and $8 for a beer on tap, depending on your choice of tavern.

For shopping at a major mall, Point Loma Heights residents typically head to Fashion Valley Mall, or north to La Jolla; to take advantage of La Jolla Village Square or Westfield UTC, especially when seeking out high-end designer clothing. Further options include downtown San Diego, home to the architecturally unique outdoor mall Westfield Horton Plaza. Closer to home, plenty of appealing shops cater to your personal and gift needs.

While the quiet, residential nature of Point Loma Heights means it's not zoned for much in the way of retail, a few unique shops attract locals to keep their shopping close to home. Check out Alice Alfreda Resale Boutique for bargains on designer labels such as Michael Kors, Juicy Couture, J. Crew, Banana Republic and Coach. Terra Rhythm on Voltaire Avenue serves as the neighborhood bike shop for Point Loma Heights, and the owner makes sure everyone gets a perfect fit.

Just east of Point Loma Heights, Liberty Station features a variety of one-of-a-kind specialty shops, including 7 Stitches, a jewelry boutique featuring a wide selection of unique pieces, and Moment Bicycles, a full-service bike shop to keep your bicycle in fine shape for all those rides down the coast. North Sails provides all the accessories you might need for your boat. While visiting Liberty Station, book a fitness class at The Bar Method or sign up for an art class at the Bravo School of Art.

While several major chain supermarkets lie throughout Point Loma Heights, locals head straight to the neighborhood Trader Joe's in Liberty Station to pick up cookie butter, Candy Cane Joe-Joe's cookies and cut-rate Charles Shaw wines. At Stump's Family Marketplace on Voltaire Avenue, the butchers cut meat to your exact order.

When you want your food ultra-fresh, you have your choice of several farmers' markets in the immediate area. Ocean Beach features two major farmers' markets. The Ocean Beach Farmers Market opens up on Wednesday afternoons, complete with llama rides, live music, and flowers and jewelry alongside the food. Find amazing organic produce at the Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Market on Voltaire Avenue on Mondays. With no meat products available, this market makes vegetarian dreams come true.