Seaport Village is designed to be the link between San Diego’s Bay and the downtown core of the city. It is a unique property with walkways and beautiful plazas along with convenient parking and transportation stops. Featuring 50-plus diverse shops, 13 unique eateries and outdoor entertainment, Seaport Village highlights was it means for an area to create an identity that attracts both residents and tourists.
A San Diego Landmark
Opened in 1980, Seaport Village has been a San Diego landmark for decades. The complex was built on reclaimed land over the Punta de los Muertos, which is the Spanish phrase for “Point of the Dead”. It is built where a 1782 Spanish expedition buried the remains of those who had succumbed to scurvy. The architecture of the area was designed to resemble a seaside village from the 1800s. A sculpture on the south side of Seaport Village is titled “Morning” and is one of many along the bay.
Today, Seaport Village is a 14-acre waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment complex. With a distinctive logo and location right by the ocean, Seaport Village has become known as a downtown destination for locals and visitors looking to spend a day enjoying some of San Diego’s best views and entertainment.
The shops in Seaport Village include ones that sell everything from accessories to clothing to household items. Merchandise ranges from cruise-ware and San Diego souvenirs to specialty vendors. Locally owned establishments include Best of San Diego, San Diego Surf Co. and Upstart Crow Bookstore & Coffeehouse. The independently owned bookshop also sells cards and gifts.
There are also numerous restaurants and eateries in Seaport Village, but these aren’t the only things to see and do in the area.
Actives and Events
Events of all types also take place throughout the year at Seaport Village. These events range from live music to photo sessions with the Easter Bunny to Seaport Sessions. All of these events have a distinct appeal to both residents and tourists, but permanent attractions in the area are appealing in a wholly different manner.
Hand-carved in 1895, the Historic Carousel features 54 animals and two horse-drawn chariots. Like other historic carousels, it has had a journey that spans multiple decades and states, but in 2004 it was moved to San Diego where it has resided ever since. It is also across the street from Stop D aboard the Old Town Trolley, which has become known as a convenient way to explore Seaport Village.
Recreating a harbor side setting of a century ago has helped Seaport Village to become a fixture in maps and guides to the city. The combination of shops, activities and history showcases what it can mean for an area to create an identity that is equally appealing to both residents and tourists. Doing so has had a profound economic and cultural impact on the entire region.
San Diegan Essence
Located adjacent to Embarcadero Marina Park North and featuring an impressive boardwalk, Seaport Village has San Diegan essence like few other places. While the proximity to monuments like “Unconditional Surrender” and the U.S.S. San Diego Memorial underscore the areas’ importance to San Diego, the significance that it represents when it comes to creating an identity for what would otherwise be a nondescript section of the city is even more monumentous.
