The Gas Lamp District is a must see spot when visiting San Diego, California.   Recently, I visited the beautiful city to celebrate my masters degree accomplishment.  The Gas Lamp features hundreds of restaurants, bars, and shops, which are situated along several long sloping streets that are perfect for a night out on the town.  Also, this is not a tourist trap!  This is where the locals hang.  The part I enjoyed the most was the overflow of seating outside each restaurant.  You could enjoy a great bite to eat and the cool ocean air at the same time.  Plus, most restaurants had their hostess’s outside and encouraged walk-ins to their restaurants.  Great food, great prices, and a lot of fun!  Oh, and did I mention the lights? Fantastic!

Critic's Tip: Parking is slightly limited directly in the district.  After 9pm, most spots are taken.  It is wise to leave a little early in order to find a space.  Also, many private parking spaces only take cash.  ATM's in the district are slightly harder to find after the banks closed.