Downtown San Diego is undergoing a huge construction project as we go to press: When the Padres' Petco Park opens in April 2004 downtown's revitalization will have a new icon. It will also extend the rebuilt downtown a few blocks farther east, and real estate developers in the "East Village" are stepping up to the plate in hope of cashing in on a home run.

In the meantime, you can wander from the turn-of-the-20th-century Gaslamp Quarter to the joyful, modern architecture of the Horton Plaza shopping center. The Gaslamp consists of 16 1/2 blocks of restored historic buildings. It gets its name from the old-fashioned street lamps that line the sidewalks. You'll find many of San Diego's best restaurants and our most vigorous nightlife scene here. At Horton Plaza, you can shop, stroll, snack or dine, enjoy free entertainment, see a movie, and people-watch--all within a unique and playful village framework.

Seaport Village is a shopping and dining complex on the waterfront. It was designed to look like a New England seaport community. If you find the views across the water alluring, another way to experience San Diego's waterfront is with one of several harbor tours.