Pacific Beach is a neighborhood of San Diego, bounded by La Jolla to the north, Mission Beach to the south, Interstate 5 to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. While largely populated by surfers and college students, the population is becoming more professional and affluent due to rising property and rental costs. “PB”, as it is known as by local residents, is also home to one of San Diego’s larger nightlife areas, with dozens of bars and eateries lining main east-west street Garnet and north-south street Mission. A golden beach in Pacific Beach stretches for miles from the Mission Bay jetty to the cliffs of La Jolla. A sidewalk, the boardwalk, running along the beach, is typically crowded with pedestrians, cyclists, rollerbladers, and shoppers. The beach scene revolves around Crystal Pier, which is at the west end of Garnet Avenue.
Pacific Beach was developed during the boom years of 1886-1888 by D. C. Reed, A. G. Gassen, Charles W. Pauley, R. A. Thomas, and O. S. Hubbell. It was Hubbell who “leared away the grainfields, pitched a tent, mapped out the lots, hired an auctioneer and started to work”. To attract people, they built the Race Track and San Diego College of Letters, neither of which survive today. A railway also connected Pacific Beach with downtown San Diego, and was later extended to La Jolla.
Pacific Beach is one of the main centers of nightlife in San Diego. Garnet Ave. between Ingraham St. and Mission Blvd. is the main area where bars and restaurants are located. Pacific Beach tends to cater towards a younger, more college & post grad oriented crowd compared to downtown San Diego.
