This 2-miles stretch of soft sand lies at the base of 300-foot cliffs near University of California-San Diego, just north of La Jolla and about a 15- to 20-minute drive north of downtown San Diego. One of the nation's iconic nude beaches, San Diego's majestically situated Black's Beach is also a favorite hangout of gay men and lesbians - clothed, partially clothed, scantily clothed, unclothed, and all permutations thereof. The Mingei, as well as the park's other key museums, are just around the corner from San Diego's most gay-popular neighborhood, Hillcrest - in fact, it's only about a 15- to 20-minute walk and a quite pleasant one at that. The Mingei stages superb exhibitions throughout the year, most of them lasting several months at a time, so even if you've visited in the past, there's likely to be plenty new here. The works also span eons of design styles, from pottery dating back thousands of years to contemporary jewelry and furniture crafted just a few years ago. Of course, much of the work contained in the collection is highly sophisticated and ornate, while beautifully simple forms are shown, too. The Mingei contains some 20,000 objects, representing nearly every one of the world's nations, and intended to reveal traditions of often quite humble folk and primitive arts, crafts, and design traditions, from Chinese wood carvings to New Mexico and Arizona Navajo rugs to Indonesian ancestral monuments. It overlooks the park's central Plaza de Panama, right by the similarly esteemed San Diego Museum of Art and Timken Museum of Art. The museum opened in 1978 but moved its current airy, stunning building - itself a work of art - in 1996. The North Park Main Street business association play a vital role in preserving the neighborhood's historic integrity and wealth of engaging, independently owned businesses.Īmong the several prominent museums clustered on or near El Prado in San Diego's "green lung", Balboa Park, the Mingei International Museum (1439 El Prado, 61) ranks among the most distinctive, and it's a worthy stop for aficionados of design, crafts, and folk art.
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I-8 forms the neighborhood's eastern boundary, and the neighborhood extends west to Park Boulevard, where it gives way to Hillcrest. Walk or drive along 30th, 29th, Granada, Ray, and parallel streets, between Upas and University, to see an especially high number of these. The neighborhood is also well-regarded for its abundance of handsomely restored bungalows and cottages from the early 20th century, many of them in the Craftsman style. North Park has a handful of gay bars, and many of the shops, coffeehouses, and restaurants in this neighborhood have a sizable GLBT following. Another area with a few very good restaurants is farther south 30th and Upas streets. This area just northeast of Balboa Park has a couple of notable commercial sectors, including University Avenue and the blocks just off of it, especially around 29th and 30th streets (this is where the North Park sign, pictured here, spans University Avenue). With Hillcrest to the west, North Park is one of San Diego's most diverse - and quite gay-popular - neighborhoods. Note that in summer 2011, the vintage sign pictured here was replaced with a new LED Hillcrest sign, but the old sign was purchased by the owner of beloved GLBT shop Obelisk, who plans to display it there. Just northeast and east of Hillcrest lie two more San Diego neighborhoods with strong gay and lesbian followings, University Heights and North Park. Many of the city's gay bars, as well as gay-popular restaurants and shops, are in Hillcrest, generally along University Avenue as well as intersecting 4th and 5th avenues. Here's a visual tour of this inviting city.Īlthough San Diego has become increasingly eclectic in terms of where gays and lesbians live and socialize, the heart of the GLBT scene still centers on the bustling Hillcrest neighborhood, which is just a few blocks northwest of Balboa Park, and a 10-minute drive north of downtown. Head out to the beaches to catch a glimpse of the city's laid-back, friendly surfing and sunning spirit. The city's once-staid downtown now abounds with hip hotels and lively restaurants, while such gay-friendly neighborhoods as Hillcrest, North Park, and University Heights are hot spots for gay clubbing and bar-hopping, dining, and shopping.
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Sunny and spectacularly situated San Diego is one of the great playgrounds of the West among gay and lesbian travelers.