Bay Terraces - San Diego, CA

The Bay Terraces area and greater San Diego were once home to the Kumeyaay Native Americans. Europeans made contact here in 1542 with the arrival of explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. The Mission San Diego de Alcala was established in 1769. In 1868, the Kimball brothers purchased the area, known as "The National Ranch," from the U.S. government, initiating the establishment of the National City. The completion of a railroad linking National City with San Diego and points north established a commercial relation with the outside world. North and South Bay Terraces were annexed by the city during the 1950s and 1960s, and housing development picked up drastically after WWII.

Tourism has become the main industry of the area, and the city touts itself as the "gateway to San Diego." There are no major arts scenes or museums in the area. The annual Earth Fair celebrates conservation efforts, organic agriculture and more.

Bay Terraces hosts a modest number of restaurants and cafes. Most restaurants can be found along Paradise Valley Road and scattered elsewhere throughout the neighborhood.

Bambino's Pizza & Deli serves an extensive number of pizza varieties, calzones, salads, pasta dishes, hot and cold sandwiches and desserts. For a taste of it all, grab The Works Pizza with generous amounts of almost every pizza topping you can imagine. Don't leave without trying the delicious tiramisu.

For scrumptious family-style Mexican food, look no further than Gracielas Taco Shop, a hole in the wall eatery serving the San Diego area for 17 years. Come hungry and order the steak fajita plate, complete with piping hot rice and beans, sautéed green, yellow and red peppers, and a generous side of guacamole. Adventurous patrons should try the tacos cabeza, made of cow head meat.

The neighborhood offers several low-key bars for winding down after a long day's work. Joycee's Cocktails and Mike's Cocktails offer karaoke, cheap drinks and sports on TV.

Driving and public buses are the most common ways to get around the Bay Terraces neighborhood. Hailing a cab here can be difficult, but private companies provide pick-up service within the area. Uber provides ride shares in the area as well. Public parking can be found easily and without cost. Access to Highway 54 allows easy commutes to San Diego, National City and beyond. The neighborhood is not very walkable, and most errands require a car. Biking proves to be difficult in the area as well, due to the hilly geography and lack of bike lanes.

Bay Terraces contains a few small neighborhood parks and two larger recreation areas just outside the neighborhood boundaries. All of the parks allow dogs and don't charge an entry fee. Kids appreciate the Penn Athletic Field and Rohr Park, especially.

Bay Terraces Community Park features soccer fields and green space with trails for casual walks with the dog. Penn Athletic Field hosts youth leagues in sports from basketball to swimming. Nearby, Rohr Park has baseball fields, basketball courts, a fitness court, open green space, a picnic area, soccer field and walking trail. It is fairly expansive and has a rustic rural feel. Sweetwater Regional Park hosts camp sites with access to mountain bike trails, a small lake and lots of hiking trails to explore the surrounding area.

There are no annual events held in the parks.

The cost of living in Bay Terraces is significantly less than the city average. City buses cost $2.25 to take riders to downtown National City or San Diego. The median rent for a one-bedroom residence costs $991. The typical price of a beer at a local pub costs between $3-$5, and less for options like Pabst Blue Ribbon. Gas prices cost on average 21 percent more in Bay Terraces than the national average.

Shopping areas remain limited in the Bay Terraces neighborhood, with the exception of a few children's clothing stores and practical goods retail. A few high-end jewelers can be found in nearby downtown National City. Several women's clothing boutiques are also located downtown.

The Spare Room ladies' fashion consignment store specializes in designer and specialty clothes, bags, shoes and accessories with a modern bent. Blouses, slacks and jeans from dozens of major designers can be purchased for reduced prices, and you can help pay the bill by trading in your own lightly used, fashion-forward clothes. New items arrive daily, so you'll always be seeing something fresh and new. Swing by to check out revolving specials and reduced price racks.

Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers & Jewelry Buyers showcases a stunning variety of jewelry, watches and accessories for that special someone. Leo Hamel features unique and creative designs of wedding rings, earrings, pearl necklaces and bracelets. Those on a budget looking to trade in their adornments for new treasures appreciate the in-house buyers for their reasonable rates. For the ultimate gift, Leo Hamel offers custom designs from resident jewelers to fit exacting expectations.

Groceries are on hand in the neighborhood, with supermarket options like Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons. Several local Mexican and ethnic grocers provide access to diverse foods as well.