Is 1st Avenue Safe at night? (San Diego: hotel, home, safe area)

[databasegeek]

I'm thinking about getting a room at the Holiday Inn Downtown for my vacation.

http://www.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=1617+First+Avenue+San+Di ego,+CA+92101&daddr=111+W+Harbor+Dr,+San+Diego,+CA +92101+(San+Diego+Convention+Center)&geocode=%3BCb 1ZI-uTQgVsFcoT8wEd5zgE-SHmManzNrqdJw&hl=en&mra=pe&mrcr=0&dirflg=w&sll=32. 714852,-117.162153&sspn=0.030294,0.066047&ie=UTF8&z=16

I want to walk that route to the Convention center, is that safe at night?

Thanks!

[kettlepot]

I'm a guy and I would walk it alone at night. Starting around 9pm I'd be a little bit cautious as there might be a homeless person here or there. You might have to firmly reject a panhandlers request. Though, this is not the main area they hang out in. Otherwise, it's not an area known for undesirables.

If you are a woman, than you would need to take the extra precautions women should take in any urban situation, but yes, essentially you will be safe.

The biggest problem with the route you have laid out is that some blocks will have virtually no pedestrian or street life to them in the evening. Many of these blocks are office buildings and most people will be gone by then. Still, this is not an unsafe area. It's actually one of the cleaner and better developed sections of downtown. If you take a four block dogleg east on Broadway, and then walk down 5th Avenue, you will enter the Gaslamp entertainment area, and pick up 8 blocks that will have bars and restaurants that are open for business in the evening hours. That would make the walk a bit more interesting.

As a guy and a resident, I'd walk back home late in the evening too, but I'm just not that phased by these sorts of things. Most parts of San Diego are just plain safe.

[databasegeek]

Thanks! I'll go your route. Should be more interesting with a digi cam

[redtide2012]

San Diego is a pretty nice town but like any urban area you really have to watch yourself at night. I'm a guy as well and I don't walk the streets at night anymore unless it's really busy and full of people and patrons.

[cruitr]

kettlepot is right. Gaslamp is a great place to walk. Especially at night. Gaslamp spills over onto 4th and 6th aves also. You'll find a map at their website: Welcome to gaslamp.org | Shop Dine Play Gaslamp - Issue 1 - title

[skeke]

I used to travel to San Diego on business by myself. I would usually stay downtown, somewhere in the vicinity of Broadway. Never went north of Broadway more than a couple of blocks. I was not out late at night, but felt perfectly comfortable walking to a Gaslamp restaurant, eating and walking by to my hotel. And I was a woman alone.