OK, I'm headed to SD in a few months, and after reviewing all the San Diego threads again, I have to ask: Are North Park and Hillcrest just terrible? Or do those of you who have bashed it just hate seeing gay people around? I haven't seen any criticism of it that didn't also reference its... well, larger-than-they-like homosexual population.
I'm going to do some neighborhood scouting next week when I'm in SoCal, so I'll see for myself, but so far from the whitewashed view of the internets the areas around Balboa park look relatively safe, affordable, and close to work.
Hillcrest is actually fairly nice in terms of culture, really lively. There are lots of gays, yes, but it's interesting, and I have no problem with them. Just beware of gangs of lesbians that rape females, no joke. It's rare, but it's happened.
North Park is a fairly nice, quaint, diverse area, but has it's issues with crime here and there. El Cajon blvd is the worst area; it's packed full of prostitutes. Other then that, nothing major to my knowledge.
Either way, you're extremely close to all the cool stuff SD has to offer. Out of all the places I've been to in the World, Balboa park remains one of my favorite.
Just keep in mind that I don't live in those areas, I just frequent them. So take my word only as an observer.
Hahaha, O man, Let me tell you as a student at UCSD that hot and UCSD girls should not be used in the same sentence.
+1, unless you dig no personality, zits, and buckteeth. But I'll be damned if those ladies don't find the cure for cancer or herpes some day.
You must be talking 'bout the girls from La Jolla Country Day School. In which case, be careful
