Old Town Plaza, San Diego

The main social center of Old Town, this plaza played host to bullfights, bull-and-bear fights, executions, fiestas, and other Spanish-Mexican public events. It has been graced by several names, depending on which country had sovereignty over the town. For the Spanish, "plaza" was sufficient. When Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821, the name became Plaza of Liberty. After the United States took over from Mexico, its name was changed to (what else?) Washington Square. Now it is again called simply "the plaza".

They say that San Diego started here. It's a great place to poke around and read about the town during a period from the second half of 19th century to early 20th century. Lots of old buildings to see, wide space to walk around, a stage for performances of dance and music, a blacksmith shop, a recreated livery stable with displays of wagons and other forms of transportation, lots of ethnic restaurants and bars close by to try, souvenir shops, and glimpses of early San Diego life throughout.