The honest take
Just off the margarita-and-souvenir stretch of Old Town sits a small adobe-walled cemetery from the 1840s. It’s one of the oldest in the region, and its residents include early settlers and at least one famously unlucky outlaw. Some of the graves are under the street and sidewalk, which tells you how fast the city grew.
It’s said to be one of the most haunted spots in San Diego, so ghost tours stop here at night. During the day it’s peaceful, a bit eerie, and a nice change from the shops.
It’s small, so it takes about ten minutes. Read the markers, be respectful, then head back for those margaritas.
Worth it? Skip it?
Worth it if
You’re in Old Town anyway, you like history, or you enjoy a good ghost story.
Skip it if
You’re not near Old Town. It’s not worth the drive on its own.
Quick facts
| Area | Old Town, 2410 San Diego Ave |
| Cost | Free |
| Parking | Free Old Town lots nearby, plus the Old Town trolley station |
| Best time | Daytime visit, or a ghost tour at night |
| Kids | Yes, unless they scare easily |
Photo: Bruce Roberson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
