North Park located in San Diego, California | Photo Credit: Krista

You may have heard the phrase “Shop Local” – especially as we start to think about holiday shopping. The “Shop Local” movement is sweeping across America and there are many shops and restaurants in large cities and small towns who are opening their doors and welcoming us check it out. San Diego has embraced this movement in many neighborhoods with redevelopment efforts and business improvement districts. North Park is a great example of local small business owners who are part of this Shop Local trend.

North Park is a neighborhood of San Diego that has something for everyone – shopping, restaurants, art & culture, and weekly farmer’s market to name a few examples. North Park is generally located northeast of Balboa Park and includes the area bordered by the hills above Mission Valley on the north, Juniper Street on the south, the 805 freeway on the east, and Park Boulevard on the west. In recent years, there has been a revitalization going on in North Park and it has become a gathering place for not only those who live there, but also attracts people from outside of the area.

I first discovered North Park about a year ago when my hair stylist moved from a salon in Mission Hills/Hillcrest to a salon called The Lighthouse on University Avenue in North Park. It didn’t take me long to discover URBN Coal Fire Pizza and Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream on either side of the salon. Driving through and around North Park on my regular visits made me want to explore this neighborhood more. After a friend asked if I had tried Swami’s Café in North Park, I knew it was time to plan an outing to discover some of the other hidden gems of this neighborhood.

In mid-October, another friend and I spent a couple of hours supporting the Shop Local movement and the small businesses of North Park. After parking in a pay lot behind URBN Coal Fire Pizza, we walked down University Avenue to Swami’s Café. Yes, there is parking closer to Swami’s, but I knew we would be shopping after eating and the daily rate at this pay lot was a good value. Besides, the best way to explore a neighborhood is on foot!

Our first stop was Swami’s and even though it was technically lunch time, we decided to order breakfast food. Swami’s offers breakfast all day, and also has a lunch menu. This location has recently added being open for dinner. My friend and I shared the pumpkin spice pancakes with pecans and maple syrup and the California breakfast burrito (ham, eggs, potatoes, avocado & cheese in a wheat tortilla). The food was delicious and the menu had many enticing entrees for next time.

North Park | San Diego, California | Photo Credits: Krista

After our meal, it was time to do some shopping! We started out on University Avenue and admired (better said, drooled over) the heavenly options at Heaven Sent Desserts. We did not try anything this time, but I’ll be back soon for the tiramisu! Next door is shop called Simply Local which features over 50 local artists and vendors. I love this shop (there is a location also at The Headquarters) and how it is the epitome of being able to Shop Local because all of the vendors are from, and the products are made in, the San Diego area! I also spotted an Italian restaurant, called Florencia’s Pizza, next door to Shop Local. This looked like a tasty place for a return visit (followed by tiramisu at Heaven Sent Desserts).

On our walk from where we parked to Swami’s, we had passed a shop called Kaleidoscope. After leaving Simply Local, we stopped in Kaleidoscope and enjoyed looking at all of the kitchen and home accessories/gifts. The shopkeeper, Becki, was friendly and helpful. She told us about some other North Park shops we should visit. From Kaleidoscope, we walked down 30^th to a shop called Pigment (one of the shops Becki had mentioned). This store has stationery and gifts galore! If you are looking for unique options for your gift-giving occasions, be sure to visit any of these shops – Simply Local, Kaleidoscope, and Pigment. I’m sure there are others that are equally wonderful in the North Park area, but these are the ones I’ve visited so far.

North Park | San Diego, California | Photo Credits: Krista

After our shopping, it was time for ice cream! On our way to Hammond’s we stopped in a unique vintage shop called The Girl Can’t Help It. If you are looking for high-end pre-1970s vintage attire and accessories, this is the place for you! I also spotted a taco shop, Lucha Libre Gourmet Taco Shop, which looks like another great eatery for a future visit.

We arrived at Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream and after sampling a few flavors, we decided to have a flight of 6 mini-waffle cones – 3 for my friend and 3 for me. We each enjoyed Orange Dreamsicle and Lime Cream. My friend also had Macadamia Nut and I had Coconut Cream. As always, Hammond’s never disappoints!

North Park | San Diego, California | Photo Credits: Krista

North Park is great place to Shop Local and support small businesses. Restaurants, shopping, cultural events, and much more! North Park has many other places that you should explore the next time you’re in the neighborhood.

What are your favorite places to visit in North Park?

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”