An excellent place to park is at Ace Parking's 6th and K Parkade (25) (619-233-3994). See map. This 1,000- space public parking structure is located at Sixth Avenue and K Street adjacent to the Gaslamp Quarter, PETCO Park, and the Omni and Marriott hotels. The welllit, seven-story structure offers daily parking rates of ($1) per hour from 3 a.m.-6 p.m., ($3) flat rate Sun.-Thurs. after 6 p.m. and ($8) maximum flat rate Fri.-Sat. on nonevent nights. For San Diego Padres games a flat rate of ($12) is the lowest you'll find. There's even a pedestrian bridge crossing from the 214 Gaslamp garage directly into the park! Rates for other events may vary. Cash or checks only.

Fun is always on tap when you dine at Rock Bottom Brewery in the Gaslamp. Rock Bottom Brewery is a lively and casual dining experience featuring fresh, handcrafted beers brewed on premise and an innovative menu. Rock Bottom Brewery, which is a giant in the microbrewing industry has an excellent location in nearby La Jolla. You’ll discover that this location of Rock Bottom Brewery and restaurant is a perfect venue for great-tasting food and delicious local handcrafted award-winning beer. Rock Bottom Brewery is also an ideal gathering spot for friends and family.

Another alternative for parking is the centrally located Westfield Shoppingtown Horton Plaza (26) parking structure. The cost is ($8) per hour for non-shoppers and ($2) for every additional 15 minutes. You can self-validate your ticket at one of their six marked validation stations in the mall for three free hours of parking. Many restaurants also offer valet parking, so parking isn't a big problem at night.

Serving home-style food since 1979, the Broken Yolk Café 355 6th Ave. (619-338-9655) is a favorite among local San Diegans and hungry visitors alike. With a strong dedication to good food and equally good service, the Broken Yolk has built a reputation for its large menu, ample portions and freshly-made flavor. With over twenty different omelets plus a large variety of breakfast favorites including pancakes, waffles and French toast, Broken Yolk satisfies even the heartiest of diners - all in a clean, comfortable and casual atmoshpere.

For great dining, make your way to the fifth floor. Here you’ll find an excellent award-winning Chinese restaurant called  Panda Inn (22) (619-233-7800). Their  honey walnut shrimp is a great choice.  They also offer four hours of free parking when you dine here. Save 10% off your total bill with their coupon.

The SAN DIEGAN walking tour can begin anywhere along the tour route. Simply find your location on the Gaslamp map and follow the numbered sequence, which will enable you to see all of the recommended places.

Since many people come to the Gaslamp Quarter from the San Diego Convention Center, our tour begins just across the street from the convention center at the foot of Fifth Avenue at Harbor Drive (see map). In total, you can see eight blocks of nightclubs, restaurants and shops on both sides of the avenue. Along the way you will see many fascinating stores, shops and restaurants.

Near the foot of Harbor Drive and Fifth Avenue is the one and only Hard Rock Hotel San Diego (1) at 207 Fifth Ave. (619-702-3000). On the fourth floor is their ultra chic outdoor lounge called Float. By day Float is an amazing place to soak up the rays by the pool, and at night it is transformed into a swanky and vibrant nightclub under the stars. It also offers a bird's eye view of the Gaslamp Quarter.

Across the street is a fabulous seafood restaurant called Lou & Mickey's (2) at 224 Fifth Ave. (619-237-4900). Walk into Lou & Mickey's and you know you're enter ing a popular seafood restaurant. The first thing you'll see is a raw bar in the foyer offering build-your-own seafood selections, which is overflowing with fresh oysters, lobster, scallops and more. Sit at the nickel-top bar and enjoy a glass of wine from their 200-plus item wine list. The patio is also a popular spot for people watching.

Next door to Lou & Mickey's at 226 Fifth Ave. is a shopping destination called Bubbles Boutique (2) (866-236-9003). It's bursting with eye-catching costume jewelry and accessories for women.

A favorite family dining destination is The Old Spaghetti Factory (3) at 275 Fifth Ave. (619-233-4323). It features casual Italian food for the entire family. This large restaurant consists of four levels. Two are for dining and on the top floor is a family-friendly lounge complete with a fireplace and six pool tables!

The hottest night club and restaurant in the Gaslamp just got a lot hotter. It's the new location of the famous Cafe Sevilla (4) at 353 Fifth Ave. (619-233- 5979). Their three floors of dining and live entertainment have it all including flamenco dancing and the liveliest nightclub in the Gaslamp Quarter. Plus, they have a sensational restaurant featuring delicious tapas and authentic Spanish cuisine.

Cafe Sevilla opens every day at 11 a.m. with the bar staying open till midnight for delicious Spanish cuisine, authentic tapas and dancing in their nightclub. On the street level is their popular tapas bar, which is always lively and fun and usually has a guitarist playing Spanish music while you are enjoying your tapas. It gets rave reviews for the food and the fun. They offer more than 40 fantastic hot and cold tapas, which are best served with a pitcher of sangria.

A great place to enjoy all of the action and have a great meal as well, is on the mezzanine level which overlooks the tapas bar. This beautiful second story dining room with fine linen table cloths serves 15 delicious traditional Spanish entrées along with their fantastic tapas. Everybody loves their seafood paella as well as the roasted pork tenderloin served in a red wine honey sauce. Plus, they have popular and hard-to-find Spanish wines to choose from.

If you love to dance, look no further than their hot downstairs night club. And their flamenco show is super hot! After dinner, stay and dance and party all night long. Plus, their Sunday Brunch from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. is where you can enjoy live rumba music and a fantastic buffet.

You can access the restaurant through the main entrance, and the nightclub from inside the restaurant or through its own street level entrance. Either way you are in store for an awesome experience with live bands, strobe lights gigantic chandeliers, a beautifully appointed dining room and a downstairs where you can rumba the night away. Cafe Sevilla is also the ideal venue for banquets, birthdays and other special events.

On the other side of the street is Dick's Last Resort (5) at 345 Fifth Ave. (619- 231-9100). Dick's prides itself in being the most outrageous adults only joint in town. It's an unsophisticated restaurant and bar that's lots of fun.

Another place that's made a name for itself is The Wine Bank (6) at 363 Fifth Ave. (619-234-7487). They carry more than 1,000 brands of wine.

Around the corner is Red Pearl Kitchen at 440 J St. (619-231-1100). If you're looking for innovative Asian fusion cuisine that mixes classic spices such as red curry and Thai chili with exciting flavors, this is the place.

A daytime excursion you should not miss is the historical walking tour of the Gaslamp Quarter conducted by the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation volunteers. You'll be enthralled with stories of yesteryear. Offered Saturday at 11 a.m., this in-depth tour costs ($10); seniors, students and military ($8). Also, ask about their self-guided private tours and charter tours. The tour begins at the charming William Heath Davis House (7) at 410 Island Ave. (619-233-4692). This is the oldest surviving wood frame structure in downtown.

The William Heath Davis House was built in 1850 in Portland, Maine, and then brought around the horn to San Diego. Today it's also home to the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation. The house is open for touring Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April-Oct. and Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Nov.-March. It is open every Sun., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. year-round. Guests have been known to have caught glimpses of the resident ghost, said to date back to when the house served as a hospital.

Back on Fifth Avenue is another winner. It's Bon Vin (8) at 542 Fifth Ave. This wine bar and retail wine store is open daily from 11 a.m. till closing for wine tasting. They feature more than 600 outstanding wines from throughout the world. This wine shop is housed in a historic turn-of-the-century building.

One block north is the Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop (9) at 643 Fifth Ave. (619-234-2449). Look for the friendly greeters offering free chocolate samples in the foyer. This is a very popular place for families and couples who want to share a hot fudge sundae.

Next door to Ghirardelli is a little nightlife spot with a big attitude. Look for the electric lime green entrance and you'll know you've arrived at Lime Tequila Bar (9) at 653 Fifth Ave. (619-238-5463). With more than 100 tequilas to choose from, you're sure to find a favorite. The space inside is festive and electric with bright wall murals and a gorgeous backlit bar displaying their fine collection of tequilas.

At the corner of Fifth Avenue and F Street is The Tipsy Crow (10) (619-338- 9300) formerly known as The Bitter End. This is the new spot to be in the Gaslamp on Fri. and Sat. nights. This three-level bar and nightclub has an underground dance club as well as The Nest, a swanky lounge on the top level.

Across the street is a fabulous boutique hotel located right in the middle of the action. The Keating (11) at 432 F St. (619-814-5700) offers swanky and modern accommodations in a historic Gaslamp building. Each of its 35 rooms is unique and reflects the design aesthetics of Pininfarina, the same design team that produce Ferraris! The Keating is also home to a unique subterranean nightlife destination called Sway. It's located just outside the lobby on the corner of F Street and Fifth Avenue.

A block and a half north is the San Diego location of the House of Blues (12) at 1055 Fifth Ave. (619-299-2583). This renowned company's ninth club features a multi level music hall, where they host national and local entertainers. The House of Blues is also home to their famous Gospel Brunch. Enjoy uplifting gospel performances while you feast on a Southern inspired buffet. The brunch begins at 11 a.m. and is ($40) for adults and ($18.50) for children under 12.

Next door is an incredible place to stay and dine. It is the posh 161-room hotel called The Hotel Palomar, a Kimpton Hotel (12) at 1047 Fifth Ave. (619-515-3000).

After experiencing the best of the best on Fifth Avenue, head over to Fourth Avenue. Here you'll discover a number of fantastic restaurants, a live theater venue and great nightlife.

Near the corner of Fourth Avenue and Broadway is one of the top five most recommended restaurants in San Diego County. It's called Rei Do Gado Brazilian Steak House (13) at 939 Fourth Ave. (619-702-8464). This Brazilian steak house will give you something to talk about as well as something to rave about. Find yourself a cozy booth or comfortable table and get ready for a meal to remember. Since you don't pay extra for the best table, ask for 101. Included in the price is an all-you-can-eat salad bar extravaganza, which is a meal in itself. But try not to over eat, because the main course is the show stopper. The real excitement begins when tall, handsome servers pass through the dining room with three-footlong skewers of mouthwatering filet mignon, savory top sirloin, delicious ribs, sensational chicken, memorable lamb and lean ham. They offer 16 varieties of meats and every one is grilled to perfection. Best of all you can have as much as you want! When you have had enough, you simply turn the small barbell on your table from green to red. They also have tempting desserts such as a delicious Brazilian-style pudding. No wonder this restaurant is so highly touted.

Two other places to see on Fourth Avenue are Hennessey's Tavern (14) and Hooters (15). They are popular places to grab a bite to eat.

If it's classic Italian cuisine with attentive service that you are looking for then you'll want to dine at the internationally acclaimed Bice Ristaurante (17) located at 425 Island Ave. (619-239-2423). The inviting ambience created by a combination of vintage photographs and sleek modern furniture is a fabulous backdrop for their gourmet Italian cuisine.

One of the hottest tickets in town is seeing a lively musical at the Lamb's Players Theatre (18) at the Horton Grand Theatre at 444 Fourth Ave. They present a robust lineup of musicals, dramas and comedies. And the theater is small enough so that everyone has a perfect seat.

If you're driving your car to the performance be sure to purchase a discounted parking voucher from the box office and park across the street in the well-lit underground Ace Parking lot. Tickets can be purchased by phone at (619-437-6000) or online. They have a second theater in the heart of the shopping district in romantic Coronado.

In the next block at the corner of Fourth Avenue and J Street is a shopping treasure everyone adores. It's Cost Plus World Market (19) (619-236-1737). This warehouse-sized building carries an incredible selection of imported items from Asia and around the world. Plus, they pride themselves on carrying a fine selection of wines at reasonable prices.

J Street is the most popular corridor for foot traffic from the Gaslamp Quarter to East Village. Here is where you will find many more popular restaurants and night spots.

For juicy steaks and fresh seafood, look no further than The Palm Restaurant (20) at 615 J St. (619-702-6500). Open since 2005, this location continues The Palm's extraordinary 85-year tradition as one of the oldest family-owned restaurant groups in the country.

Around the corner is The Broken Yolk Restaurant (20) at 355 Sixth Ave. (619- 338-9655). They serve hearty breakfasts daily from 6 a.m.-3 p.m.

On J Street at Seventh Avenue is The FleetWood Restaurant Bar & Lounge (21) at 639 J St. (619-702-7700). Featuerd here is gourmet comfort food in a sleek, modern setting. At night the restaurant transforms into a lively nightclub with music and drinks served till 2 a.m. Visit their sister location The BeachWood at 4190 Mission Blvd. (858-750-2512) in Pacific Beach. Their open-air patio offers unobstructed views of the shimmering Pacific Ocean.

Before, during or after a Padres baseball game, or even when there is no game, Bub's @ The Ballpark (22) at 715 J St. (619-546-0815) is where locals come to mingle. This casual bar, complete with peanut shells on the floor, features ice cold drinks, classic bar fare like spicy chicken wings and tantalizing tater tots, as well as big-screen TVs to watch your favorite sports. They even have an indoor basketball hoop where you and your friends can HORSE around.

South of J Street at Eighth Avenue is a pedestrian alley which leads to PETCO Park. Here you'll find Wine Steals (22) at 793 J Street (619-255-7520). This relaxing wine bar is a great place to meet for a glass of wine and a bite to eat before or after a Padres game.

Also here is Proper Gastro Pub (22) at 795 J St. (619-255-7520). Arrive early on Padres home game days to get a table on their popular upstairs patio which overlooks the diamond at PETCO Park. It's the next best thing to being at the game!

Back on J Street you will find El Vitral Restaurant and Tequila Lounge (22) at 815 J St. (619-236-9420). Their award-winning Mexican cuisine is com - plemented by an extensive selection of more than 250 tequilas. They also hold a tequila tasting and food pairing every Thursday at 7 p.m.

Located in a converted warehouse on the corner of J Street and Tenth Avenue is The Corner Restaurant and Bar (23) at 369 Tenth Ave. (619-531-8804). This is the place to enjoy a big, juicy burger made from USDA all-natural Angus beef which is fresh ground and never frozen. Wash down your burger with a cold beer or one of their many specialty cocktails.

You'll find one of the East Village's best breakfast spots at the corner of J Street and Thirteenth Avenue. It's The Mission (24) at 1250 J St. (619-232-7662). This is where hungry diners come for simple, healthy, great-tasting food. A popular breakfast selection is their blueberry cornmeal pancakes which are decorated with a tart berry purée, powdered sugar and fresh fruit. Also delicious are their Latino breakfast plates, like the pappas loco which are rosemary potatoes served with grilled jalapeños, black beans, cheese, avocado and sour cream. They also have locations in Mission Beach and North Park. Use their coupon for 50% off One Entree.

Downtown has changed dramatically. For example, in April of 2004 PETCO Park, which is home to the National League Padres baseball team, opened its gates. Bounded by Tony Gwynn Way (Seventh Avenue) and Tenth Avenue, Imperial Avenue and J Street, the ballpark is a state-of-the-art facility. The ballpark's advent has spawned a building boom. New residential units, restaurants, shops and hotels have blossomed, transforming a once blighted, industrial area into a thriving urban landscape.

Designed to hold some 42,000 excited fans, the ballpark features specialty seating areas along with seven lounges and restaurants. On game day fans can use one of the many parking lots and structures that are within walking distance of the park. Especially convenient is Sixth and K Parkade (25), located across the street on Seventh Avenue. To park here during Padre games there is a ($12) flat rate.

The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Trolley (27) is another popular way to get to and from the game. The Blue and Orange lines take baseball fans right to PETCO Park. The ballpark and the Gaslamp are made for each other because excitement and entertainment is what the Gaslamp Quarter is all about.

For budget-friendly to luxurious multimillion dollar high-rises with incredible views, the people to contact are Benjamin and Christine Mason of Stay San Diego (28) at 1465 Market St. (619-696-3280). They have fully furnished luxury units for short- or long-term stays, which are available on a moment's notice. These properties include exciting condos in the Gaslamp Quarter. Some actually look right down on the baseball field at PETCO Park. And of course almost every condo has a bay and ocean view. So why stay anywhere else when you can enjoy the best for less.

Another excellent recommendation in the Gaslamp Quarter is the 99-room Ramada Inn & Suites (30) at 830 Sixth Ave. (from $89) (619-531-8877). This historic landmark, which was built in 1913, offers beautifully decorated rooms, modern conveniences and is just steps from all the action. For a sensational downtown skyline view ask for a room on the 8th, 9th or 10th floors. Their rooftop terrace offers a spectacular panoramic view of the city, as well. Also here is Brian's 24 Restaurant and a 24-hour business center with free high-speed wireless Internet.

You'll love exploring the Gaslamp Quarter. It's a great place to discover fashionable restaurants, popular nightclubs and trendy shops all rolled into one memorable experience.