Old Town is another one of San Diego's historical areas. Old Town has more of a Mission and Old West flavor than the Victorian-era Gaslamp Quarter. Old Town is located north of downtown and just east of Interstate 5.
It is a historic area of dirt roads and wooden sidewalks with many nostalgic Mission/Old West style gift shops, small museums, and Old West props such as wagons, barrels, and old signs.
I took my young daughter to Toby's Candle Company, which is an old time cabin style store with wood sidewalk and wood floor inside. She had a ball dipping the plain white candles into the crocks of colored wax. Just next door to Toby's, was an old-fashioned Candy Store called Cousin's Candy Shop, where candy was stored in barrels and Salt Water Taffy made right in the store.
We visited other gift shops, including those in the Bazaar del Mundo (see journal entry).
Old Town is very popular and crowded on weekends. If you are not prepared to deal with the crowds, make sure you come down for lunch or on a weekday. Weekends are very crowded, but very festive, lively and colorful.