This cool street art painted on a long wall is visible from Highland Avenue at the Vision Culture Foundation in National City. When I recently walked by they appeared to be closed. I paused to take these photographs from the sidewalk just outside their gate entrance.
Here’s the Vision Culture Foundation website. The organization focuses on creative arts, and their center strives to empower and uplift youth and the community. They are a safe space that nurtures goals and dreams.
Check it out!
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You can tell it’s Spring in National City, because the orchard behind the Stein Family Farm is becoming ever more colorful. Many of the fruit trees–from plums to apricots to pears–are beginning to blossom!
During my walk through the South Bay today, I was intercepted by historian and Stein Family Farm caretaker Christopher Pro. He remembered that I had blogged about the historic farm a couple years ago after he gave me an incredible tour. See all of those photographs by clicking here. (You might recall, they have many farm animals, which kids love!)
The farm, located in the middle of urban National City, continues to educate students on field trips, host meetings of local clubs and organizations, and offer their picturesque venue for weddings and other special occasions. The farm is open free to the public on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm.
If you’ve never toured the Stein Farm, this coming Saturday, March 29, 2025 would be the perfect time! A bunch of plein air painters will be present and doing their thing! On top of that, Christopher, who is an ardent art collector, will be displaying pieces from his collection!
The cities of San Diego, National City, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach and Coronado were all made more beautiful this morning! Volunteers with Operation Clean Sweep fanned out to pick up litter on each city’s waterfront!
I happened to stumble upon the above group this morning as I walked along downtown San Diego’s Embarcadero. They posed for a photo!
I learned there are numerous sponsors for the big annual clean up event, which is organized by the San Diego Working Waterfront. You can see all of the sponsors by checking out the Operation Clean Sweep website here. Some of the smiling volunteers I encountered are with Old Town Trolley Tours.
As a resident of downtown San Diego, lover of the city and avid walker, I want to thank everyone involved!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
Some trolley riders smiled. Others slept. Some unabashedly sang along. Others stared at the unexpected spectacle with suspicion or disbelief. We all were riding a San Diego trolley to Destination JOY!
A special event was held today in San Diego. Trolley passengers could experience bright smiles and joy at certain stations and, perhaps unexpectedly, while riding the Blue or Orange lines! Destination JOY was the name of this first time event, and I experienced a bit of it myself!
Sustainable transportation, climate change mitigation, health and well-being, and civic engagement were the central themes of the event, which was presented by Way Outside the Lines in partnership with many community organizations and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). The mood of the event was happy and optimistic–full of good vibes!
At the Iris Avenue Transit Center, both registered participants and ordinary transit users could listen to poetry readings about human love in a sometimes difficult world, see colorful artwork, listen to live music, and even learn how to beat the summer heat. The theme at this station was the Sound of Joy…
Anyone could walk up and try their hand at painting. This is local artist David Gomez, who also had a small gallery of his artwork on display.
Institute for Public Strategies was at the Iris Avenue Transit Center educating people about how to beat the summer heat.
These musicians weren’t playing when I happened by, but they gave me the thumbs up!
A group that signed up for the full 4 hour Destination JOY experience prepare to board a random Blue Line trolley. They and surprised passengers would be entertained by a musical trolley show!
At the E Street Transit Center in Chula Vista, the roving group would enjoy more outdoor activations. The theme here was Art of Motion. Anyone who happened to come by the trolley station could participate in yoga and other healthy activities.
Smiles from the Yoga Lab!
I then headed off on my own to check out the activations at the 24th Avenue Transit Center in National City. Expression of Color was the theme at this station, and much of what I saw, including more colorful artwork, concerned protecting our natural environment.
I learned that a new project called Mundo Gardens is planned for National City. The Interstate 805 ramps for 43rd Street will be coming down creating an open space for the community.
From the 24th Street Transit Center I rode a Blue Line trolley back into downtown San Diego, missing the final Orange Line activations at the Euclid Avenue Station & Jacobs Center.
I did find friendly folks from the Urban Collaborative Project inside UC San Diego Park & Market near the trolley station of the same name. They aim to make Southeast San Diego a more vibrant, informed, connected, and empowered community!
The following stone was painted by Elie Kennedy, who had a table nearby. Visit my blog post concerning her work spreading love in San Diego by clicking here!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
Colorful flower sculptures greet visitors to A Reason To Survive (ARTS) in National City. They’ve sprouted near the front entrance.
I happened to notice these very creative flowers last weekend. I don’t recall seeing them before–but it had been a long time since I walked this way.
A Reason To Survive is a nationally known program for youth that encourages self-confidence, growth and leadership through art. Their Mission Statement is: ARTS lifts young people in the South County region of San Diego to become confident, compassionate, and courageous community builders through the transformative power of creativity.
Over the years I’ve photographed several community projects undertaken by young people participating in ARTS. They’ve greatly beautified National City.
Do you know more about these flower sculptures? If so, please leave a comment!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
Earlier this month, National City installed seven new Historic California US 101 Route street signs. They were placed where old Highway 101, the source of many fond memories, once ran. These seven new signs join thirteen others that were installed in Chula Vista and San Ysidro near the beginning of the year.
This very cool project, which commemorates an important part of history in San Diego’s South Bay, was spearheaded by Jack Gechter of the South Bay Historical Society.
Jack indicated these new signs are located along National City Boulevard, from a spot just north of Chula Vista to a spot just south of Division Street. Here are the exact addresses:
North Bound – National City Blvd. north of C Street (just north of Chula Vista) North Bound – 2501 National City Blvd. North Bound – 701 National City Blvd. North Bound – 141 National City Blvd. South Bound – 128 National City Blvd. South Bound – 700 National City Blvd. South Bound – 2340 National City Blvd.
Learning this, I had to check these new signs out! I spotted six of them and took the upcoming photographs during a walk on Sunday.
Are you curious where US 101 ran south of San Diego?
This 1947 Chevron Map shows the Historic California US 101 Route starting near the US/Mexico Border in San Ysidro, and continuing north along Beyer Blvd toward Chula Vista, along National Avenue (Broadway in Chula Vista and National City Blvd in National City) to 8th Street, along 8th Street to Harbor Drive, then along Harbor Drive to Pacific Highway.
This 1933 AA Map shows a slightly different Historic California US 101 Route at the northerly end of National Avenue (National City Blvd) to 1st Street, then along Main Street.
Should you drive along National City Boulevard, keep an eye out for these new signs!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
An incredible National City mural was spray painted late last year on a wall at the Güdbyek bicycle shop and National City Motorcycle. Perhaps you’ve seen this stylish, very bold artwork while driving down National City Boulevard.
The artist is Arturo Parada “Durothethird,” a Toronto-based graffiti artist, designer, and lover of BMX, who has provided work for dozens of major international clients.
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
Several terrifying sea monsters have been observed invading the Mile of Cars in National City! A menacing octopus, a very toothy fish, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon have gathered next to Perry Ford!
I saw this fun street art during a long walk through National City this morning. My objective was to photograph the new Historic California US 101 Route street signs that were recently erected along National City Boulevard. (That post will be coming up shortly.)
Between my walks in National City and Balboa Park, I ended up taking lots of photos today!
Stay tuned!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
A thought-provoking mural is boldly painted on a wall in National City. The wall stretches beneath the Dunkin’ Donuts on Plaza Boulevard, just east of Interstate 805.
The east side of the mural asks: “If not me then who…” The long south side encourages those passing by to: ”Make a statement by Making a Difference.”
It surprised me to learn this mural, painted in 2019, honors fallen soldier Lieutenant Commander Landon L. Jones, who died when his helicopter crashed into the Red Sea. A number of Dunkin’ Donuts franchises around San Diego dedicate their stores to a particular fallen service member. These stores are operated by Tali Burton, a U.S. Marine Veteran.
The mural was painted by Coronado residents, and was designed by a Coronado High School student!
To understand the full story, click here for an excellent article.
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
There are two large, colorful murals painted on the former location of PROJX2PRINT in National City.
On the north side of the building are the words National City. Palm trees rise under a sky filled with sunset colors.
A second cool mural on the south wall of the building encourages us to Be Kind. The art is part of #ACallForKindness.
Both murals were created by @KIDWISEMAN and can be viewed on Highland Avenue south of 16th Street.
Check it out!
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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
Cool San Diego Sights! 
