San Diego Audio Tour: Chronicles of the Gaslamp's Hidden Gems

Above photo: Bernard Gagnon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped & resized.

A salmon-pink corner shimmers under palm shadows as whispers of cigar smoke and laughter from a century ago drift along San Diego’s busy streets. This is not the city most visitors see. Take a self-guided audio tour that peels back downtown’s vibrant layers, revealing secrets hidden in bold hotels, grand granite banks, and storied brick facades.

Who survived the inferno that reduced Horton’s Hall to ashes? What scandal turned a glittering oyster bar into a hub for outlaws and legends? Why did teachers sharpen their pencils inside the same walls where surf icons were later born?

Follow twisting alleyways and sunlit avenues as you uncover forgotten rebellions, notorious capers, and waves of reinvention that still shape San Diego’s soul. Rediscover the city with every step—each building holding suspense behind its windowpanes.

Listen in now and let San Diego reveal what it truly remembers beneath its vivid corners.

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• Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes
  
• Distance: Around 1.4 km (0.9 miles)
  
• Audio Content: up to 60min
  
• Meeting Point: Start at Paris Hotel (San Diego), only a 15 minute walk from Santa Fe Train Station
  
• Stops: 15 captivating landmarks including Horton Grand Hotel, Keating Building, Asian Pacific Thematic Historic District
  

Experience the charm of San Diego like never before. Dive deep into tales of yesteryears, marvel at architectural wonders, and feel the pulse of the city as you navigate through its vibrant streets.

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• Professionally narrated audio stories bringing San Diego's history to life
  
• Interactive map to guide your journey seamlessly
  
• Opportunities to explore and capture the city's most picturesque spots
  
• Flexibility to start, pause, and resume the tour at your convenience
  

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• This is a self-guided audio tour on your phone so no in-person guide.
  
• You'll need a smartphone with Android 7.0+ or iOS 16+ (iPhone 8 or later).
  
• You can start the tour at any time (the event time does not matter).
  
• The tour will be available to you forever so you can explore on any day.
  
• Bring headphones and make sure your phone is charged!
  

Once you book the tour, you'll receive an email within 10 minutes containing your unique redemption code and simple instructions to download our app. Enter the code, and you're all set to explore San Diego on your terms.

It doesn't matter which date or time you select, when you redeem the code, the audio tour will be available to you permanently so you can explore on any day.

Whether you're a solo traveler, a couple seeking a romantic escapade, a family on an educational outing, or a group of friends eager for adventure, this tour caters to all. It's perfect for those who value flexibility, rich storytelling, and the freedom to explore without constraints.

AllTours is your ultimate travel companion for immersive audio tours. Discover cities like never before as our app reveals the stories behind the sights. Just plug in your headphones and explore!

With AllTours, you'll experience:

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• Immersive Experiences: Our digital guides bring landmarks to life with captivating stories and historical insights
  
• Offline Access: Download tours and maps for offline use – perfect for travelers concerned about data usage
  
• Interactive Maps: Navigate effortlessly with our user-friendly interface showing the optimal route
  
• Flexibility: Start, pause, and resume tours whenever you want – explore at your own pace
  
• Multilingual Support: Enjoy tours in your preferred language with our extensive language options
  

AllTours transforms ordinary sightseeing into extraordinary adventures. From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, we help you explore like a local while learning fascinating stories along the way.

You will visit the following locations:

• 🏨  Paris Hotel (San Diego) (1min)
• 🏔️  George Hill Building (1min)
• 🏦  Louis Bank of Commerce (1min)
• 🏢  Keating Building (2min)
• 🏢  Loring Building (1min)
• ⛰️  Cole Block Building (1min)
• 🎭  Casino Theatre (San Diego) (1min)
• 🏢  Backesto Building (1min)
• 📍  Lewis Brick Block (1min)
• 📍  McGurck Block (1min)
• 🏢  Broker's Building (1min)
• 📍  Carriage Works (1min)
• 👑  Royal Pie Bakery (2min)
• 🏛️  Asian Pacific Thematic Historic District (2min)
• 🏨  Horton Grand Hotel (2min)

Each stop features engaging audio stories that bring the location's history and significance to life.

Learn even more about San Diego with these bonus audio stories available in the app:

• 🏛️    Pre-colonial Period (1min)
• 🏛️    Spanish Period (3min)
• 🏛️    Mexican Period (4min)
• 🏛️    American Period (5min)
• 🌍    Climate (3min)
• 🌍    Ecology (3min)
• 🌍    Neighborhoods (3min)
• 🌟    2010 (3min)
• 🌟    Religion (1min)
• 🎭    Local Government (3min)
• 🎭    State And Federal Representation (2min)
• 🎭    Scandals (3min)

These additional topics provide deeper insights into the city's culture, history, and local life.

Above photo: Bernard Gagnon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped & resized.

Above photo: Bernard Gagnon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped & resized.

Above photo: Keizers, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped & resized.

Above photo: Visitor7, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped & resized.

Above photo: Visitor7, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped & resized.

Our tours are available in 30+ languages to ensure you have the best experience:

🇬🇧 English  • 

🇫🇷 French  • 

🇪🇸 Spanish  • 

🇩🇪 German  • 

🇮🇹 Italian  • 

🇵🇹 Portuguese  • 

🇷🇺 Russian  • 

🇯🇵 Japanese  • 

🇨🇳 Chinese  • 

🇳🇱 Dutch  • 

🇧🇷 Portuguese (Brazil)  • 

🇸🇦 Arabic  • 

🇰🇷 Korean  • 

🇸🇪 Swedish  • 

🇩🇰 Danish  • 

🇫🇮 Finnish  • 

🇵🇱 Polish  • 

🇨🇿 Czech  • 

🇭🇺 Hungarian  • 

🇬🇷 Greek  • 

🇹🇷 Turkish  • 

🇮🇳 Hindi  • 

🇦🇱 Albanian  • 

🇪🇹 Amharic  • 

🇦🇲 Armenian  • 

🇧🇩 Bengali  • 

🇧🇦 Bosnian  • 

🇧🇬 Bulgarian  • 

🇲🇲 Burmese  • 

🇪🇸 Catalan  • 

🇭🇷 Croatian  • 

🇪🇪 Estonian  • 

🇬🇪 Georgian  • 

🇮🇳 Gujarati  • 

🇮🇸 Icelandic  • 

🇮🇩 Indonesian  • 

🇮🇳 Kannada  • 

🇰🇿 Kazakh  • 

🇱🇻 Latvian  • 

🇱🇹 Lithuanian  • 

🇲🇰 Macedonian  • 

🇲🇾 Malay  • 

🇮🇳 Malayalam  • 

🇮🇳 Marathi  • 

🇲🇳 Mongolian  • 

🇳🇴 Norwegian  • 

🇮🇷 Persian  • 

🇮🇳 Punjabi  • 

🇷🇴 Romanian  • 

🇷🇸 Serbian  • 

🇸🇰 Slovak  • 

🇸🇮 Slovenian  • 

🇸🇴 Somali  • 

🇰🇪 Swahili  • 

🇵🇭 Tagalog  • 

🇮🇳 Tamil  • 

🇮🇳 Telugu  • 

🇹🇭 Thai  • 

🇺🇦 Ukrainian  • 

🇵🇰 Urdu  • 

🇻🇳 Vietnamese

🎉 Congratulations on reading this far! You've earned yourself a little treat. Use code ILOVEAUDIOTOURS at checkout for 10% off your tour. Because who doesn't love a good discount for being thorough? 😉

Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in San Diego, Meetups in San Diego, Arts events in San Diego.