Pacific Beach, or "PB" as it's known to locals, is the hangout beach town you see in movies like "One Crazy Summer." There're tons of booze, tons of PB bars, and tons of parties. During the summertime you'll find much of this on the beach as PB is one of the only beaches in southern California that allows alcohol on the sand, albeit with restricted hours. Because of the bars and germinating clubs in PB, the town tends to attract a more college-oriented crowd. There are, however, many residents living in PB who have been there for decades and watched the town transform before their eyes from a quaint, local beach town with mostly local businesses on the main drag to a strip littered with tattoo parlors, smoke shops, and bars. This keeps PB extremely dynamic and sometimes contentious with itself. Example: This past summer there was a law passed to ban smoking cigarettes from the beaches, which ignited many arguments among the locals.

Now, all that having been said, Pacific Beach is a highly functional and self-contained community. Like any strong family there are the occasional battles between siblings and across generations, but all that does is build loyalty and love. The people of PB, while ranging from transient college residents to long-time home owners, love this town. There are still businesses that support local economy, like Henry's grocery store on Garnet Avenue, and of course Mission Bay to the south of PB has an unrivaled serenity, with a beautiful bike path adjacent to the water. You'll find an old-time feel riding your cruiser bike with basket to the grocery store and take on a small town perspective when you start thinking that driving to La Jolla to see a movie is too far for a day trip.