San Diego Strolls: Little Pink Sidewalks For You and Me

Grab the San Diego deck and pull out the Canyons of North and South Park card. On it, you'll hear about the "pretty in pink" sidewalks of the Burlingame neighborhood. Read on here for a more detailed story.

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Living in the urban maze of downtown can sometimes leave you longing to be fully immersed in nature. When this feeling hits and I’m short on time, I escape to the canyons in nearby North Park and South Park. 

After a recent nature escape into South Park’s Switzer Canyon, my husband and I emerged onto Burlingame Drive within the Burlingame neighborhood. I was immediately intrigued by the pink sidewalks lining the street, so we strolled this historic district before heading south on 30th Street for our post-walk lunch. 

The Pink Sidewalks

Walk – or roll – on these rosy-hued sidewalks. They’re paved, flat and well-maintained, so it’s the perfect place for a peaceful, mobility-friendly adventure. 

Why are the sidewalks pink? It was simply a desire to make the community unique while it was being developed, according to About San Diego by Ken Kramer. Interestingly, I also read that the pink sidewalks near the Marston House near Balboa Park were tinted at the recommendation of Kate Sessions, who found concrete too glaring. Perhaps the Burlingame developers were inspired by the visionary Sessions…or vice-versa.

The Beautiful Homes of Burlingame

Although it was the sidewalks that first caught my attention in Burlingame, the houses were what made me stay and tour every street in this historic district. You can admire an eclectic mix of styles including Craftsman Bungalow, Art Deco, California Ranch, Tudor Revival and more. 

According to the North Park Historical Society, approximately 90% of Burlingame’s homes were built between 1912 and 1952. Some of the neighborhood’s early residents were famed San Diegans, including San Diego Zoo founder Dr. Harry Wegeforth. Some homes were designed by famous people, such as architect William Wheeler, known for his work in Balboa Park during the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. 

Walking Around Burlingame

The east-west boundaries of this district are 30th and 32nd streets, while the north-south boundaries are San Marcos Avenue and Kalmia Street. My husband and I looped up, down, and all around within these boundaries for about 1.5 miles of walking. If you added a jaunt down into the eastern section of Switzer Canyon, you’d surpass 2 miles in distance for this adventure (note: a detour into the canyon is not suitable for those with mobility issues). 

This article originally appeared in the San Diego Sun as part of the "Walking In The City" column. Read the original version here.