North County and Around
We’ve compiled the best of the best in North County and Around - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch
The largest bulb-production farm in Southern California has hillsides abloom here each spring, when thousands of Giant Tecolote ranunculus produce a stunning 50-acre display of color against the backdrop of the blue Pacific Ocean. Other knockouts include the rose gardens—with examples of every All-American Rose Selection award-winner since 1940—and a historical display of Paul Ecke poinsettias. Peak flower season is mid-March through mid-April. Open to the public during this time, the farm offers family activities that include wagon rides, panning for gold, and a kids' playground.
5704 Paseo del Norte, Carlsbad, California, 92008, USA760-431–0352Sight Details
Rate Includes: $23, Closed mid-May--Feb., All tickets must be purchased online. -
2. Galleta Meadows
At Galleta Meadows, camels, llamas, saber-toothed tigers, tortoises, and monumental gomphotherium (a sort of ancient elephant) appear to roam the Earth again. These life-size bronze figures are of prehistoric animals whose fossils can be found in the Borrego Badlands. The collection of more than 130 sculptures, created by Ricardo Breceda, was commissioned by the late Dennis Avery, who installed the works of art on property he owned for the entertainment of locals and visitors. Maps are available from Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce.
Borrego Springs Rd., Borrego Springs, California, 92004, USA760-767–5555Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
3. LEGOLAND California Resort
The centerpiece of a development that includes resort hotels, a designer discount shopping mall, an aquarium, and a water park, LEGOLAND has rides and attractions geared to kids ages 2 to 12. THE LEGO MOVIE WORLD, which opened in 2021, has fans riding on Emmet’s triple-decker flying couch on Emmet's Flying Adventure Ride, spinning on Unikitty’s Disco Drop, and exploring Bricksburg. There's also Miniland U.S.A., which features a miniature, animated, interactive collection of iconic U.S. cities built from more than 24 million LEGO bricks, including the newest addition, MINILAND San Diego. You can test your ninja skills in LEGO NINJAGO WORLD. If you're looking for rides, NINJAGO The Ride uses hand-gesture technology to throw fireballs, shock waves, ice, and lightning to defeat villains in this interactive 4-D experience. Be submerged underwater in a real submarine and partake in an interactive treasure hunt at LEGO City: Deep Sea Adventure. Journey through ancient Egyptian ruins in a desert roadster, scoring points as you hit targets with a laser blaster at Lost Kingdom Adventure. Or, jump on the Dragon Coaster, an indoor-outdoor steel roller coaster that goes through a castle. Don't let the name frighten you—the motif is more humorous than scary. Kids ages 6 to 13 can stop by the Driving School to drive speed-controlled cars (not on rails) on a miniature road; driver's licenses are awarded after the course. Junior Driving School is the pint-size version for kids three to five. You'll need your swimsuit for LEGO Chima Water Park, where an additional $30 gives you access to slides, rides, rafts, Soak-N-Sail, which has 60 interactive features, including a pirate shipwreck–theme area, and the CHIMA Water Park, as well as Surfer’s Bay with competitive water raceways and a “spray ground” with water jets. Be sure to try Granny's Apple Fries, Castle Burgers, and Pizza Mania for pizzas and salads. The Market near the entrance has excellent coffee, fresh fruit, and yogurt. The LEGOLAND Hotel is worth a visit even if you're not staying overnight. There are activities and a LEGO pit in the lobby that will entertain kids while parents recover with a cocktail. The best value is one of the Hopper Tickets that give you one admission to LEGOLAND plus Sea Life Aquarium and/or the LEGOLAND Water Park from $104. These can be used on the same day or on different days. Purchase tickets online for discounted pricing. Go midweek to avoid the crowds. All guests are required to make advanced reservations to LEGOLAND California Theme Park.
1 Legoland Dr., Carlsbad, California, 92008, USA760-918–5346Sight Details
Rate Includes: LEGOLAND Theme Park from $89; LEGOLAND and SEA LIFE Aquarium $104; LEGOLAND, SEA LIFE Aquarium and Waterpark $129, Closed Tues. and Wed. Sept.–Feb. -
4. Moonlight State Beach
Its large parking areas, many facilities, and proximity to the quaint coastal town of Encinitas make this beach tucked into a break in the cliffs a great getaway; it's perfect for families with young kids. The volleyball courts on the northern end attract many competent players, and professionals can be spotted surfing the break known locally as "D Street." Moonlight is easily accessible from the Encinitas Coaster train station and Coast Highway 101, which runs right through town and is lined with great shops, restaurants, and bars; there's a large free parking lot near the corner of 3rd and B Street. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; surfing; swimming.
399 C St., Encinitas, California, 92024, USA -
5. Nickel Beer Company
Some of the best brew in San Diego is served at this little beer bar that occupies an old jail in Julian. Owner Tom Nickel is considered one of the most creative brewers in the region and is always cooking up new recipes that win accolades from judges and fans. There are 16 taps and contents change regularly. The Jalapeno Gold is peppery, the Nebula Red is summery, and the Stonewall Stout is like a meal in itself. For something Julian-memorable, try the apple pie beer. If you're having trouble making your pick, go for the flight of six beers for $15. The patio is dog-friendly.
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6. Old Town Temecula
Once a hangout for cowboys, Old Town is in full swing with boutique shops, good restaurants, a children’s museum, and a theater, while retaining its Old West appearance. A walking tour put together by the Temecula Valley Historical Society, starting at the Temecula Valley Museum, covers some of the old buildings; most are identified with bronze plaques. Free maps can be downloaded from their website ( www.temeculahistoricalsociety.org). A walking tour ($5) of Old Town Temecula is given every Saturday 10–11:30, departing from the Temecula Valley Museum, located in the Sam Hicks Monument Park directly across from the weekly Farmer’s Market.
Temecula, California, 92562, USASight Details
Rate Includes: Tours not held on 2nd Sat. of every month -
7. San Diego Zoo Safari Park
A branch of the San Diego Zoo, 35 miles to the north, the 1,800-acre preserve in the San Pasqual Valley is designed to protect endangered species from around the world. Exhibit areas have been carved out of the dry, dusty canyons and mesas to represent the animals' natural habitats in various parts of Africa and Asia. The best way to see these preserves is to take the 25-minute, 2½-mile Africa tram safari, included with admission. More than 3,500 animals of more than 400 species roam or fly above the expansive grounds. Predators are separated from prey by deep moats, but only the elephants, tigers, lions, and cheetahs are kept in enclosures. Good viewpoints are at the Elephant Viewing Patio, African Plains Outlook, and Kilmia Point. The park's newest project is the Tull Family Tiger Trail, a Sumatran tiger habitat where you can get face-to-face (with a glass between) with the gorgeous cats. The 5-acre exhibit features a waterfall and swimming hole, and addresses poaching and other environmental threats to the species. In summer, when the park stays open late, the trip is especially enjoyable in the early evening, when the heat has subsided and the animals are active and feeding. When the tram travels through the park after dark, sodium-vapor lamps illuminate the active animals. Photographers with zoom lenses can get spectacular shots of zebras, gazelles, and rhinos. For a more focused view of the park, you can take one of several other safaris that are well worth the additional charge. You can choose from several behind-the-scenes safaris, fly above it all via the zipline safari, or get up close to giraffes and rhinos on a Caravan safari. The park is as much a botanical garden as a zoo, serving as a "rescue center" for rare and endangered plants. Unique gardens include cacti and succulents from Baja California, a bonsai collection, a fuchsia display, native plants, and protea. The gift shops are well worth a visit for their limited-edition items. There are lots of restaurants, snack bars, and some picnic areas. Rental lockers, strollers, and wheelchairs are available.
View Tours and Activities15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd., Escondido, California, 92027, USA760-747–8702Sight Details
Rate Includes: $71 one-day pass including Africa tram ride; multipark and multiday passes are available; parking $20 -
8. Wiens Family Cellars
A visit to this family-owned winery can be an enlightenment with its combinations of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petite Syrah, Zinfandel, and Pinot Noir. The winery is known for its big reds like Refugio Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as its Amour de L'Orange sparkling wine, which pairs well with breakfast dishes and hors d'oeuvres. There's live music Thursday through Sunday.
35055 Via del Ponte, Temecula, California, 92592, USA951-694–9892Sight Details
Rate Includes: Tastings $30 -
9. Batiquitos Lagoon
While development destroyed many of the saltwater marsh wildlife habitats that once punctuated the North County coastline, this 610-acre lagoon was restored in 1997 to support fish and bird populations. Today, there are more than 200 species of birds here. A stroll along the 2-mile trail from the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation Nature Center along the north shore of the lagoon reveals nesting sites of the red-winged blackbird; lagoon birds such as the great blue heron, the great egret, and the snowy egret; and life in the mud flats. This wheelchair-accessible trail is a quiet spot for contemplation or a picnic. The Nature Center showcases exhibits on butterflies, moths, birds, and the Kumeyaay tribe who once fished on the lagoon. They spent half the year on the coast and half the year in the highlands of Julian to gather acorns—an important part of their diet. Today there are just 12 Kumeyaay reservations in California, predominately in East County San Diego. Within the Nature Center, you can view examples of the tribe’s traditional clothing, fish traps, baskets, clay pots, bows and arrows, and more. Guided walking tours, lasting 1–2 hours, are offered monthly by appointment and can be arranged through the website.
7380 Gabbiano La., Carlsbad, California, 92011, USA442-320–7009Sight Details
Rate Includes: free -
10. Bernardo Winery
A trip to the oldest operating winery in Southern California, founded in 1889 and run by the Rizzo family since 1928, feels like traveling back to early California days; some of the vines on the former Spanish land-grant property have been producing grapes for more than 100 years. Most of the grapes now come from other wine-growing regions. A collection of quaint shops surrounds the winery. Manzanita Roasting Company has coffee and fresh pastries, and The Kitchen serves lunch daily except Monday and Tuesday. Shops sell cold-pressed olive oil and other gourmet goodies, as well as apparel, home-decor items, and arts and crafts. A farmers' market is held Friday 9 am–1 pm.
13330 Paseo del Verano N, Rancho Bernardo, California, 92128, USA858-487–1866Sight Details
Rate Includes: Winery free, wine tasting $25, Closed Mon. and Tues., Pets not allowed -
11. Blue Door Winery
Take one part historic stables and one part French-and-Italian reds, and you’ve got an urban winery with nothing but unfiltered goodness. You won’t find sparkling, white, rosé, or anything sweet on the menu, just straight reds (and occasional sangria). Named for the servants’ entrance at the Governor’s Palace in Santa Fe, New Mexico, this boutique winery is captured in a painting of the blue door hung above the bar. With its flagship in Pacific Beach, this small tasting room is the only one of its kind in the heart of Julian.
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12. Calico Cidery
Pull up a bale of hay in the orchard and sample a flight of refreshing hard cider made from the apple trees just steps from your table. On tap are four traditional dry ciders that rotate regularly. This warehouse tasting room on the outskirts of town is the ideal escape from the pie people.
4200 Hwy. 78, Julian, California, 92036, USA858-586–0392Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Wed. -
13. California Center for the Arts
An entertainment complex with two theaters, an art museum, and a conference center, the center presents operas, musicals, plays, dance performances, and symphony and chamber-music concerts. Performers conduct free workshops for children; check the website for dates. The museum, which focuses on 20th-century art, occasionally presents blockbuster exhibits that make a side trip here worthwhile.
340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, California, 92025, USA800-988–4253-box officeSight Details
Rate Includes: Museum $12, Closed Mon. -
14. California Surf Museum
A large collection of surfing memorabilia, going back to the earliest days of the sport, is on display here, along with old black-and-white photos, vintage boards, apparel, and accessories.
312 Pier View Way, Oceanside, California, 92054, USA760-721–6876Sight Details
Rate Includes: $7 -
15. California Wolf Center
This center, just outside Julian, is one of the few places in North America where you can get an up-close view of the gray wolves that once roamed much of the continent. The center participates in breeding programs and houses several captive packs, including some rare Mexican grays, a subspecies of the North American gray wolf that came within seven individuals of extinction in the 1970s. The animals are kept secluded from public view in 3-acre pens, but some may be seen by visitors during conservation and behavioral enrichment tours, by advanced reservation only. The dirt road here is rough, so it's best to have a high-clearance vehicle.
Hwy. 79 at KQ Ranch Rd., Julian, California, 92036, USA760-765–0030Sight Details
Rate Includes: $30, reservations required, Closed Tues.--Thurs., Tours Fri.–Mon. with advanced reservation. -
16. Daley Ranch
A 3,058-acre conservation area and historic ranch site is laced with more than 25 miles of multipurpose trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. The 2.4-mile Boulder Loop affords sweeping views of Escondido, and the 2.5-mile Ranch House Loop passes two small ponds, the 1928 Daley family ranch house, and the site of the original log cabin. Private cars are prohibited on the ranch, but there's free parking just outside the entrance. From the main trailhead, you can access Dixon Lake, a popular fishing and camping spot. Free naturalist-guided hikes are offered on a regular basis; call for schedule. Leashed dogs permitted.
3024 La Honda Dr., Escondido, California, 92046, USA760-839–4680Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
17. Del Mar Beach
This famously clean 2-mile-long beach is the perfect place for long barefoot walks and sunbathing due to its extremely fine, soft sand and lack of seaweed and other debris. Del Mar Beach is also a great place for families. It has year-round lifeguards and areas clearly marked for swimming and surfing. Depending on the swell, you may see surfers at the 15th Street surf break, right below two coastal parks, Powerhouse and Seagrove; volleyball players love the courts at the beach's far north end. The section of beach south of 15th is lined with cliffs and tends to be less crowded than Main Beach, which extends from 15th north to 29th. Leashed dogs are permitted on most sections of the beach, except Main Beach, where they are prohibited from June 15 through the Tuesday after Labor Day. For the rest of the year, dogs may run off leash at North Beach, just north of the River Mouth, also known locally as Dog Beach. Food, shopping, and hotels including L'Auberge Del Mar, are near Del Mar Beach. Parking costs $3 per hour or $15 per day at meters and pay lots on Coast Boulevard and along Camino Del Mar. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.
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18. Del Mar Fairgrounds
The Spanish Mission–style fairground is the home of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club ( www.dmtc.com). Crooner Bing Crosby and his Hollywood buddies—Pat O'Brien, Gary Cooper, and Oliver Hardy, among others—organized the club in the 1930s, and the racing here (usually July through September, Wednesday through Monday, post time 2 pm) remains a fashionable affair. Del Mar Fairgrounds hosts more than 500 different events each year, including the San Diego County Fair and the Del Mar National Horse Show.
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19. Escondido Arts Partnership Municipal Gallery
This gallery showcases works by local artists, with regular exhibitions and year-round special events.
262 E. Grand Ave., Escondido, California, 92025, USA760-480–4101Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Sun., Mon., and Wed. -
20. Escondido History Center
This outdoor museum adjacent to the California Center for the Arts in Grape Day Park consists of several historic buildings moved here to illustrate local development from the late 1800s, when grape growing and gold mining supported the economy. Exhibits include the 1888 Santa Fe Depot, Escondido's first library, the Bandy Blacksmith shop, a furnished 1890 Victorian house, and other 19th-century buildings.
321 N. Broadway, Escondido, California, 92025, USA760-743–8207Sight Details
Rate Includes: $3 suggested donation, Closed Fri., Sat., Mon.–Wed.
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