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    Bancroft Ranch House

    4.5 (11 reviews)
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    Jim, the Bancroft house caretaker, talking about his youth (see a young Jim in the b+w photo!) and how he acquired his role.
    Gaby J.

    Although the sign says it closes at 4 pm and I arrived 10 minutes before (went on a whim after I saw a sign saying there was a historical building nearby), Jim, the caretaker, greeted me happily saying that he's more than delighted to show me and another couple around since he lives near the property. Spent nearly 2 hours hearing about ghost stories and the building's past. It was great. He does ramble from time to time but he's a sweet old man who enjoys company and interesting information. Best of all, the tour was FREE!!! It was the highlight of my weekend and I'll definitely be back to read a book at the patio and play with Jim's orange tabby and chickens! I had so much fun. Jim was very welcoming and I find this place another great hidden gem that San Diego adventurers will delight in :)

    Leila M.

    I've been living in spring valley for a few years now and didn't even know this existed. Such a cute historic place in SV. Glad to know what spring valley looked like before . Definitely should check this place out if you're in the area.

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    Photo of Troy M.
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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Neat historical site in Spring Valley. Jim, the longtime caretaker, gave us a fabulous tour. We learned a lot about the local history.

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    10 years ago

    This is a local historical place that's easy to locate. Quick easy history. Make an.appointment to bring the family by.

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    10 years ago

    I never knew this places was even around. If you want a nice historical place to visit locally , come to the SV House.

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    10 years ago

    The ranch house of spring valley is a staple in this East county town. The building has been here for 126yrs. Very unique.

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    10 years ago

    Incredibly enthusiastic staff that knows all about this place. Great for research for my daughters CA history paper.

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    Review Highlights - Bancroft Ranch House

    Spent nearly 2 hours hearing about ghost stories and the building's past.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Maritime Museum

    Maritime Museum

    4.5
    (366 reviews)
    10.1 mi

    Ok so I will split this into two reviews:…read more 1: the ships and actual adventure 2: the reservation process and customer service 1: booked a trip for the Spanish replica ship adventure the San Salvador and really loved it. The ticket also got you access to the other ships to walk around which was cool. But the coolest part was that San Salvador was sailed like they would have sailed it waaay back when. We got to see real rigging masts sails steering all being done by a crew and it was a totally amazing experience and such a perfect day. Bonus: we saw dolphins and it was a perfect day. Drawback: the gentlemen speaking throughout didn't talk into his mic often so missed a lot but oh well - who's really going for history?! such a good time!!. 2. I had a good with my tickets and called and tried to talk to folks in person and could never get someone. The tickets were cancelled but not refunded which was a bummer and staff in the kiosk even said they phone lines were messed up. A bummer. :(

    The Maritime Museum of San Diego is honestly one of the most impressive history museums I've…read morevisited because the artifacts are the museum. You aren't just looking at history -- you're surrounded by ships that actually survived it. The Star of India, launched in 1863, survived mutiny, violent storms, collisions at sea, and decades carrying immigrants across dangerous oceans. Some sailors believed the ship was cursed after captains died during early voyages, yet somehow she survived long enough to become the oldest active sailing ship in the world. HMS Surprise shows the brutal reality of naval warfare during the Age of Sail. Ships like this once carried enough cannon firepower to destroy enemy vessels while sailors lived packed below deck surrounded by gunpowder, disease, and fear of battle. The Berkeley steam ferry even helped evacuate survivors during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake while much of the city burned. One of the most fascinating exhibits is the Soviet B-39 submarine from the Cold War. The inside is unbelievably cramped and gives you a real sense of what life was like beneath the ocean during one of the most dangerous periods in modern history. The USS Dolphin may have been my favorite. This experimental deep-diving U.S. Navy submarine helped test advanced underwater technology and launched the deepest-fired torpedo in naval history. The museum also includes the San Salvador, recreating the ship that explored California's coastline in 1542 -- long before America existed as a country. What makes this place incredible is the timeline it creates: 1500s exploration... 1800s global sailing... steam-powered industry... world wars... Cold War submarines... All sitting together in one harbor. This place doesn't just teach maritime history -- it shows how ships shaped exploration, immigration, trade, warfare, and entire empires.

    Photos
    Onboard the schooner 'Californian'.
    Onboard the schooner 'Californian'.
    Onboard the schooner 'Californian'.
    Onboard the schooner 'Californian'.
    Sailing and the first mate!!

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    Sailing and the first mate!!
    Girl Next Door Honey

    Girl Next Door Honey

    5.0
    (59 reviews)
    7.8 mi

    The class was so much fun! Hilary has a plethora of knowledge and explained things very clearly…read more Would highly recommend her to anyone who wants to start beekeeping or anyone who just wants to learn about bees! She is clearly passionate about beekeeping and the honey she sells is fantastic.

    I recently took an introductory beekeeping class, and it was an outstanding experience. The class…read morewas extremely well prepared and very organized. The instructor was easy to follow and clearly very knowledgeable about beekeeping. You can tell she has a deep understanding of the subject and a real passion for teaching it. The class was very informative but also easy to understand, even for complete beginners. There were people of all ages there--even kids--and everyone seemed engaged and able to follow along. The class was held at her home, which made for a very comfortable and welcoming classroom environment. She also had a great amount of personal learning materials and examples that really helped bring the information to life. I honestly can't say enough good things about the experience. She clearly has built a strong following over the years, and after attending the class it's easy to see why. She's friendly, helpful, and a true wealth of information. If you're interested in learning about beekeeping, I highly recommend taking one of her classes.

    Photos
    Girl Next Door Honey owner Hilary Kearney inspecting a hive.
    Girl Next Door Honey owner Hilary Kearney inspecting a hive.
    Hilary managing one of her corporate apiaries.
    Hilary managing one of her corporate apiaries.
    Newlyweds on the beehive tour!

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    Newlyweds on the beehive tour!
    Patio Playhouse

    Patio Playhouse

    4.4
    (27 reviews)
    26.4 mi

    Accidentally reserved one weekend we couldn't go and I called and someone was super helpful on the…read morephone to switch my dates. Little bit hard to find. But great friendly people help you right in. Fabulous show! Great place to come and check out! Their seats are actually NOT hard plastic! My behind thanks you.

    This theater is phenomenal!! It's a little gem tucked into a "downtown" area of Encinitas. Walking…read morein, we were greeted by extremely friendly people and a rush of cold Air conditioning; which hit such a sweet spot after the warm day. They have a little mini concessions with extremely reasonable prices and a great selection of sodas, chips, candy, and some yummy baked goodies. Walking into the theater you quickly see that there's not a bad seat in the house. These are the most comfortable cushion seats that can recline a bit and there are drink holders for the ice cold drinks from the concessions. This theater is small and intimate, but the show is big! Beautiful voices, beautiful music played live by a band, great lighting, and you feel every emotion these phenomenal actors portray. There's a selection of restaurants in the immediate area for a bite to eat before this amazing show. So glad to have found this gem and will definitely be back to see their future performances!

    Photos
    "On Golden Pond" Season 57 2023-2024
    "On Golden Pond" Season 57 2023-2024
    "Island of Anyplace" - Season 57 2023-2024
    "Island of Anyplace" - Season 57 2023-2024
    Kit Carson Park Amphitheatre - "Theatre Under the Stars"

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    Kit Carson Park Amphitheatre - "Theatre Under the Stars"

    Bancroft Ranch House - museums - Updated July 2026

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