When I knew I'd be spending a few days in Escondido, I started looking into all that this San Diego…read moresuburb comes to offer. After checking out TripAdvisor, Queen Califia's Magical Circle Garden stood out. I'm all about art, especially when the scale is impressive like it is here. We stopped by on a Tuesday morning around 9:30 a.m. Make sure to check out their website to see when they're open because their hours are quite limited (Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. when I was there and every fourth Saturday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.). It's located inside Kit Carson Park. I didn't have any trouble parking in their lot and then walking to the sculpture garden. Once you arrive, take in all the artist, Niki de Saint Phalle, created. It's weird, it's cool, and it's trippy all in one. There's some information you can read to learn more and while we were there, there were some members of the non-profit that is involved with the art installation there that told us more about it. Walk around and take it all in. You can easily do it in 10-15 minutes and it's a free attraction. Saint Phalle has other artwork in San Diego, but the Magical Circle Garden, is by far the most expansive one in terms of scope. And the most interesting in my book.

Tucked away inside the massive 285 acre Kit Carson Park, you'll find Queen Califia's Magical Circle…read moreGarden by renowned artist Niki de Saint Phalle. Completed and opened to the public on October 26, 2003, this whimsical, meaningful, and colorful sculpture garden is surrounded by an incredible 400 foot snake wall. Once you meander through the mosaic & mirrored mini-maze, there are nine freestanding sculptures: Cathead Totem Birdhead Totem Yelling Man Totem Bullhead Totem Untitled Totem (Bird on a Square) Kingfisher Totem Step Totem Snake Totem Each totem is something marvelous to behold, and de Saint Phalle's mosaic work is simply spectacular. There are also 3 freestanding benches faced in travertine marble by Pierre-Marie Lejeune that measure from 13-20 feet in length. In my opinion, the standout feature of the garden is the central structure called Queen Califia and the Eagle Throne. It is so beautifully unique, and the space underneath almost feels sacred with the golden egg (former) fountain and the spectacular celestial ceiling. Queen Califia was a legendary black Amazonian who was believed to rule a terrestial island of gold and riches "to the right of the Indies." It is only fitting that this special garden has been erected in her honor. In fact, this is the only American sculpture garden by Niki de Saint Phalle! The garden is surrounded by a locked fence and is only open on Tuesdays and Thursday from 9am-12pm, and on 2nd & 4th Saturdays from 9am-2pm. Docents were available to answer questions today, and they are usually onsite during the hours when the garden is open. This special space is certainly worth a visit, and it would be lovely to pair it with a hike and a picnic in the park for sure. Keep in mind that there is a short walking trail that you need to traverse to get to the garden after you've parked your car, Additionally, you can hike in from other areas of the park as well. Be sure to take a look at the story boards to the right of the entrance facing the snake wall before you enter to gain more history and context for this special installation that we are lucky to have in Escondido. Entry is free and parking is free. There are bathrooms in the park. I took about 20 minutes to peruse the area, and that was enough time for this visit (it was also 90 degrees), but do plan accordingly depending on your interests and needs. Peace.

Such a cool little Doc Hollywood kind of town. You wouldn't know that they have 3 businesses right…read morenext to each other that make driving to this town a reason to come. They have an absolutely superb high tea you can ever imagine. To the left is a craft store with so many hand made items to catch your fancy and purchase for yourself or someone dear. To the left of the shop is an antique shop that begs a nostalgic walk through their shop.

I love this city. It can have its rough parts with homelessness, drugs, and gangs, but it also has…read morebeautiful parts people often overlook. With peaceful parks, Cruisin' Grand, mom-n-pop shops, and so much culture, this city is a gem. People almost everywhere speak Spanish and English here, and this is definitely a safer city for BIPOC versus some surrounding cities. Another great place here is the California Center for the Arts, Escondido! That place always has low cost or free events for all types of families and individuals! I 100% recommend checking it out. You can also catch some pretty views of the city at night if you know which streets to check out.

I LOVE Old Escondido Historic District. This is my favorite part of Escondido. There are 900 homes…read morein this area, and they were built in the mid 1800s. There are so many beautiful Victorian homes here, as well as old, small homes; each one is different and unique. It is pretty peaceful, with not as much crime as other parts of the city. I highly recommend you check this area out if you like to see what a city was like long ago.

It is always so cool to see how towns looked like a long time ago! My favorite part of Escondido's…read moreHistoric District is the beautiful Victorian homes since all of them are unique. It is perfect for a very calm stroll

This adobe is so beautiful, and there's so much history to learn! It's free but they do allow…read moredonations. Walking in I was greeted by a really sweet lady who gave me a tour of the house and explained the story of the house in so much detail. All of the furniture was amazing and the house itself was beautiful. It was fascinating hearing the stories about what went on in each room. They even have a spot in the wall where you can see the original adobe, that was super cool! Check out this hidden gem if you're in the area, it's a great story and a beautiful property.

I highly recommend the walking excursion from Rancho Bernardo (starting from the Lake Hodge bridge)…read moreto the Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead. It takes around 45 minutes at a slow/normal pace and is not only a great workout on a sunny day, but also you will see how well connected is Rancho Bernardo with that initial portion of Escondido. I saw the Adobe house before and after remodeling and I have to say the job done is amazing. Besides, the volunteers and staff working there are very knowledgeable and explain all you want to know about the history of the house, the family that lived there and the incipient population of SD North County, without overwhelming you. The rooms are very nicely decorated and you feel like you are transported to another era, but they don't forget the modern times and I was impressed the first time I went to discover they had an elevator for wheelchair users, so that is a total plus for visitors with disabilities. Sometimes there is a farmers market on Sundays, so the whole thing makes a very nice excursion from-to Rancho Bernardo. By bicycle is also very pleasant, but be ready to find on the way tons of real bicyclists in groups, so watch out the traffic and you will see bridges with different eyes (you will pass below the freeway!).

It's a shame that the San Pasqual Battlefield State Park is currently closed for restoration and…read moremaintenance. As a history buff, I enjoy visiting here, the site of the only Mexican American War battle fought in the United States (December 6, 1846). It has a nice Visitor Center, public restrooms, and walking trails in the 50-ish acre park. This is also the ancestral land of the First People, the Kumeyaay. Part of the park restoration is to incorporate the history, culture, and traditional ecological knowledge of the Kumeyaay people into the Park's Visitor Center and trails. I'm looking forward to seeing the results when the park reopens.

I always would see signs pointing to the direction of the San Pasqual Battlefield. I always…read morewondered what battle was here in Escondido. I learned it was the bloodiest battle in California during the Mexican-American war in 1846. I probably learned about this when I was in school but that was so many years a go. I like refreshing my memory on history so I like going to museums when I can. The museum/visitor center is only opened on the weekends. The park is here as a reminder of the human ideals, actions, and passions that can drive nations to bloodshed. It's really interesting to check out. The museum is very small and the walking trail is really short but I did enjoy my visit and speaking to the man working there. He was telling me of the various individuals that were involved in this battle and the places in San Diego that were named after all these people. I hope to see the battle day the next time they have a re-enactment.

This is THE MOST AMAZING HIDDEN JEWEL of San Diego County! The History is so very deep,…read moremulticultural, humbling and beautiful. A small remnant of our distant past here in Southern California. You and your Family are blessed to have the opportunity to visit. AND it is just beyond BEAUTIFUL. Peaceful. Deep. Spirit filled and spiritual. Full of stories, ghosts and history. This should be something that everyone in North County knows and Loves!!!! Just a Godsend and Blessing!

This is a a great place to take portraits, the staff is friendly. It's also a great place to just…read moresimply go for a walk and enjoy the nature that surround you.

Sightseeing in San Diego, California…read more.. I don't remember why I had this place on my List of Things To See, but we stumbled across the Historic Alvarado House when we visited the San Diego County Fair on 6-25-23. The person who actually spotted this exhibit is Emmett T. I thought that the house was a functional structure in a residential area, but no... Not now. It used to be - in 1885 when it was sold for $600 to Don Diego de Jesus. Currently, the house is located near the Garden/landscaping contest displays, the Historic Alvarado House was on the edge of the "Blue Zone" of the Fair. The most recent owner of house donated it to the Del Mar Historical Society. Plans are in the works to move the house somewhere else and present it as a museum. We arrived at the San Diego County Fair around 6pm and the house was closed for tours. Maybe if we return and get there earlier, we would be able to walk through the house and observe the contents? Thanks to Emmett (again) for being a great tour guide!

This place is an absolute gem hidden off of Melrose! You turn down in here and you see so many…read morebeautiful things. There are peacocks during the early morning time roaming around. They have a beautiful little movie theater where you can watch a show about how it all began and a tiny little gift shop. Then you can walk around and see all of the horse stables, houses, and beautiful reflection pool.

We got the opportunity to walk with a docent/guide during a light rain we had in May. It was s nice…read moreto walk in the rain and hear stories of the past at Leo Carrillo Ranch. The cacti were in blossom which was a unique treat! We saw peacocks, a wide variety of local biota and enjoyed talking story with a knowledgeable elder.

I absolutely love Old Poway Park! It's located in a really nice, safe neighborhood and has such a…read morecalm, peaceful atmosphere. It's the perfect spot for family picnics, bike rides, or just spending a relaxing afternoon outside. There are also some great, yummy restaurants nearby, which makes it easy to turn your visit into a full day out. I do photography as a hobby, and this is one of my favorite locations to shoot--the scenery is beautiful, so much variety, and has so much character. Overall, it's a charming, relaxing place that I always enjoy coming back to.

This is a fantastic park. It is large, there is plenty of parking on the street or nearby lots as…read morelong as it is not a Saturday morning with the farmers market and softball tournaments at the other park across the street. The park has some fantastic old architecture and there are plaques telling you about some of it. There is a giant grass area, with nice large trees, some shade, some picnic areas, and a section that you can reserve for large parties. There is a hamburger joint on the premises as well. There is a giant gazebo where a young musician was singing her heart out. There is a working old train, you can pay to take a ride around the park. Great spot for photography too, see attached photos.