San Elijo Park has a recreation center that you can rent out that holds 80 people max and tables…read moreand chairs are provided. There's also a kitchen, private bathrooms and the yard is included in your rental. The place is huge!! It has a dance floor and plenty of lighting. We used it to throw our son's 1st birthday party. The tables were a little used but put a table cloth cover, it's all good! Chairs were fine. Kitchen had a fridge and microwave and even dish washing soap. The supply room had paper towels for the bathrooms and supplies. Weekend rental is an extra $$ compared to weekdays. They do give you an extra hour for clean up. We rented from 11-3 (4pm with free extra hour for clean up) and the cost was around $450ish. Pretty good for indoor space! One thing is the front door is not open and looks closed. Many of our caterers could not find this place. No clear signage to go to the parking lot for entrance.

Cool park in San Elijo that looks very new and well-kept. They have baseball fields, play areas for…read morekids, walking trails, and two fenced in dog pins...one for small and one for bigger dogs. I think this is definitely a great part of San Elijo. The grass is green and there are always people walking, running, sitting, and playing games here.

This is definitely a hidden gem amongst the San Diego beaches…read more There's a smallish strip of beach that sits between a bluffside hotel and a jetty. There's limited free parking, but there's a pay lot at the south end that is smallish for a beach parking lot. I think it is $15 but not sure. We arrived a little after 10am and some of the early crowd was just leaving so we got a spot off the road. This weekend....what a relief! It was 100+ degrees in most of San Diego but because of morning marine layer it was maybe mid-70s. Obviously, all of the beaches would be similar in that regard, but there weren't a lot of people while we were there and that was the huge win. There is an upper and lower beach that was separated by a rocky patch that was likely eroded sand. We set up shop on the beach that was closer to the water, unsure if the tide was going to come up and wash us away. It didn't though, so it was perfect!

Restrooms and parking area available. It can get crowded on Summer months but less than La Jolla or…read moreEncinitas.

A beach is a beach is a beach, right? Not really! All along the Southern California coast, the…read morebeaches vary geographically. Some are more sandy and some are more rocky. I was looking for one that was relatively clean, with not a lot of people, and lots of sand with few rocks. Tamarack State Beach is that place! Tamarack is the kind of beach that would make a nice spot for a picnic or a place to watch the sun set. I did neither of those things -- just stayed for a while to let my children get into the ocean and bury themselves in the sand. But they loved this beach so much that we visited twice during our visit to Carlsbad. There was a lifeguard on duty, set up closer to the parking lot where the majority of the people were. If you walk a little ways away, though, there is no lifeguard and the people are fewer. The parking can be a little limited, and you have to pay to park. There is also some street parking, but that's even more limited. Your best best is to hit the parking lot first and maybe circle a couple of times.

Tamarack state beach is a nice beach but this time there were so many rocks along it. My grandkids…read morewere getting hit on the legs with the rocks once the water receded. The parking lot is really small, and we were able to find 3 spots after 10am but it's a hassle trying to get out! You get one car waiting for someone to pull out and it blocks and stops everyone else. My husband literally had to ask the guy to move over a bit because 8 cars were waiting in the line behind him to get out. There has to be a better set up to get out of there. All in all, everyone still had a good time, regardless of the rock situation.

Great spot for a hike! There are plenty of trails to choose from, offering views of the lake, the…read morevolcanic plug, and Carlsbad. The hikes range from easy to moderate depending on the trail you take. Some sections are a bit overgrown while others are well maintained, but overall it's a beautiful place to explore.

Amazing place to go for a hike. There are easy trails as well as some difficult ones. So there is…read moresomething for everyone. Also, where else can you hike to the top of a volcano?!? Great views throughout the trail and a must try hike when in the area.

Clean, not busy if you pay attention to when diving and other activities are scheduled. I've…read morealways had my own lap lane. Good price. Great neighborhood pool!

Been swimming here a month now, a couple of times a week. When I get there at noon, I sometimes…read morehave to share a lane for about half my workout. They have monthly and multi-monthly passes, I got four months for $60. They also have swimming lessons, including the one I tried, "drop-ins" on Monday and Wednesday nights, where I got one-on-one instruction on improving my technique. I'm giving them a five-star because it's actually got me back to working out on a regular basis.

We've attended this glowious event several times and each time it is a slightly different…read moreexperience. We tend to stop for treats before walking around. The vendors are very friendly and ready to serve. I like the hot mulled apple cider and a simple hot dog. I don't like to eat too heavily since it involves walking around the venue. I carry the cider. It helps to keep me warm on the cooler nights it usually falls on. The last time we came it was the night that was designated for ages 21 and up. Although we did see some kids with their families there was significantly less littles and strollers under toe than our previous times here. We brought our adult kiddos and they ventured around among themselves. We went around twice...once with the steps and second time on the flat trails. The light displays are all synced with fun music and sounds. Each zone has a fun theme. Pleasantly stimulating experiences every time! Check it out if you haven't already.

Let there be lights! This was a beautiful exhibit. Not…read morespecific to the holiday but a mix of color scapes. I took my husband for his birthday which falls on Thanksgiving week. Paid for parking and anytime tickets for flexibility. Along the lit path are benches to sit and sip. Booths with hot cocoa and other snacks and beverages. I ordered the spiked hot chocolate. We look forward to visiting other botanical gardens to experience the holiday lights in the future - as it has been a trend from LA to SF too. Fan of the California Poppies!' #LetThereBeLights #Encinitas #BotanicalGarden #Holiday

We arrived around 8 AM on a Sunday, and the main lot was already full, but there's an overflow lot…read moreabout 400 feet away where we were able to grab the last spot. The trail itself was pretty quiet. We passed a few people here and there. It's very well maintained, though there aren't any signs or clear directions at certain points, so I'd recommend using AllTrails to stay on track. Also worth noting, there are no trash cans along the route, so plan accordingly. The trail is technically listed as not dog-friendly, but we did see a couple of dogs along the way. We did the 4.5-mile overlook loop. There were a few sections that were a bit steep, but overall it's a fairly easy hike with mostly flat terrain. There's a lot of greenery throughout, and the creek adds a really nice touch. It's a really scenic and peaceful setting. It took us about 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete. We went on a cloudy day, which ended up being perfect for the hike. Overall, it's a beautiful, well-kept trail and definitely worth checking out.

What an incredible trail! The mix of flowing water and those scattered rock formations makes every…read morestep feel like a little adventure. Going around 10 in the morning sounds perfect for soaking in the peaceful vibe without running into many people. It's a relatively easy route with plenty of spots to pause for a picnic, making it the perfect way to connect with nature and start the day surrounded by quiet beauty.

I was a little hesitant about Rawhide Ranch based on reviews, but several friends had said their…read morekids LOVED it-- even the kids who weren't into horses. We sent my daughter and her best friend (both age 10) for the first session 2026 and they LOVED IT!! They can't wait to go back and already miss it. My daughter rated it 9/10 - she didn't love the food and the showers weren't the best, but she wore crocs and did just fine showing every day. She rode daily, learned about all kinds of animals, and enjoyed the town-- which was quite impressive. Laser tag, climbing wall, arts & crafts and pony bucks for the store - she was living her best life! Tips: bring a handheld fan - the days are hot! And a cowboy hat (you can buy them there at drop-off). And bring a fitted twin bed sheet! The wagon mattresses were dusty. Plus a blanket or sleeping bag. Jeans and boots for riding . $100-$125 in pony bucks (or less and you can monitor their spending... money goes fast on snacks, drinks, fans, souvenirs, etc.)

My 11-year-old son attended Rawhide Ranch for a one-week summer camp. As part of the camp's policy,…read morechildren do not have access to electronics or direct communication with parents during their stay. Prior to camp, we arranged a simple system where he could signal me through a snack purchase if he needed help. Early on the third day, he used that signal. I called the camp and did not receive a response. After approximately eight hours, I called again and requested to speak with the camp director, I was eventually connected with the camp director, who indicated there had been an issue earlier that day involving my son and wrong medication being given. After insisting, I was allowed to speak with my son. He was clearly distressed and informed me that he had been given the wrong medication that morning. Instead of his usual over-the-counter allergy medication, he was given a high-dose antidepressant not prescribed to him and not intended for a child his age. According to the information provided to me, staff at the health office realized the error and attempted to have him self induce vomiting with a spoon, (he was instructed to stick the spoon down his throat), which was unsuccessful. They then contacted poison control for guidance. At no point during this process was I notified. After speaking with my son, I decided to pick him up immediately. When I arrived, I found communication from staff to be limited, and I was unable to get clear or detailed information about the incident despite asking direct questions. I requested to speak with the camp director, who eventually met with me. During that interaction, I found his demeanor to be notably nonchalant given the circumstances. The situation--a child being given the wrong medication and the parent not being notified--was presented in a way that did not reflect the level of concern I would have expected. When I attempted to ask for clarification and express concern about what had happened, the conversation became extremely tense. There was a clear difference in how seriously the situation was being viewed, and the discussion escalated into a heated verbal exchange. Given the lack of clear communication and the response to what I consider a serious safety issue, I made the decision to withdraw my son from the camp that same night. Following the incident, I contacted the camp multiple times. I was initially told that a refund would not be provided, though I was offered a credit for a future summer. After further communication, I did receive a refund. I also attempted to reach out to members of the organization's leadership to share concerns about the incident. This experience was extremely concerning, particularly given the seriousness of a medication error involving a child and the lack of timely parent notification.