5 star approved by 5 year old! Fun park, thanks to the staff at the City of Encinitas!read more

This is such a beautiful hillside park adorned with drought tolerant landscaping that makes it feel…read morelike a peaceful retreat. The upper level has a small children play area. The middle level is for kids 5-12. The lower area has a skating zone and basketball court. The little kids area have an interesting two person swing. The middle level has a cool looking slide that is recently taped off. The fake grass hill was fun to slide down on card board. There are covered tables for eating in the middle and upper section. There is limited street parking and no restroom.

Other than the playground, space for family and kids. No restrooms in this area which suckread more

Want to play with sand without having to deal with the beach and ocean debris? Well Leucadia Oaks…read morePark is close enough to the beach to give you that clean crisp air but far enough so you won't be bogged down with parking or other patrons. You can have an enjoyable morning or afternoon visit with your kiddos and be fresh enough to grab a bite and move onto your other adventures for the day. This playground has a variety of structures including slides, swings, climbing rings, and stepping platforms in addition the abundance of sand. In addition, there are plenty of benches and picnic tables for shared meal outdoors as well as a basketball hoop and skate park for those looking to take a break from the sand. For those looking forward to playing with sand, well you're in luck! They have an accessible water station (filtered water too for drinking) to help add that extra rigidity to your sand castles. There's a bit of grass for running but not a whole lot for field play. Otherwise, it's still good for picnicking. The park is rather quiet and it seems mainly locals come out here (most walked to and from the park). With that said, there's plenty of parking along the side of the park should you decide to commute out here. Overall, this park was pleasant and allowed our kids to experience sand as if they were at the beach and also play on a classic playground. Great place to soak in some sun for about half to a full hour before lunch or nap time (for the kids but I guess us adults too!)

This review is for Ted - a literal human angel…read more Ted, the park attendant in the RV in the corner of the lot, rescued a dog that I had lost while dogsitting for the first time for some new friends. When I arrived at his RV after the owner told me Kemba had been found there, Kemba was sitting in his lap, recieving some calming pats on her head after a very stressful last 90 minutes of wandering away and being found shivering in a bathroom stall. On top of the stress and frustration at myself for allowing that to happen, I comforted by Ted's warmth towards her upon her discovery, and by his warm, sincerely helpful demeanor that he demonstrated while explaining the story to me - the embarrassed and stressed dog sitter who had made a mistake. I so appreciate Ted's presence at Cottonwood Park. He said he helps with a lot of conflict resolutions in the parking lot, which I really respect, because I used to do conflict resolution for over 4 years in courts and interpersonally. I didn't tell him that, but I felt his grounded, service-oriented presence and quiet contributions that he likely makes to everyone who passes through. Thanks so much for your help - and for helping Kemba, who is now snuggled up next to my leg under a blanket

Your park hours listed here are until 10pm. If that is not accurate you all need to update it. My…read moreson and I used to love this park, but tonight at 8:20, about 15 minutes after the sun went down I was sitting in the parking lot finishing writing a segment for work. The grounds keeper (I assume that's who he was) came up to my car with a flash light and started screaming at me to "get outta here" you're the only car left! I asked him what the hours were because I had seen 10pm on this site (yelp) and I was just sitting there not bothering anyone. He said it closed at dusk, I asked if there was a sign he could show me or if it showed an actual sign, to which he yelled at me again to "get the f outta here" while flashing his light at me through my window with my 5 year old son in the back I don't think he realized was with me who I am now calming down because it was a scary interaction as a woman to be screamed at and a flashlight in my face by a random man, who did not identify himself and just yelled out at me to get out. I have never experience anything that scary at a friendly and happy park that we were frequent visitors at, but safe to say we won't be back and hopefully I can find other places to report him as thats not a safe environment with someone like that, nor have I ever been ran out of a family park parking lot by a strange unidentified man. I've also attached a photo that shows the park on maps and yelp says open til 10pm, as well as Facebook. Either way, the behavior was completely unacceptable for a random man it seems like the park allows to live and park there in a trailer and harass anyone, especially a woman since he saw I was alone and defenseless and with a young child.

Beach is clean with a free parking lot just above. At the entrance there's a nice little…read moreplayground, a concessions stand with actual options beyond your standard hotdogs and burgers. We came on a cloudy day so it wasn't really crowded and we found free parking in the lot up the hill, just above the beach. The lifeguard station is right there so there was a sense of added safety as my kids learned to surf. Beach was clean, people were chill, and we'll def be back!

We came here as a family and really enjoyed it. I actually believe this beach was recommended to…read moreme, and it was everything they said it would be. The beach was nice and the water felt really good, not too cold, which made it even better. My daughter had a blast playing in the sand and just being free, and my husband loved it too, especially since it was his first time being in warm ocean water. We were able to find a spot that wasn't overly crowded, which made it feel even more peaceful and relaxing. Overall it was just a really good beach day and I would definitely come back.

Beautiful park with plenty of parking, clean bathrooms, and a large playground. It's a bit tricky…read moreto find the entrance into the park, as the sign from the main street is very low and not very visible. But once you find the road, you'll know where it is for future reference :). Can't wait to come back!

A fantastic park near me that I've driven by but never walked in. Three or four immaculate baseball…read morefields, skate park, kids play area and really great trail of a mile and a half. But the best thing is how they keep it up and the employees that walk around and clean the grills and everything else. Really a fun find try it out.

Hawk View Park is a really a large green belt that runs up one side of hill within on a residential…read morestreet. The "park" does have many trees to provide shade, a short walking trail, and a small playground area. There seems to be a nice breeze their frequently.

We went to check out this park as a location to have a kids birthday party. The park is in a nice…read moreresidential area. It was nice and quiet, the park is also fenced so it is great for small kids. There is also a shade structure with picnic tables (no grill) and a nice playground with slides, climbing equipment and swings. The grassy area is at a bit of a slope. There is also plenty of street parking.

I had the opportunity to experience the botanical garden both as a general visitor and as a…read moreprospective wedding venue. It was one of the most beautiful venues we toured, though there were some limitations regarding event spaces and accessibility. There were two primary areas capable of accommodating our guest count of 150: the Lawn Garden and the Dickinson Family Education Conservatory. I preferred the ceremony setup at the Conservatory, while the Lawn Garden offered a more appealing space for cocktail hour. However, the Lawn Garden is entirely outdoors, so couples should have a weather contingency plan. The amphitheater adjacent to the Conservatory felt relatively plain and undersized compared to the lush surroundings. Both venues were conveniently located near parking lots and restrooms, though the restrooms themselves resembled standard public facilities. The garden grounds were expansive and quite hilly. The Lawn Garden parking area required navigating a significant incline that could be difficult for some guests. While a shuttle service exists, we were informed it is volunteer operated and unavailable for private events. Venue rentals included ceremony chairs and cocktail hour belly bar tables. Most other services and rentals must be booked through approved vendors. During our tour, we explored many of the garden's attractions and found it to be highly family friendly, though less accommodating for elderly guests or those with mobility concerns. Children would love the children's garden, streams, and treehouse areas. Meanwhile, sections such as the Rainforest Garden and New Zealand Garden featured steep pathways that may be challenging to navigate. My favorite areas were the Walled Garden and the dancing topiaries, where flowers were sculpted into whimsical musicians and dancers. We also attended the Orchid Showcase inside the Conservatory, which featured an impressive collection of orchids. The volunteers were exceptionally knowledgeable and eager to share information beyond what was available on the website, adding a great deal to the experience. The gift shop was an underrated highlight. I picked up a pressed flower magnet where each one featured a unique arrangement. Ultimately, the venue felt a bit too small for our wedding, but it remained one of our top contenders. For couples who value greenery and natural beauty, this would be an incredible choice for a smaller guest count. Just be aware that much of the planning, design, and personalization will fall on the couple.

I always enjoy the Botanic Gardens but 2024 is the first time I attended the Lightscape festival…read more It was so worth the time and the trip and the parking! I took my Mom who I learned my gawking skills from and we had an excellent time walking and gawking at all of the amazingly designed lighting exhibits. It is very dark in the area say take time to slow down and watch for the entrance and parking signs and people. There were quite a few parking attendants around to point people toward spots and away from full lots. We went the day after Thanksgiving and it was full but it didn't take us long to find a parking spot. There were signs and the attendants also pointed everyone in the direction to the entrance. At the front, security checked bags and scanned tickets and ushered people into the park. Guides at the front suggested a route which included following the arrows lighted along the routes through the garden. It was so gorgeous! People were quite respectful of others trying to get photos of displays and couple and group photos. At one location I became the honorary photographer after helping out a few people. We walked around and posed and all for over three hours. It was a well spent wholesome family evening. You're killing it, SD Botanic Garden!

The Grandview stairs are unfortunately closed through May 2026…read more Posted info states: CONSTRUCTION ALERT GRANDVIEW BEACH STAIRCASE RESTORATION AND CLOSURE CLOSURE DATE: February 3rd 2026 ESTIMATED REOPENING DATE: May 25th 2026 (Memorial Day) Beach access via the staircase will be closed during this time. The majority of the parking lot will be closed 24/7 to vehicles during this time. Grandview Beach will remain open and is accessible via South Ponto Beach from the north and Beacons Beach from the south. Thank you for your cooperation and patience during the project. We apologize for any inconvenience. City Contact: Braden DeWhite Engineer - I CIP 760-943-2245 bdewhite@encinitasca.gov Contractor: HSCC 619-333-1076 NOTICE GRANDVIEW BEACH ocorporated 199% STAIRCASE CLOSED STAIRCASE IS CLOSED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION. DANGEROUS CONDITIONS AT HIGH TIDE. USE ALTERNATE ROUTES FOR BEACH ACCESS. CLOSURE DATE: February 3rd 2026 ESTIMATED REOPENING DATE: May 25th 2026 (Memorial Day)

This is definitely just a beach I come to just to watch my friend surf, it isn't a great one for…read moreswimming because of rocks and reef. Stay away from the bluff because they do occasionally collapse and people have passed unfortunately RIP to them and condolences always to their families. Beautiful spot to just sit have a picnic and watch some surfers. Parking isn't awful but it's not amazing either so if it's a busy beach day and you see street parking take it and just walk. No bathrooms

TRUST THOSE WHO YELP REGULARLY…read more.. 1st Timer, but definitely not the last. Well thought out design, nice ocean views, seating, and play area for the kids. This is a leashless park to allow dogs to run, chase balls, and play. It is NOT fenced in, so if your pooch likes to bolt, this wouldn't be the place for you guys. Recommended

No fence, bummer. A family was eating at a picnic table and got very upset that my dog, and others,…read morekept bothering them.... I repeated "it's a DogPark." They kept yelling, finally got mad and left!!

It was the perrrfect day to plant 25 trees at Poinsettia Community Park in celebration of Arbor…read moreDay. This event was well received by the community...more than 30 people (mixed age groups) showed up to volunteer. It was AWESOME!! This beauuutiful 42-acre park contains the largest public tennis complex in the city (10 tennis courts and 6 pickleball courts), basketball court, baseball/softball fields, a multi-sport turf arena, alongside a modern playground, designated dog park area, and shaded picnic areas. Major pluses are restrooms, drinking fountains, and free parking. I definitely recommend this green space and family-friendly park to the Yelp Community :-)

This park is one of my favorites! It is so well taken care of with so many amenities that includes…read morean off-leash dog park separated by small and large dog areas, all the sports courts and my particular favorite, the pickleball courts. The few times I've been here has been enjoyable and everyone (including dogs) have been very amicable. The dog park is very well kept and like how they have some little obstacles courses for the dogs. The pickleball courts are also very nice but there are some areas that have been worn out, mostly behind the baseline. But nice seating area and efficient paddle system to rotate people in and out. I only wish it was closer to me.