This was my first time camping alone, and this was the perfect place to do it. Super easy booking…read moreand not too deep into the wilderness. The camp spots are all quite close to each other with not much privacy, but that wasn't a problem for me. If you plan on pitching a tent, I really hope you have mats (like we did) because the ground is (as you can see) plain dry ground. The park itself seems really great for biking and just walking around. They have long and short trails with lots of nature to look at. The lakes themselves are not too big, but I did see people fishing. There are many benches throughout the trails. There were also many trees that gave me many options for putting my eno up! Amenities: - 50¢ for 4 min showers - the bathroom is only for campers and it was SO clean. The shower was really warm and i actually felt clean after using it lol

Guajome Regional Park has a lot to like. This fairly large space has multiple parks with…read moreplaygrounds, nice picnic areas, a fishing area, and a campground. That's the Western half that is more like the park. The Eastern half has walking trails that are more like a nature preserve. Some reviewers commented about how the trails are unkempt, and that's mostly true on the Eastern side and the Nature Trail. It wasn't too bothersome, as most of the trails were wide enough. The annoying part, though, is that there's a lot of dry, dead weeds/plants that carpet the trails with little splinters, which inevitably get into my shoes and jab me. Other than that, it's an easy, flat-ish 4 miles of walking. Lots of birds by the lake. Parking is paid in the lot, but there's also free parking along the street.

This is one of my favorite spots to check out at Legoland. It looks like they are always updating…read morebecause they had a Sofi Stadium that looked newish. Always cool to see how people build these incredible art pieces.

Really cool if you love legos! They built major cities out of legos it was cool to see. I spent an…read morehour walking around admiring the details they put into it! A must if you're in Legoland!

Beautiful park! Lots of greenery and the playground itself is almost fully shaded with over heard…read morematerial! Had my daughter's birthday there last week and I am so glad I chose this park! The picnic table area is directly right next to the playground, which is so ideal! The bathrooms & parking are a bit far of a walk from the playground and unfortunately no swings, but absolutely love this park!! (Also if planning a bigger event like an invite list birthday party I highly recommend calling vista parks and recreation to make a proper reservation for the covered picnic table area!The ranger comes out very early in the morning and mark it off as officially reserved signs! Brought me great peace of mind!)

Located within walking distance of downtown vista (yes, please, there is a lovely trail from…read moredowntown to the park. About .7 mile), this park features an amphitheater, tennis (2), softball (2), basketball (3), volleyball (2) courts, an indoor gymnasium, plenty of parking, kid's playgrounds, small water stream, bridges and an amazing disc golf course (19 holes). Covered (or not!) picnic tables and trashes are available. Plenty of parking, plenty of shade along walkways, place is clean. There is a botanical park at the top of the hill.

Went on a morning hike with friends. There's a small parking lot, and the trail we took along the…read morelake was flat and easy. The scenery was nice, and we came across both hikers and bikers along the way.

Dirt trails along the water or with a water view. The upper trail is pretty well maintained. The…read morelower trails having vegetation and narrow passage. Free parking lot. Gets crowded with locals. People fishing and although dogs are supposed to be leashed many are running ahead of owners with leashes. There was someone operating a noisy drone which ruined the peaceful atmosphere. Lots of people walking and a few fishing.

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.

Beautiful park with a large gazebo area that has 5 tables. There's plenty of space for an…read moreextra-large bouncy house and lots of parking. We had an awesome birthday party for our 7-year-old here!

We were blessed enough to be invited to celebrate a Christmas party at this venue and had an…read moreabsolute blast! It was beautifully decorated and we felt a tremendous amount of joy and peace just walking around admiring the beautiful wooden buildings and their architecture with carefully placed decorations all over. They had several fires going which just added so much warmth and comfort to the already uplifting scenery. We were fortunate enough to sit down near one of the owners and got the chance to speak with him for a while. He was very welcoming and warm person and we happily thanked him for having us at his beautiful establishment. We also got the chance to visit and pet some of the animals! (with permission) It was a big highlight for us last year during the holiday season and we hope to be able to visit again someday!

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.

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.

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.

During my one-month escape from the Massachusetts cold, I spent many days at Tamarack State…read moreBeach--also known as Carlsbad State Beach or Frazee Beach. Located between Tamarack Avenue and Carlsbad Village Drive, it's a beautiful stretch of coastline. You'll find a little bit of everything here--families, students, retirees, surfers, and plenty of people just enjoying the ocean. On any given day, I saw swimmers, surfers, kayakers, windsurfers, people fishing or beachcombing with metal detectors. The cement promenade running between Carlsbad Village and Tamarack is especially popular, filled with walkers and joggers. It extends for miles, making it perfect for a longer stroll along the coast. Wildlife added to the experience as well--dolphins offshore, along with pelicans, gulls, and other aquatic life. And beyond the traditional surfers, I even spotted the occasional electric hydrofoil (eFoil), with riders gliding above the water in a way that almost seems to defy gravity. Tamarack offers stunning daytime scenery and some truly memorable sunsets. There are some basic rest rooms facilities available. Tip: If you're heading there on a warm day, plan to arrive early--parking fills up quickly!

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.

I love hiking in this area! The Creek is really beautiful after it rains, you can hear it running…read moreover the rocks fast it sounds amazing. The hike up to the Lake is difficult if you're not in the good shape. Make sure to bring water and an energy snack helps too. The hike is well worth it