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    Nelson House

    5.0 (1 review)

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    Queen Califia's Magical Circle Garden - Sculpture garden

    Queen Califia's Magical Circle Garden

    4.6(157 reviews)
    7.8 mi

    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.

    Truly what a hidden gem! Absolutely breathtakingly beautiful art instillation Queen Califia's…read moreinside of Kit Carson Park is wonderful. I was equally as in awe as my 2 year old was! Free to visit, but heads up the gates are only open to public Tues & Thurs 9-12! - You enter and follow the signs that lead you way back into Kit Carson to a little parking lot then it is a very short walk to get in, when you exit if you turn left (as opposed to right which would go back the parking lot) There is a very nice duck pond with a sitting bench!

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    Queen Califia's Magical Circle Garden
    Queen Califia's Magical Circle Garden
    Queen Califia's Magical Circle Garden - Sculpture garden

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    Sculpture garden

    Oceanview Mine - Jeff swanger 2020

    Oceanview Mine

    4.1(139 reviews)
    29.3 mi

    My friend and I went for a birthday celebration. It was just the two of us. On March 14, it was a…read morefine spring day. Perfect to be on a mountain top in the sunshine sifting through rocks and hunting for gems. The Oceanview mine works in finding a number of different quartz, Tourmoline, and other gems. Take a look at their website. For $75 for an adult, you get all the equipment that you need to sift through rock and gravel piles which they set out for you. There are a big tables, the two grades of sorters, a bucket, trowel, and toothbrush to clean off rocks. Also a big tray of water to rinse your rocks in and clean them off. There were igneous rocks with black tourmaline and tiny pieces of garnet. It was a lot of fun. You have to get there promptly at the opening time in order to get situated and the digging/sorting/sifting begins sharp at 10 AM. You have three hours and 45 minutes to go through all the rocks that you want. Bring your own gloves! They also have shaded umbrellas, and 5 gallon buckets to purchase that you can load up with rocks to sift through on your own at home. While it was a fun adventure, and I've never been to a quarry mine that you could actually look for your own gems, the staff did leave a little to training, although they were very good about going around and assisting you. However, I think if you really want to find something, you need to educate yourself ahead of time as to what you are looking for and what is available. Five minute presentation to 50 people wouldn't you can't even really look at the rocks and no handout or guide sheet for reference was a drawback. They don't take credit cards for the entrance. You have to pay cash. Children are a lower price. But they do take credit cards for memorabilia, gemstones that they have turned into jewelry and other items. And also for the rentals. I thought the purchasing of a 5 gallon bucket for $10 was too much. They don't make it clear that if you want to take home a 5 gallon bucket of extra stones to sort through then you can bring your own. I thought for the price of $75 a 5 gallon bucket would be included. They are not. There are picnic tables in the shade where you can have your own lunch, there is a grill you can use if you want to utilize that. Bring all of your own beverages, water, and snacks and meal. There is a short tour that you can take of the areas that they mine on this mountain. You load up on a four wheel vehicle that holds six people and spin around the mountainside, stopping at the entrance of three of the mine shafts. This is only about a 5 to 7 minute tour. They don't allow you to stop get out and take pictures in front of the mine openings. This was certainly a drawback. They could've extended the "tour" to let you get out and take pictures in front of the mine shafts. Perhaps it is a liability issue I don't know. I would not do this for a second time since I've already done it, without further educating myself about gem hunting and what exactly I was looking for. But for a one time adventure, it was fun and we had a beautiful spring day. Don't forget your sunblock and sunglasses and hat!

    We were a group of three that booked the Pala Chief mine for January 11th. It was a long trip from…read moreSan Jose, but it was so worth it; we found so many tourmalines! The drive up to the Pala Chief dig site was not too difficult. Our tesla with a low suspension could do it. The tutorial from the staff was quick, and the 4 hour dig time was definitely enough. By the end it got really hot; so definitely bring a hat and a lot of water. It had rained a couple days before, so we found a bunch of tourmalines on the surface. My best find was a 50 gram blue cap pink tourmaline that I found near the top of the mountain. Found a bunch of pinks, some greens, some blue ones, and a bunch of large quartz pieces.

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    Oceanview Mine
    Oceanview Mine - ... an 'at home' atmosphere was quite nice

    ... an 'at home' atmosphere was quite nice

    Oceanview Mine - This old Pala chief matrix is a fine example from chief mountian

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    This old Pala chief matrix is a fine example from chief mountian

    Nelson House - historicaltours - Updated May 2026

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