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.

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.

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!).

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

City of San Diego is having a really hard time with the weather. It's been well over the typical…read moretemperature for October. My friends live there. Felix has been in my family's history forever. He was born in 1930. Read his biography Diary of a Young Musician. I'm not sure if he was living in San Diego the last time I was there. I would have definitely stayed in San Diego longer. Okay, I'll admit it. I've always been partial to dating sailors if I date someone who is or was in the military. My last boyfriend was a Marine and had been to Viet Nam. But I loved when the ships came in to Port Everglades when I was in high school. I'd be dancing on the beach. Haha When I was in San Diego I would enjoy seeing the ships and having a feeling that I was in a Navy town. If I returned now I'd have Felix to see and lots of Yelp friends especially Marilyn G. and her husband. Good military people. So I'm recommending you go and spend time. Check the weather first!

City of San Diego (SD) is one of my favorite cities in So Cal. It has a fresh and know how to do it…read morefeel to it. I visit SD once in a while. Most recently I attended an annual meeting in La Jolla and got a chance to check out Westfield University Town Center. It was such a fun half day for me. I have been to Sea World on many occasions when my daughters were little. I have participated in half marathons and 5K/10K runs on my own. Hotel Del Coronado is a neat place to visit and it's right next to the Pacific Ocean. San Diego Zoo and other wild animal parks are fun for family and friends to spend the day. Balboa Park is massive and has lots to offer in nature and learning. SD is a must visit city at least once in your lifetime. I'll see you here!

What a great place for anyone, young or old to visit. Come visit and see and learn some history of…read moreSan Marcos. They have some great collections of antiques and a few historical buildings as well. Please call to find out some info on some hands on craft, chores and lifestyle from 100 hundred years ago. The staff are wonderful and very informative. Great place to have a picnic too!

One of the highlights of my 8 days with my grand children who live in San Marcos was going to the…read moreSan Marco's Historic Museum. Catie had been there on her first grade field trip and really wanted to go back. It was an amazing tour of the history of their area led by Docent Mimi for just us. The kids loved it (me, too). We would highly recommend.

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.

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 quaint neighborhood trail. It's not intended to be a highly trafficked and rated hiking…read moretrail. According to the trailhead signage, the Chicarita Creek Self Guided Neighborhood trail was originally used by Native Americans. It is/was funded partially by the Morning Creek Elementary PTA and the Sabre Springs Homeowners Association. The trail is maintained by Boy Scout Troop #109. This is a leisurely suburban trail that meanders alongside Chicarita Creek. There are some sections that are graded, but nothing difficult as it is very common to see parents pushing children in strollers. There are lots of trees along this trail for shade and often a slight breeze blowing, which compliments the sounds of the nearby running water. There are a few informational posts and benches scattered along this short trail that passes right behind an apartment complex. Depending on the time of year, you can see ducks and other birds enjoying the water here. And the water flow can range from a peaceful babbling brook to something resembling more like a river (after some rainfall). So yeah, this trail is a great hidden gem locals visit for a relaxing walk to feel closer to nature (in the middle of a suburb). Haha.

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.

This auto museum is absolutely fantastic! Words cannot describe how cool the property and the car…read morecollection are. The pictures don't even do it justice. I've wanted to visit this location since before Covid but never got around to it. Finally this year a friend and I were trying to visit as many museums as possible during San Diego Museum Month (February) and when I told him about it he was totally in. I knew from the website that the collection was large but didn't know what to expect. We walked in and bought tickets. The gentleman at the counter was helpful and explained how the museum and the wine tasting worked. He led us over the entrance to the cars and told us about the main building and then told us how to get to the two outbuildings that were part of the tour. The main building has the wine tasting, seating, kitchen, and bathroom. There were some cool artifacts in the building. We were both so impressed by what we saw. THEN...we walked down the path to the garage and our minds were blown! BLOWN! There was some seriously spectacular history in that garage. The cars and the collected fridges, radios, toys, and other items housed there. When we walked up to the third building we were once again stunned at the beauty of the cars and bikes and such there. I would never be able to pick out a favourite because there were just too many treasures. I've been to the museum three times this year because once I mention it to someone they insist on checking it out and I would never say no. The wine tasting was a lot of fun too. They have different types seasonally and all of the wine we drank was pretty good. I bought a couple of bottles. You can bring your own snacks and nibbles to go with your wine. Go. Visit. Check out. Be amazed. Enjoy! Excellent, Deer Park, absolutely excellent!

NOT JUST CARS An interesting collection of mostly…read moreconvertible cars and other Americana and collectibles (i.e. Vintage TVs, appliances, radios, Barbie dolls, etc.), housed in three separate structures in a winery setting. PRICE TO ENTER When you first enter, you will be in a gift shop/entry area where you pay at the desk. The cost was $14 per adult in April 2026. (Discounts offered for seniors, military and kids). IT NEEDS A REFRESH Overall, I felt the museum needed a bit of a refresh and rebrand. It's tired, dated and a little clumsy and cluttered. The items in the gift shop look like they've been there for decades. There are odd pieces of furniture lying around nestled between the cars along with cardboard stand-ups of Marilyin Monroe and dated photographs. The descriptive signage next to the cars are on the floor and wordy, hard to read. There was dust, dirt and cobwebs in display cabinets. It felt like someone had collected all this stuff, put it on display and then forgot about it. The cars and their paintwork were in great condition and paintwork was dust-free and shiny. It would have been nice to have learned about the owner or the story behind the collection, but we weren't given any brochures and there weren't any docents to ask. BARBIE COLLECTION In one building there's a small room with a large collection of boxed Barbie dolls from years past with a few Barbie cars as well. Again, it all looked a little tired and forgotten. WINE BY THE GLASS OR TASTING We didn't stick around for wine or wine tasting, but there were people there enjoying the patio and live music. There's a refrigerator with charcuterie and cold drinks available for purchase. The vineyards were pretty with roses and benches dotted around. Picnic tables are available out front. Their web site is one page, not terribly informative and again, could do with an update and refresh. Parking is complimentary. If you've never been before and like to seek out new places in San Diego County, stop by for a visit to either the auto museum, winery or both. See my photos attached for more details. Helpful?

A good place to transition from the Sprinter…read more This place has a decent bathroom so you can use the facilities during your transfer from Oceanside or downtown. The majority of the bissed going west and south are all waiting. No restaurants but it has a vending machine to quench your thirst.

This seems like a decent transit center to me. You can catch numerous Breeze busses, MTS busses are…read morehere also. Bus 235 goes all the way to Santa Fe Depot in San Diego. The Sprinter goes to Oceanside. They have restrooms but they may be dirty like Oceanside and Santa Fe Depot. I also noticed security. It may be a little dirty, but you're only here to catch your bus. Leave the homeless alone and they won't bother you.