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.

Lake San Marcos, Marina is just a fantastic place to spend the day even if you are not at the…read moreresort. Just enjoying the restaurants, a coffee, a gelato or a gondola tour or some kayaking. It's just a great lake and a great marina. It is so quiet. It is so sunny. Think abour being in perfect day like if it was 1963 when the hotel there was founded. I have a friend in San Marcos and that is always our meeting point because we enjoy the quiet we enjoy people watching and especially the view. There are so many photo opportunities here that makes you feel the looks deluxe even if you are a local. d During Christmas is also a good time to visit because everything gets so wonderland and with lots of igloos and lots of activities too. Just a fantastic spot.

I was having breakfast at Amalfi and decided to stop by to check the prices. I haven't rented it…read moreyet. It's very convenient to access--there's street parking available, and you can get to it through the hotel, the restaurant, or simply walk directly to it. You can either call ahead to reserve or just walk in. There was only one employee assisting. They were friendly but got busy while I was asking questions, so it took some time to get the help I needed. I will definitely try it if I have visitors to San Diego..

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.

A group of our friends had an impromptu gathering for our dogs to play on the grassy area by the…read moreparking lot trail head to Buena Vista Park. We brought pizza and snacks and sat enjoying each other's company and watching the bird/duck wildlife. Many families were gathered in near by picnic tables playing soccer and eating. Plenty of space and trash cans. There is a restroom near by. Dogs welcome!!!

Buena Vista Park Trail is a neighborhood walkable path in Carlsbad. This easy-to-moderate trail…read more3-mile loop. The trail is a great spot for both walkers and nature lovers, offering lots of trees, backyard view of a neighborhood and quick escape from city (within the city). There are three opening paths an enjoyable peaceful walk-path (within little to no elevation) around two loops. During the walking area, there is an opportunity to take in the views two bridges providing a perfect outdoor experience in an urban setting. There is a pond populated by ducks on one end of the parks main entrance.

Nice views. It's an easy and manageable walk around the lake. There's an option to trek uphill, the…read moreview is worthwhile. There's a lot of wildlife out and about. Many pretty birds. Not that many people and it is quite peaceful. It surrounds a few neighborhoods. Trails are clearly marked with plenty of signage. There is a playground and some bathrooms. Would I come here again? Most definitely. Nice breath of fresh air.

One of my favorite spots to go hiking, I've never encountered any wild animals like snakes but I…read moredid come close to a pack of Coyotes but my friend and I hiked all the way up to Double Peak from this area. Top place to go to, and I already see many people hanging out around these spots and its still not too crowded. Love to see this area because of its cleanliness.

Just outside of Oceanside is this wonderful slice of heaven if you are a bird enthusiast. MUST call…read morebefore arriving to get approval to visit as it is on private property. Also you'll need their directions to find it as Waze was WAY off! We enjoyed the trail around the lake. It was well kept and only 1 big incline. There was plenty of waterfowl and field birds to view. Trail has pretty wildflowers and there is a nice picnic table and bench to sitting. Sharon was very friendly on the phone.

The live in caretakers are very friendly and have a lot of information about the lake. There is now…read morea restroom and picnic benches for public use and an information board about all the different birds and the history of Whelan Lake back to Pio Pico, the last Mexican governor of California. The 2 mile trail around the edge of the lake is well maintained. Contrary to what you see on some websites about Whelan Lake, It is not open to fishing, kayaking, and no bikes or motor driven vehicles are allowed on the walking trail. No dogs are allowed either as they chase birds! Remember this, it is by Appointment Only, you must call ahead to be able to get through the gate! It is privately owned by the Whelan lake Bird Sanctuary Incorporated, and they do not receive funds from the Audubon Society or the City Of Oceanside, they rely on private donations! It is a truly beautiful spot right in Oceanside!

South Lake is a little lake that is less known than Discovery Lake. Hidden in neighborhoods off…read moreTwin Oaks, it's truly a hidden gem. It's on the map but it's not busy or have many kids. This is due to it being primal still. There's no playground or bathroom. It's a parking lot, then you walk down on the dirt path to the lake, which is also a dirt path around the lake. There lake is bigger than Discovery and it's a good loop. There's no shade. And since it's a dirt path, it's harder for kids to bike or walking. You can access the lake by driving or by a trail that connects the lake with Discovery Lake. The elevation is flat, and good walking loop. You can rent out some space for picnics and parties but not sure if you want to as it's all dirt and there's really no tables or seating area. Solely for a nice peaceful walking path with you, a friend, a stroller or a dog.

A one mile dirt walking loop around a small reservoir. Small amount of hills. Pretty safe but…read morealways be aware of your surroundings. * Parking lot is small. *A lot of illegal fishing going on.

This is a beautiful place, we came to fish, hike around the lake and just enjoy some peace. We…read moredidn't see many people catching fish, yet it was nice just to cast a pole and sit for a while. They have nice picnic areas and boats to rent. We will definitely check it out again and hopefully catch something next time. Great place for some family fun

Love coming here. Even when the fishing is tough it's a great place to come relax and get away from…read morethe business of life. However when you get on the fish it's icing on the cake

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.

I came by on a Sunday for a quiet fun day…read more We rented kayaks and played around for 1-2 hours. The sun was out and it was a relaxing time. The price is reasonable too. Bring the kids. This is a good old time. The restrooms could use more maintenance though.

Brought my family here for the weekend, and I was quite unhappy…read more The staff exhibited unprofessional behavior and displayed rudeness, along with inappropriate comments. The water was extremely dirty and had a foul odor. I won't be bringing my family back to this filthy lagoon.