What to do......

What to do and where to go... a partial list.



Deer Park Winery, north of Escondido. World's largest auto museum of convertibles and Americana. Gift shop, gourmet deli, open daily 10-5.

Lawrence Welk Resort, north of Escondido. Rated in top 10 of timeshare resorts by a timeshare users group in Florida, beating several in Hawaii.

The Green House Herb Farm, Oceanside

Guajome Park, Oceanside

Mission San Antonio de Pala, in Pala. Founded on June 13, 1816. Has the only free-standing bell tower among California missions.

Temecula gorge, Temecula Great for hiking and scenery buffs.

Wilderness Gardens Preserve, Pauma Valley. Closed for most of the 1990s, it is now finally open again on the weekends.

Heritage Park Village and Museum, behind the San Luis Rey Mission, Oceanside. A recreation of Oceanside circa 1900 with many historic buildings moved to this site, including 4 of Oceanside's original buildings and a number of shops styled after turn of the century businesses.

Wave Water Park, Vista

La Jolla Indian Water Park, Pauma Valley, also known as Sengme Oaks Family Water Park.

California Center for the Arts, Escondido

Lake Hodges, Escondido

Oceanside Beach and Pier

Buena Vista Nature Center, Lagoon, Laguna State Park, Oceanside/Carlsbad

Carlsbad Village Fair held on the first Sunday in May and November.

Eastside Reservoir Project, near Hemet (The Californian 4-part Article)

Stewart Mine Gems of Pala Store. Learn to mine for gems out of 5 gallon buckets of material from the mine for $50. Store hours vary, call 760-742-1356.

Agua Hedionda Lagoon, Carlsbad

Leslie Farms, Carlsbad (pick your own strawberries)
Lake Skinner, Riverside County. (Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival held there in late April in previous years, on June 9-11, 2000.)

Carlsbad Mineral Water Spa in the Alt Karlsbad building, Carlsbad

Legoland, an amusement park designed for kids age 2-13.

Ranunculus Flower Fields, aka "The Flower Fields", Carlsbad. These are the ones you see as a blaze of color driving by them on I-5 in Carlsbad, framed by the windmill of Andersen's Pea Soup Restaurant & Hotel, just north of Palomar Airport Road.

Palomar Airport, Carlsbad ~ fun to eat at the restaurant and watch planes land

Lake Elsinore Outlet Center Mall, Lake Elsinore

Perris Railroad Museum, Perris. East on S74 (4th St.) from I-215 in Perris to depot next to tracks. Then continue to A St., turn left to main museum area "where all the trains are". 909-657-2605.

Santa Rosa Plateau, near Murrieta. Also see half-acre "fire-safe" garden on northern side of Bear Creek Fire station No. 75 on Clinton Keith Road.

Stubb's Fuchsia Nursery, a wonderland of fuchsias in hanging baskets. SW of I-5 Leucadia exit at 737 Orpheus Avenue in Leucadia.

Weidner's Flower Gardens. "Dig your own" tuberous begonias in a beautiful place. NE of I-5 Leucadia exit at Paraeus & Normandy. 760-436-2194. 9:30 - 5:00 daily except Tuesdays.

Samia Rose Topiary. The place to go for topiary.

Hell Hole Canyon State Park, Valley Center.

Blue Sky Ecological Reserve in Poway

Quail Botanical Gardens, 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas. $3 adults; $1.50 ages 5-12; free parking. 760-436-3036. Exit I-5 at Encinitas Blvd, go east two blocks on left, turn left at Quail Gardens Drive.

Tom's Farms, Corona. Great fresh French bread, baked every few hours, wine & cheese shop, fruit & vegetable stand, hamburgers and milkshakes. An "oasis" with a pond, fountain in the middle of the pond, and swans. Topiary: life-size Tom with pitchfork, deer, 2 small elephants, etc. Free live music on weekends and holidays.

Glen Ivy Hot Springs Resort

The San Diego Wild Animal Park in Escondido. Also see this site.

Los Penasquitos Canyon, San Diego, between Del Mar and Poway.

San Dieguito Regional Park, Escondido.

San Diego County Fair, Del Mar. June 17-July 4, 1997. 760-793-5555.

Torrey Pines State Reserve, La Jolla

Dos Picos Park, between Ramona and Poway

Birch Aquarium, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. 9-5 daily. 619-534-7336.

Balboa Park in San Diego.

Palomar State Park and Palomar Mountain

Doris Wood Cottage Garden, Ramona

Hotel del Coronado, Coronado

Palomar Mountain Observatory

Route 78 from Route 79 near Santa Ysabel to Route 86 passing near Julian . The big attraction here is the San Diego Wild Animal Park about three miles east of Route 15. San Pasqual Battlefield is also conveniently located two more miles east of the park. Next is the Mission of Santa Isabel at Route 79. The adjacent town of Santa Ysabel also hadtwo wineries: Menghini and Witch Creek, and don't forget Dudley's Bread! Finally, the Eagle & High Peak Mines are located at Route 79 (the southern portion) in Julian. If you want to rest for a while, you can go to the Ocotillo Wells Recreation Area. The little"facility" has a camping site. Nearby is a ranger station for the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.Anza Borrego is one of the largest state parks in the country, nailing it at 600,000 acres, and serves asone of the premier desert parks in the southwest. (The "borrego" is Spanish for bighorn sheep.) The parkprovides 144 developed campsites (52 of which have hook-ups), primitive campsites, horse campsites,open camp areas, picnic sites, a visitors' center, numerous and rather popular hiking trails, jeeptrails, and water in some developed areas. For more information, call (619)767-5311..

Cabrillo National Monument

California Wolf Center four miles south of Julian. An education and conservation center focusing on the North American Gray Wolf, home to several captive packs. Visits allowed only for the 2 pm Saturday program with advance reservations. Fee: $7 Adults; $3 Kids.