California Vacation Guide 2015 - 180

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

EVENTS

San
Diego
County
WINTER
Gaslamp Mardi
Gras, San Diego.
Join the biggest Fat
Tuesday celebration on the West
Coast, with colorful
performers, beadwearing revelers,
and a 50-foot-high
Chinese dragon
winding through
the Gaslamp
Quarter. FEB 17

TRIP
IDEA

SPRING

Mountains to the Sea

NEW ADVENTURES, FRESH TASTES, AND MELLOW DAYS
AT THE BEACH-THIS DRIVE TAKES YOU TO SURPRISING
HIGH COUNTRY AND BACK TO THE SUNNY COAST.
START: SAN DIEGO
ALPINE (29mi/47km; 30min).

1

Search for deals at Viejas Outlets. For something wilder, visit
Lions, Tigers & Bears, an exotic
animal sanctuary located at an
old adobe stagecoach stop.
JULIAN (32mi/51km; 45min).
Pan for gold at the 1870 Eagle
and High Peak Gold Mine. In fall,
orchards like Calico Ranch open
for apple picking. Don't miss
the sweet crumb-topped Dutch
apple pie at Julian Pie Company.

2

3

PALOMAR MOUNTAIN STATE
PARK (34mi/55km; 56min).

Take a self-guided tour of
the giant Hale Telescope at
Palomar Observatory, perched
near the mountain summit. Hike
Boucher Trail to a lookout atop
mile-high Boucher Hill.
ESCONDIDO (35mi/56km;
1hr). Watch Sumatran tigers
swim and sun on the new Tiger
Trail at San Diego Zoo Safari
Park. See quirky serpent sculptures in Queen Caliﬁa's Magical
Circle sculpture garden.
OCEANSIDE (21mi/34km;
22min). Trace local history at
the California Surf Museum, then

4
5

180 | VISITCALIFORNIA.COM

walk the pier to see wave slaves
in action. Visit restored Mission
San Luis Rey, with bright murals,
hand-carved wooden doors, and
an orchard where the state's ﬁrst
pepper tree still grows.
CARLSBAD (3mi/5km;
9min). Bodysurf the wave
pool at new LEGO Legends of
CHIMA Water Park. No kids?
Spend the afternoon bird
watching around Batiquitos
Lagoon, or cool off with a Blackball Belgian IPA at award-winning
Karl Strauss Brewing Company.
ENCINITAS (10mi/17km;
14min). Join the crowd for
worth-the-wait wood-ﬁred pizza

6

7

76

PALOMAR

OCEANSIDE
78

CARLSBAD
ENCINITAS
TORREY
PINES
LA
JOLLA

ESCONDIDO
JULIAN
15

79

5

San
Diego

8

ALPINE

CORONADO

at Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria.
Relax amid colorful blooms at
Self-Realization Fellowship's
oceanfront meditation gardens.
TORREY PINES (13mi/21km;
17min). Play a pair of
championship golf courses atop
an idyllic coastal bluff. Just north,
explore acres of native ﬂora at
Torrey Pines State Natural
Reserve, including the park's
namesake pines.
LA JOLLA (6mi/9km; 13min).
Gallery hop to see ﬁne art
photos by Peter Lik and modern
sculpture at Tasende Gallery. Enjoy
an elegant 8-course meal at California Modern, then catch a show
at La Jolla Playhouse.

Del Mar National
Horse Show,
Del Mar.
Thousands of
thoroughbreds converge on this coastal
town for California's
most prestigious
equestrian event,
celebrating its 70th
birthday this year.
APR 16-MAY 3

8

9

10

CORONADO ISLAND

(19mi/30km; 30min). Tour
the 1888 Hotel del Coronado,
a Queen Anne beauty made
entirely of wood. Book a twilight
tee time at Coronado Municipal
Golf Course for awesome views
of the city and Coronado Bridge.
TO SAN DIEGO: 7mi/11km; 12min

More ideas at
visitcalifornia.com

Del Mar
SUMMER
Summer Shakespeare Festival,
Balboa Park.
At the Old Globe,
enjoy ﬁrst-rate
productions performed under the
stars in a 605-seat
open-air playhouse.
JUN-SEP

More at
visitcalifornia.com

DAVE LAURIDSEN (2)

The Lodge at Torrey Pines
http://www.visitcalifornia.com http://www.visitcalifornia.com http://www.VISITCALIFORNIA.COM
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of California Vacation Guide 2015
