This place is an absolute gem hidden off of Melrose! You turn down in here and you see so many…read morebeautiful things. There are peacocks during the early morning time roaming around. They have a beautiful little movie theater where you can watch a show about how it all began and a tiny little gift shop. Then you can walk around and see all of the horse stables, houses, and beautiful reflection pool.

We got the opportunity to walk with a docent/guide during a light rain we had in May. It was s nice…read moreto walk in the rain and hear stories of the past at Leo Carrillo Ranch. The cacti were in blossom which was a unique treat! We saw peacocks, a wide variety of local biota and enjoyed talking story with a knowledgeable elder.

A total hidden gem for anyone! Tiny engines, motors, and other devices mostly handcrafted from…read morescratch. All sorts of model vehicles, ships and planes plus a fun dollhouse section. Lots of interesting details and background information to read.

Admission was free. It was very interesting because I love crafting. Also because there was a…read morescavenger hunt that I completed and got a little lizard 3d print.

A fantastic slice of early California history with a beautiful church built in 1811, fascinating…read morecemetary, a 200+ year old pepper tree, coffee shop, excellent gift shop, museum, and tours of the buildings and grounds. There is even a priest who sits outside to bless you and any items you purchased in the gift shop -- a nice touch! Notwithstanding Father Junípero Serra's apparent and controversial role in the cultural and physical destruction of Indigenous peoples, the place is a great peek into the past from religious, cultural, and archtectural perpectives.

A must see mission. I would also recommend taking the behind the scenes tour with Ted on Sundays…read more This mission has so much history and is the King of all Missions

What a great place to hike to! I am glad there are many…read moretypes of paths up to Double Peak Park. Some days I feel like taking the paved of packed earth trails. Other times I enjoy scrambling on the many winding cross country trails. It's all good! Now if only someone would set up a coffee stand at the top

What a view! I came up for the Starwalk event hosted by the city of San Marcos through the Double…read morePeak Astronomy program. There was plenty of parking but we got there early just in case. We walked up to the check-in desk, provided our info, and were given instructions, star maps, and red lenses for our phones. We then walked to Mahnita Boyden-Wofford Amphitheater (a large cement amphitheater) and found seats facing the volunteer ranger presenting the night's info. Unfortunately, it was a bit too foggy to see much. The volunteer ranger (John Walsh) answered questions and explained differences between various stars, meteors, satellites and sky debris. Occasionally, the sky would open up for us to see a few stars. We did get to see the summer triangle and a satellite though. It was a good learning experience and I hope to do more in the future on a clear night. Tip: apparently it's tarrantula season so watch your step.

Nice little park with historic buildings from Oceanside. Shady trees and picnic tables. This is…read morepopular as a wedding venue as there's a gazebo for the ceremony, buildings to use for preparation, and the area is quiet (the nearby La Hacienda restaurant also has an area to host receptions). Dogs are allowed on leashes if you pick up after them. There are dog waste bag dispensers and trash cans in the park. Bikes / Skateboards are not allowed to be ridden inside the park but can be carried or pushed with you. There are also drinking fountains and restrooms. Park also contains the model railroad club which visitors can view. The caretaker John who lives at the connected house is very friendly and so is his dog. He's usually either sitting on his porch or doing something inside the park so if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask him..

Went to check out the train set with my grandson but it was closed. We will try again later when…read moreit's open. Very small but cute kind of place.

The Carlsbad Strawberry company offers a fantastic U-Pick experience during strawberry season. For…read more$18 per adult, I got admissions and a reasonably sized bucket for picking strawberries. It's easy to fill up the bucket with ripe strawberries quick. Although it doesn't seem like there's a lot of strawberries at first glance, there's a lot as I walked through the rows of strawberry plants - that was part of the fun! One thing I wasn't prepared for was the dirt and how muddy the strawberry rows were. I'm not sure if it was always that wet. Perhaps it was because it rained earlier in the day? My shoes got extremely dirty and there wasn't a convenient way to wash it off there. I recommend wearing rain boots. In addition to strawberries, there was a sunflower maze and a separate section for a simple sunflower field. For those who don't want to worry about food, there's vendors and food trucks on site. They also sell jam and fresh strawberries at the stand, which doesn't require an admissions ticket. Service wasn't anything special. The staff there were efficient and friendly. Overall, I enjoyed my time there and I recommend visitors trying out the U-Pick experience!

It's July 8. it seems like the ripe ones were very small. Perhaps it's a different variety of…read morestrawberry than I'm used to. They seem to grow from small, to red, to rotten. They never have a chance to get big for some reason. I'm used to the strawberries that are the size of two golf balls. These are the size of a quarter.

I love finding cool historical spots in the local area! I went on a Sunday and it looked like there…read moreweren't any real tours happening, so I just walked around the outside by myself. It was very cool seeing how well preserved everything was and they even had a gift shop. They had lots of dirt parking, a public restroom, and lots of picnic tables. I also got to see a humming bird!!!

I walk the "Sports Park" at least 5 times a week. I love the trails and its rural feel. The…read moreactual adobe is amazing with a lot of historical features and fun to tour. I want to give a shout out to Tom, one of the volunteers who lives on site. You will see him working around the trails and adobe on any given day. He takes pride in his work and it shows! Thanks for making Rancho Adobe such a beautiful place to visit.

We love this park! More natural kind of vibe (you can see the ocean in the distance and the sunset…read moreviews are 10/10) - the play structure is wooden, there's a large wooden seesaw, and the swing (pictured) is always a favorite for the littles! Big beautiful grass field right down from the playground. 4 stars only due to there being no bathrooms! So come prepared or small a short visit!

This park is definitely a hidden gem. We were here for the playground. It's designed for ages 5-12…read more It's got fun and different elements, including a swing, seesaw, and balance beams. There are lots of picnic table seating areas, both in and out of the shade. Everything was impeccably clean. The view is beautiful as it sits high and you can see the ocean. There is limited street parking only and there no restrooms.

One of our long-time local favorites. In warm weather, we enjoy the patio and watching the…read moreever-changing array of characters ambling along South Cedros, some destined for shows at The Belly Up. The inside dining room and bar is cozy and decorated with posters from musical acts. Tavern is popular before shows and we go early on weeknights to beat the crowds and enjoy the food. The menu is reasonably priced. The tasty pan seared lemon and butter scallops on linguine was $29. The lobster tacos are $28, with the lobster chunks in a bowl with a subtle tomato sauce, and choice of torillas, with Spanish rice and black beans. Tavern has a full bar and a short but excellent wine list, reasonably priced, and mostly from California. Wines by the glass start at $11 and go to $14. A bottle of William Hill, Central Coast, Chardonnay, wsa $42 and the Rombauer Carneos, $65. Corkage is $25. Most cocktails are $15. It has local beers on draft and in the cans. Service is always fast and friendly. They check regularly for water refills, and any thoughts on the meal. We enjoy the casual, neighborly feel to the Tavern. A California beach town classic.

Best place to eat before a show at the Belly Up!…read more My go-to has been the filet medallions. Always great! Perfectly cooked each time. Cocktails are on point. Old fashioned was excellent. Wine list is what you need. Not huge, but full of solid wines. Review for the attached restaurant: Kind and efficient service. Joy was stellar!!! Nice welcome upon coming in. Server had it all nailed down. Look forward to coming again! 5/20/26 visit

This is THE MOST AMAZING HIDDEN JEWEL of San Diego County! The History is so very deep,…read moremulticultural, humbling and beautiful. A small remnant of our distant past here in Southern California. You and your Family are blessed to have the opportunity to visit. AND it is just beyond BEAUTIFUL. Peaceful. Deep. Spirit filled and spiritual. Full of stories, ghosts and history. This should be something that everyone in North County knows and Loves!!!! Just a Godsend and Blessing!

This is a a great place to take portraits, the staff is friendly. It's also a great place to just…read moresimply go for a walk and enjoy the nature that surround you.