The Olivenhain Meeting Hall is a small treasure. Built in 1895 by Colony Olivenhain, the Hall was…read morethe social and community center of Olivenhain. It's one of those rare historic buildings in San Diego County that have been preserved and/or restored. It provides a glimpse into 19th century life in this area.

I love this place. I just think it's so cool and really gives Olivenhain a sweet, old-timey vibe…read more I took some pictures and posted up here on Yelp. These were taken on an overcast day, so the details don't come out as nicely as I hoped. Anyway, if you're along this stretch of Rancho Santa Fe Road in Olivenhain, just pull over and find some street parking nearby. You can walk through the grounds and check it all out. We're really lucky to have this little jewel preserved in North County. Pretty neat to think of what settler life was like back in day.

The Encinitas Historical Society dedicates itself to preserving history and educating people…read more Volunteers have successfully saved the oldest building in town and a schoolhouse (which happens to be located on prime property) from greedy developers. Passionate individuals donate their time at all of the local street fares and other community events. They also sponsor free 90 minute walking tours with docents who love to share broad knowledge, helping people interpret the region's history. Ecninitas Historcal Society is a local success story and we are truly blessed to have such generous people working to preserve what is left of Encinitas' rich history.

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.

Sightseeing in San Diego, California…read more.. I don't remember why I had this place on my List of Things To See, but we stumbled across the Historic Alvarado House when we visited the San Diego County Fair on 6-25-23. The person who actually spotted this exhibit is Emmett T. I thought that the house was a functional structure in a residential area, but no... Not now. It used to be - in 1885 when it was sold for $600 to Don Diego de Jesus. Currently, the house is located near the Garden/landscaping contest displays, the Historic Alvarado House was on the edge of the "Blue Zone" of the Fair. The most recent owner of house donated it to the Del Mar Historical Society. Plans are in the works to move the house somewhere else and present it as a museum. We arrived at the San Diego County Fair around 6pm and the house was closed for tours. Maybe if we return and get there earlier, we would be able to walk through the house and observe the contents? Thanks to Emmett (again) for being a great tour guide!

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.

This place was really cool and a lot bigger than I thought! Got to speak with the artist as well…read morefor insight.

I went for fashion week San Diego. That's where they hosted it this year. The shows were great. Too…read morebad Friday got a bit rained out. Saturday show was amazing but very small space for the show. It would have been great if the stage was a bit more raised. As for the gallery, it's a beautiful and Small gallery that gives you the opportunity to interact with the artist creating the artwork. It's worth walking along the short path which features sculptures among the plants and has a nice little out door venue area between all the art. Great little local place to check out if you have never been

I feel so very blessed to be able to come to the City of Solana Beach each Monday for run club…read more Run North County hosts run clubs in North County all thru the week and Monday runs are here. I keep coming back because the running routes are breathtakingly gorgeous. So while you torture yourself running, you at least get distracted my mindblowing views. I would have to agree with others that the City of Solana Beach is super chill and not too crowded. The older I get, the more I appreciate peace, space and calm. I really love this place and so glad I'm not too far away and can enjoy this beach weekly!

This cute little town south of Encinitas and north of San Diego is a nice place to stroll around…read moreand go shopping for house decor items (lots of interior design businesses here), gifts for the ones you love, or just to grab a coffee or a bite to eat. The area on Cedros Avenue is like a walkable business district that has lots of free parking and many varied stores to shop. That business district has about 85 merchants, artisans, one-of-a-kind curators and collectors. Fashion boutiques, fine jewelry, art galleries, outdoor cafes and more, all clustered along a peaceful 2 1/2 blocks in North County's nearby Solana Beach. We loved spending time in this part of San Diego county. Relaxing and cute.

Been here once before and the volunteers are so nice and helpful. The models are so interesting to…read morelook at and to think they were all hand made. Ample free parking!

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.

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.