This preserve is operated by the San Diego Audobon and Bird Alliance and it was such a nice treat…read moreto come visit the grounds on a Sunday. They are usually open on Saturdays mainly. I stopped in around 11:30am on Sunday and showed up just in time to sign up for the noon bird walk. There were a lot of people on the tour and I wandered off and just started looking at birds on my own. I got to see plenty of species including the hooded Oriole, western flycatcher and yellow rumped warbler. All species I have seen before. 11:30am is really too late to see birds and need to come earlier and its already getting pretty hot so I am going to come here earlier. I wish they opened at sunrise but seems the preserve opens at 9am on Saturdays. There are a few nice trails here and all doable within 1-2 hours on the grounds. My faborite is probably the Riparian trail and the pond trail. The pond had many bullfrogs chilling in them, I got some shots of their eyes lol. There was also a very cute little kitty cat on the grounds and very friendly. The cat definitely suckered me into petting them. So adorable and so fluffy. I also met the Executive Director who was a nice guy and very welcoming. All the staff here were lovely. Decent amount of parking available. Id definitely come back again when I want to bird!

Peaceful, wildlife has the time and space to be at home here; it's only open on Saturday mornings…read moreunless there is an event, such as a talk about bees, birds, or other wildlife

What an incredible experience! It was so amazing to see so many reptiles and be able to actually…read morehold them and interact with them in their habitats. We wouldn't have had such an amazing time without our amazing tour guide. Rachel did such a great job teaching our kids the right ways to interact with the animals and you can tell that she really loves what she does. She was really patient with our kids and made this an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend! *full warning, the outside of the building looks a little sketchy at first because it's an old building, but don't let that deter you*

Would you like to learn about incredible reptiles up close and support a good cause? The…read moreEcoVivarium is the perfect place! For $25 you can get a behind the scenes tour that introduces you to a variety of turtles, snakes, and lizards that call the EcoVivarium home. They also have birthday party visits, host events, and as I learned from my friend Trish, can help teachers get set up with a reptile in the classroom. My first conversation with Susan at the EcoVivarium was heartfelt, as I was calling to see if they might be interested in the donation of our decommissioned aquarium. The setup was only four years old and housed our previous beloved 26 year old fish named Puff that had recently passed away. Susan was kind, expressed her condolences and shared that they would appreciate our donation. Chun P and I met Rachel and Donald on a Sunday and after we brought our items in from the car were treated to meeting some terrific reptiles. Many of the inhabitants at the EcoVivarium have sad stories, some had suffered abuse, some were abandoned, and others were victims of trafficking that were confiscated and brought in by the department of fish and game. Susan has created a safe space and her staff and volunteers give their all to make sure they live a better life. I'm looking forward to visiting again soon and supporting this worthy endeavor!

A park famous for its osk trees!…read more A quick walk for grandkids to enjoy the park's track trail! Offers playground ,picnic areas with barbecue , volleyball court and restrooms as well!

3 5 stars. I think this is an OK park with some fun to be had, but the $5 to park (no longer $3) is…read morea huge turnoff and I don't see the $5 being put into the park more than other free public parks I've been too. Definitely a fun place to go to once in a while and especially fun for birthday, but due to the fee, I don't come frequently.

Gotta love the Lion Camp and the food/drink options that are available right next to it…read more Service is quick! Nachos, hot dogs, pretzels with cheese and slushees! Steps away from all the live animals. Worth a visit!

You have to walk a little to find this big camp and it is so worth it! As the name suggests, you…read morewill see lions in this safari camp themed exhibit. I like to come here often and each time there is something fun to see. These cats have big personalities too, and not everyone plays nice. The large family of cats includes: Mom and her sister dad 2 cubs approximately 1 year old 4 cubs approximately 6 months old. So momma kitty is really possessive and likes things just her way. She won't let her sister anywhere near her cubs. She did not introduce the 2 older cubs to the family, they only get to hang wiuth eachother. The most interesting scenario includes Mom, dad and their 4 giant babies. Crowds go nuts when all 6 kitties are in the showcase cage.

My friends and I weren't planning to come here but the mission we drove out here to see was…read moreunexpectedly closed today so we stopped by the nature center after a slice of pie. The facility is very clean and seems to be on the newer side, with lots of large windows and central A/C. There's a room with some taxidermy wildlife and informational boards to read about the various types of wildlife and plants in the area. There's a room with a projector and a ton of chairs that is probably used for teaching, but today they were just showing shots of a mountain Lion caught walking by a camera. Out on the patio there are seats and tables, as well as interactive gold panning and archeology installations. We spent some time at them and thought it was cool (as adults) so I'm sure kids love them. Then there's a short nature path you can walk down to get to a limited playground, and there is also stadium-like seating off to the side so maybe they do some sort of show here? Not sure. But that's pretty much it. Less one star because there's not much to see, but everything that is there is nice. There were only three other families we ran into while exploring, so not sure if it was an off hour or if this is typical.

Great place to visit. The center is full of information and exhibits showing the local plants and…read more wildlife. There are 12 miles of trails with different degrees of difficulty. Some of thrails are very step with long downhills, not good for people with bad knees. Hours of operation are from 8:00am to sunset.

We arrived around 8 AM on a Sunday, and the main lot was already full, but there's an overflow lot…read moreabout 400 feet away where we were able to grab the last spot. The trail itself was pretty quiet. We passed a few people here and there. It's very well maintained, though there aren't any signs or clear directions at certain points, so I'd recommend using AllTrails to stay on track. Also worth noting, there are no trash cans along the route, so plan accordingly. The trail is technically listed as not dog-friendly, but we did see a couple of dogs along the way. We did the 4.5-mile overlook loop. There were a few sections that were a bit steep, but overall it's a fairly easy hike with mostly flat terrain. There's a lot of greenery throughout, and the creek adds a really nice touch. It's a really scenic and peaceful setting. It took us about 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete. We went on a cloudy day, which ended up being perfect for the hike. Overall, it's a beautiful, well-kept trail and definitely worth checking out.

What an incredible trail! The mix of flowing water and those scattered rock formations makes every…read morestep feel like a little adventure. Going around 10 in the morning sounds perfect for soaking in the peaceful vibe without running into many people. It's a relatively easy route with plenty of spots to pause for a picnic, making it the perfect way to connect with nature and start the day surrounded by quiet beauty.

A beautiful spot with tons of open space to use…read more Attended a birthday party here then movies at night. It was fun and after sunset. The only issue was the fire ants and mosquitos. Even after using Off Bug Spray, I had a few bites on my arms. With tons of dining tables, trash and recycle bins, and a staff that is patient and welcoming, it's a good option if seeking an open air place to celebrate any occasion. I'll be back soon.

It never disappoints in any time of year. I'm only disappointed when the museum of the ranch house…read moreis closed. This time I saw tadpoles, ducklings,, wild radish and lemon aid berries! Easy trails and running water bring me back

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

I visited Double Peak Park in San Marcos recently, and it turned out to be a much more lively and…read morememorable place than I expected. Even though it is an outdoor park, it has this energetic atmosphere that teenagers would enjoy a lot. I saw a surprising number of teenagers around the lookout areas, the trails, and the picnic spots, which made the whole place feel youthful and social in a way that reminded me of the playful energy I felt at Funko Hollywood. The wide open views at the top almost felt unreal when I first saw them, and I could easily understand why so many teens were taking pictures there. The scenery practically invites you to take photos without needing anything extra. As I walked around, I realized there was more to the park than I expected. Some parts of the trail felt a little worn down, and a few areas could have been more polished, which is part of why I would give it four stars instead of five. Still, I appreciated how easy it was to explore the park without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. Even with groups of teenagers laughing and taking pictures, the atmosphere stayed calm and relaxing. I only visited Double Peak Park one time before writing this review, but it left a strong impression on me because of how open, peaceful, and lively it felt all at once. It is one of the more refreshing outdoor places I have been to in a while, and I never doubted that the experience would turn out the way I hoped it would. I would highly recommend that teenagers go there because they would love the photo opportunities, the sense of freedom on the trails, and the creative feeling that comes from being somewhere with such a wide and inspiring view. It gives them a place to hang out, take pictures, and enjoy themselves without spending any money.