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Here are some suggested itineraries for you to get the most out of your visit to San Diego North. Coastal | Valley | Mountain | Desert |
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Coastal | |||
| » Ocean Exploration | |||
| 8:00 am | Del Mar - Have breakfast at Pacifica Breeze Café. Try the House Smoked Salmon Benedict or the Del Mar Power Breakfast - very popular with the locals. | ||
| 9:30 am | La Jolla - Get acquainted with a variety of marine life at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps. | ||
| Noon | La Jolla - Have lunch at The Shores Restaurant at the La Jolla Shores Hotel, one of the three restaurants overseen by award-winning Chef Bernard Guillas. | ||
| 1:30 pm | La Jolla - Uncover the smallest of sea creatures amongst the tide pools at Shell Beach or paddle through a guided kayaking tour of La Jolla Cove and caves with La Jolla Kayak. | ||
| 6 pm | La Jolla - Have dinner in downtown La Jolla. Save room for dessert at Nine-Ten where the half-baked chocolate cake can't be missed. | ||
| 8 pm | La Jolla - Saunter through La Jolla Village along Prospect Street and stumble upon the myriad of boutiques, galleries, and museums. | ||
| Don't Miss | Swimming or kayaking with docile leopard sharks at La Jolla Shores during the last weeks of summer. | ||
| » Be a Kid Again | |||
| 10:00 am | Carlsbad - Frolic through LEGOLAND and swab the decks at its new Pirate Shores attraction. Grab lunch, and try the Granny's Apple Fries. | ||
| 4:00 pm | Carlsbad - Splash around at Carlsbad State Beach and take a walk along the boardwalk. | ||
| 6:00 pm | Oceanside - Have dinner at the historic 101 Café. Don't forget to order the famous carrot cake - its 50-year old recipe along with the freshest ingredients will put a smile on your face. | ||
| 7:30 pm | Oceanside - Stroll along Oceanside Harbor - the Cape Cod-style village houses an assortment of shops and includes the iconic harbor lighthouse. | ||
| Don't Miss | The Oceanside Pier, which is the longest over-water wooden pier on the West Coast. Boasting 1,942 feet, this historic structure draws visitors and locals who wish to enjoy a panoramic view of the coastline. | ||
| » A Dose of Adventure | |||
| 9:30 am | La Jolla - Hike along the trails of the Torrey Pines State Reserve or brave the waves with surf lessons at Surf Diva. | ||
| Noon | La Jolla to Solana Beach - Have lunch at the Hard Rock Café in La Jolla or at any of the eateries along Historic Highway 101. | ||
| 3:00 pm | Del Mar or Carlsbad - Sail aloft on a Hot Air Balloon Ride with California Dreamin' or pierce through the sky on a thrilling biplane ride with A 1 Biplane, Air Combat and Warbird Adventure. | ||
| Don't Miss | The Torrey Pines State Reserve, where you'll see the rarest native pines in the U.S. Two phenomena can be spotted from the Reserve: the Green Flash and the pine trees' unusually heavy and very bushy overgrowth, known as the Gorilla's Nest or Witches' Broom. | ||
| » Coastally Cultured | |||
| 9:00 am | Encinitas - Immerse yourself in a sanctuary of exotic greenery and vibrant flora at Quail Botanical Gardens. | ||
| Noon | Encinitas - Have lunch at chic new Savory. The onion soup was voted best by San Diego Magazine and the beef tenderloin with bleu cheese and Savory Mac-n-Cheese are not to be missed. | ||
| 2:00 pm | Carlsbad or Oceanside - Journey through a century of musical instrument innovations at the Museum of Making Music or rejuvenate your spirit at the "King of Missions," Mission San Luis Rey. | ||
| 6:00 pm | Carlsbad - Have dinner at Bellefleur located in the Carlsbad Premium Outlets. Make sure to check out their private function room with original, full-size French and American wine barrels stacked to the ceiling. | ||
| 7:00 pm | Carlsbad - Shop till you drop at Carlsbad Premium Outlets. | ||
| Don't Miss | The largest bamboo collection in the U.S. and the Undersea Gardens at Quail Botanical Gardens. | ||
| » Drive the 101 | |||
| 8:30 am | Oceanside - Have breakfast at the historic 101 Café. The oldest eatery in Oceanside, serving breakfast classics all day long. Sit at the bar to take in some of the action. | ||
| 10:00 am | Oceanside - Learn about the history of local surfing with a stop at the California Surf Museum. | ||
| Noon | Carlsbad - Have lunch in Carlsbad Village | ||
| 2:00 pm | Encinitas - Wander through Downtown Encinitas. Check out the surf at world-renowned Swami's Beach, or kick off your flip-flops for a refreshing stroll along Moonlight Beach. | ||
| 4:00 pm | Solana Beach - Pick up one-of-a-kind gifts or artisan creations at the Cedros Design District. | ||
| 6:00 pm | Del Mar - Have dinner at Brigantine Del Mar and enjoy their signature marinated swordfish. Take in the panoramic view of the Del Mar Racetrack and Pacific Ocean while perched at the cocktail deck. Or head to Pacifica Del Mar to try their sumptuous Barbequed Sugar-Spiced Salmon. Stroll around Del Mar Plaza after dinner for a prime view of the sunset. | ||
| 8:00 pm | Solana Beach - Catch a live music show at the internationally-acclaimed Belly Up. | ||
| Don't Miss | Your choice of Farmers Markets at any of the communities along the 101: Sunday - La Jolla, Leucadia and Solana Beach; Wednesday - Carlsbad; Thursday - Oceanside; Saturday - Carlsbad and Del Mar. | ||
Valley | |||
| » The Park n' The Arts | |||
| 9:00 am | Escondido - Embark on a safari tour at the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park. For a rare, close-up glimpse of its popular inhabitants, add in a Photo Caravan Tour or a Cheetah Run demonstration. | ||
| 1:00 pm | Escondido - Have lunch at the Brigantine Escondido. Grab a table in the outdoor patio for a lovely view of the lush landscapes as you enjoy their signature marinated swordfish. | ||
| 2:30 pm | Escondido - Enjoy Grape Day Park and stroll through a little bit of Escondido's history at the Escondido History Center. Ponder the wealth of exhibits on display at the Mingei Museum on Grand Avenue. Let the magnificent Queen Califia's Magical Circle sculpture garden in Kit Carson Park astound you. | ||
| 6:00 pm | Escondido - Have dinner in Downtown Escondido. | ||
| 8:00 pm | Escondido - End the evening in style with a performance at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido or the Welk Resort Theatre. | ||
| Don't Miss | Queen Califia's Magical Circle, the only American sculpture garden by internationally-acclaimed artist, Niki de Saint Phalle. Find her signature near the golden egg fountain. | ||
| » Refined Relaxation | |||
| 9:00 am | Rancho Bernardo - Enjoy some pampering with a spa treatment or a relaxing round of golf at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. | ||
| 1:00 pm | Rancho Bernardo - Have lunch at the Veranda Restaurant overlooking the golf course. | ||
| 2:30 pm | Rancho Bernardo or Escondido - Prime your palette for wine tastings at Bernardo Winery or Orfila Vineyards and Winery. Orfila's Estate "Lotus" Viognier won a Gold award at the 2007 Challenge du Vin in Bordeaux, France. | ||
| 6:00 pm | Escondido - Have dinner at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens. Start with the Stone Pale Ale & Garlic Stir-Fried Brussels Sprouts. | ||
| 8:00 pm | Escondido - Top off the night with a performance at Welk Resort Theatre or California Center for the Arts, Escondido. | ||
| Don't Miss | The Annual Grape Stomp, taking place at Orfila Vineyards and Winery every August. | ||
| » Wild Card Wanderer | |||
| 9:00 am | Escondido - Meander through the shops, museums and galleries along Grand Avenue - Downtown Escondido. Make your way to the museum at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. | ||
| 1:00 pm | Valley Center - Pack up a lunch picnic and head out to Bates Nut Farm, where five generations of Bates have kept up the traditions of roasting nuts and sharing a unique farm experience with their visitors. Squeeze in a visit to The Lavender Fields during its lavender bloom season, April-June, and walk the lavender labyrinth. | ||
| 4:00 pm | Valley Center - Treat yourself to a spa visit or gaming at Harrah's Rincon Casino and Resort. | ||
| 6:00 pm | Valley Center - Dine in one of eight restaurant options available at Harrah's. From Fiore's steak and seafood or worldly flavors at the International Buffet, to "fruits of the sea" from the Oyster Bar, Harrah's has got every taste covered. | ||
| 8:00 pm | Valley Center - Groove to live musical entertainment at Harrah's. | ||
| Don't Miss | Escondido's Cruisin' Grand, the Friday night blast to the past with hot rods and classic cars. From April - September, 5pm-9pm every Friday. | ||
Mountain | |||
| » It's All in the Altitude | |||
| 9:00 am | Palomar Mountain - Take self-guided tour and see the 200-inch Hale Telescope at Palomar Observatory. | ||
| 1:30 pm | Warner Springs - Surrender to the enchantment of sky sailing or mid-week horseback riding at Warner Springs Ranch. | ||
| 6:00 pm | Warner Springs - Have dinner at The Anza Room at Warner Springs Ranch. | ||
| 8:00 pm | Palomar Mountain - Look out into the vast beyond with some dramatic star gazing. The 3200-foot elevation atop Palomar Mountain lures the local astronomy club to the spot, where they will often share with the inquisitive a peek through their telescopes. | ||
| Don't Miss | A soak in the natural mineral hot springs at Warner Springs Ranch. Known to offer invigorating relaxation and therapeutic healing, the springs emerge from the earth at a toasty 137 degrees, with the hot mineral pool being maintained between 100-102 degrees year round. | ||
| » A Bit o' Country | |||
| 9:00 am | Santa Ysabel - Take a self-guided tour of the historic Mission Santa Ysabel. | ||
| 10:30 am | Julian - Unleash your inner sleuth with a History Hunt through Julian for a chance at a cash prize. | ||
| Noon | Julian - Have lunch at Miner's Diner, featuring an original olde-fashioned soda fountain and diner. | ||
| 1:30 pm | Julian - Wander through one of the many apple orchards for apple picking (September - October). | ||
| 3:00 pm | Julian - Get cozy as you mosey along Main Street on a horse-drawn carriage ride. | ||
| 4:00 pm | Julian - Have dinner at your choice of eateries along Main Street, including a Texas-style barbeque joint. Plan an early meal - most restaurants close at 5pm during the week. | ||
| Don't Miss | Julian's famous homemade apple pie at Mom's Pie shop. | ||
Desert | |||
| » An Open Oasis | |||
| 9:00 am | Anza Borrego - Rev through miles of desert terrain with a jeep tour that takes you to Font's Point and other desert must-sees. Learn about area wildlife with a stop at the "underground" visitor center. | ||
| Noon | Borrego Springs - Have a quick bite for lunch at the Roadrunner Café, located at the Borrego Springs Resort. | ||
| 2:00 pm | Borrego Springs - Squeeze in some "me" time with a round of golf at the Borrego Springs Resort, a soothing massage from The Salon at La Casa del Zorro, or a leisurely bike ride through the desert. | ||
| 6:00 pm | Borrego Springs - Have dinner at the Butterfield Room at La Casa del Zorro. Head to their Wine Room after your meal and select one of 7,000 bottles of wines within their collection from around the world. | ||
| Don't Miss | The wildflower season (February - April). | ||
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© 2008 San Diego North Convention & Visitors Bureau 360 N. Escondido Boulevard, Escondido, California 92025-2600 Toll Free (800) 848-3336 or (760) 745-4741 Site by: Duotribe Design |