The 39 best areas in Escondido

The seating was comfortable, and our view was great. Pricing was overly done since it's an older auditorium. The sound wasn't too bad.

Sue Palmer opened for Joe Castro.What a phenomenal woman! I have never seen anyone make a piano dance like she did! Super fun and relatable. Joe Castro rocked socks,just!sayin!

This is such a nice venue (both inside and out) but the multiple times we have come here for somewhat higher energy bands... the layout of the theater kills it. Remove the first 10-15 rows of seating for general admission... Bands need people on their feet/ dancing to keep up the energy exchange during the set. When everyone is seated ...motionless... it kind of sets the tone for the show. If its a play... or an educational/cultural type performance... put the seats back in. High energy main stream bands would change the financial picture for this venue and I as a life long North County Resident want it to succeed.

Wonderful venue for all kinds of events. I've attended concerts, plays, and annual gatherings from local organizations here. Most recently I saw Euphoria Brass Band for some amazing New Orleans jazz and blues.

Accessibility: there are many accessible/handicap parking spots in the parking lot as well as multiple ramps to get onto the sidewalk that leads to the museum, theaters, ticket office and conference area. When heading toward these buildings from the parking lot the pathway is lit with string lights and street lights in the parking lot. You might come to an option that says the left hallway is for the museum and right hallway for the theaters, ticket office, conference center...only the right side has a ramp so you might need to take that and go a little further until the sidewalk wraps around to the museum side. It's not much farther. If you come from the other side of all these buildings because you parked somewhere else, it is more flat ground and ramps. The museum has a pull door and inside it is very well lit with tons of open space. There are restrooms open in the museum and they have one larger stall for those who need it. Experience: I really loved this museum. It's beautiful inside, very spacious, not too hot or cold, and the tickets are not too expensive compared to some museums. The staff are super friendly and helpful, and the art is very well taken care of. I will definitely come back. Outside the museum there is Grape Day Park which is absolutely beautiful, free, and has many benches and trees with shade.

Large venue right in downtown Escondido. Tons of parking, indoor and outdoor stages, wide variety of free and paid events for all ages. Amazing!

Went to the Sunday 2pm performance of Giselle at Escondido Center for the Arts on October 26th, 2025. When we were being seated, the theater was unusually warm. The Usher expressed to me that "maybe I should take my thin, cotton jacket off.." I left at the intermission, due to the temperature being intolerable. The Center must have known about the temperature issue before they piled people in for the performance. Who can concentrate in an 85-degree theater..Waste of money. Unethical practice.

This is always a fantastic experience for kids, but the adults enjoyed it just as much. Ideally, go take the bus tour first thing when you get there. It gives you a good overview of the park, and you'll beat the crowds the rest of the day. The avian show was very entertaining and we of course learned a lot of fascinating info on the various birds and other bonus animals they brought out.

Brilliant park, expansive highly suggest getting the open air shuttle through the safari plains, getting close enough to see animals wandering or resting and great photo opportunities. Only complaint is “zoo radio” near the food which is too loud and not in keeping with a nature outdoor experience. Loved the tiger exhibit sounds! Can’t wait to see the new elephant exhibit later this year!

First time in SD and going to the safari was the first thing I did. Overall, it was a solid experience. I went solo, which gave me the freedom to explore at my own pace and really take my time. The park features a wide range of animals from different regions around the world, which made for a pretty good visit. I was looking forward to the cheetah run, but unfortunately, it was closed during my visit. One of the staff members mentioned they’ve stopped doing it daily since the cheetah is getting older. The safari ride was definitely the highlight of the day. I waited nearly 90 minutes, and the ride itself lasted about 25–30 minutes. I got to see some interesting animals, but wish it was longer and much more diverse. Another standout was the tiger exhibit. I spent quite a bit of time there just admiring the sheer beauty and majesty of the animal. Walking through the entire park took me around six hours at a relaxed pace. If you're going with kids or a group, it’ll likely take longer, so I’d recommend setting aside the whole day for the visit.

San Diego Safari Park: A Worthwhile Adventure with a Wild Twist The Safari Park is a refreshing extension of the San Diego Zoo experience, with a strong focus on African wildlife and open-range habitats. One of the highlights is the African Tram Safari, which takes you through a sprawling African Valley where multiple species roam freely. It’s a peaceful, scenic ride that offers a unique perspective compared to traditional zoo enclosures. The park itself is expansive, so be prepared for a good amount of walking. Thankfully, the journey is worth it—especially if you take time to explore favorites like the Nairobi Trail, the California Condor exhibit, the elephants, and the lions. These areas are thoughtfully designed and offer great viewing opportunities. There are plenty of gift shops and snack stands scattered throughout the park, along with several dining options to refuel during your visit. Parking is $20, and while there’s ample space, arriving later in the day means a longer walk from your car to the entrance. Overall, the Safari Park offers a solid experience and a different vibe than the main zoo. However, ticket prices can be steep, so we recommend checking Costco, AAA, or Groupon for discounted rates. It’s a decent value if you plan ahead—and a great way to spend a day immersed in nature.

San Diego Safari Park is an unforgettable experience and absolutely worth visiting! The park is massive, with incredibly spacious and beautifully maintained grounds — it’s truly impossible to see everything in just one day. Every part of the park feels open and natural, offering animals plenty of room to roam freely. One of the absolute highlights for me was the hot air balloon ride — soaring above the entire park and taking in breathtaking views was magical and gave a whole new perspective on the animals and layout. It’s not every day you get to float above giraffes and rhinos! The staff were friendly and informative, and the whole park is very clean and well-organized. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and plan ahead — there’s a lot of walking and so much to see. This place is perfect for families, couples, or even solo travelers. Highly recommend for anyone visiting the San Diego area. You’ll want to come back again and again!

Cute family friendly activity in San Diego! I recommend going early if you’re looking to get parking close by the entrance, checking out their website for ticket discounts and make sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothes, you will walk a lot! We went around the park and saw the majority of the areas, altogether we walked 5 miles for the day. If you’re on a budget, make sure to pack food and snacks, food and drinks at this place are ridiculously expensive.

We had such a great experience today at the San Diego Safari Park! I want to give a special shout-out to Hailey and Clayton from the photo booth / photo print area. They were both incredibly friendly, patient, and genuinely helpful. They didn’t just take the standard photos — they actually came over to suggest better spots, better angles, and helped us capture something more meaningful. You could tell they really care about what they do. When it came time to choose and print the photos, they were just as kind and supportive, making the whole process super smooth. Because of them, we didn’t just leave with photos — we left with really special memories. Thank you both so much! 😊

Best brewery garden in world. Love the rocks, bamboo, water features, tasty food, easy app for ordering and of course the beer. Perfect for a large group of all ages and celebration’s. Food exceeds my expectations for a brewery restaurant. Very happy group. App was much appreciated to avoid the pain of splitting a big bill.

I've known about this spot for years, located up north from our home, and we finally made the trip (totally worth it). The place is beautifully set up with a garden-style seating area that gives off a relaxing and laid-back vibe. The prices are more than reasonable: most food plates are under $20, and the beer is a steal — $3 for 5 oz, $6 for 9 oz, and $9 for 15 oz. We had the hamburgers, and they were perfectly cooked, juicy, and flavorful. Personally, I love their stout beer. All around, it was a great experience. It's definitely worth the drive, and I highly recommend checking out Stone Brewery if you’re in the area or even if you have to go a little out of your way.

Great location with easy access and parking. Beautiful interior seating, some with views of the brewery. Great outdoor seating too. Very friendly and helpful employees. Extensive beer selections, many made on site. The food selections were so good that it was difficult to select something. My wife ordered Stone Tangerine Express Hazy IPA and Blackened Salmon which she described as "buttery". I selected Stone Delicious Double IPA and Fish and Chips which is just right breaded. They also have beer that is fermented in a manner that breaks down and removes gluten, rendering gluten levels so significantly that the beer qualifies as a “gluten-reduced” ale per the FDA. We were given a taste, and want to try it the next time that we are in Escondido.

They say location is everything but I would say atmosphere wins overall. This location is in an industrial business park but once you enter the space Stone has created is unique and relaxed. A combination of outdoor and indoor areas with super high ceilings to provide a sense of spaciousness. The food was great, the salad i chose was very healthy, the superfood salad, with a side of grilled salmon. There was a lot of whole lettuce leaves as a bed, which were not very easy to eat, so it looked huge when it arrived. I would have preferred a smaller serving with all components ready to devour. The beer was great, as expected as well as very attentive staff.

What an incredible experience! The location is gorgeous. Everyone was great. Our server was Thomas and he was absolutely brilliant. Making great suggestions for beers to try after taking time to talk to us and get to know our likes and dislikes. If we asked a question he didn’t know the answer to, he reached out to others to get the answer. Food and beer were yummy. Excellent service ! 🍺

Awesome brewery. Kind of hidden with no obvious external signage, but the interior is huge and spacious, able to accommodate a lot of guests. Beautiful layout and very cool place to just hang out with friends. Very reasonable prices, only $3 for most 5oz pours, allowing you to sample a decent number of beers for a low cost. All the beers I had were good, being a light beer drinker I recommend buenaveza, garden crusher, cliche. Food is delicious, especially buffalo wings, fish & chips, brussels sprouts, burgers, and several other foods we ordered. Only wish they had a location in CO!

Really good food and a fantastic ambiance. Last minute decision to come here and very glad we did. Place is huge.

Trails were unmaintained and overgrown, so I didn't get a chance to explore too much. There are a few monuments around the grounds, and the ground are apparently not on the site of the actual battle but the location where the US forces regrouped after a beating at the hands of the Californio vaqueros.

Technically this is the highland valley trailhead and I think it leads into the San pasqual battlefield area. This is a great little hike! Good with kids and lots of ups and downs. Good stuff to look at the whole way and very close to the pomerado exit on the 15 freeway. We do this hike often, and if it's rained enough the stream is going! There's also a beehive over the bridge area that's pretty cool. There's parking in a dirt lot just off highland valley road

Actually a pretty cool spot. Tons of cactus. Extremely small though. The park is only half of the Butte and enclosed by a fence. It has one trail and a semi loop that connects on and off of it. Some cool history though and honestly some enjoyable views if you have an hour to go walk around I recommend it. The museum is closed unfortunately, as is the parking lot. There's a dirt pull off just before the parking lot, park at the pull off and you'll find the trailhead behind the monument.

There is a lot of potential here, as the historic site of a significant battle in the Mexican American War. However, my experience was a tale of three unfortunates: 1) There is no easy or allowed (?) access to the trails if the park is not open. There is a smaller dirt pull off and entry to the trail from the west end of Mule Hill. It is overgrown, but usable. 2) The trail itself is poorly maintained. There was grass, weeds, and even cacti over growing the trail in places. 3) The park is only open on SAT/SUN, presumably to save money. However, the park should find a way to enable people to hike on the trail regardless of if the office/visitor center is open. I am currently a member of the 1st Cavalry Regiment, the unit whose heraldry dates to the 1st Dragoons, who fought this battle under the leadership of Gen. Kearny. I wish I lived closer, because I would gladly volunteer to help revitalize this site and maybe develop some signs to present the events that unfolded here.

I went to San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park on a day and time its website said it would be open and found nothing but locked gates. Personnel at the San Diego Archaeological Center down the street said the State Park has been closed since the start of Covid. A sign on the locked gates said the trails were open but parking wasn’t allowed. (You could probably park at the Archaeological Center.) If you plan on visiting the Park it’s probably in your best interest to call the number listed on the website to speak with a real person first. An updated website would work even better.

San Pasqual Valley is beautiful this time of year. The rain makes the hills green and the view from the trail behind the visitor center takes in the whole of the valley. The chaparral is healthy and growing, and there are usually many wild flowers along the trail.

San Pasqual Museum presevers the historical significance of this valley during the USA Mexican war. The events that occur during this great battle are well represented in the artifacts and archives preserved in this museum.

Wanted to see the historic buildings. Not everything was open. The train station was awesome but was closing and wasn't able to see the train. Parking was a bit tricky to find. Would like to visit when other things are ooen.

Nice park on a beautiful spring day, and my first time here to visit the first annual indigenous culture and art festival, they had food booths, and vendors celebrating native culture as well as music and traditional dance performers. No issues with safety, or homeless as they had plenty of friendly security throughout event. Support and support the indigenous as the genocide continues against them, they need allies. ✊🏼💯☮️☯️

Great park right across the street from the children's museum. Awesome park with unique features! It doesn't have a kitty playground but it's still a great environment to have all the kids. There's also a train museum or an old train cart for the kids to explore pretty cool and also a giant water Fountain. The graffiti wall is really cool nice and peaceful place to have a picnic or something.

This park was on a few different lists of kid-friendly playgrounds in San Diego so I brought my 3 kids here thinking it would be “kid friendly.” TLDR: It is not kid friendly. The playground is right next to the street, no barriers around the playground either. Many homeless and intoxicated people around, some pushing shopping carts and others riding bikes around on the sidewalks over and over likely looking to sell something. By the train station area there was a man frantically talking to himself. Cherry on top was that the grape play equipment is no where to be seen, perhaps it’s been taken down recently? I did like the barn, farm equipment, and historical houses but definitely would not recommend visiting given every other concern at this park.

Cleaned every day. Rangers walk regularly to keep the park safe for kids and families. The grounds are regularly groomed and watered and landscaped. The playground is well maintained. The squirrels are hilarious 😂. There is a beautiful hawk that regularly visits the buildings. There are doggy poop bags for those walking their fur babies. My only beef is the women's bathroom hasn't been fixed yet...

We had a blast at Grape Day park in Escondido. Before coming here, I thought it was just your average park with a slide built into a bunch of grapes. But there was a whole second playground with more swings and slides, a huge lawn to run around on, historical exhibits, and more. None of the indoor museum areas were open while we were there but the outdoor train and tractor exhibits were a hit with my son! He also loved the giant water fountain by the city building. One word of caution, we did see a few homeless people sleeping on the park grounds. Next time we find our way back to this park, we will bring our bikes to ride the path nearby. 🚙Free 3-hour parallel parking on N Broadway. Also free parking in the large parking lot off Woodward Ave and N Escondido Blvd 💰This park is free 🎠The play structures are on a mulch ground surface and have standard swings, bucket swings, all abilities swings 🚽Restrooms 🧺Multiple picnic tables scattered around the park 🪑Park benches at playground 🖼Huge lawn 🌳Shady trees 🛣Close to a busy road 🛴Paved sidewalks perfect for small bikes, scooters, roller blades, and strollers. 🚲Designated bike path on the pavement (there’s a barricade between the path and where the cars drive on the street to keep you safe) and runs along N Broadway ➡️W Valley Parkway➡️Center City Parkway➡️Escondido Creek 🏛City center 🏯Historical buildings 🚂Train exhibit 🚜Tractor exhibit 🐎Horseshoe courts

I went here for a "no king's" rally recently... seems like a great place to meet up. I would avoid the public restrooms... they are used by a variety of people... and are really unpleasant. Otherwise, nice location in Escondido for large gatherings.

Kit Carson Park is a jewel, there are different activities as hiking, disc golf, feeding the ducks (ducks food not bread), tennis courts, hockey, and appreciating nature as the birds, squirrels, ducks and turtles. Playgrounds for the kids, pic-nic areas with tables, great for families and friends! My only complaint is the park is not taking care with caring, the old and dry bushes still there, maybe money issues to take care the plants, trees, the greenery? We really enjoy this park, just great!! 🙏

The disc golf course is what I love the most, but there are many things to love here. Walking trails, baseball fields, a small outdoor theater, picnic areas, roller blade hockey, Queen Calafia-a modern art exhibit, a duck pond, Bar-B-Que areas, playground area, and open areas. It's a lot of fun.

Nice, very large park with baseball, softball, tennis, disc golf, playgrounds, picnic facilities, and pond. Really offers a lot to do. The walk around park via the loop trail is pretty and can be done in under an hour. My pics were looking at critters & plants. The fields and park was in great shape on my visit.

This review is for the disc golf course. They really made the most of the property. This course is not super long or super challenging, but it does require a bunch of different shapes off the tee. It feels like each hole presents a different challenge. Even the short "filler" hole presents a somewhat tight shape and a dangerous green. Compared to other park courses I've played across the country, this one does a much better job of minimizing interaction between walkers and disc golfers. Most of the park goers also seemed aware of the course. Overall, it's a fantastic course that is fun for beginners, challenging for intermediate players, and still demanding of advanced players.

I like going on Sunday they have them classical cars events

Didn't stay too long here. Just stopped by to get some rest. Kids loved walking down to the creek. It's a big park and everything is far away from each other. Would have been nice to walk it all because looks like there's a lot to do here but be prepared to walk.

Nice hiking trails. Convenient parking in the shade under solar panels in the lot. There's a good size pond with ducks and turtles. Close to North County Mall.

The library is here now! A great place to hang out with kiddos.

Dingers batting cage was awesome. The young gentleman help my kid get setup quick. I like how they have a simulator pitcher and then a ball come out, then you can see where the ball goes. It keeps live stats, so you know where to focus on your next at bat.

Great mall alot of different flavors of styles.

Impressive variety of shops and a clean, modern atmosphere—an excellent upgrade from the former Westfield. Excited to see Round One and the Sportsflex opening soon. A great addition to North County, complete with Popmart vending machines!

This mall has been dying. The atmosphere followed is pungent with judgment you can't walk into a store without eyes on you as if you're stealing, the security is late to many fights, and the selection of stores and staff knowledge in them will shock you. Most staffers dont know there own products and most security is so new they dont know where stores are.

Elevator has been broken for about a month and breaks often. I think I’ve seen it out of service more than operable in the most recent years. It’s the middle of July and it’s unbelievably hot in the mall. A handful of stores have great AC but majority of the mall is so hot. The food court has some great options and I enjoy most stores North County has to offer, but for the lack of main elevator and needing to go to complete opposite sides to take an operable elevator for my stroller, the lack of AC in the middle of summer, it makes it hard to want to come back to this mall.

The elevator is STILL out of order. We were there 2 weeks ago and it was out then. This makes it very inconvenient if you use a wheel chair or scooter. The Target elevator will only give you access to the first and second floor. To get to the third floor you must then go to Macy's at the other end of the mall and use their elevator which is conveniently hidden way in the back of the store.

My son enjoys the camps here during summer and fall breaks! Very attentive staff run them with an excellent eye for blending learning, interactivity, and entertainment. He's excited to go back next time, and they're absolutely worth the drive out there.

Great little museum. I've driven by 100s of times but never stopped. My brother was in town, so we checked it out. Only took an hour to look at everything, well worth the stop.

Cute and simple little place with some good history on the San Diego area as well as archaeology. I found the collection of artifacts and details about the various theories on how North and South America became populated very interesting and easy to follow. If you take the time to read everything and watch the videos (which are on YouTube), you could probably take up to 60 minutes enjoying the place. Average person might be 30 minutes or less. Make sure you check the hours before you come! Entrance is donation-based. They ask for a min of $5 by cash or Venmo

Excellent experience exploring the past 12,000 years of local history. Thank you to Adam (Senior Archaeologist) and staffs very knowledgeable and welcoming❣️

The San Diego Archaeological Center is small so you can see everything in about 15 minutes or take about an hour to read everything on every display. I was the only person in the Center for most of the time I was there. I thought the Center was interesting and I learned a few things. On the other hand, I think most kids would be bored there – no whales or dinosaurs, just thousand-year-old pottery, donut stones, arrowheads, and 125-year-old bottles. The Center asks for a $5 donation.

We had a really fun day exploring the area for San Pasqual Battle day. It's a lot smaller than I thought. An hour, maybe two will suffice. We really enjoyed all of it though and will be returning.

Incredible place to visit with super friendly staff. They have a large assortment of books for purchase, interactive exhibits for kids and multimedia displays. I was thrilled to find this Center and plan to attend some of the events they hold. It truly opened my mind to San Diego’s history.

We went through the lake Hodges trail 28 but at some point the trail start to disappear into the vegetation. I mean the trail is visible but it is hard to go through without hurting yourself with branches and bushes. Our walk/hike was really nice though.

Great spot in north county San Diego! Thank God for all the rain the lake finally has water back in it! The pedestrian bridge is really cool when it has water beneath it and the trail around the lake is great for mountain biking!

This is an easy hike (somewhat moderate when you reach the uphill part anf you have not done cardio for a while) but still one of the not so crowded trails in the SD area. There's a parking area on the other side of the 15 freeway. From the lot, there is a path that goes under the freeway. You will pss by Felicita Creek and I believe the trail leads to Felicita County Park. Then there's a trail around Lake Hodges. It's beautiful and calming. I have not hiked around the lake but wanted to do so one day. There's a few mountain bikers too and they're kind enough to always let us know they're behind us.

Absolutely beautiful in the spring! All the wildlife and flowers are enjoying the nice weather and the sights are incredible. Almost no on else was out there on the trails we took which made it feel like we had it to ourselves. Definitely a place everyone should check out.

Good trails both biking and hiking. Depends on the weather but some areas can be flooded. The views are nice and less traffic some days. Went through here on bike rides plenty of times.

So beautiful. I wish I could live here. Peaceful serene. Lots of bicycle riders. Lots of hikers. Fun for the dogs. Fun for the family. Trails go from east to medium it seems.

Great day on the lake caught 3 capsufish.Wanna keep her the rest very small on shore.

Love Dixon Lake! The Park Rangers are great! Friendly and just awsome. I'm gonna try camping here at least 4 time per year.

Such a beautiful hidden gem! I still can’t decide which side is more beautiful- the one overlooking the lake or the side overlooking the valley in Escondido - at night that side is absolutely magical, and in the day into the sunset hour the lakeside is magical in a whole other way! Either way you can’t go wrong!

It is my favorite lake in San Diego, however it is mandatory that any trout you catch, you keep. It is ok, to release bass though and if you know the right spot and time it with the spawn, it isn't uncommon to hookup on a 4-5Ib large mouth. Steep sides, with a few docks and boats available to rent. I love this place, so go fish somewhere else haha!

Beautiful place for the family. My husband, my son and I rented a boat for 30$ all day, not bad at all. Free entry during the week. There was a playground, lots of places to explore, my son loved it! We will definitely be back, thank you Dixon lake, all the staff was helpful! There is a tackle shop, they sell snacks too😊 But the one thing is we didn't catch anything, no bites.

Night fishing is worse every year. Its popularity has made its fun family atmosphere tank. Too many people and they absolutely don’t know about fishing decorum. Would not recommend.

Is very beautiful surroundings.Staff helpful with boat rental. Only complaint they had cockroaches on the boats, someone needs to clean that up very unsanitary for fishing boat.

What a beautiful area! There are some really nice hiking trails nearby, with varying degrees of roughness (ranging from fully paved to small dirt trails winding through the brush). The lake itself is gorgeous, with several piers that people can sit on and take in the view. There's a small picnic area as well which was quite nice and very close to some parking.

One of my favorite restaurants in the Escondido area. Came here for happy hour on my last trip to San Diego. Everything on the happy hour menu is $10 which is a steal. Some of the dishes I recommend are: green goddess hummus, shishito peppers, and Korean style chicken wings. Portions are made to share. Many options on the drink menu. Staff is great. Always a good time here.

The name of this restaurant includes the words “fine dining”, and that is exactly what mom and I experienced. Our booth was at one end of the restaurant with one heck of a view through the wall of windows facing the I-15 and the hills in the distance. When we ordered the Fish & Chips as well as the Avocado BLT (minus the avocado), we did not realize just how much food was coming to our table! The Fish & Chips had four very large pieces instead of the standard two you get anywhere else. There was more fish than batter, which happens nowhere else. We have ordered this particular menu item from numerous other restaurants over the years, including Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco— and nobody has ever made it this darn good! Nobody!! The fish was so thick, you feel like a VIP when you sink your teeth into absolute perfection. The BLT didn’t get eaten in the restaurant. We had to have them give us boxes to take that home due to the fish being so filling. If you look at the photos I’m including, you’ll see two pieces of fish on the plate because mom and I split it. We got full quickly after some fries and one piece of fish each. We put the leftovers in the air fryer to keep the batter crispy, whereas a microwave would soften it and reduce the texture to less than delicious. That BLT is for the next day. You really get a lot of food on your plate! They are not chimsy with the portions. I honestly believe this meal is the go to lunch and I will definitely bring mom back here for lunch. The first impression really matters, and I can say that the customer service was a definite 10 on that 1-10 scale. Everyone was so friendly, and I asked to speak to the general manager so I could tell him how satisfied we were. Robert came to our table and he was truly a wonderful person. He welcomed us to ask for him again when we return. And yes Chef Deb, we will return! Thank you.

We loveeeee Vintana happy hour!! Everything on the happy hour menu (3-5pm) is $10 and it’s SO GOOD. Literally best ceviche I’ve ever had and the chef Deborah’s Brie platter is a must. For drinks we always get the black rose, the coconut margarita, and the fresh perspective. You can literally feast for $40 per person. Highly recommend.

Had a wonderful celebratory dinner. We all got something different, so we got to "try" some of the other choices. I had the pan seared salmon with a veggie/bean cake. Both were outstanding. Staff was on-the-ball, too. Dunno what the yellow sauce was, but with the salmon, it was synergistic.

Modern American fusion restaurant in Escondido, CA. Tightly run team/floor with consistent, professional service. Clean and stylish facilities. The black mussels stood out with their flavorful coconut curry sauce (slightly spicy and salty) and grilled toasted points. The mussels were plump and fresh. The Korean chicken wings were hot with crispy skin and tender meat. They were coated with a sweet/spicy glazed sauce, green onions, and sesame seeds. The chicken gyoza were nicely steamed with soft wrappers. The gyoza were placed on a bed of al dente, thin egg noodles mixed with a black sesame / herb crust, and piled high with fresh shredded vegetables. The shishito peppers were slightly spicy/bitter and offset with a sweet glaze. The peppers came along with a healthy portion of crisp pork belly chunks. The shrimp and rockfish ceviche was refreshing with its quality seafood and citrus notes. The bright onions, tomatoes, and avocados added texture and flavors to round out the dish. The half pound bacon burger patty was impressive with hearty slices of bacon. The herb crusted fries were well cooked and flavorful. The bun was slightly drier than preferred. Happy hours are held Tuesday thru Sunday in the afternoon. The $10 dishes provide excellent value. Their outside bar greatly expanded its selection with the introduction of many sipping rums. Special thanks to Izzy (outdoor bartender/server) for the excellent service and wine recommendations! Appreciate her for looking out for the kids too 😊

We came her for our 21st Anniversary Dinner with family from out of town. We all loved it! As soon as we walked in there was a trio playing live music and was soon escorted to our rsvpd table! The view of the sunset was beautiful from that view since the restaurant is on 2nd floor . The food was delicious. I had the sea bass, cream of spinach and some other plates ohh you got to try the llobster Mac n Cheese! And for appetizers the merenchino peppers with pork belly were soon good! A must! Ohh and the bread looked like huge mushrooms was so warm and light and it didn't blow my belly up afterwards even though I try to eat GF! So great stuff.

Isaac R, took care of us and made our dining experience great. The service, atmosphere and food was amazing. He helped us narrow down our food choices, and gave Great recommendations, all while giving us space to enjoy our meal and the view.

My husband and I have been loyal OWL members at this winery for many years. It's long been a hidden gem in Escondido--boasting stunning views, a welcoming ambience, and a team that once treated us like family. A few months ago, we stopped by for our quarterly wine pickup. We ordered a glass and began to relax, until an unfortunate interaction with a staff member left me feeling singled out and diminished the enjoyment of our visit. More recently, we returned hoping for a better experience, but things quickly took a turn. Upon arrival, the manager promptly instructed us to vacate the east-facing seats, explaining the those are spots are now reserved exclusively for guests with reservations. His tone was unapologetic and dismissive, leaving us feeling unwelcome and uncomfortable. This winery was once known for its genuine hospitality and family-friendly spirit under previous ownership/management. Sadly, it now feels more commercialized, and long-time OWL members appear to be an afterthought. We've since made the decision to cancel our membership and join a winery where we feel truly valued and appreciated.

Live music in Friday and pizza from Amalfi served. We ordered a bottle of red and enjoyed the music and view from outdoor patio seating. It was busy but had good turnover around so we didnt have to wait long for table. Very enjoyable and relaxing time. The pizza and red we had was delicious too!

The winery has officially turned around, since the new ownership has been in charge. I popped in as a member, and every single time it’s been pleasant, warm and inviting. The wine is delicious, the food from Amalfi is fantastic (get the pizza or meatballs). Sarah, whomever she is ROCKS! She is attentive so sweet, customer-focused and the crew just wants us members to have fun. Go check it out, and tonight they had a DJ which was awesome.

Stacey and Joshua were amazing!! What an exceptional winery!! We felt so welcomed by the lovely staff at Orfila Vineyards & Winery, and the wine tasting was an absolute blast! We had lunch from the food truck which was super delish, and purchased 4 bottles of wonderful wine before we left. We also had fun plying a game of Cornhole while enjoying the gorgeous view. We cannot wait to come back next year!

Enjoyed this. It has grown in the past few years. Did not try the food truck, wine was pretty good, view is precious, sometimes the 70s throwback music wasn't aligned with the view!

When you first arrive, this place seems like a cute vineyard. We ordered food, had our tasting wine, and found a cute place on the lawn. It quickly turned to an unpleasant experience. All we could smell was the bathroom outhouse. We got the food: pizza, meatballs, and a salad. One of the worst pizzas and meatballs we have ever had. Seemed like it was a step above lunchables. The cheese wasn't a gooey, hot consistency and the meatballs were bland. Throughout the whole time we could only smell the foul bathroom smell and ended up leaving early due to the bad experience. Wine was ok, but not worth the bad food and smell.

We have been members here for several years. We had cancelled our membership for the winter months, but then they had a membership drive, so we reactivated our membership. It has new owners; Amalfi now owns the vineyard/winery. We get 10 glasses of wine per month per membership. We often order food at the Amalfi mobile kitchen. It is delicious. We meet friends or go solo. The mobile kitchen has a varied menu, and the service is speedy. I do miss the live music, especially Jimmy and Enrique, and Fercho.

I love coming here, and u can't believe I didn't review it before! Made a stop in for dinner before I left town for a few months, and let me tell you, if you're craving a good quality burger with fries that you can dip in a delicious house-made ranch, this is the place for you! When you walk in, the restaurant is very open and inviting with the menu posted and the wall and over the register, and the beer selection open for everyone to see. And the server is always patient when taking our order. We ordered a Sunrise Burger and the Golden Rooster Chicken Sandwich with a side of fries and ranch. The Sunrise Burger had a fried egg on it that was so good with the bacon inside. Every bite had so much flavor, and it was good quality meat. The patty was smaller than I thought it'd be, but nonetheless it was still so good. The fires were fresh and hot when we got them, and sipping them in the house made the ranch was a great combo. The Golden Rooster Chicken Sandwich had a sliced green apple and a bit of cinnamon in it, which sounds weird, but honestly, paired with the fried chicken pickles, it was so good. Ranch Dip Score 9/10 Overall, I enjoy Burger Bench and think it's a great place for family, friends, or even a date!

After a fun day at the San Diego Safari Park, we stopped by Burger Bench, and we absolutely loved it. We ordered the Classic Burger, which was surprisingly juicy and flavorful even though we asked for it well done. The Mushroom Swiss Burger was just as impressive, with a rich, complex flavor that really stood out. The tater tots were a highlight, perfectly crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and served with your choice of sauce. I can’t remember which sauce we picked, but whatever it was, it was delicious! We’d definitely go back if we’re ever in the area again.

Looks like a fun place...this rating is just for the shake. I jstopped in for a milkshake which Google told me was the best in Escondido... It lied. The best thing really, was the straw!! Awesome straw with big mouth opening! Unfortunately, I couldn't suck anything thru the straw since the oreos weren't blended up enough... Seemed to be more cookie than shake. Meh. Secondly, it took like 10 minutes to get my shake (to go) - I just stood around watching 2-3 workers behind the counter talk and interact with each other and customers... The shake came from the back kitchen which was clearly busy... Hmmm, hello? Management? I'm being nit picky, but I didn't have the greatest experience for a 10 dollar shake!

This is an excellent place for Halal burgers that we try to visit when I'm Escondido. It costs $2 extra for the Halal option and you can get it for any of their burgers. Their potato options are numerous and tasty, but a little pricey.... service is always good here with friendly and attentive staff. I recommend this restaurant.

BEST BREAKFAST in Escondido!!! The Bench Breakfast is where it’s at…2 turntables and a microphone! Top notch ingredients - bacon, homemade gravy and jam. My kids absolutely love coming. Great way to start a weekend!

Nice spot for a good burger in Escondido. Easy counter service, but they still check in on you tableside. Good selection of beer and something to ear for everyone. Sunrise burger and chorizo burger were good. Parmesean truffle fries were delicious. One beer, one N/A beer and two burgers, and a side of fries came out to about $73 after tip, a bit on the pricier side for counter service but good quality.

Good spot to grab a burger. Good flavor and taste. Good craft beer selection as well. When it gets busy, it's hard to find a table or chair to eat at. And parking can be a hassle. But once you get there, it's a cool spot. Good service and friendly staff. Give it a try.

Got to the reserve about an hour after gates opened and was able to find a parking spot in the main lot, did not check the overflow lot. Bathrooms were clean and maintained but are still portable units. Drinking fountain was available as well. The visitor's center was informative, with lots of educational information about the flora and fauna. Hiked along the botanical trail to start and warm up. Not listed on the maps is that there's a natural crossing across the creek along this trail. Had to assist the kids across. Took the Way Up Trail to the top, the view is worth it. Went through the Me-xal loop and overlook before heading back down.

Came here to be out in nature and let our 14 month old walk around a bit with us. Beautiful! Lots of cool info about local traditions and culture! Peaceful creek, lovely plants and super friendly people.

Nice trail, great views. Few other people on trail during a week day. Two main trails: short Botanic trail 0.6 mile and long second trail Way Up 1.4 mile. Trails are hard and pretty steep. We enjoyed it with kids, did not reach the peak, hard with kids. Still like it a lot.

20250511 1at time visitor. Did Trail 1 & Botanical. Did pretty decent hikes to both sides of babbling brook. Definitely watch out for the poison oak & lots of mosquitos later in the AM. Grateful for the newly serviced portapotty stalls. (Serviced every 3 days apparently). Nice center. Don, the docent, was very nice and informative. Has a couple long trailer/RV parking spots. And even a working telephone booth! Definite recommend.

Beautiful, lush, and a bit challenging (“Way Up” trail). Well marked, clean portable bathrooms, and nice picnic areas at the lookouts. I really enjoyed my hike there!

You can't tell too well but this gravid(prego) was massive! About 3 or 4 in from tip to tip and body the size of a big silver dollar! These were taken just with my cell phone!

One of my favorite hikes in San Diego! The paths are well kept, the views are amazing, and the terrain isn’t too bad compared to some others I’ve been to! I would definitely suggest bringing a good amount of water as it is a pretty good workout.

I stopped by when they were having their 150th anniversary. They had a short tour of the house and let you check out the other building there (I think the creamery). It was free, which was super awesome of them. The only thing I will forewarn about is if they do tours, be ready to know they do tours. When I got there, I went straight to the house and didn't see signs stating there were tours or which door they started at. I walked in through the unofficial exit and a gentleman let me know that's where the tour ended. And there weren't any signs for when they strted, like 'tours every 5 minutes' or 'on the hour.' When he told me, I kinda felt like the bad guy for not knowing. But the experience as a whole made up for it.

Nice place to see a piece of history and read about the past. Not sure why their sign directs visitors to a trailhead when the path from parking is much more direct.

Does anyone remember when they held a sheepherding class for dogs and handlers here on Saturdays for $10.00 with Terry? The house was fascinating even before they fixed it up, would have been early 80's.

This historical site has been expertly restored and is being maintained by the San Dieguito River Park organization. It's a great example of governments working together. The docents in each area of the tour were very pleasant and knowledgeable with a nice dose of humor. The history of the homestead and local area is intriguing. It was a totally pleasant outing for our family. I highly recommend it.

A hidden gem! We got a fabulous free tour. Beautifully upkept house and grounds. Folks are working on sustainable projects too and keeping history alive!

Great place to kick around or get a tour and history on the Sikes farm and home. Just behind the farm is mule hill where the battle of San Pasquale took place lots of history surrounding these places. The hosts and or staff are very friendly and knowledgeable if your in the area you should stop and pay a visit. There's also a farmers market there as well local goodies!

Wonderful, working snapshot of the old west. The adobe was built in the late 1800s and has been restored to reflect that time period. There are great gardens, orchards and even chickens and a working windmill to reflect life on the original ranch. A great place to visit, and bring your kids or grandkids.

We stayed 2-23-25. Online the rooms look nice upon driving up the hotel look nice but going into a room. You could tell the carpets needed cleaning when we got to our room. We didn’t dare takeoff our shoes until we put on our hotel shoes. We never walk barefoot at any hotel the pillows were like 12 x 12 there were four of them. The sofa look dirty. I never sat on it or set my things on it. The bathroom ceiling needed a good wiping down. The breakfast was decent. My husband brought breakfast up to the room. 1101 the front desk called and asked if we needed a late check out or if we were spending another night really?? We have stayed in five star hotels and resorts never have we ever been called on for that. There is usually a grace period my husband said we’d be leaving in 10 minutes when we left our room I looked down the corridor, and the maid was at the very end of it and not even in the same hallway of the room that we stayed in. All we got to the front desk my husband asked for a receipt. The girl behind the glass was so unfriendly. She never gave my husband eye contact. She never said oh sure let me get that for you. How was your day? Thanks for staying with us. she printed out the receipt and handed it to my husband and again ever made eye contact. She looks like she was mad annoyed. I would never stay there again. I wanted to stay at the Springhill by Marriott for $30 more. I think it would’ve been a better stay.

I recently stayed at this hotel with my family, and I had specifically chosen it because it offered an accessible room that my 89-year-old mother, who uses a walker, could use. Unfortunately, the bathroom in the accessible room was not accessible at all, which was a major disappointment. To make matters worse, the bathroom was not clean, the hair dryer didn't work, and the bed and pillows were extremely uncomfortable. I was really looking forward to a comfortable stay, but it turned out to be a nightmare. I'm extremely disappointed and won't be returning to this hotel.

I came from nightmare service evil person yesterday at a different hotel it was so bad we checked out early......then we show up here at the Best Western to the most amazing person named Richard greeting us❤️ Richard is a keeper. And I'm so pleased with everything. Thank you for caring about your customers 💜😁 This man deserves a raise. This staff and breakfast was amazing also. Highly recommend this stay.

A huge Thank you to Richard! You are one amazing person and have such great mannerisms. We came into town from Las Vegas with no luck finding a room until we called Best Western and Richard gave us the best news! During our stay he was so polite and friendly thank you for your complete hospitality. If we ever stay in Escondido again it’ll be Best Western and for the Win just because of Richard! Thank you thank you

Stayed here as it was close to extended family. Traffic is terrible along this stretch of freeway near this hotel. Staffing is sparse, and there is no room service, but there is a scan code on the room door asking for tips. The room was clean. Bathroom windows fog up excessively during shower as a result of light common exhaust ventilation. This same vent system is a conduit for room noise from the other 3 floors in common. Our room was near the stairwell and we heard foot traffic. The same was true for road noise. Noise attenuation was not important when building this hotel. Water line noise was also heard. Carpets are dirty at key walk-off areas near elevators and halls. The continental breakfast was OK. Power next to the bed is used for bed lighting and clock, which was poor planning for charging and medical sleep aid devices. The rear parking lot needs repaving.

Great place to stay, location is amazing for going out yo have fun or going to the gym. Everything about this place including the staff was amazing and very helpful, however do not try and schedule a wake up call. I tried 3 out of the 4 days I stayed here and was never woken up (I’m talking about you Richard). Would definitely stay here again and recommend this place, if you want that fifth star call me next time I stay at this location.

Great hotel very clean. Breakfast was excellent. Bobby at front desk provided excellent customer service.

Interactive, clean, welcoming and educational. I'm coming to the Escondido library for 6 years now. I sincerely think it's an asset to the community. It's well stocked and has a rotated out display of both new fiction, and a monthly spotlight on a certain topic. They regularly invite musical guests and live stream it on their Facebook. They have multiple programs such as read to a bearded dragon, summer reading challenge, baby lap sit, and seasonal holidays from various cultures. Their bathrooms are clean and well lit. They have changing stations, their water fountains don't taste bad. They regularly have sales every Saturday I believe for their library bookshop where they sell second hand books and have a good variety to pick from. Staff is kind and very helpful and knowledgeable. They recently had a lively mural that you can see from the street done as well as several pretty pieces of art around the library. I'm very grateful for this library and would absolutely recommend it.

I have been coming to the Escondido Library since it was just in the other small building. Very happy when the new building opened way back when. Great staff, great books, wonderful entertainment, just my favorite place to go. Thanks to everyone who makes it possible.

It's the homeless library. Too uncomfortable for me and my family to sit in and enjoy. Lots of places to sit and study. Lots of great selections of books! Has an upstairs for the kids. Parking can be a little difficult.

This is a great library with friendly staff. However, I am not sure why they have all their forms with the Spanish side facing forward instead of the English side. It would make more sense to have the English side facing forward since we are in the USA, and if somebody asks for Spanish to provide that. Or even have two different forms stacks, one with English facing forward and the other with Spanish. We are in the USA, so that only makes sense.

I came looking for used books to buy. They have a larger selection than the san Marcos branch. Very friendly helpful staff. I was looking for Spanish children's books, when I didnt see many one of the ladies looked in the back room and found a few. I was a ble to buy 5.

Great selection of graphic novels for all ages, nice children's room, plenty of places to sit and read, study or do research, and great deals on secondhand books. My kids and I rarely leave with fewer than 50 books checked out.

It's good they have free books in front not the best but they are free. They have books from the bookstore for .25©and up. Two stories. Kids books upstairs. Pretty renewing for you and not charge at this time . They will renew up to 3 x

The bus drivers are very nice and helpful but there is NO security visible there and is not very safe. I had a man screaming f bombs at me and my sister and no one to help. Can't believe their not protecting the public. This man also was not the only one there acting this way and was verbally assulting a bus driver's well.

It's gotten a little better, far from perfect but the new timelines and schedules are much more accommodating than years prior. Plus, drivers are becoming nicer as time goes on. Whether it's genuine or not and continues positively remains to be seen, but for the most part busses do connect more often than not now.

Lost a custom engraved wedding present on the bus and left my contact information. Bus driver was nice enough to tell me that they had turned it in for me and rude customer service had audacity to lie and say they never heard of it despite it literally being in the log book in front of us. Despicable thievery.

The lady working at 4:30 PM today 6/18/33, was extremely rude and disrespectful, not to mention arrogant. Racially profiling and talking down to a minor is not okay. if a parent is confirming information, there is no reason to question that information.

Be careful ladies and gentlemen! There are a lot of homeless men and women that hang out in the ladies bathroom. I personally have felt unsafe there a couple of times. There is a pleasant janitor that cleans during the mornings, however.

I arrived here 5 minutes before I needed to catch a Route 235 bus and there was NO signage indicating where to catch it, even though it's the main bus route from this station. I didn't know where to go until I saw a Route 235 bus leaving without me. -1000 for the absence of useful wayfinding signage at the passenger drop-off.

Service is good but I heard this bus driver straight up yelling at a woman about her stroller as soon as she got off the bus for her break I believe. She came back minutes later to start the bus and yelled at her again about the stroller to fold it up. I understand that it's the rules but she shouldn't yell at a customer right away, especially when no one's getting on the bus yet for another five minutes. Later as we got on the bus the woman got on and tried swiping her card and seemed to mumble in Spanish that her card won't scan right away. The driver complained "I don't know Spanish!" so me and someone else I believe decided to translate. The driver said something along the lines of "I understood/understand!" Anyways, I've already heard people complain about her being rude to customers so if you ever get on the 354 around 9am and see this blonde skinny middle aged woman, don't get too surprised if she starts yelling at you or someone.

A very American Mexican food place. We got seated right away. They brought chips and salsa right away. The salsa that came with. It were very light in heat so I asked for something hotter and they brought two delicious much spicy salsa. Ordered the taquitos à la cart and they were on very thick tortillas And we’re OK. Ordered the shrimp, agave lime dinner platter and they were very sweet and shrimpy. Also ordered the chili Riano and it was 10 out of 10 stars. Absolutely delicious. Also tried the margaritas and they’re a bit sweet.

In Southern California, we have more Mexican food than we know what to do with. My family and I have been eating at Cenote for years. Absolutely delicious, high-quality and the service continues to be excellent! Thank you to Russ and the incredible team at Cenote.

Cold food, dated cheap ambiance, nice staff. My husband lost his restaurant picking privileges. After choosing this place. We wanted to give a new Mexican place a shot and the photos looked pretty okay. We Go, and from the minute we walk into the minute we leave. We are the youngest people there by about 20 years. It was packed with white people and every one of them was over the age of 60. When your Mexican restaurant and not a single Mexican person eats there, there's a problem. The staff was actually very prompt and courteous and got us seated. The booths have impromptu pads being leaned against them like they are waiting for a real shipment of booths to come in. Also some weird mother earth art on the wall is best as I can guess. But nothing that distinctly said a Mexican restaurant. Immediately gave us free chips and two different kinds of salsa. One tasted like watery tomato paste. The other one tasted vaguely like someone had waived tomatillo at it once and it's life. You order up front. I don't have a problem with that. Our food arrived within a solid amount of time. But my meat was cold to the touch. As if they had made it this morning (gosh I hope it was that morning and not the night before). My cheese was also barely melted. I got a burrito fresco and took two bites and didn't want more. My kids got a shrimp burrito and a fish taco. There was no spice other than cumin in the shrimp burrito. But considering the age of most of the patrons, I'm pretty sure that was on purpose. My other child's fish taco had the batter slide right off of it but it was perfectly fine otherwise. My husband and I were glad that we only had a few bites of our food. We felt queasy the rest of the night and kept chugging Gatorade and burping suspiciously. It would have been a lot worse if we would have actually had more than a few bites of our food. At least with Taco Bell I would have gotten some hot meat and some packets of spice along with my indigestion. I get to pick next time, sorry honey.

THE BEST.. by far! To place by all of our friends. Try the cilantro lime chicken salad & Thai chicken wrap sandwich.. my wife and I eat half and take the next half home for lunch the next day super great place. Not fancy but quick service. Check out the ladies shop next-door that my wife loves

Very delicious food! I got the Agave Lime Shrimp Plate and it was sooo good. The wait time for seating and for food was long but we went on a Friday night at 5pm so it makes sense. This place constantly had a line to the door so you know it’s good! Will come again but earlier and not on a Friday.

Cenote grill has very good food specially the spring rolls also the bread pudding is really great and especially for dining I’d say that’s what really makes the restaurant to go back. It’s not just the food went to that restroom and the restroom is very clean so I gotta say they keep a good clean, clean restroom and it looks like their kitchen is clean cause it’s an open kitchen from where customers can see it. Everyone’s very friendly and I gotta say I’m when they come back and it’s a large portion of food for good price but always try to remember to call head if we’re gonna get takeout cause they’re very very busy!

My husband and I decided to try this place after reading the reviews, and a recommendation from a friend. It's a small restaurant with some outdoor seating and a few booths and tables. There are no waiters or waitresses to take your order. When we walked in and approached the front counter we were given menus and instructed to come back to the counter when we were ready to order. They brought us chips and two kinds of salsa. They were both good, but the chips were a bit on the thick side. I ordered the two item combination plate of the pork chili Relleno and the fish taco with Mexican rice and pinto beans. This is the first time for both of us trying this kind of chili Relleno. It is baked instead of fried. It was pretty good, but I guess we just prefer the traditional fried and stuffed with jack cheese type. I didn't care for the rice. It was just too heavy with the spice's for me, not in a hot spice way but just too overpowering. The beans were okay, but again we prefer the traditional refried beans. I don't think we will be back. Service was good!

Colorful and engaging sculpture installation, it is also open on 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month from 9 AM until 2 PM. There is a knowledgeable docent on hand who can tell you stories about the artist and the works.

This is such an incredible, enclosed display of incredible artwork. The art was from an article from France. This part of Kit Carson park has specific hours where it is open, on Tuesdays and Thursdays and only in the morning. There are also tons of parking lots so go off of the google directions and walk to the path immediately to the left of the handicapped parking spots.

Amusing mosaic sculpture garden located within Kit Carson Park. I've been to this park many times and never been in until now, it's just that tough to get there when it's open unless you're retired or took the day off. Make sure you check the schedule beforehand. Other than that it's pretty great! One of a kind and very special!

Wonderful work of worldwide known French artist Niki de Saint Phalle. The kind person supervising (volunteer) was lovely and knew everything about the artist. Not that easy to find (and opening hours are limited, please be aware!), but we absolutely recommend the little detour!

Fantastic. Stop in then fly to Tuscany and see the larger version.

Great places for kids to explore and to get some super unique photos! The vivid colors are super magical and make for a stunning backdrop! It's only open a few hours a week and locked up the rest of the time (I think to prevent vandals) but totally worth the trip! Settled in a large green park on plenty of acreage. Kids playground within walking distance and loads of pathed trails!

This is one of the most beautiful parks i have ever seen. A hidden gem that my kids loved. We did a nice trail walk to get there and they played for hours. It's free with select hours and certain days do be sure to check before you go but worth the trip.

Many years ago, I remember pulling up to this place and felt intimidated to go in because it looked too small and was super busy. Recently a couple friend's had breakfast here and the review was too tempting to skip. Finally, my sister and I were able to try it out and man, so glad we did! The place is bigger than it looks like from outside. The pancakes and breakfast in general was freakn gooood! Atmosphere was awesome. My sister and I were laughing it up and having a great time. Server was cool and helpful and had us feeling like part of the gang. If you look in the back corner on your way to the bathrooms, there's a really cool xmas tree they have for the children that might want to grab a toy. Jus for fun which I thought was cool. Definitely family and kid friendly. Gotta try it out!

I get Huevos Rancheros, rice, beans, over easy eggs. Spicy please. This meal makes me feel awake and ready to tackle the day ahead of me. Ladies who work here make this establishment, period. It feels like home, unorthodox, raucous, present, busy and amazing. If you wish to say Good Morning to yourself, stop by. Parking is hard as this place is popular. Prices will pleasantly surprise you. There is no place like “Home Sweet Home Cafe”

Has been our favorite reliable great food go-to for over 5 years. Excellent Food, fun friendly service, excellent prices and tremendous value. Update: Home Sweet Home Cafe never ceases to amaze me. I gave up trying to eat my way through the menu about a year ago. Never had a single meal that wasn't beautifully prepared and delicious. Yesterday we stopped in for Lunch and the "Special" was a Tuna Salad Croissant, side and Clam Chowder". Not my usual "Fried food" choice... but it sounded good. I took the first bite and told Terri Guess "Oh my God that is the best bite".... Soft, buttery, flaky Croissant, FRESH crispy Lettuce, and delicious home made Tuna Salad. Fries were perfect... Clam chowder was excellent. They never let me down. Yesterday they did it again with "Steak Rancheros, Re-fried Beans, Rice, with Soup or Salad" as the Lunch Special. Simple fantastic food!

Well, simply outstanding! I have passed by this place for many years and finally had time to stop in for breakfast. What a surprise to find out how much I've been missing out. Great staff, great food, great old time cafe, atmosphere and very good prices. Have to put this on my "Regular" list!

I stopped in for a quick breakfast while on a work trip and let me tell you, this place is fantastic. It feels like a classic dinner from a feel good movie. The servers were incredibly friendly, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere felt safe, comfortable, and welcoming. I don’t know much about the area of Escondido, but I do know that if you’re within range, you should make breakfast here a priority! Thanks for the great start to my morning Home Sweet Home Cafe!

If you like an old traditional down to earth kinda café vibe with incredible food that will look awesome and full you up and provide incredible service, this place is for you! I'm a regular there and it's an awesome place to eat at that gives you what you pay for and then some! I would highly suggest the Tommy burger! That thing is amazing and very filling! Best café I've eaten at in the whole San Diego county area!

It's a fantastic old super clean hole in the wall! The Eggs Benedict is excellent and about as good as it gets and at a very fair price. Excellent service, too. The breakfast burrito must be the best in town, maybe the entire region. It's big, fat, filled with delicious ingredients, and freshly made. It includes eggs, cheese, potatoes, and your choice of meat and served with real guacamole (not the watery green stuff), sour cream, and salsa. There are also a variety of small salsa bottles on the tables. It would be a good deal at the usual price of $12.00-$14.00, but it's only $9.00! On top of all this, the service is impeccable. Parking can be a real challenge, so plan ahead and be prepared to walk down the road a bit -- it would be good to walk off their big breakfasts anyway!

Beautiful hike, great workout. We started at the parking lot and took Creek Crossing to Sage Trail to Stanley Peak, then returned via the lake and Ranch House. A little over 7 miles total.

I’ve hiked here many times over decades, including some moonlit summer hikes with groups years ago. I even used to rent horses to ride through the ranch in a group a long time ago. The history and views, including wildlife, are wonderful. I’m grateful this land was set aside for us all to enjoy. Escondido gets really hot in summer, so morning is a good time to go then. Consider putting booties on your dog’s feet because some parts of at least one area near the historical ranch house are paved. Take water. There are historical, botanical, and bird life information plaques, plus public restrooms. Parking is free in the area across the road from Dixon Lake. This place is popular. Mountain bikers use the trail. There are some plants up there that can cause rashes if you make contact, plus some big ants on the trail sometimes, so read the information plaques to be aware of your surroundings. If you make contact with poison oak, wash the oil off your skin as soon as you can, to avoid blisters. Enjoy the oaks, and the flowering manzanita and ceanothus, depending on the season. Happy trails!

There are signs on daily ranch of mountain lions around the area . Im assuming they are being posted because they are more sightings of them. Usually , mountain lions are solitary. I have seen a pack of big brown coyotes before, but they halted at my presence and then walked away. I went on a run and took north quail road and at 8:45am I decided to deviate to the left to take the Stanley Peak trail . I only took a few steps, because im not quite familiar with that trail, when I suddenly saw 2 big brown “dogs” walking my way. They were not on the trail but on the dry short bushes walking toward the dirt trail. One was smelling the dry bushes, and the other one was walking. I Know they were not coyotes because they didn’t have long erect ears. They were too far away for me to see them clearly, but I wasn’t planning to waste precious time taking a picture of them. I walked slowly the way I came and ran back quail road. I only ran about 50 feet away when I ran into another runner, and we ended up team tagging our jog together.

Large open park with connecting trails. Quite steep from the start but once you get over that first hump the central trail stays easiest the walk. The trails heading northwest and northeast can have some challenging areas. Unfortunately the severe rain earlier this year has damaged the trails. Use hiking poles if you have them. You can stay out here for 4-6 hours, depending on your route and pace. Free parking, even on busy days like today I could easily find a spot. You can use the restrooms at the lake, which is a few minutes walk from parking and free entry when you walk. Main restroom building is located near the Ranch House. There are trash cans located all over the park and it definitely helps keeping the trails clean. Altho it can look busy, once you're more on the the outer sides of the park you have lots of quiet. Some more narrow trails are more suitable for mountain bikers that hikers. Check out their site for the map

Made this trip for a scouts camping trip this weekend. Easy camping, beautiful park, lake, and excellent hiking. Safely drive to great locations with magnificent views. 5/5 destination rating, difficulty level is 3/10, but beware of animals snooping around for food around the clock. Keep your camp clean and all food secured and you will have a great time!

Beautiful in springtime. So green. There has been so much rain, so everything is growing. You can see where there were fires that burned trees and shrubs there are now fields of new vegetation and flowers thriving. Life goes on!

Daley ranch is a strong 4.5 stars. It has many trails with varying hiking/biking conditions with streams, waterfalls, and ponds. In the spring, there are an assortment of beautiful blooming plants. Throughout the week, there can range between nearly no one there, to a completely filled up parking lot. The trails are kept up enough, but I lot of the nice details, such as signs of plant names and information have graffiti on them or have been destroyed. On busy days, the trails stink of dog poop because of lazy owners. There are literally trash bins available throughout nearly all off the trails. Please be courteous to others and the environment and pick up your trash, or other trash that is laying around. Overall this place is beautiful and very enjoyable. For exercise, or trying to find a calm soothing atmosphere , come on by. Cheers!

Always a great decision. These days, it makes sense to drive north to TJ Tacos for some delicious food instead of going south of the border. Less traffic and much safer. This location serves up the goods. I've been coming since they first opened. A private lot and some street parking as well as a drive thru. You choose. The food is fresh and tasty. Service is excellent. Their staff are friendly and welcoming. They've added furniture to the patio so there's more dining space. I'll be back for sure.

The Al Pastor tacos here are really good. Tried the cabeza taco as well which were very tender. The setup for ordering tacos is cool too. There are different windows to go up to depending on what tacos you want. It was already crowded at 1030am on a Sunday, but there is plenty of parking.

Great chow. Fast service. I had 2 pork and 1 steak tacos, daughter had the steak fries. It was a bit over $30. A real treat.

I decided to give this place another try, and as always it disappoints and is overpriced. I was craving a burrito, but after seeing the $19 price tag, I went with an adobada and carne asada taco. $9 for two small tacos is insane. You look at that picture and tell me if it looks good to you. The pork was obviously old and a lot of fatty pieces. It seems your prices continue to get sky high but quality gets worse each visit. I really wish y’all would take people’s advice and do better.

THE BEST TACOS! The adobada is amazing every single time. Definitely love the fries that they cover with the adobada and avocado sauce. I wish I could give them 1000 more stars. Plus the drive through is the best thing ever.

Went here for the great tacos and was NOT disappointed. Fabulous tasting steak (carne asada) and pork (adobada) street tacos; I also had a adobada mula which is like a tostado with the soft tortillas. Not far from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Lots a different soda to choose from too. Other family members got pina colada favor soda and mango.

TJ's taco's has a pretty good line management system to handle the high volume times. Ordered the pork burrito which came to around $17 after tax. Meat was nothing spectacular but is usually an upgrade over your average mexican chain resturaunt adobada offering. It's done in the kebab meat style with a rotating spit but I often find the meat tougher than it should be. Their mild tamatillo salsa is quite delightful though and would compliment a wide variety of dishes. My gut feeling tells me there's a wide range of quality due to the randomness of the spit roast cuttings you get on their adobada meat.

This vineyard is truly our favorite! I absolutely adore the hosts; the way they communicate and their hospitality is exceptional. We are very grateful to both of them. Recently, we celebrated my son’s birthday here, and all our guests were captivated by the wonderful venue and warm hospitality. We enjoyed a lovely evening filled with soft music and exquisite wine.

Went to Espinosa Winery on 11 Aug 24. Had an amazing time. Beautiful setting. Brought our own lunch to enjoy whilst having a few wines in the sun. Thanks for taking the time to talk about your wines. Loved it.

Beautiful winery in San Diego. This will turn out to be one of my favorite wineries we have visited. The owners were amazing and chatted with us about the wines, weather, and our trip from South Florida. This is a gem of a stop with a relaxing atmosphere and all around great time. Will definitely be back.

Stop by! Good local wines. Fabulous and informative hosts. The patio is so relaxing to sip your wine. Bring some cheese and make an afternoon.

Espinoza Vineyards and Winery is amazing. We love this place and the proprietors are lovely. Very cool winery in Escondido. The wines are pretty good — rose was dry and good. Other wines were good. Grounds were very clean and welcoming — kids are welcome, which made it even better. You can bring your own food although they have a cheese plate. Would highly recommend in the area. The owners are very nice and accommodating — really nice place.

My fiancée and I truly loved this place and enjoyed their wines. If you’re a fan of red wines you should check this place out. The Tempranillo is delicious and we brought back a bottle. We were recommended this vineyard by another vineyard, Grant James. We didn’t know that reservations were recommended and when we showed up they were very busy. However Noelle and Roberto made room for us and had one of their daughters clean a table. The wines are all super delicious. They have an amazing outside tasting area that is both tranquil and beautifully decorated. Thank you so much for an amazing time, I will let everyone know how wonderful this place is.

Great place for couples or a group of friends. Their outdoor tasting room has privacy when needed. their middle tables in the lawn with string lights is perfect for a group of people. their wines are very good and they priced reasonably. the owners are very friendly and are the ones that serve you we stayed way after the closing hour hanging out with them

Great urban winery. Groovy vibe. Great service. Good wine.

Great wine and chill atmosphere. The wine maker was there talking with everyone and we were even able to sample wine he just recently made! The wines are all full bodied and flavorful. This place is a bit tucked away and we passed it the first time. It seems like a brewery from outside but once you're in you definitely feel like you're in a cellar.

Stopped by this unassuming little place on a winery tour a couple weekends ago and was completely surprised. You walk in and are greeted with chandeliers, comfy couches and good music. We did their standard tasting, Ben was fantastic in explaining their wines. We were all surprised with the quality of the wine and will certainly stop by again.

Absolutely delicious. It doesn't matter if you're a white or red wine fan. There's definitely something you will enjoy here. The atmosphere is fantastic and the servers are friendly and helpful. If you're on the fence let me make your decision, this is the urban winery you should go to today.

Visited BK Cellars today. All the wines we tasted were awesome. Chris was very knowledgeable and made us feel so welcome. We will definitely be back. Hopefully Chris will be there to lead us to more wonderful wines.

We had a great time raising money for San Pasqual High School's Grad Night event. The owner and staff were exceptional to work with. Interactive and Fun! I'd recommend this venue for any fundraising event or just to go taste some good wine.

This my most favorite place to be.. stephanie, you're a great host, my brother in law and I really enjoy your company. I will always come back when I get a chance when I come out to California. Wine are excellent!

This is a review for their Eek! Ecotherms birthday party package. Susann was super helpful with coordinating the event and even gave me the idea to have it hosted at my daughter’s school for her 3rd birthday. It was a wonderful treat for the students and teachers, and my daughter had a blast! Susann and Sam were our animal presenters and they did an awesome job of ensuring all the kiddos got a chance to pet the different reptiles. I would definitely recommend booking them for a birthday party.

Family fun and educational... The facilities are filled with welcoming and knowledgeable staff guiding tours to view, pet and hold a number of creatures - including, lizards, snakes, and bugs. we've taken the basic tour and the platinum tour and they are both well worth the time and spend, especially with funds going towards such a great cause.

Awesome experience! Susan the owner and Donny the guide were so accommodating and knowledgeable. We took our granddaughter and she wanted to pet and hold all of the animals. She was fearless and Susan and Donny gave her every opportunity to interact with the animals. I felt sorry for some of the animals being raised in small enclosures, but after hearing their stories of how they ended up at their sanctuary, I realized they probably saved their lives and are providing them a better quality of life than before. We will definitely return and let our family and friends know of this wonderful sanctuary.

We weren't sure what to expect, but we had a great visit. My teenage son and I learned a lot. The tour was very interactive and reasonably priced. This is great for any reptile fan or reptile fan in training. Plan for an hour or two. Some tours require prior booking, others are available as walk-ins.

Amazing experience. The animals are beautiful and well taken care of. Our tour guide was amazing, you could see how much the animals loved her. Highly recommended

Donny was a wealth of knowledge and a great guide. Booked a private tour and got to meet a lot of cool wildlife and learn more about their success and why they play such an important role.

Loved visiting here. Our guide was so knowledge and the reptiles LOVE her!!! Best surprise we have had in a long time. My 6- and 2- year- Olds were totally into it. They got to touch and stroke the animals. it costs a lot to keep these animals. Expensive, but SO WORTH A VISIT!

I recently visited Forgotten Barrel and was disappointed with the service I received. While the ambiance and wine selection were quite good, my experience was overshadowed by an issue with the billing. After enjoying a bottle of Sangiovese on site, I purchased a bottle of Chardonnay to take home. Upon receiving my bill, I noticed that a tip had been added without my consent. I believe that tipping should be a voluntary gesture of appreciation, based on the quality of service provided. When I brought this to the staff's attention, I was met with indifference and a lack of concern for my situation. Rather than addressing my concerns and ensuring I felt valued as a customer, they seemed more interested in deflecting blame. I had hoped for a more customer-friendly approach that would make me want to return in the future. Unfortunately, the handling of this situation has left me hesitant to visit again. I hope forgotten barrel considers this feedback and makes improvements to their customer service approach, as the quality of wine deserves a better overall experience.

What a gem! You would never expect such an amazing winery in the suburbs of Escondido. We had my mother’s 98th birthday here and I couldn’t have wished for a more perfect setting. The owners were gracious and the experience divine! I highly recommend this beautiful and peaceful setting for your next winery adventure. The music was an added pleasure. 🌟

Love this little winery. They have a great selection of wines, including sparkling. The layout and outdoor seeing is fantastic, the fire pit is a nice touch. The staff is always helpful and friendly as well.

Forgotten Barrel is the perfect place to have small but absolutely beautiful wedding. Its tucked away in a quiet neighborhood but once you see it in person its just stunning. Everyone there helped make out day so perfect. The reception hall is breathtaking just as is. All the small details made it so much easier for us to fall in love with it. So thankful we were able to spend our day there with all our friends and family.

First time here and it’s super cute spot. Got there an hour or so before it closed and we enjoyed the live music. Wish we got there earlier. Fire pit is a plus. Can’t wait to go back. Hidden gem.

It's like a small version of Bernardo winery with a traditional village theme. I recommend their chardonnay as it has the woody flavor

Had a great experience wine tasting. Great staff. And love the cozy atmosphere. Didn’t quite connect with any of their wines but still had a great time

Honestly one of the coolest breweries I've been too, they've got a live band setup with a patio outside as well. The space is large I bet you could fit 75 heads in here easily without it being too crowded. The beers are tasty, just wish they had a crispy lager or pilsner on. I'll definitely be back soon!

What a find!? I had the pleasure of enjoying some of the finest brews this last weekend in San Diego when visiting Jacked Up with my closest high school friend. This delightful micro brewery serves up an amazing collection of frosty adult options that will delight anyone selective pallet. We both ordered up a “flight” so we could sample some options. We were not disappointed. We sampled the El Gato Lager, which is like a Mexican lager. The Scottish Ale was good, as was the Cream Ale. Now let’s talk about their darker brothers. This is where they truly excel. The Peanut Butter Cereal Stout was nice, but I’ve tasted others with a more peanut buttery taste, but this one is still quite good. The flavors in the Rye Whiskey Stout are well balanced. The Smoked Porter is one of my Favorites. All too often, brewers get too carried away with the smoke. This brewer got it right. He balanced the smoke with the various malts and hops. He obviously used the smoke as a supporting element and not the primary flavoring ingredient. Well done and smartly done. Now for the Stout. I have to say, its name is simple, but its flavor is not. This is the best and most well-balance and complex stout I’ve had in a long time. There is a lot going on. I don’t drink a lot of stouts. Especially in the summer, as I’m from Phoenix, Arizona. But this stout ranks as being one you don’t want to pass up at any time of the year. I hope this is not a seasonal brew for them. The last one I’d like to mention is their unique Dragon Fruit IPA. IPAs are now the rage. The problem is there’s a sea of mediocrity out there. However, this one does NOT fall into that category. It is as exceptional as it is unique. Their Dragon Fruit IPA is very deceptive. It goes down way too easy. It is light and not heavily hopped, very fruity, using the actual fruit, not extract, and boasts 10% alcohol, without an alcohol taste. This falls in the “unique” IPA category and IS QUITE DELIGHTFUL AND DANGEROUS. Even so, have fun with it. We were there on a Thursday afternoon and returned late Saturday afternoon/evening when they had a band there. The only thing missing was good food. I spoke with one of the owners. She is a delightful woman, and told me they are working toward offering food soon. I look forward to returning to Jacked Up, on my next visit to San Diego.

Cool brewery. Got a couple flights here to try out their brews. They have a very unique dragon fruit IPA which was interesting. Haven’t had anything like it. Their DIPA was really good. Most of their beers are lighter in body and make good lighter summer drinks. Staff was great.

If I can be quite honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of their beer. Some of it was flat, and other was quite bitter. It felt like it had lost a lot of carbonation from being in the keg. Something wasn’t right in this whole taste zone. However, owners:brewers(I believe) were pretty receptive of my feedback when I talked to them. Not that I’m an expert in Brewing, but a good constructive feedback is always good. They told me some stuff, and kinda made sense why I may have got that taste from those beers I bought. I love the branding, and truly feel that for the short amount of time they’ve been running; they can grow pretty big. Their Irish milk stout was by far my favorite, but I hear their dragon fruit might be the good one here. Def need to go back and have some, since it wasn’t available when I went. My four stars are for their friendliness, great branding, humbleness and for their Irish milk stout.

My husband and I stumbled upon this place and we were not disappointing! He enjoyed the beer and I got a huckleberry hard seltzer and it was fantastic. We also have the large soft pretzel and it was amazing. Highly recommend you ask for double the beer cheese because it’s so good. They make it with their own beer. If we lived in the area, we would go back!

This is the best brewery in Escondido. Great local, family vibes. And their beer selection is always incredible! Tons of variety, including hard seltzer!

Great spot! Owners are super welcoming, their beer is good, and they have a food truck! What else could you want from a small local independent brewery.

As a photographer, I'm constantly exploring new venues, and photographing a wedding in a nature park always brings me immense joy. This particular park was an absolute gem and provided the most breathtaking scenic backdrops, making for truly stunning wedding photos. It certainly didn't disappoint!

Went there for Escondido Renaissance Faire. This is a lovely event, and the park is beautiful. We live in Arizona, and this park kind of makes me want to move nearby. It's beautiful, rocks and trees, lots of hiking areas. Park rangers and Faire staff and participants were friendly.

Went to this park because my girlfriend and I attended the Escondido renaissance faire in Oct '25. What a surprisingly fun faire considering the lack of promotion online. Compared to bigger faires such as the renaissance pleasure faire in my neck of the woods, this faire definitely holds water. The park its situated in is very well maintained with plenty of space and shade for the festivities. I wouldn't be half surprised if this becomes a yearly adventure for fun at the faire.

I love this park. Grew up right next door and it hasn't changed much at all.

Went here for Renaissance Faire. Free parking for disabled individuals. We found Waldo.

Felicita Park is great! Lots of parking and picnic tables. winding trails that span the entire property, and a flowing Creek that runs the length of it as well. You can go pretty far back with smaller more precarious trails or just the casual easy ones. There seems to be something cool around every nook and cranny and there's lots of great spots for getting down closer to the creek. If you have kids I love playgrounds, hiking around and playing by the water this is the park for you!

Such a beautiful Park! There are miles of trails, decent sized rocks to climb, a creek, and a playground. We can't wait to visit again!