Mentioned by Condé Nast Traveler
17 Best Things to Do in San Diego
"After taking in some of the best restaurants in Escondido or best brunch spots in Carlsbad, head to Daley Ranch to walk off what you just ate. With over 3,000 miles of conservation area to explore, you can enjoy the natural vegetation, oak woodlands, grasslands, and more. And if you’re interested in some history, there are plenty of old buildings to explore on the property too."
"This 3,000-acre conservation area near Dixon Lake was established in 1996 to help preserve biologically unique habitats. There are six trails totaling more than 20 miles that are good for walking, biking, and horseback riding. Rangers offer tours of the Daley Ranch House and its outbuildings every second Sunday."
"The park was named after Christopher (Kit) Carson, the famous scout who guided Captain John C. Fremont over the Sierra Nevada Mountains during a government exploration expedition. The City of Escondido acquired the land for its largest regional park from the City of San Diego in 1967. Address:3333 Bear Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA 92025"
"This hike will take you through unique rock structures, and at the end, you can enjoy the sunset from the beach (a sometimes nude one). Don’t forget to check out the Mushroom House too while you’re there. More: Photo Guide to Hiking the Ho Chi Minh Trail"
"Hosp Grove was founded by a group of investors called The Hosp Eucalyptus Corp in 1908. They planted 219 acres of trees in this Carlsbad grove hoping they could be harvested & sold to the Santa Fe Railroad as railroad ties. Much of the grove has been sold off, but what remains are fun, forested trails with plenty of inclines and twists & turns."
"Located in the heart of Little Italy, Bencotto offers artisanal Italian food in a chic, modern setting. Diners can choose from a wide selection of appetizers, including risotto balls, calamari in a spicy garlic tomato sauce, and an excellent selection of meat and cheese platters. The menu also offers soups, salads, meat and seafood entrees, and gourmet pasta dishes; all the pasta is 100% organic and made fresh by hand every day."
"You decide on a sauce, you decide on a pasta style, and you’ll soon be in pasta heaven. Start with some small plates to share like the thinly slice prosciutto or fried risotto balls, and don’t worry about trying to influence your date to get something you want to try because trust me, whatever they order you will want to try it. Industrial setting is a bit cold but don’t let that turn you off."
"There’s no better place for a bowl of carbs in San Diego, where multiple varieties, ranging from fusilli to gnocchi, are made fresh daily. Design your own bowl by selecting the sauce and pasta type. If you’ve never tried the salsiccia (Italian sausage in a spicy tomato sauce) with a broad noodle, like tagliatelle or pappardelle, now's the time."
"Two Milanese restaurateurs opened Mattarello Cooking Lab in the Gaslamp in 2018. A retail section for fresh pasta boasts a menu that features products and pasta dishes made in-house."
"There’s always something new at Crumbl with their 4 specialty flavors changing weekly, but they’ve always got the classic choc chip and sugar cookie daily. As of this writing, their specialty flavors are Snickerdoodle Cupcake, Pumpkin Choc Chip, Frozen Hot Chocolate (hello chocolate mousse with mini marshmallows and powdered sugar!) and a Biscoff Lava; which if you’ve never had a Biscoff cookie, make this the one you try first!"
"You can invite all your friends to join you at My Yard Live. From BBQ pulled pork sandwiches and mac n' cheese to a giant treehouse for little ones to explore and locally brewed beer, you can eat and drink while the kids play corn hole, ping pong, 80s arcade games and more at this cool new restaurant in San Marcos that's designed to resemble your dream yard. Head here on a Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m."
"The Tasting room at California Wild Ales is now open Friday - Sunday for dine-in service, food order is required. While curbside pickup of bottles, crowlers, and growlers is available Wednesday - Sunday or order online anytime here order here."
"Tue - Wed 3:00 - 8:00 PM; Thu - Fri 12:00 - 8:00 PM; Sat 12:00 - 7:00 PM; Sun 12:00 - 5:00 PM"