Top Rated Parks to Visit in Encinitas

"Adjacent to the Zoo is Balboa Park, one of San Diego's most beloved treasures. Known as the "Smithsonian of the West," Balboa Park is the largest cultural park in America and features 17 museums and performing arts venues as well as beautiful gardens, the lily pond and botanic building, concerts and a host of special events. Take a stroll down the main El Prado promenade, enjoy the gorgeous 1915 Spanish Colonial-revival style architecture, and grab a bite to eat and one of the many purveyors in the park."

"Like no place else in the country, Balboa Park offers a magnificent combination of art, architecture, history and agriculture in one expansive park. Spanning approximately 1,200 acres, Balboa Park was once known as City Park and was founded more than 125 years ago. Today, the park is home to 15 museums, theaters, marvelous gardens, restaurants, shopping and the world-famous San Diego Zoo."

"Balboa Park is the largest urban park in the United States and it was built for the Worlds Fair. The buildings here still stand and it is home to one of the best zoos in the world too – The San Diego Zoo. This is another location that is a favorite among photographers shooting engagement photos."

"Belmont Park is an amusement park and entertainment center located along Mission Beach. The historic Giant Dipper roller coaster has been around for over 95 years, and there are many other classic rides to enjoy, such as bumper cars and a carousel. Get a hole-in-one at the tiki miniature golf course or battle against your enemies in the Tron-themed laser tag experience."

"3146 Mission Boulevard San Diego, CA 92109 858-488-1549 Ride Hours: Monday: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Tuesday-Thursday: 11:00am-8:00pm Ride Hours: Friday & Saturday: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM Sunday: 11:00am-9:00pm Store hours vary 5 Stores plus multiple kiosks Major Attractions: Roller Coaster, Beach Blaster, Wave House and Specialty Shops"

"Belmont Park is a fun little spot in Mission Beach with a cool old roller coaster. It’s great for night shots with the lighting and rides. Best part, you can visit without paying anything."

"Spend a long morning in Old Town State Historic Park, exploring the adobe buildings and browsing the many gift shops. You’ll be tempted to sit down for a Mexican lunch at one of the tourist restaurants, but save your appetite for a more genuine experience at El Indio, just up the street in Mission Hills."

"There are several historic buildings to be found, including five adobes, a hotel dating back to 1870, and a reconstructed courthouse and stable. Educational events are frequent occurrences, from theatrical performances to blacksmith demonstrations to tours."

"The six square blocks on the site of San Diego's original pueblo are the heart of Old Town. Most of the 20 historic buildings preserved…"

"Many people recommended we take in one of the famous San Diego sunsets from Sunset Cliffs, which is just a couple of miles south of the Ocean Beach pier. Sunset Cliffs Natural Park is a 68-acre City of San Diego regional park which extends 1½ miles along the Point Loma peninsula’s western shoreline. You get expansive ocean views, dramatic cliff formations and caves, an intertidal area, and in some spaces plenty of space and rocks for the kids to run over way back from the edge."

"Romantics will appreciate the awe-inspiring experience of a Southern California sunset. One of the best places to visit is Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, which stretches for 68 acres along coastal bluffs above the Pacific Ocean. The location provides an incomparable viewpoint to take in the ocean panoramas as the sun transforms the horizon from blue to glorious rosy-toned hues."

"With a name like “Sunset Cliffs,” you might expect this place to be amazing. The good news is that you’d be right. Sunset Cliffs Natural Park is one of the most gorgeous locations in San Diego, so it’ll make an unforgettable memory for you during your vacation."

"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"

"Carlsbad has an extremely photogenic coastline with a few tiny caves to add some foreground to your photographs. Although the caves not nearly as impressive as La Jolla’s caves & coves or even Sunset Cliffs, it’s definitely worth a day trip!. We originally came out here in search of a cave called Sarah’s Cavern."

"The Carlsbad Lagoon is a water sports center that offers a variety of activities and equipment rentals, including canoes, kayaks, paddle-boats, stand up paddle-boards, and wave runners. There are also speedboats available for rent. The center has trained instructors who can teach visitors how to do a variety of fun water activities including water skiing and wake boarding."

"Located along Harrison Street in Carlsbad lies the waters of Agua Hedionda Lagoon. Also sometimes referred to as Carlsbad Lagoon, it stretches 1.7 miles inland and is up to half a mile wide."

"History meets adventure at Leo Carrillo Ranch Historical Park. This space, a fully functioning ranch named Rancho de Los Kiotes, is now a 27-acre (11-ha) manicured paradise, one that boasts aesthetic beauty and educational value. Much of the ranch is perfectly preserved history, amidst a mystifying natural landscape."

"Moonlight State Beach in the seaside town of Encinitas is one of the most visited beaches in North County because of its spacious sandy area and fun amenities like fire pits, sand volleyball courts, and a snack bar. There's also a large section of the beach that is reserved exclusively for swimmers, so you can hang out in the water and not worry about colliding with a surfboard (if you want to surf, nearby Swami's Beach is known as the surfing mecca in Encinitas). There is a paid parking lot near the beach as well as free street parking around the entrance."

"This beach earns its name because residents in the early 1900s used to picnic under the stars here. Today, Moonlight State Beach is a popular beach choice with North County San Diego locals and visitors. A picnic area, restrooms, volleyball courts, tennis courts, equipment rentals, a snack bar and more are just a few of the conveniences offered here."

"Moonlight Beach is a treasure trove of one-stop-shop beachiness with fairly easy parking, picnic areas, fire pits, a play area, volleyball courts, a snack shop, and showers for after swimming. This is one seriously family-friendly beach. Get there early enough and you’ll almost certainly see dolphins frolicking in the surf."

"It is 3 miles of dog-friendly, running heaven and has over 20 fitness stations. These stations include everything from pull up bars for working your arms to plank stations for crunches. Because it isn’t well-known, this park is almost always uncrowded, rendering it quiet and peaceful."

"You can take a break here on a layover or if staying at one of the San Diego Airport hotels because this fun area is across the street from the airport. You’ll find a small sandy beach (the only along the bay), picnic tables, public art, a play structure, and panoramic views. (Location: Downtown)"

"Spanish Landing Park is a long narrow park along busy North Harbor Drive in San Diego. This park is near San Diego International Airport and the Harbor Island Marina."

"History meets adventure at Leo Carrillo Ranch Historical Park. This space, a fully functioning ranch named Rancho de Los Kiotes, is now a 27-acre (11-ha) manicured paradise, one that boasts aesthetic beauty and educational value. Much of the ranch is perfectly preserved history, amidst a mystifying natural landscape."

"The William Heath Davis Historic House Museum is the Gaslamp district’s oldest surviving structure, a saltbox style home shipped around Cape Horn and assembled in San Diego in 1850. The museum has been home to many fascinating people, including pre-civil war soldiers, a German Spy and Alonzo Horton, founder of San Diego. Each room represents a historic period of the home and is filled with fascinating and amusing stories about the former inhabitants."

"Throughout the year’s many historical figures have visited the William Heath Davis House. As visitors tour the house, they will see each room is dedicated to a different period in the house’s history, and most of it was restored to its 1850’s glory. Rumor also has it that this house hosts its own ghostly visitors as well."