Vacation Opportunities Abound
While all of San Diego County attracts large numbers of tourists, the North County Region appears particularly blessed by resort destinations. Cities such as Carlsbad, La Jolla, and Del Mar are world renowned tourist destinations. Each is both a picturesque village as well as an upscale year round community of tree lined streets and attractive homes. There are also miles of beautiful beaches, wooded interiors, and a climate that is unsurpassed anywhere in the world. Winters are mild, and summers are cooled by ocean breezes.
The population density is low throughout the region so traffic is usually light, and there is plenty of room to commune with nature. Parks abound along with golf course, many of international repute.
Hikers have many choices hereabouts. Along the coast lies Torrey Pines State Park. This attractive preserve is devoted to the rare Torrey Pine which can only be found in a few spots in the region. There are miles of trails that zigzag among the pine clad hills leading down to magnificent beaches. This is a renowned spot for surfing. Many kayakers enjoy paddling along here as well. Inland,Palomar Mountain State Park gives walkers a workout climbing mile high slopes.
Highway 101 runs through the region from Oceanside up to Del Mar. Also known as El Camino Real, the King’s Highway, this now modernized freeway follows the Mission Route pioneered by Father Serra and his followers who established a chain of communities and churches along the California coast.
Notable Attractions in the Region
North San Diego County has a number of well known tourist attractions. The San Diego Safari Parkis found here. Unlike a regular zoo, herds of animals are found in large open spaces that resemble their natural habitats. A tour taken here will be akin to a trip to Africa. Visitors will be driven across spacious meadows where they can see giraffes, rhinoceros, zebras, and many other exotic beasts. The African portion of this attraction alone covers more than 200 acres with a roadway running for several miles through fields teeming with exotic wildlife. Other portions of the Safari Park can be walked. Just in case, you don’t see enough animals here,San Diego has one of the largest zoos in the world located in Balboa Park which is also the site of several museums, botanical gardens, and artisan shops.
Legoland is also located in North San Diego County. The site offers a fun outing for the whole family. Youngsters along with adults will marvel at the creations built up from tiny building blocks that often achieve epic proportions.
The Scripps Institute in La Jolla is a world class research facility devoted to oceanography. It is also home to the Birch Aquarium that is open to public viewing. Also in that famed coastal community is the Museum of Modern Art,La Jolla. Carlsbad is famous for its flower fields that grow many of the blossoms that are marketed throughout the country.
If golf is your bag, North San Diego County has some 40 courses to choose from. Perhaps the most famous is the one at Torrey Pines that overlooks the ocean. The U.S. Open has been staged here.
