Attractions/Novelties/Interesting Items Nearby Fallbrook, CA

This page attempts to list some of the many interesting places to go and things to see within an hour or so drive of the Fallbrook area. This page is definitely incomplete, and needs the contributions from Fallbrookers to finish it. Please email me to let me know of other items to add to the list, as well as corrections or additional information about the items on the list. Some of the items below are so far only names - I will provide more information about them as time permits.
I have organized the places by subject area below, and will someday locate each of them on a map, to make it easier to find all the attractions in a given area. Many references come from The Enterprise (abbreviated Ent below) and the North County Times (NCT), and are cited in those cases.
These nearby attractions are sorted by the time it takes to get there from my house in the Winterwarm area of Fallbrook. These times can be adjusted from any other place in Fallbrook by taking into account the time from my house to one of the borders of Fallbrook.
Times and distances measured by me are stated below. Estimates have "~" in front of the numbers.

Distance
(miles) Time
(minutes) Attraction
11 ~14 Deer Park Winery, north of Escondido. World's largest auto museum of convertibles and Americana. Gift shop, gourmet deli, open daily 10-5.
12 ~15 Lawrence Welk Resort, north of Escondido. Rated in top 10 of timeshare resorts by a timeshare users group in Florida, beating several in Hawaii.
~8 ~14 The Green House Herb Farm, Oceanside
9 15 Guajome Park, Oceanside
13 19 Mission San Antonio De Pala, in Pala. Founded on June 13, 1816. Has the only free-standing bell tower among California missions.
~15 ~20 Temecula gorge, Temecula
~16 ~22 Pechanga Casino (1,200 video machines, Pechanga "21", jackpot poker, Pechanga cafe, open 24 hours), 45000 Pala Road, Temecula. Info: 888-pechanga.
16 22 Wilderness Gardens Preserve, Pauma Valley. Closed for most of the 1990s, it is now finally open again on the weekends.
~5-15 ~15-30 Camp Pendleton
13 22 San Luis Rey Mission, Oceanside
13 23 Heritage Park Village and Museum, behind the San Luis Rey Mission, Oceanside. A recreation of Oceanside circa 1900 with many historic buildings moved to this site, including 4 of Oceanside's original buildings and a number of shops styled after turn of the century businesses.
~12 ~25 Wave Water Park, Vista
~18 ~25 La Jolla Indian Water Park, Pauma Valley, also known as Sengme Oaks Family Water Park.
~18 ~25 Hot Air Balloon Rides, Temecula
~20 ~25 California Center for the Arts, Escondido
~23 ~27 Lake Hodges, Escondido
~20 ~30 Bell Gardens in Valley Center is a beautiful place that happens to grow food for sale. It was founded by Mr. Bell of Taco Bell fame.
~18 ~30 Oceanside Beach and Pier
20 35 Buena Vista Nature Center, Lagoon, Laguna State Park, Oceanside/Carlsbad
~20 ~35 Carlsbad Village Fair held on the first Sunday in May and November. (Time doesn't include bus shuttle.)
~25 ~35 Eastside Reservoir Project, near Hemet (The Californian 4-part Article)
~21 ~35 Stewart Mine Gems of Pala Store. Learn to mine for gems out of 5 gallon buckets of material from the mine for $50. Store hours vary, call 760-742-1356.
~30 ~35 Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, Palomar Mountain
~21 ~36 Agua Hedionda Lagoon, Carlsbad
~22 ~37 Leslie Farms, Carlsbad (pick your own strawberries)
~28 ~37 Lake Skinner, Riverside County. (Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival held there in late April in previous years, on June 9-11, 2000.)
21 38 Carlsbad Mineral Water Spa in the Alt Karlsbad building, Carlsbad
~22 ~38 Legoland, an amusement park designed for kids age 2-13.
~23 ~38 Ranunculus Flower Fields, aka "The Flower Fields", Carlsbad. These are the ones you see as a blaze of color driving by them on I-5 in Carlsbad, framed by the windmill of Andersen's Pea Soup Restaurant & Hotel, just north of Palomar Airport Road.
~23 38 Palomar Airport, Carlsbad
~39 ~38 Lake Elsinore Outlet Center Mall, Lake Elsinore
~39 ~38 Perris Railroad Museum, Perris. East on S74 (4^th St.) from I-215 in Perris to depot next to tracks. Then continue to A St., turn left to main museum area "where all the trains are". 909-657-2605.
~24 ~39 Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad
22 39 Carlsbad Beach
20-30 38-45 Santa Rosa Plateau, near Murrieta. Also see half-acre "fire-safe" garden on northern side of Bear Creek Fire station No. 75 on Clinton Keith Road.
~25 ~40 Stubb's Fuchsia Nursery, a wonderland of fuchsias in hanging baskets. SW of I-5 Leucadia exit at 737 Orpheus Avenue in Leucadia.
~25 ~40 Weidner's Flower Gardens. "Dig your own" tuberous begonias in a beautiful place. NE of I-5 Leucadia exit at Paraeus & Normandy. 760-436-2194. 9:30 - 5:00 daily except Tuesdays.
~25 ~40 Samia Rose Topiary. The place to go for topiary.
~27 ~40 Hell Hole Canyon State Park, Valley Center.
30? ~40? Blue Sky Ecological Reserve in Poway
~26 ~41 Quail Botanical Gardens, 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas. $3 adults; $1.50 ages 5-12; free parking. 760-436-3036. Exit I-5 at Encinitas Blvd, go east two blocks on left, turn left at Quail Gardens Drive.
44 41-45 Tom's Farms, Corona. Great fresh French bread, baked every few hours, wine & cheese shop, fruit & vegetable stand, hamburgers and milkshakes. An "oasis" with a pond, fountain in the middle of the pond, and swans. Topiary: life-size Tom with pitchfork, deer, 2 small elephants, etc. Free live music on weekends and holidays.
45? 43-47? Glen Ivy Hot Springs Resort
45? 43-47? Glen Eden no-dress code Resort.
~25 ~45 The San Diego Wild Animal Park in Escondido. Also see this site.
35? ~45? Los Penasquitos Canyon, San Diego, between Del Mar and Poway.
35? ~45 San Dieguito Regional Park, Escondido.
~31 ~46 Del Mar Fair, Del Mar. June 17-July 4, 1997. 760-793-5555. (Time doesn't include bus shuttle.)
40? ~45-50? Torrey Pines State Reserve, La Jolla
40? ~50? Dos Picos Park, between Ramona and Poway
44? ~50-55? Birch Aquarium, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. 9-5 daily. 619-534-7336.
~55 ~57 Balboa Park in San Diego.
36 59 Palomar State Park and Palomar Mountain
~35? ~60? Doris Wood Cottage Garden, Ramona
57 61 Hotel del Coronado, Coronado
~40 ~65 Palomar Mountain Observatory
~50 65 Dudley's Bread in Santa Ysabel (closed M, Tue)
~50 65 Mission Santa Ysabel in Santa Ysabel. First mass on September 20, 1818. Present chapel erected in 1924. Carvings, statuary, paintings and stained glass.
~56 65 Cabrillo National Monument
~55 75 Julian
~59 80 California Wolf Center four miles south of Julian. An education and conservation center focusing on the North American Gray Wolf, home to several captive packs. Visits allowed only for the 2 pm Saturday program with advance reservations. Fee: $7 Adults; $3 Kids.

Coming Attractions/Novelties/Cool Stuff Nearby Fallbrook, CA

A Western-themed amusement "area" is proposed for the area of Murrieta in the V between I-15 and I-215 at their southern intersection, or maybe wherever else the developer feels like claiming he is going to build next. The developer of the project, Zev Buffman, has changed plans so many times that it is hard to believe he really wants to do the project. Unlike Legoland, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for this project to be built.
NCT 4/10/97, B1, B8; 4/22/97, B3; and numerous others.

Distance (miles)	Time (minutes)	Attraction
11	~14	Deer Park Winery, north of Escondido. World's largest auto museum of convertibles and Americana. Gift shop, gourmet deli, open daily 10-5.
12	~15	Lawrence Welk Resort, north of Escondido. Rated in top 10 of timeshare resorts by a timeshare users group in Florida, beating several in Hawaii.
~8	~14	The Green House Herb Farm, Oceanside
9	15	Guajome Park, Oceanside
13	19	Mission San Antonio De Pala, in Pala. Founded on June 13, 1816. Has the only free-standing bell tower among California missions.
~15	~20	Temecula gorge, Temecula
~16	~22	Pechanga Casino (1,200 video machines, Pechanga "21", jackpot poker, Pechanga cafe, open 24 hours), 45000 Pala Road, Temecula. Info: 888-pechanga.
16	22	Wilderness Gardens Preserve, Pauma Valley. Closed for most of the 1990s, it is now finally open again on the weekends.
~5-15	~15-30	Camp Pendleton
13	22	San Luis Rey Mission, Oceanside
13	23	Heritage Park Village and Museum, behind the San Luis Rey Mission, Oceanside. A recreation of Oceanside circa 1900 with many historic buildings moved to this site, including 4 of Oceanside's original buildings and a number of shops styled after turn of the century businesses.
~12	~25	Wave Water Park, Vista
~18	~25	La Jolla Indian Water Park, Pauma Valley, also known as Sengme Oaks Family Water Park.
~18	~25	Hot Air Balloon Rides, Temecula
~20	~25	California Center for the Arts, Escondido
~23	~27	Lake Hodges, Escondido
~20	~30	Bell Gardens in Valley Center is a beautiful place that happens to grow food for sale. It was founded by Mr. Bell of Taco Bell fame.
~18	~30	Oceanside Beach and Pier
20	35	Buena Vista Nature Center, Lagoon, Laguna State Park, Oceanside/Carlsbad
~20	~35	Carlsbad Village Fair held on the first Sunday in May and November. (Time doesn't include bus shuttle.)
~25	~35	Eastside Reservoir Project, near Hemet (The Californian 4-part Article)
~21	~35	Stewart Mine Gems of Pala Store. Learn to mine for gems out of 5 gallon buckets of material from the mine for $50. Store hours vary, call 760-742-1356.
~30	~35	Agua Tibia Wilderness Area, Palomar Mountain
~21	~36	Agua Hedionda Lagoon, Carlsbad
~22	~37	Leslie Farms, Carlsbad (pick your own strawberries)
~28	~37	Lake Skinner, Riverside County. (Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival held there in late April in previous years, on June 9-11, 2000.)
21	38	Carlsbad Mineral Water Spa in the Alt Karlsbad building, Carlsbad
~22	~38	Legoland, an amusement park designed for kids age 2-13.
~23	~38	Ranunculus Flower Fields, aka "The Flower Fields", Carlsbad. These are the ones you see as a blaze of color driving by them on I-5 in Carlsbad, framed by the windmill of Andersen's Pea Soup Restaurant & Hotel, just north of Palomar Airport Road.
~23	38	Palomar Airport, Carlsbad
~39	~38	Lake Elsinore Outlet Center Mall, Lake Elsinore
~39	~38	Perris Railroad Museum, Perris. East on S74 (4^th St.) from I-215 in Perris to depot next to tracks. Then continue to A St., turn left to main museum area "where all the trains are". 909-657-2605.
~24	~39	Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad
22	39	Carlsbad Beach
20-30	38-45	Santa Rosa Plateau, near Murrieta. Also see half-acre "fire-safe" garden on northern side of Bear Creek Fire station No. 75 on Clinton Keith Road.
~25	~40	Stubb's Fuchsia Nursery, a wonderland of fuchsias in hanging baskets. SW of I-5 Leucadia exit at 737 Orpheus Avenue in Leucadia.
~25	~40	Weidner's Flower Gardens. "Dig your own" tuberous begonias in a beautiful place. NE of I-5 Leucadia exit at Paraeus & Normandy. 760-436-2194. 9:30 - 5:00 daily except Tuesdays.
~25	~40	Samia Rose Topiary. The place to go for topiary.
~27	~40	Hell Hole Canyon State Park, Valley Center.
30?	~40?	Blue Sky Ecological Reserve in Poway
~26	~41	Quail Botanical Gardens, 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas. $3 adults; $1.50 ages 5-12; free parking. 760-436-3036. Exit I-5 at Encinitas Blvd, go east two blocks on left, turn left at Quail Gardens Drive.
44	41-45	Tom's Farms, Corona. Great fresh French bread, baked every few hours, wine & cheese shop, fruit & vegetable stand, hamburgers and milkshakes. An "oasis" with a pond, fountain in the middle of the pond, and swans. Topiary: life-size Tom with pitchfork, deer, 2 small elephants, etc. Free live music on weekends and holidays.
45?	43-47?	Glen Ivy Hot Springs Resort
45?	43-47?	Glen Eden no-dress code Resort.
~25	~45	The San Diego Wild Animal Park in Escondido. Also see this site.
35?	~45?	Los Penasquitos Canyon, San Diego, between Del Mar and Poway.
35?	~45	San Dieguito Regional Park, Escondido.
~31	~46	Del Mar Fair, Del Mar. June 17-July 4, 1997. 760-793-5555. (Time doesn't include bus shuttle.)
40?	~45-50?	Torrey Pines State Reserve, La Jolla
40?	~50?	Dos Picos Park, between Ramona and Poway
44?	~50-55?	Birch Aquarium, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. 9-5 daily. 619-534-7336.
~55	~57	Balboa Park in San Diego.
36	59	Palomar State Park and Palomar Mountain
~35?	~60?	Doris Wood Cottage Garden, Ramona
57	61	Hotel del Coronado, Coronado
~40	~65	Palomar Mountain Observatory
~50	65	Dudley's Bread in Santa Ysabel (closed M, Tue)
~50	65	Mission Santa Ysabel in Santa Ysabel. First mass on September 20, 1818. Present chapel erected in 1924. Carvings, statuary, paintings and stained glass.
~56	65	Cabrillo National Monument
~55	75	Julian
~59	80	California Wolf Center four miles south of Julian. An education and conservation center focusing on the North American Gray Wolf, home to several captive packs. Visits allowed only for the 2 pm Saturday program with advance reservations. Fee: $7 Adults; $3 Kids.

Update log for attractions and the rest of the Fallbrook Site.

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Copyright © 1997-2001 by Tom Chester.
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Comments and feedback: Tom Chester
Last update: 25 February 2001.