Side Trips

Popular day trips include the beaches and inland towns of "North County" (as locals call the part of San Diego County north of the I-5/I-805 junction), as well as our south-of-the-border neighbor, Tijuana. All are less than an hour away.

If you have time for a longer trip, you can explore some distinct areas (all within 2 hr. of the city) such as the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim; the wine country of Temecula; the gold-mining town of Julian, known for its apple pies; and the vast Anza-Borrego Desert. Whichever excursion you choose, you're in for a treat.

North County Beach Towns: Spots to Surf & Sun -- The string of picturesque beach towns that dot the coast of San Diego County from Del Mar to Oceanside make great day-trip destinations for sun worshipers and surfers. Be forewarned: You'll be tempted to spend the night.

North County Inland: From Rancho Santa Fe to Palomar Mountain -- The coastal and inland sections of North County are as different as night and day. Inland you'll find beautiful scrub hills, citrus groves, and conservative ranching communities where agriculture plays an important role.

Rancho Santa Fe is about 27 miles north of downtown San Diego; from there the scenic Del Dios Highway (S6) leads to Escondido, 32 miles north of San Diego. Nearly 70 miles from the city is Palomar Mountain in the Cleveland National Forest, which spills over the border into Riverside County.

Touring Temecula's Wineries

Over the line in Riverside County, 60 miles north of San Diego via I-15, Temecula is known for its 20-plus wineries and the increasingly noteworthy vintages they produce. The town's very name (pronounced "Ta-meck-you-la") provides the first clue to this valley's success in the volatile winemaking business/art. It translates (from a Native American language) as "where the sun shines through the mist," identifying two climatological factors necessary for viticulture. A third component is Rainbow Gap, an opening to the south through the Agua Tibia Mountains, that funnels cool afternoon sea breezes to the valley, which sits at an elevation of 1,500 feet. Some believe Franciscan friars from Mission San Luis Rey planted the first grapevines here in the early 1800s, but this was cattle country -- the 87,000-acre Vail Ranch operated from 1904 until it was sold in 1964. Grapevines eventually won out over orange groves, and the first commercial vineyard was planted in 1968.

Most of the wineries are strung along Rancho California Road, and harvest time is generally from mid-August to September. But visitors are welcome year-round to tour, taste, and stock up. Among the more notable are Callaway Vineyard & Winery (tel. 800/472-2377 or 951/676-4001; www.callawaywinery.com), the biggest winery in the region and also the best known. In-depth tours are offered throughout the day between 11am and 3pm (4pm weekends), and they have a casual bistro, Allie's. Across the street from Callaway stands another old-timer, Thornton Winery (tel. 951/699-0099; www.thorntonwine.com), which makes a good choice if you visit only one location -- Thornton provides an all-in-one overview of Temecula's wine country. It has a striking setting, a fragrant herb garden, an extensive gift shop, and an award-winning restaurant, and tours are offered on weekends between 11am and 4pm.

Mount Palomar Winery (tel. 800/854-5177 or 951/676-5047; www.mountpalomar.com) specializes in Bordeaux-style blends, as well as port and sherry. Mount Palomar has big plans for the future, too, including enlarging its facilities and developing a wine country resort and spa. Perhaps the most welcoming tasting room is the nouvelle yellow farmhouse of the Maurice Car'rie Winery (tel. 951/676-1711; www.mauricecarriewinery.com), which produces 14 varietals, and has opened an on-site Pacific Rim eatery, the Plantation House. Farther up the road is another venture by this family, VR La Cereza Vineyard and Winery (tel. 951/699-6961) -- the souvenir-minded will love VR's gift shop, filled with logo items and wine-related gifts. Both wineries are open daily from 10am to 5pm, and also have gourmet deli items for composing a picnic to enjoy in Maurice Car'rie's rose-filled front garden and patio.

For detailed information on Temecula wine touring, contact the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association (tel. 800/801-9463 or 951/699-6586; www.temeculawines.org) and request the Wine Country pamphlet, a guide with winery locations, hours, and a brief description of each. The Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce, 26790 Ynez Court (tel. 866/676-5090 or 951/676-5090; www.temecula.org), has a Visitors Guide and can provide info on accommodations, golf, fishing, and the region's famous Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival, held in June.