Things to Do in North County San Diego, California
Travel outside of popular areas of San Diego County such as downtown, La Jolla, & Balboa Park. They're fantastic & iconic & certainly worth a visit, but this post is all about visiting the north part of the county.
Your family will have the best time in North County! What is there to do in North County San Diego? Quite a lot! If you get an opportunity to travel to this area in Southern California, you'll find shopping, music, events, & more! You'll find that it's the life of the part.
Related reading: Coffee Shops in Carlsbad, California
Remember this post is more for future reference as travel starts to open up again. Please be safe. Socially distance yourself from others whenever possible. Wear your mask. I went on a hike & nearly everyone wore a mask. There weren't many people on the trail, but each person put their mask on as they passed by, especially in narrow areas of the trail where you can't distance yourself. It's like sunscreen, hat, water, it's protection! Why wouldn't I protect myself?
What is Considered North County in San Diego? What Towns are North of San Diego?
North County San Diego consists of coastal regions as well as inland regions. The coastal cities include Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Oceanside, Solana Beach, and Vista. The inland cities include Escondido, Poway, San Marcos, and the northern part of the City of San Diego. The mountain cities include Ramona & Valley Center. There's room to explore the lifestyle as you travel through the coastal & inland cities.
Things to do: What is There to Do in North County San Diego?
Beaches
You'll find numerous beaches to choose from in the Southern California area. Del Mar, Encinitas, Carlsbad, & Oceanside are all beach towns in North County. Each city has its own range of beaches to pick from. You could travel from beach to beach if you really wanted to. South Carlsbad State Beach, Tamarack Surf Beach, South Oceanside Beach, South Ponto Beach, Moonlight State Beach, Buccaneer Beach Park, Oceanside Harbor Beach, & many more!
Hikes
Spend the day doing outdoor activities. While people aren't raving about the stunning views, I'd consider nature one of the best things to do in North County San Diego! Discover miles of hidden hills in Escondido's Way Up Trail, Harmony Grove Overlook, and Equine Incline Loop at Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve. Del Dios Gorge Trail at Lake Hodges in Escondido looks like a relaxing beachfront vacation instead.
People spend their day at the lake fishing & simmering in the sun like a turkey roasting in an oven. Walk around the Encinitas lagoon. Don't miss Annies Canyon Trail via North Rios Trailhead Loop, part of the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve. I went with a couple friends & it was a beautiful experience.
Hike Batiquitos Lagoon in Carlsbad for an incredible view of the lagoon near the Pacific Ocean. Potato Chip Rock, Double Peak Trail, Way Up Trail, Lake Calavera Loop Trail. There are soooo many hikes & trails, do a little bit of Googling or use AllTrails!
Water Activities
Once you get up to North County you'll find lots of fun options such as shopping, travel, heading to a museum, or to the sea. Surf at the ocean. Rent a paddleboard or pedal boat at Lake San Marcos Marina. The area offers plenty of water activities whether you want to just hang out at the beach or lake, or if you want to kayak, surf, etc. There's the Wave Water Park in Vista.
Gardens
We already know the abundance of opportunities & activities in San Diego (like kicking in in La Jolla or spending the afternoon at Torrey Pines), but there are literally hundreds of things to do in North County San Diego. There's the Alta Vista Botanical Gardens in Vista, California. Stroll around the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas. Go shopping for plants at Buena Creek Gardens in San Marcos.
Grab coffee or tea at one of the many coffee shops in Carlsbad, Oceanside, etc! |
Coffee & Tea
Old California Coffee House and Eatery, Peet's Coffee, Leap Coffee, Baba Coffee, Bird Rock Coffee Roasters. There's really no shortage of coffee options. You can support small, locally owned businesses rather than big chains like Starbucks.
Breweries in Vista
San Diego is known for its craft beer, it's kind of San Diego's thing. There are actually a lot of breweries in North County. In Vista, you'll find Bear Roots Brewing Co., Wavelength Brewing Company, Backstreet Brewery, Mother Earth Brewing Company, Ebullition Brew Works, Barrel Harbor Brewing, Booze Brothers Brewing Co., BattleMage Brewing Company, Belching Beaver Pub 980, Latitude 33 Brewing Company, Helia Brewing Company. Downtown Vista is popping in general!
Don't miss the craft beer & brewery scene in North County; Vista has a lot of breweries! |
Breweries in Carlsbad
In Carlsbad, you can find Jacked Up Brewery & Culver Beer Co. There's probably more!
Breweries in Oceanside
In Oceanside, you'll find breweries such as Oceanside Brewing Company, Black Plague Brewing, Belching Beaver Brewery Oceanside, Northern Pine Brewing, Kilowatt Brewing Oceanside Taproom, Legacy Brewing Company, Breakwater Brewing, Bagby Beer Co. As far as things to do in North County San Diego, craft beer is at the top of the list.
Wineries
Although San Diego County isn't a notable wine country, there's still plenty of wine & some rolling hills of wineries hidden away within North County SD. 2Plank Vineyards in Vista, La Fleur's Winery in San Marcos. Escondido is the biggest hub for wine since it's perfectly located for wineries.
Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum, Belle Marie Winery, BK Cellars Urban Winery & Tasting Lounge are all in Escondido.
Twin Oaks Valley Winery in San Marcos. Witch Creek Winery in Carlsbad.
Other Adult Beverages
Prefer mead? Head to Meadiocrity Mead or Twisted Horn Mead and Cider in Vista.
Lots of hiking & nature in North County SD, such as in Escondido! |
Parks
Grape Day Park & Kit Carson Park in Escondido are popular amongst locals. Kit Carson Park has hiking trails, tennis courts, soccer fields, & other convenient amenities. There's Brengle Terrace Park and Buena Vista Park (also called Alta Vista Gardens) in Vista.
Oak Riparian Park in Oceanside has a playground, nature trails for hiking, as well as a picnic area. There's also Buddy Todd Park, Capistrano Park, Guajome Regional Park, Mance Buchanon Park in Oceanside, California.
Don't worry - Carlsbad has parks too, including Aviara Community Park, Alga Norte Community Park, Hidden Canyon Community Park, Cannon Park. Holiday Park, Magee Park, & more.
You'll find San Marcos Brandley Park packed with what seems like the entire county for the 4th of July fireworks. Del Mar has Seagrove Park, Powerhouse Park & Beach, Del Mar Shores Park, North Bluff Preserve, San Dieguito County Park. Parks are free, so your bank account will be appreciative.
San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is located in Escondido, California. Fun story: I used to work there, but that's a story for another day. The Safari Park is different than the San Diego Zoo location in Balboa Park. People travel from all over the globe to go to the zoo & Safari Park.
LEGOLAND California
Located in Carlsbad, LEGOLAND California is a popular & fun destination for families & children. If your kiddos like Legos, this is the spot for them. They even have a hotel so you can stay on the property without having to navigate to & from the theme park every day. Take a look at the Legoland website for tickets, dining menu options, park maps, & more.
Shopping at Westfield North County
You'll find lots of shopping options throughout Northern San Diego County. Westfield North County in Escondido has stores, food court, & other dining options. Take the family& kids shopping, run a couple errands, grab some food, you could stay there for hours. Check out the Westfield North County website for updates.
Schools
If you want to get an education, you can do it smack dab in North County. Cal state? We got you! California State University, San Marcos (CSUSM) is a four-year university in San Marcos. Community colleges? You can find Palomar College in San Marcos, with six other education sites in North San Diego County as well as MiraCosta College, a community college in Oceanside.
Outdoors and Other Things
The Queen Califia's Magical Circle sculpture garden in Escondido is cute, especially with kids.
Oceanside, California
Read my full blog post of things to do in Oceanside, California: restaurants, coffee shops, what to see, & more! If you're in Oceanside, you can't miss the Oceanside Pier, Mission San Luis Rey, Oceanside Sunset Market, Oceanside Harbor Village, spending an afternoon at the beach or munching at restaurants or breweries.
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Encinitas, California
Like strolling by the beach? There are plenty of things to do in Encinitas, California. Walk down Main Street Encinitas. Read my blog post about things to do in Encinitas, California. Whether you're a local to North County San Diego or an out-of-town visitor, you'll find sun, fun, food, & drinks in Encinitas. Moonlight Beach, Cardiff State Beach, San Elijo State Beach, & Swami's State Beach are some of the popular beaches in town.
A Guide on what to do in Encinitas: Things to do in Encinitas, California
Del Mar, California
Del Mar is closer to San Diego than other North County cities, but still far enough to have its own personality. Del Mar is a cute beachy town with local shopping, food, & views of the Pacific Ocean. It's home to the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Read my blog post about the Del Mar Fair, now called the San Diego County Fair. You can travel up the coast of Encinitas into Oceanside & beyond.
Related reading: Encinitas Coffee Shops: Searching for the Best Coffee in Town
No matter what your interests are - hiking, travel, shopping, fun, food, coffee, tea, craft beer, cocktails, beach days, mountains, lakes, lagoons, fishing, surfing, you'll find hundreds of things that you can do in the North County area. The area has historic value, fantastic food, and it's worth sharing all the things you may do in the area. The question is: what do you WANT to do? What do you like? You'll find something that you love!
Rainbow in San Marcos, California. |
Travel outside of La Jolla & the most well-known parts of San diego & really visit up north. There are literally so many things to do. Adults, teens, & kids alike can find several great opportunities in North County San Diego. From shopping local boutiques on a weekend to heading to a dive bar with friends at night, there's always something to do. You'll have a good time. What is there to do in San Diego today? See for yourself! I hope you get a chance to travel to North County. Do you have any new information? Leave a comment or email.
3 Years as a Remote Worker: Blogging Coach, Social Media Manager, & Travel Writer
Three years ago I put in my two weeks' notice at my full-time office job & started walking a strange, unknown path through remote work. I navigated through finding clients & establishing myself as a blogging coach. I did over 75 coaching sessions with a range of awesome women. It has been a whirlwind of 3 years because each year was completely different.
Half of the year was pre-Coronavirus, but ultimately, COVID-19 caused a bit of chaos. Due to budget cuts, layoffs, and everything that ensued, I lost a couple of clients. But I came out stronger than ever. You can read all about that in my blog post Life in Quarantine as a San Diego Blogger + Social Media Manager.
Read my updates from Year 1 & Year 2!
Blogging + Influencer Events
I made a conscious effort to attend more influencer events. I'm pretty introverted so it isn't inherently easy for me to get out there & chat amongst people. It's something I've never been good at, including when I was in middle school & my mom told me to ask the server for more bread. It took a couple minutes before I could work up the courage to go up to the counter & ask. So it's a consistent struggle, not something new, but something I work at daily. For additional blogging tips and tricks, read how to set effective goals so you get things done.
I attended a grand opening party for Cardellino restaurant in San Diego. Take a look at my experience at Cardellino on my travel Instagram. The eatery is big & open but feels cozy once filled with people eager to eat (this event was in February 2020 prior to COVID hitting the area). For dinner, choose the Fusilli Piccanti Alla Vodka with parmigiano, basil, Calabrian chiles, extra virgin olive oil if you're in the mood for pasta.
Interested in social media management, help, or consulting? Fill out my Discovery Questionnaire & I'll get in touch with you within 48 hours.
If you're in a pizza mood, the Bianca e Verde is out-of-this-world incredible. Panna, mozzarella, roasted garlic, ricotta, broccoli, spinach, parmigiano. For dessert, try the Earl Grey Budino with orange blossom caramel, honey chantilly, biscotti. You know I love Earl Grey tea (although I'm sipping on chai tea as a write this)! The pistachio Mr. Trustee's Soft Serve ice cream is absolutely incredible & really reminded me of the pistachio gelato I ate in Milan, Italy. What would you order?
In February 2020, I also went to 101 Home and Away influencer event in Encinitas. I shared the post on my Instagram account as well. 101 Home and Away has beautiful murals, tasty food & drinks, as well as an open dining atmosphere. Dig the captivating colours & botanical elements of the mural by Jonny Alexander. I love that art isn’t just for museums anymore. You can experience art as you nosh on tater tots. 😇
If you're searching for blogging tips and tricks, read how to find blogging inspiration + blog ideas.
Freelance Writing & Remote Work
Year 3 as a remote worker brought in new work. I dabbled with freelance writing for the first time in a couple of years. I write occasionally for clients & regularly for my own blog, but it was a refreshing challenge to write 2,000+ word articles on education. I had a project for a few weeks with a consulting company for Ivy College admissions. I knocked out several articles within that period with each one requiring a minimum of 2,000 words.
I wrote articles for LOCALE Magazine, a lifestyle magazine with markets in Orange County, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs. I wrote an online article as well as a couple articles for their print/web magazine. Read my article in LOCALE Magazine about Top Spots in San Diego You Need to Visit on Super Bowl Sunday.
I was a content producer for TripSavvy for a full year. They had me on the team producing posts, essentially I would review already created posts & ensure they maintained the updated brand standard. So I did a lot of replacing images, finding photos on Getty Images, checking the post for grammar, capitalization discrepancies, etc. I spent a lot of time editing travel content so you could say that fueled my desire to continue traveling. It was already part of my workday!
Travel Influencer
I did a WB Studio Tour Hollywood in Burbank, California to see some behind the scenes from television favorites like Friends & Gilmore Girls. I did some other California travels in Julian. I experienced Milan, Italy; Porto, Portugal; Paris, France; Warsaw, Poland; Sitges, Spain. What an experience. I always look for the best flight deals, so my travels usually revolve around where I can find a good bargain. I went to Mexico a couple of times, spending the most time in Queretaro. Then COVID lockdown started & traveling was off-limits, so I don't have many travels to report. At least it allowed me more time to create content & awareness for some of the destinations I visited!
"What is a press trip/familiarization tour?" you ask. I explain it in this Instagram post & a bit in this blog post.
What is a Blog Coach & Consultant? What is a Blogging Coach?
I answer this in-depth in my blog post if you want to read it, How I Help People as a Blog Coach & Consultant. Short answer: I offer blogging tips and tricks. Blog coaching is often on a per session or per month coaching package rate, depending on the client. Some clients want a deep-dive over the course of one to three months with regular coaching sessions each week & daily email access, whereas some clients just want to consult with me for an hour-long session to go over questions, goals, next steps. To each her own. Clients tend to work with me long-term, often hiring me over & over for various projects or consulting. But just like a comfortable pair of shoes, sometimes, it's not a good fit & that's totally okay! No pressure - for both of us.
Interested in social media management, help, or consulting? Fill out my Discovery Questionnaire & I'll get in touch with you within 48 hours.
Press + Media
I was featured in the media a few times this year which is pretty cool. You can find me in TLC (35 Real Love Stories That Will Warm Your Heart); Parade Magazine (Underrated Towns to Visit in Italy); & U.S. Chamber of Commerce blog!
Read my updates from Year 1 & Year 2!
What is Another Word for Important?
How do you convey something of extreme importance?
Whether you're crafting a work email or writing a story, you might be trying to figure out what is another word for important?
You'll learn synonyms of important so you can find other words with the same meaning. There are more synonyms for important than I realized.
You don't have to search any longer. These words are useful if you are looking for new words to use in a sentence for work, an essay, a note, or whatever you need it for! There are many ways to articulate the significance of something by using these English words.
Scroll down to see the main words related that you can use.
Tips to help you land a job interview. Read here! It feels powerful to learn.
Writing can be hard. Whether are you are researching a 12-page paper for a class or you have to write something for your boss, there is always pressure to perform & do an outstanding job. Once you get frustrated or frazzled and then it gets even harder to think clearly. It's helpful to use synonyms if you feel stuck word-wise.
Writing can be difficult & monotonous. A thesaurus can provide you with antonyms or a unique important adjective. A thesaurus can offer a refreshing related definition to switch up your verbiage. They even have a word of the day to help you learn a little bit each day. Use this list to influence your English word knowledge for the better.
Other Word for Important
A synonym is a word or phrase means the same as another word or phrase. Find the power in searching for a new English word, an adjective, noun antonyms, synonyms. It feels great! The search for knowledge is a never-ending hunt. I don't know every word in the English language nor do I know the meaning of every word, but that's why I use a thesaurus.
Back in the day, you had to buy a big old paperback clunker of a book to enjoy the power of a thesaurus, but not you can just Google it or browse online. The good news is that there are plenty of synonyms for important.
Once you search other related English synonyms, it can save you significant time rather than having to Google relevant terms & waste time. These synonyms and adjectives might help you sound more distinguished or be able to better articulate if something is urgent, serious, or eminent. You can use these as alternative synonyms and adjectives day or night. These might help you sound more distinguished.
Keep reading to learn some examples of an adjective to utilize instead of important. It's always valuable to learn an adjective or two. There are plenty of synonyms for important, but some of the main ones are: Critical, Crucial, Imperative, Essential, Imperative, Momentous, Necessary, Paramount, Urgent, Vital. Browse below for more!
im·por·tant /imˈpôrtnt/
adjective
Definition: of great significance or value; likely to have a profound effect on success, survival, or well-being.
Important synonyms list |
Synonyms for important.
There are plenty of related words for important.
What is another word for very important? Here are similar or related words to use instead of important:
Big
Big League
Critical
Crucial
Decisive
Eminent
Essential
Extensive
Famous
Historic
Imperative
Influential
Leading
Meaningful
Momentous
Necessary
Noteworthy
Paramount
Principal
Relevant
Serious
Significant
Substantial
Urgent
Vital
Utmost importance
These dictionary synonyms for the word important basically come from the thesaurus, so it will help you find relevant words for what you need. Use this list for examples of related words to add to your speech or if you want to figure out a way to articulate an important matter, something of great consequence. There are plenty of synonyms for the word important. These are pretty similar words.
What is an Antonym?
Synonyms, antonyms - what does it all mean? Antonyms have the opposite meaning of a synonym. For example, the antonym of "big" would be "small."
Antonyms for the word important could include:
Inessential
Insignificant
Little
Meaningless
Miniature
Minor
Narrow
Optional
Prestigious
Trivial
Uncritical
Unimportant
Unnecessary
Useless
Ways to Use Other Words for Important in a Sentence
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What is a Noun?
There are a couple types of nouns. A common noun is a word used to identify people, places, or things. A proper noun is used to name a particular person, place or thing (such as Mr. Rogers, Florida, or IHOP). Never underestimate the value of learning a new English word, discovering a new meaning or a noun or an adjective. Did you learn a new adjective or synonym for important? The dictionary & thesaurus are great resources to learn more English.
Cheers to Learning: Synonyms Antonyms
Here's the great news: you can always learn more & improve your writing & grammar. I know I'm always learning something. English was never my favorite class, I was never particularly great at it either. It's not like it can define the nuances of grammar but overall I know the difference between a noun for an adjective. If I'm at a loss for the meaning of a word or need help with synonyms, antonyms, etc for important, I can always consult with the thesaurus.
Sometimes playing word games can help you learn new words, whether it's Scrabble or the crossword puzzle. Take your grammar to the next level. Learning is powerful, it can influence you throughout your life. You can even quiz yourself or quiz your friends.
More Vocabulary Help
If you want more vocabulary inspiration, read my blog post List of Nice Words to Use More. Learn new words such as dulcinea & natter in my Vocabulary Time series! Which synonym of important do you use? Is there one word I missed? What are your tips for writing or coming up with new words so you don't keep using the same thing over again? What are your favorite important synonyms? Did you sign for the word of the day? Hopefully, this post was useful!
Other posts:
Rainbow Eucalyptus Tree in Balboa Park, San Diego
You might've already known about eucalyptus but have you heard of rainbow eucalyptus? The colorful eucalyptus deglupta species grows in places such as its native Papua New Guinea or Hawaii. The colors of the rainbow eucalyptus are striking, more colorful than a regular eucalyptus. These deglupta trees may be hard to locate.
I answer important questions like: Can I grow a rainbow eucalyptus? Can it grow in California? Where are they native to? What causes rainbow eucalyptus trees? Keep reading!
As a local, I've been to Balboa Park dozens of times over the past 20+ years. It's a place I thought I knew pretty well but life always surprises you. Something about this visit was a bit different. I noticed a colorful tree. You don't find trees with rainbow bark very often. I looked at it & all of a sudden I recalled news video I've seen earlier in the week.
I watched a two-minute news clip about the rainbow eucalyptus tree, which stated that you can see it in various spots throughout San Diego County, including Balboa Park & the San Diego Zoo. There are tons of eucalyptus trees in San Diego but this was unique.
Related reading: Your Guide to Hanging Fresh Eucalyptus Leaves in the Shower
Just like most social media users, I absorb & consume a lot of content, so I thought it was cool but I never thought much of it. Fast forward to this one magical time I'm in the park. I saw the colorful rainbow eucalyptus tree & the video clip went through my mind. I took a couple pictures & moved on with my day exploring San Diego. That said, I cannot recall the exact geolocation but it was somewhere near the museum & building areas.
Related reading: Coffee Shops in Carlsbad, California
What Causes Rainbow Eucalyptus?
The little rainbow tree grows up to be a big rainbow gum tree. No no, just kidding. The rainbow tree effect comes from the various layers of bark as they begin to oxidize & peel off. Rainbow eucalyptus trees lose their bark & thus, shades of their color, which causes the stunning rainbow look.
It may take years for a tree to acquire enough layering. You'll often see shades of orange & bright green. The trunk of this magnificent eucalyptus rainbow tree is a rare, seasonal sight. The best time to witness it might be in the springtime, that's when I viewed it!
Can Rainbow Eucalyptus Grow in California?
These beautiful rainbow trees, called Eucalyptus deglupta, are native to tropical rainforest environments such as the Philippines, Indonesia, & Papua New Guinea with some rain. If you type in the phrase rainbow eucalyptus tree into Google, the image shown depicts the tree in some pretty wild colors. That is not at all the type of wild, natural version I saw in Balboa Park, San Diego area. I have to guess that many images online are heavily edited to include a range of colors.
In Maui, Hawaii you'll find the Eucalyptus deglupta, also known as the Mindanao Gum or the Rainbow Gum tree. You'll find these remarkable painted eucalyptus trees on Hana Highway as well as Ke’anae Arboretum. Rainbow eucalyptus trees with rainbow bark aren't easy to search for. The Eucalyptus deglupta is quite a sight with shades bright green & orange! Hawaii is the perfect place for these trees since they thrive in a frost-free, tropical environment.
Can rainbow eucalyptus grow in California? Technically yes because they are growing in places like Balboa Park & the San Diego Zoo. However, it'll be harder to find rainbow eucalyptus seeds, bonsai, or seedling. One thing to remember: it's definitely not a house plant as eucalyptus can grow over 100 feet tall. You might be able to find the seeds online like on Amazon.
If you're in the San Diego area, here's a list of things to do in Oceanside, California: restaurants, coffee shops, what to see, & here's a list of things to do in Encinitas, California.
Where Can You See Rainbow Eucalyptus?
You'll spot it on Maui, Hawaii, some places in Southern California & San Diego like the Zoo or Balboa Park. It can be found in the Philippines, Indonesia, & Papua New Guinea. It can take years for the colorful rainbow effect to develop. These are your best best for finding the trees!
Can I Grow a Rainbow Eucalyptus?
The bark is one of its most notable features & that's what makes it so popular. However, these aren't easy plants. If you can potentially find the seeds or a seedling, you can certainly try. It is possible to be planted.
The trees don't grow everywhere so it might be easier said than done. It will be hard to grow the tree in a place where it is not naturally native. Conditions such as the soil & humidity may make a huge difference. They tend to thrive in a frost-free environment. You might be able to find the seeds online someplace like Amazon.
These are some pretty cool trees that can be found in various places in the world. They aren't new but they are somewhat rare. It's one of those things you have to see in real life order to appreciate & know its beauty. The way the bark peels is nature at its finest. Enjoy the sight if you see one in person! I can't believe I walked by one right when they were in season with its bark chipping off to slowly reveal the layers of colors underneath. As a gardening enthusiast, it was a joy to see one up close.
Have you seen trees with rainbow bark before? Let me know in the comments if you know where to view these in your city? Maybe we can compile a list! :]
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