There are many places to see when you are in San Diego for JSM, some of which are an hour or more away. Therefore, members of the JSM local area committee compiled the following list of longer trips within San Diego County:
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is 60 minutes from downtown, near the city of Escondido. In addition to large spaces for lions, elephants, and other African animals, Safari Park offers photo safaris, zip lining, and a tethered balloon trip. A trip to Safari Park will take you close to Pioneer Park, which holds Queen Califia’s Magical Circle Garden, a park of sculptures by Niki de St. Phalle (who created the face on the grounds of the Convention Center) that she intended for children to play on. That, in turn, is only a few minutes drive from Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens, a fine restaurant that is otherwise too distant for most to visit. Also in Escondido is the California Center for the Arts.
Two attractions in north county San Diego are Legoland California in Carlsbad and the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas. The botanic garden has a fabulous children’s garden and showcases many flora. Legoland is a dream destination for many a tinkerer, and features rides and activities that both thrill and inspire inventiveness.
Visitors willing to drive up to three hours away can visit Universal Studios, J. Paul Getty Museum, Griffith Observatory, and La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles; the Nixon Library and Birthplace in Yorba Linda; Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm in Anaheim; and Mt. San Jacinto (cable car ride and terrific hikes), Palm Springs Air Museum, and wind farm in Palm Springs. People planning to drive to LA should drive through the Laguna Niguel – Irvine area before 7:30 a.m. and return through that area after 7 p.m. to avoid heavy traffic.
The Palomar Observatory is approximately a 75-minute drive from the convention center. It is open to visitors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily in the summer.
The world’s most-visited border city, Tijuana, in Baja California, Mexico, is a short drive south of the convention center, but there are usually long lines of vehicles so the actual crossing may take hours each way. Re-entry into the United States requires a current passport; a U.S. passport is required for U.S. citizens.
There are many museums in Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and other areas that take more than 90 minutes to reach that are not included here. The following driving times assume you avoid peak driving hours:
- Mission San Luis Rey (45 minutes)
4050 Mission Ave., Oceanside, CA 92057
(760) 757-3651 - Casa Romantica (60 minutes)
415 Avenida Granada San Clemente, CA 92672
(949) 498-2139
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