The San Elijo Lagoon is a small trail system located just East of Cardiff and just West of I-5. The trails themselves are well-groomed dirt walkways wide enough for traffic to flow both ways, or for a small group to walk together side-by-side. You can park along the coast or at the trail head, and enjoy a few miles of winding trails during daylight hours. People run, walk, bike, and bring their dogs (on leash only) and enjoy the peaceful lagoon views with the beach just in the background.
Carlsbad State Beach is one of my all-time favorite beaches. From North to South the accessible beachfront spans just under 2 miles. There is a paved upper walkway for pedestrians and pets, and paved and walled lower walkway for foot traffic only (no pets allowed.) You can of course also walk the sand comfortably during high or low tide thanks to how much beachfront area is available. The sand is clean and soft with very few rocks, so if you are a barefoot beach runner you should be pretty happy. There are also volleyball courts, decent bathrooms, and open-air showers if you need to rinse off after getting in the water. Parking is free and easy to get to, especially if you’re willing to park on the side streets a block or two East of the beach in Carlsbad Village. At the end of your beach day, I recommend grabbing a beer at Pure Project Carlsbad Village or a sandwich at Board & Brew.
The San Diego Botanic Garden is mentioned a few times on this blog! There are just so many special events, exhibits, and activities at the Botanic Garden that I believe it’s worth taking several trips to see everything. The gardens make an excellent solo activity if you are up for a sunny walk through the foliage. I like to bring headphones and listen to some music while I check out the beautiful orchids in the greenhouse, or sit and take in the different flora from around the world. Ticket prices run $18 for adults and $10 for kids over 3.
The full Coast to Crest Trail system runs from Solana Beach to Volcan Mountain Peak near Julian. My recommendation is to start with an out-and-back portion of section 3, “SECTION 3: SANTA FE VALLEY TO HIGHWAY 78.” This section includes well-maintained dirt and gravel pathways that are great for biking, hiking, or walking solo or in a group. The bike trails are rated green and were fairly manageable for a beginner mountain biker like me, up to the point where you start climbing into some hills. The hill portion of the trail becomes fairly narrow and there are some obstacles like small boulders that can make it more challenging than just a leisurely ride.
Swami’s Self Realization Fellowship is a large outdoor religious center. Just above the grounds, there is a lovely meditation garden for visitors. The gardens are free to enter, but you must obey the ground rules which include observing silence in the space and no commercial photography. The lush gardens have plenty of peaceful spaces to enjoy moments of silence or listen to flowing water in the koi ponds. There are incredibly scenic views from the top of the gardens where you can get a view of the Encinitas coast line over Swami’s beach and Moonlight beach. Please be respectful while in the gardens and leave pets at home for this visit.
