01 Jul San Diego Calendar of Events – July 2020
We know our monthly events calendar is a crowd favorite, but due to the recent pandemic, many events and activities have been cancelled to eliminate large gathers. In lieu of our normal monthly Calendar of Events, we opted to share a few of our personal favorite things to do on a nice summer day that we think are Covid approved!
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Keep Calm & Drink a Spritz
I don’t know about you, but I often find myself wondering if there’s an Aperol Spritz out there thinking about me too… at 264 Frescos in Carlsbad, the answer is always yes! Trust us when we tell you that we have sampled quite a few around San Diego county, and this place has a great one! We also love the ones from The Roxy in Encinitas. Both restaurants and their staff have created a safe dining atmosphere and you can enjoy either their outdoor patios or dine inside amongst carefully dispersed tables. Plus, you’re only a hop, skip, and jump away from the water at both places. The perfect spot to start off your Sunday Funday or for that matter, any day of the week!
https://www.roxyencinitas.com/
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Sweetest Pick of the Patch
Grab the kids, grab the family, grab your significant other, grab anyone (…well not anyone, but you get the point) and head down to Carlsbad Strawberry Company. Not only do you get to walk away with super fresh and tasty strawberries, but you get the individual experience of getting to pick your own! Wander the fields, take pics, and make memories that are guaranteed to last for years to come. It will definitely rank as a sweet summer adventure!
https://www.carlsbadstrawberrycompany.com/
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Take a Walk & Find the Hidden Swing
The famous Batiquitos Lagoon runs between the cities of Carlsbad and Encinitas. All lagoon trails and parking lots are now open and the beautiful San Diego weather is waiting for you to join it for a nature walk! Our favorite spot to access is off of Gabbiano Lane, which is South Carlsbad. After priding myself for being a San Diego native and seeing the Batiquitos trails over and over again, I just recently stumbled upon a hidden gem… swings! They overlook the entire lagoon, with views of the Pacific Ocean in the distance. What better way to wind down and enjoy a sunset after a long day?
http://www.batiquitosfoundation.org/visit/
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Life’s Better on the Farm
If you’re a San Diego native you won’t at all be surprised at this next one. There is a little something for everyone at Bates Nut Farm. Nuts may have been the thing that made them famous, but now they offer so much more! You really can spend an entire day wandering around and making new discoveries. They’re most popular for their special holiday events, but you can catch their farm zoo daily from 9am-5pm. Bring the kiddos and visit with mini-donkeys, goats, sheep, alpacas, peacocks, tortoises & more! The animals love visitors and will eat right from your hands. If you’re not into animals we suggest bringing a picnic to enjoy under a large shade tree, or families often bring balls, bubbles or games to play while they make a day out of it.
P.S. When we called to confirm if they were open, they told us there were 4 baby goats born last week!
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Let Off Some Steam
Did you know that there is a volcano right in the middle of Carlsbad? Mount Calavera is a 513-ft volcanic plug that was created 22 million years ago, and resides in northeast Carlsbad. For those of you that don’t know, a volcanic plug can also be called a volcanic neck or lava neck, and is created when magma hardens within the vent of an active volcano. When the volcano becomes extinct, it leaves its plug behind. Mount Calavera is one of three volcanic plugs in Southern California.
Lake Calavera Loop Trail is a 4.8 mile loop trail that features wildflowers and a beautiful lake. You can choose a nice relaxing walk or bike ride around the lake, or you can opt for a more moderate hiking trail up to the top of the volcanic plug! The choice is yours.
https://www.carlsbadca.gov/services/depts/parks/open/trails/talk/calavera.asp
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All Bridges Can Be Crossed
One of our favorite things to do during the summer months is to soak up the beautiful San Diego weather, which means a lot of our favorite activities involve the outdoors. However, this next one is not for those who are afraid of heights. Bring your bravery and take a stroll across this 375 foot long suspension bridge, it’s a San Diego must. The Spruce Street Suspension Bridge was built in 1912, and is hidden within the residential neighborhood of Bankers Hill. Beware: The bridge suspends over a giant canyon and word around town is that with a sharp wind gust, the bridge can swing slightly, WHEEEEE! 🙂
https://californiathroughmylens.com/spruce-street-suspension-bridge/
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Spread Your Wings & Fly
Keep an eye out for an extra breezy day and head down to Torrey Pines Gliderport. Not only is Gliderport home to one of the most historic aviation sites in North America, but it is one of the best picnic locations we’ve ever seen! Pack a lunch (or grab lunch at their Cliffhanger Café) and be amazed by all of the paragliders, hang gliders, and remote control airplanes that soar across the coast of the La Jolla Bluffs for miles. There’s not many places where you can get such a front row seat to such amazing aviation.
https://www.flytorrey.com/the-cafe/
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Earn your Margarita after a day at Santa Margarita
If you’re looking for a fun day trip, but still want to get out into nature, go check out the picturesque scenery of the Santa Margarita Valley, tucked away in Fallbrook. This preserve is a perfect escape, with a crystal clear river corridor spanning over 221-acres and it is a mecca for wildlife. Be sure to bring your water shoes and swimsuit and take a dip in the river to cool off… or if you’re daring enough find the rope swings and cannon ball into the running waters. This adventure is sure to make it on your summer bucket list more than once this year!
http://www.sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/park-pages/SantaMargarita.html
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Create a Beautiful Ride
Before your next cruise around the neighborhood make a stop at the local craft store and pick up some fun supplies to customize the bikes for the kiddos! You can keep it as simple or as complex as you’d like, but it’s a guaranteed hit! Some ideas: a makeover with colorful or patterned duct tape, cut some ribbon and add streamers to the handles, add a basket to the front (you can find these at your local dollar store), add a cheerful bike bell, attach a DIY license plate, paint it, add stickers, the possibilities are endless!
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And onto a big question regarding this weekend…Is there any chance of seeing fireworks???
We’ve searched high and low and it looks like we’ve got a couple of options here in San Diego County.
First and foremost, due to the inability to form large gatherings during Coronavirus, The Port of San Diego’s Big Bay Boom live show has been cancelled. However, they are creating a TV special to celebrate our nation’s independence by showcasing the last 20 years of fireworks. Starting at 8:30pm they are featuring Big Bay Boom: Salute to Heroes, a 30-minute presentation that includes a glimpse into history by looking back at the past 20 years of bayside pyrotechnical extravaganzas. This show will also feature a tribute to all of the essential workers who have kept our cities functioning during this time. Beginning at 9:00pm, another fireworks special will start, featuring the best explosive moments and never before seen drone footage of past shows! You can catch both of these specials on FOX 5 TV or on fox5sandiego.com.
Option 2 is in the City of Vista. Brengle Terrace Park is one of only two places in San Diego that is doing a live fireworks show that can be attended physically. Although you must plan accordingly because everyone must purchase tickets ahead of time for each car that will be attending. No tickets will be available the day of. No food or drinks will be sold and all attendees must wear proper face coverings to participate.
For more info: https://www.cityofvista.com/city-services/city-departments/recreation-comm-services/independence-day-celebration
Your last option is to catch them in Poway. There will be a live fireworks display that will light up the sky over Lake Poway starting at 9pm. The fireworks will be launched from Poway High School, so if you miss out on getting tickets you may be able to catch the show from a nearby venue and save money on purchasing a ticket… says a local friend of mine. 😉 Check the link below for more details.
https://www.poway.org/Calendar.aspx?EID=1532&month=7&year=2020&day=4&calType=0