By Mark Goodkin
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Seagrove Park, Del Mar, CA
Seagrove Park sits on a bluff overlooking the ocean in beautiful Del Mar, CA, a small affluent beach community, with its own distinct vibe. The town is a great getaway for families, romantics, or friends. Seagrove Park sits at the bottom of 15th Street, a block from Camino Del Mar, the town’s main drag and center of Del Mar Downtown Village. The park is a popular place for weddings
I remember one summer evening when I had an evening picnic there with some family and friends. We parked our cars up the street at Del Mar Plaza, which saved us the hassle of trying to find a space along Camino Del Mar. Parking in the underground garage is free for the first two hours, as long as you bring a receipt from a plaza shop or restaurant.
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Tags: "Seagrove Park", "Shoreline Park", Beaches, Del Mar, San Diego
Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center
By Mark Goodkin
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For the longest time, I drove by the Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center, along South Coast Hwy, just inside of Oceanside, CA, without knowing what it was. The wooden building stood out from the nearby condos. One day, I visited the nature center to see what it was all about. Upon entering, I was greeted by a life-like fox with a slight grin in its own glass-enclosed display, along with tall, glass-enclosed cases full of several displays of taxidermy animals in realistic settings, depicting life around the Buena Vista Lagoon.
A couple of docents greeted me and answered my questions about the displays and lagoon. The Buena Vista Audubon Nature Center also has a library and a lecture/project room with more exhibits, and tables for classroom projects and seminars.
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Tags: "Buena Vista Lagoon", "Buena Vista Nature Center", Lagoon, San Diego, Wetlands
By Mark Goodkin
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Chula Vista Nature Center
The Chula Vista Nature Center is a hidden gem, isolated from the main part of Chula Vista, on the Sweetwater Estuary, along the west banks of the San Diego Bay. The nature center showcases many of the plants and animals of the estuary and bay. I visited the nature center in April on a nice, sunny day.
To get to the Chula Vista Nature Center, you leave your car in a parking lot a few hundred yards from the nature center and take a shuttle. The nature center is fenced in, with a gate opening only for the shuttle and designated cars. The nature center can’t be seen from the parking lot, so the ride was filled with anticipation. We traveled through a section of the estuary, and finally, we could see the spacious buildings and outdoor exhibit areas.
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Tags: "Chula Vista Nature Center", "Nature Center", "Nature Exhibits", "Sweetwater Estuary", Chula Vista, Lagoon, San Diego, San Diego Bay
By Mark Goodkin
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Sunset Cliffs Overlooking Secluded Beach
Located along the entire ocean side of Point Loma, Sunset Cliffs is named after its breathtaking ocean views especially at sunset. Sunset Cliffs Park is that section of the cliffs accessible to the public, along Sunset Cliffs Blvd, from Point Loma Ave (see map) to Ladera Street (see map). Parking is free. There are several places to park along the street and at a few parking areas beside the cliffs. Sunset Cliffs is an ideal place to park the car, get out and stretch the limbs, and walk around.
When I was there, it was a hot, sunny, summer day. I parked my car along Sunset Cliffs Blvd, on the Point Loma Ave side. The first thing I did was take in the sweeping view. To the north, expensive homes lined up along the cliff tops with Ocean Beach and the OB Pier beyond. To the south, a dirt walking path ran along the entire cliff top, as far as the eye could see. Nearby, I noticed people descending a steep trail. On closer look, I saw a secluded sandy beach below filled with beachcombers and colorful umbrellas
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Tags: "Sunset Cliffs", Beaches, Point Loma, San Diego
By Mark Goodkin
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US Imperial Beach Sandcastle Competition
I drove down I-5 from North County to the US Imperial Beach Sandcastle Competition yesterday. I made a detour through Coronado and the Silver Strand Hwy, which made for a pleasant journey on such a nice day. I got to Imperial Beach around noon and parked about half a mile away in a small neighborhood. As I walked along Imperial Beach Blvd to the beach, there were a few empty spots here and there, as well as paid parking at Imperial Beach High School, were bike cabs pedaled people to the beach.
As I got closer to the beach, I couldn’t help but admire the small beach town atmosphere, with mom and pop shops and restaurants. This part of town is definitely not glitzy, but nor was it seedy, as it once had been. The neighborhood I parked in and others I walked through are humble, yet well maintained. Close to the beach now, I saw the Tijuana Estuary, an open expanse, stretched all the way to the border. The town is definitely isolated from the rest of San Diego County, separated by a bay, a naval area, and estuaries.
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Tags: "California beaches", Beaches, Events, Imperial Beach, Piers, San Diego