3 Scenic Drives Near San Diego That Kids Will Love
Sunrise National Scenic Byway
This 24 mile drive is a four season getaway that twists and turns you up into the Cleveland National Forest and the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area. Winter offers snowy vistas and sledding opportunities for Southern California kids to revel in. In the spring, the byway is abloom with wildflowers as afar as the eyes can see. Summer offers up shady spots and cooling breezes as you drive to 6,000 ft elevation and in fall you'll get to see the glory of the changing of the seasons as the leaves turn in preparation for winter.
Pack a lunch and get ready to enjoy in with a spectacular view at the Desert View Picnic Area. You'll be able to look out over the lushness of Cleveland National Forest ond over to the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Breathtaking.
Make sure to take a quick stop at the Penny Pines area which has a marker and a penny pine plantation, especially if your kids have ever donated their pennies to help plant pine trees in Cleveland National Forest!
If you want to incorporate a short hike into your drive to get some fresh air and exersize here are a few:
Wooded Hill Nature Trail: This 1.4 mile trail just a bit off the byway is an easy loop that's not too crowded and great for all ages. You'll see great views, walk through groves of trees, be able to climb on some boulders and catch sight of wildlife like birds, mice and chipmonks. During spring it's filled with wildflowers. Leashed dogs are permitted.
Foster Point Trail: This 1.3 kid and dog-friendly trail is a great way to get in a leg stretch during your day trip. You'll be rewarded with an amazing view over the desert floor toward the Salton Sea when you reach the trail's end. It's never crowded and you might get lucky and have it all to yourself!
Garnet Peak Trail: At just over 2 miles, this trail will take you a bit longer to accomplish. Estimates are at just over an hour, depending on how old your kids are. It's very scenic and budding naturalists will see birds and plenty of interesting bugs. Wear hats and suncreen as there isn't a lot of shade. Parts of the trail are rocky, so make sure your shoes are sturdy. The views are amazing and if you go during off peak times you'll probably have the trail to yourself.
Palms To Pines Scenic Byway
Running 67 miles long, the Palms to Pines Scenic Byway will carry you through long, desert viastas shimmering in the heat and into forested hillsides dusted with snow all on the same day. There aren't many other places where you'll be able to experience the wild variety of ecosystems inhabiting such a compact area. If you need a destination to anchor your roadtrip, Idyllwild is it. You can spend a couple of hours exploring this small, interesting town or maybe grab some lunch and head onto one of the area's family-friendly trails. Either way, your kids will thank you for taking them on this day-long adventure.
If you plan to do this drive between November and March make sure you check road conditions before you go. This route typically gets more snowfall than the national average! It's not unusual for chains or snow tires to be mandatory on parts of it.
Lake Fulmer Trail: This is a quick half-mile loop around lovely Lake Fulmer. It's just off Rt. 243 which makes it very easy to get to. If you have the time and the inclination you can bring your poles and do a little fishing in the lake. In the winter, if you're lucky, you'll see the lake iced over.
Black Mountain Lookout Trail: Clocking in at 1.3 miles, this pleasant trail will take you through the forest and up to the top of the mountain. Here you'll find the Black Mountain Fire Lookout Tower. During fire season, from Memorial Day - November, the lookout tower is staffed and open to visitors. As you might imagine, the view is pretty great.
Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail: At 5 miles, this is the longest trail on the list. But it's rated as "easy" and is great if you want to skip exploring Idyllwild and make this hike your destination. Of course, you don't have to do the full 5 in the first place. It's name tells you what you need to know: it's scenic. You'll get some great views along the way and won't have to expend a ton of energy to see them.
Idyllwild Nature Center: What kid doesn't love a nature center? There's always something fascinating to learn about engaging programs and enthusiastic (and knowledgeable) staff. There are a few trails to check out on the property and picnic tables if you packed your lunch.
If you decide to explore Idyllwild you won't be disappointed. There are plenty of restaurants serving up pub food, piza, BBQ, salads etc and for ice cream lovers you can hit up the Atomic Cow Creamery or Idyllwild Ice Cream and Jerky (you know you want to try this combo after reading their name). It's downtown is the perfect size to park the car and walk around on foot, poking your nose into the shops that line the street.
San Diego Scenic Loop
When was the last time you took a driving tour of your own backyard? This 59 mile loop will take you alllll over San Diego. You'll drive through some super charming neighborhoods, see the downtown skyline, go along the shore, over to Coronado, through Old Town Historic Park, to Navy Pier and so much more. You can do this loop in about 3 hours if you're committed to strictly staying in the car and seeing the sights. There are obviously a ton of attractions to visit, beaches to walk on and pit stops for bites of food if you want to make an entire day of it. The best part? You can do the loop over and over and over again, stopping to visit different places each time. It's a great way to see your city in a new way, get to know it better and loose your heart to her even more.
Heritage Park Row: This is a charming spot to get out, stretch your legs and marvel at all of the cool old houses that used to be a common sight around San Diego. Rescued from the bulldozer in the 60s and 70s, the homes were moved to this park to serve as a memorial for the city's history. You can only go into two of the buildings, but that's ok. The exteriors are amazing and fun to walk around.