Palomar Vacation Home Rentals
Stay luxurious vacation homes, some located right on the beach. Many feature a peace of history. Non-Smoking and fully equipped with appliances. Nightly and weekly rates are both available.

Viator - Guided VIP Tours for Palomar Mountain
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The most famous mountain in San Diego County, Palomar Mountain is located 35 miles east of Oceanside off highway 76. County Road S6 leads to the Observatory and County Road S7 leads to Palomar Mountain State Park.

Mountain springs keep the area green well into summer. The lush landscape includes bracken ferns and ponderosa pines.

Palomar mountain stands isolated from the rest of the Agua Tibia Mountain Range. It's location is such that it intercepts many storms coming from the coast making it one of the wettest locations in Southern California. In 1993 a record 97 inches of rain was recorded. And at 6,126 feet elevation, it is high enough to get a good dosage of snowfall every year.

Wildlife native to the mountain include mountain lions, bobcats, mule deer and even a subspecies of banana slug.

Sightseeing
Bring a pair of binoculars or a telescope to enjoy the might vistas on a clear day. The best time for is the day or two immediately after a major storm that has blown out all the haze and smog. You can see the Coronado Islands (Mexico) 65 miles to the south and also maybe San Clemente Island 90 miles due west across the ocean.



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Rancho Bernardo Courtyard Marriott
11611 Bernardo Plaza Court, Rancho Bernardo, CA 92128;
Location: Near I-15 Exit to Rancho Bernardo Road;
This Courtyard by Marriott hotel borders Scripps Poway & Carmel Mountain Ranch, just North of San Diego. A 100% Non-Smoking hotel offering all the amenities to make your next visit to San Diego exactly what you are envisioning. Guests will enjoy comfortable and well-appointed sleeping rooms with all the amenities to stay productive, including complimentary high speed internet access, both wired and wireless.

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Warner Springs Ranch Resort
The historic Warner Springs Ranch, established in 1844, has been serving up western hospitality to travelers since the days of the old west Butterfield Overland Stage Coach. Resort facilities include equestrian center, golf course, conference rooms, hiking, swimming, tennis, massage & spa, sky sailing and special events center.

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Ramona San Vicente Resort
This fine Ramona Golf and Tennis Resort is located 45 minutes from San Diego and 20 minutes from Wild Animal Park. Extensive Equestrian facilities, walking and hiking trails.

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Escondido Comfort Inn
Escondido Center for the Arts, Iceoplex and North County Fair Shopping Mall are minutes from the hotel. Fine restaurants and businesses are also nearby.

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Palomar Mountain State Park
PO Box 175, Palomar Mountain, CA 92060; 760-742-3462; Park Website;
Directions: Access park from Highway SR-76 using either County Road S6 (winding, scenic route from Rincom Spirngs) or County Road S7 (longer, heavy vehicle route from Lake Henshaw);

Palomar Mountain State Park features spectacular views of the Pacific, camping, picnicking, hiking, and fishing (trout) in Doane Pond. Coniferous forests cover much of the 1,862 acres, in contrast to the dry lowlands surrounding the mountain. This is one of the few Southern California areas with a Sierra Nevada-like atmosphere.

This park is located on the westside of Palomar Mountain and is highly regarded for its forests of large pine, fir and cedar trees and is beautiful mountain meadows. Elevations with the park averages above 5,000 feet above sea level. This keeps evenings cool during the summertime and collects regular snowfall from passing winter storms.

Park Wildlife
The most commonly seen wildlife includes mule deer, gray squirrels, raccoons and striped skunks. Predators such as gray foxes, coyotes, bobcats and mountain lions are also present.

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Interpretive Association CRSPIA
The CRSPIA supports the mission of California State Parks, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and Palomar Mountain State Park through education and interpretive activities that enhance the visitor’s experience.

Campsites

The state park has 31 campsites and some of the nicest hiking trails in the area. There are an additional 42 campsites at Observatory Campground. For camping reservations 800-444-7275 or 760-788-0250.

• Cedar Grove Campground
• Doane Valley Campground

USFS Campgrounds - Goose Valley
The US Forest Service operates two campgrounds along County Road S6 just outside the park. (760-788-0250).

Hiking Trails

• Doane Valley Nature Trail - To Doane Valley pond.
• Weir Trail - Visits the mountain glade and pond.
• French Valley Trail - Leads to French Creek.
• Observatory Trail - Starts at Observatory Campground and goes 4.5 miles uphill (750 foot climb) to the Observatory and past scenic Mendenhall Valley overlook.
• Boucher Hill - Historic 1949 fire lookout with views of most of San Diego County, the Coronado Islands. At night it is sometimes possible to see the lights on the Coronado Bay Bridge.

Tour of California Bicycle Race
3rd Week of February - Statewide 8 stage race
This 9-day rolling festival is becoming one of California's largest sporting events. It is an international world-class cycling road race featuring over 100 elite athletes and teams from around the world competing for the highest prize purse in the world. This annual event was first launch in 2006 and expanded in 2009. The race course now showcases 800 miles of scenic California highways.

Rancho Penasquitos La Quinta Inn
10185 Paseo Montril, Rancho Penasquitos, CA 92129;
Location: Near I-15 Exit to Rancho Penasquitos Blvd;
The Rancho Penasquitos La Quinta Inn is northeast of San Diego, set under blue skies and surrounded by lush landscaping. Each morning, resort guests enjoy a complimentary Continental Breakfast in our colorful lobby. Guests also may logon using free high speed internet access. Relax on the sundeck or take a refreshing dip in the Swimming Pool. Our friendly staff is here to serve. Most major restaurants are just minutes away!

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Carmel Mountain Residence Inn
11002 Rancho Carmel Drive, Carmel Mountain, CA 92128;
Location: Near I-15 Exit to Carmel Mountain Road;
As a Guest at the Carmel Mountain Residence Inn you can make yourself a meal in the fully equipped kitchen, or pass through beautiful French doors to your separate bedroom. Grill a steak outside in our picnic BBQ area, or take a dip the heated pool and Jacuzzi. Inside your suite curl up in front of the fireplace. This San Diego Resort Hotel is within walking distance of a dozen fine restaurants and offer a free shuttle to local businesses. Back in your hotel, enjoy a free breakfast buffet in the morning.

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Rancho Bernardo Radisson Resort Hotel
11520 West Bernardo Court, Rancho Bernardo, CA 92129
Location: Near I-15 Exit to Rancho Bernardo Road;
The spacious suites at Radisson Suite Hotel Rancho Bernardo feature amenities such as DVD players, 27" televisions, wired and wireless High-Speed Internet, refrigerators, hairdryers, and iron and ironing board. When it's time to relax, guests at the Hotel Rancho Bernardo can enjoy a year-round heated swimming pool, whirlpool and fitness center. Other niceties at the Hotel Rancho Bernardo include complimentary newspaper and on-site guest laundry facilities.

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Escondido North Rodeway Inn
250 W. El Norte Pkwy, Escondido, CA 92026;
Location: I-15 Exit to El Norte Pkwy, north of Downtown Escondido;
The Rodeway Inn, a 24 room hotel conveniently located in southern California, one of the closest hotels to downtown Escondido and the Wild Animal Park. A wide variety of restaurants, lounges movie theaters and stores are within walking distance. Pet accommodations available. You'll find attractive accommodations at a great price when you book a room at any Rodeway Inn hotel for your vacation stay. Free local calls and long distance access, complimentary always fresh Rodeway Breakfast, and Free USA Today weekdays.

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Escondido North Best Western
The Best Western Escondido Hotel offers deluxe accommodations and is conveniently situated close to local freeways for easy access. This San Diego area hotel in Escondido is minutes away from the California Center for the Arts and San Diego Wild Animal Park.

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Palomar Observatory - CalTech
Palomar Public Affairs Office - 760-742-2111; Observatory Website;
Public Tours Open Daily 9AM-4PM;
Palomar Observatory is home to the historic Hale 200-inch telescope. Other facilities on the mountain include the 60-inch, 48-inch, 18-inch and the Snoop telescopes. The 60-inch telescope is home to the Automated Transient Observing System. The 48-inch telescope is home to the Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking and Palomar-QUEST surveys. Instrumentation at Palomar Observatory also includes the Palomar Testbed Interferometer. Located on Palomar Mountain - this research facility is closed to visitors after 4:30PM.

In the 1930's Caltech scientists began their search for a remote location for an observatory in the Southern California and Arizona mountains. They picked Palomar for its clear dry air. The observatory was completed in 1938 but World War II delayed arrival of the giant 14.5 ton - 200 inch Hale Telescope until 1947. When first installed it was the world's largest telescope.

No, you cannot look in the telescope, but you can see it from the gallery and also get an impressive view of the night sky. Located at the 5,500 foot elevation, about 600 feet below the summit, the museum and telescope viewing gallery are open year-round daily 9-4. The gift shop is open every weekend and daily during the summer (July 1st - Aug 31st).



Explore The Stars - Summer / Fall / Public
Program Website;
An exciting amateur astronomy project occurs each summer and fall at Palomar Mountain's Observatory Campground. A group of amateur astronomers from all across Southern California bring the beauty and the awe of the night sky to more than a hundred non-astronomers at a location only two miles from the world renowned Palomar Observatory.

Castle Creek Inn Resort
Circle R Way, Escondido, CA 92026;
Location: Near Gopher Canyon Rd Exit from I-15 Freeway
The Castle Creek Inn is a boutique style Resort and Spa located in San Diego North County. Resting amidst the scenic foothills of Temecula's Wineries and adjacent to a beautiful 18-hole championship golf course, you will find this place will make for a great vacation getaway. Amenities include tennis courts, spa, hot soaking pools, swimming pool, fitness center, sauna, ropes course and more.

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Escondido EconoLodge
2650 S. Escondido Blvd, Escondido, CA 92025;
Location: South Escondido Near Kit Carson Park and I-15 Freeway
Located off Centre City Parkway the Escondido EconoLodge is just minutes away from many attractions Guests will enjoy our Complimentary Continental Breakfast and Coffee, Wireless High-Speed internet, and our Outdoor Pool.

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