In May 2015 the Rolling Stones came to San Diego to launch their tour at Petco Park. A day before the concert Mick Jagger tweeted a picture with the caption “great day hiking near San Diego.” Everyone in our neighborhood was excited because Black Mountain was clearly in the background. So this is my chronicle…
La Jolla is a village within the city of San Diego noted for its wonderful views. There are plenty of beachside hikes which we have done, such as our downtown La Jolla loop. A completely different perspective can be gained by taking a walk through the relatively unknown La Jolla Heights Open Space Preserve. Our…
Big Bear Lake is the premiere mountain playground in Southern California. In the winter it is hopefully covered with snow and people head to ski resorts Snow Summit and Big Bear Mountain. The rest of the year is a great time for not only lake-based activities but also hiking and mountain biking. This is our…
The hike up Pine Knot Trail to Grand View Point probably provides the most epic views in the San Bernardino mountain range. Starting from Big Bear Lake, this climbs about 1,000 feet to Grand View Point which overlooks a valley and the highest mountains in Southern California. Roundtrip it is a little over 7 miles,…
Among the many hikes in the Big Bear Lake area, Cougar Crest Trail provides great views of the area. While Cougar Crest Trail has a significant uphill climb, it is done over a steady pace. This is a fairly moderate hike that can be done with older children. Cougar Crest Trail starts in Fawnskin, across…
Castle Rock Trail is probably many people’s favorite hike in Big Bear Lake. It is a short, mile and a half round trip with great views. However, the big attraction of this hike is the large boulders. This is our pictorial guide to hiking Castle Rock Trail. The hardest part of the Castle Rock Trail…
Big Bear Lake is a great area for hiking. For families with children, some of the hikes can be a little strenuous. To get children excited about hiking in this area we suggest the Woodland Trail. Woodland Trail Interpretive Loop is a fairly easy 1.5 mile hike with 16 signposts highlighting trees, plants and other…
Blue Sky Ecological Reserve is a 700-acre canyon in the city of Poway. It is a great place to see many of San Diego’s native plants. For the past couple of years I have given guided tours to my sons Boy Scouts troop. This is my guide to the plants of Blue Sky Ecological Reserve….
One of the most popular hikes in the city of San Diego is the climb up Cowles Mountain. Cowles Mountain, in Mission Trails Regional Park, is the highest point in the city limits of San Diego at 1,594 feet. Fun Diego Family does not do this hike very often because we live next to Black…
Sunset Cliffs in Point Loma is one of San Diego’s great free attractions. Located only a few miles from the airport this is great way to experience the beauty of the San Diego coastline. It is easy to simply park at the cliffs and enjoy the view. However, this experience is best enjoyed by taking…