View Attractions Related to: North County Coastal
by TourGuideTimBuena Vista Audubon Nature Center
Location: Oceanside (36 Miles / 40 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 4PM (Opens at 1PM on Sundays and Closed on Mondays)
Cost: Free; Donations Accepted
Features: Nature Center Hosted by the Buena Vista Audobon Society on the only Freshwater Coastal Lagoon in Southern California; Mastodon Fossils
Wheel Fun Rentals
Location: Balboa Park, Downtown along San Diego Bay, Coronado, Oceanside
Open Daily: Each Location is Open Year-Round but offer Different Hours
Cost: $20+ per Hour for Surreys and $10+ per Hour for Bicycles.
Features: Bicycle and Surrey Rentals for the Whole Family. Surreys can seat up to 6 Adults and 2 Small Children.
LEGOLAND California
Location: Carlsbad (35 Miles / 40 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Generally Open 10AM – 5PM (8PM during Summer); Additional Hours during School Vacations
Cost: Several options starting at $67 ($57 for Kids ages 3-12 and Seniors 60+). Parking is $12
Features: More than 50 Family Rides; Focused on Kids ages 2 – 12; Attractions built out of LEGO blocks include Pirates, Dinosaurs, Animals, and National Monuments.
SEA LIFE Aquarium
Location: Carlsbad (35 Miles / 40 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Generally Open 10AM – 5PM during Winter and 9AM – 8PM during Summer (More Details Below)
Cost: Several options starting at $20 ($15 for Kids ages 3-12 and $15 for Seniors 60+). Parking is $5
Features: Aquarium Focused on Children Ages 2 – 12; Underwater World of LEGO models; 35 foot long Underwater Tunnel; Touch Pools
National Museum of Making Music
Location: Carlsbad (32 Miles / 35 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 5PM (Closed on Mondays)
Cost: $7 ($5 for Students 4 – 18 and Seniors 60+)
Features: History of Music; Huge Collection of Musical Instruments; Music Exhibitions and Events
North County San Diego Beaches
Location: San Diego County Coastline from Del Mar to Camp Pendleton (20 Miles – 55 Miles North of Downtown San Diego)
Features: Dozens of Beaches to Choose From, Each With Its Own Character; Get Information on Attractions Near Each Beach.
San Diego Botanic Garden
Location: Encinitas (26 Miles / 30 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 9AM – 5PM (8PM on Summer Thursdays)
Cost: $12 ($8 for Seniors, Students, & Military and $6 for Kids 3 – 12)
Features: Most Diverse Plant Collection in the World; Meandering Trails; Ocean Views; Children’s Garden; Special Events
Lux Art Institute
Location: Encinitas (24 Miles / 30 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: Thursdays – Saturdays 1PM – 5PM (Opens at 11AM on Saturdays)
Cost: $10 (Free for those under 21 years old)
Features: Internationally Recognized Artists Create Their Works of Art While You Watch
Butterfly Vivarium at The Monarch Program
Location: Encinitas (26 Miles / 30 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: 11AM – 3PM Saturdays; Also Open Thursday and Fridays during the Summer.
Cost: $6 ($4 for Kids ages 4 – 12)
Features: Butterfly Habitat
Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum
Location: Vista (44 Miles / 50 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: 10AM – 4PM (Closed on Christmas and New Year’s)
Cost: $3 ($2 for Kids and Seniors)
Features: 55 Acre Farm Serves as a Museum for Thousands of Antique Farm Artifacts; Recreates the Typical California Farm from the 1850s – 1950s; Dozens of Items Used in Hollywood Movies.
The Wave Waterpark
Location: Vista (43 Miles / 45 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego); Near a Sprinter Train Station.
Open Daily: First Weekend in June – Middle of August; Generally 10AM – 4PM (Check schedule for specific hours and additional dates in May & September.)
Cost: Several options starting at $16 ($12 for Kids under 42″ and $11 for Seniors 60+). Parking is Free.
Features: Five Water Slides; a Competitive Pool for Swimming; Simulated Wave Maker; Early Morning Lap Swims.
San Diego County Fair
Location: Del Mar (22 Miles / 20 Minutes North of Downtown San Diego)
Open: June 7th – July 6th (Closed Mondays, Tuesday June 9 & June 16);
Cost: $14 ($8 for Kids ages 6-12 and Seniors 62+). Parking is $10
Features: Top 10 Fair in the Country; Several Dozen Amusement Rides; Concerts with Top National Performers; Competition in a Wide Array of Activities; Carnival Games & Food; 2011 Theme is ‘Race to the Fair’
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