Around Sunshine Mountain - Guidebook
Food & Drink
We love this boutique winery next door. It has great wine and live music. They also serve pizza, wings and cheese/meat platters.
Hours are 12pm-7 Thursday to Sunday.
16 recommandé par les habitants
Sunshine Mountain Vineyard
2286 Sunshine Mountain RdWe love this boutique winery next door. It has great wine and live music. They also serve pizza, wings and cheese/meat platters.
Hours are 12pm-7 Thursday to Sunday.
Great brewery with an amazing patio and outdoor garden surrounded by bamboo trees. We bring all of our out-of-town guests here! Ps. Order the ahi poke nachos.
232 recommandé par les habitants
Stone Brewing
1999 Citracado ParkwyGreat brewery with an amazing patio and outdoor garden surrounded by bamboo trees. We bring all of our out-of-town guests here! Ps. Order the ahi poke nachos.
There's a nice cafe, Common Grounds Cafe, for coffee, smoothies and health conscious breakfast and lunch in the campus - a 5min drive from here. They also serve wine and beer. There's live music on some days. Hours are 7am-3pm.
TERI Campus of Life
555 Deer Springs RoadThere's a nice cafe, Common Grounds Cafe, for coffee, smoothies and health conscious breakfast and lunch in the campus - a 5min drive from here. They also serve wine and beer. There's live music on some days. Hours are 7am-3pm.
This is a secret hole in the wall that only locals know about. It is a family-run Mexican restaurant specializing in lamb barbacoa -- in tacos and other dishes. There is usually a line out the door. I try not to go too often anymore because I gained 10lbs in the first month after we moved here frequenting it so.
Vamos a Texcoco
950 E Vista WayThis is a secret hole in the wall that only locals know about. It is a family-run Mexican restaurant specializing in lamb barbacoa -- in tacos and other dishes. There is usually a line out the door. I try not to go too often anymore because I gained 10lbs in the first month after we moved here frequenting it so.
Yes, there is a fine dining restaurant atop a Lexus car dealership. The food here is good, but we bring guests here for its dramatic ambiance.
56 recommandé par les habitants
Vintana Wine + Dine
1205 Auto Park WayYes, there is a fine dining restaurant atop a Lexus car dealership. The food here is good, but we bring guests here for its dramatic ambiance.
Housed in an unassuming strip mall, this is by far my favorite Italian restaurant in town. Once you walk through the doors, you’ll feel as though you’ve been whisked away into a quaint corner stop in an Italian countryside offering delicious authentic fare. Be sure to make reservations (there’s not many tables) or go early if doing a walk-in.
Eugenio Italian Ristorante
Housed in an unassuming strip mall, this is by far my favorite Italian restaurant in town. Once you walk through the doors, you’ll feel as though you’ve been whisked away into a quaint corner stop in an Italian countryside offering delicious authentic fare. Be sure to make reservations (there’s not many tables) or go early if doing a walk-in.
One of our two favorite sushi places in town, mainly because the sushi chefs are so awesome and personable. The price is also right and when they have it in the restaurant, their blue fin tuna come thickly sliced and plentiful!
Sushi Huku
727 W San Marcos BlvdOne of our two favorite sushi places in town, mainly because the sushi chefs are so awesome and personable. The price is also right and when they have it in the restaurant, their blue fin tuna come thickly sliced and plentiful!
If you are like me, you'll want to know where to best place to have a bowl of pho is in town - and in San Marcos, it's at Chef's Pho. They also have great spring rolls.
Chef's Phở & Grill
324 South Twin Oaks Valley RoadIf you are like me, you'll want to know where to best place to have a bowl of pho is in town - and in San Marcos, it's at Chef's Pho. They also have great spring rolls.
This popular pho stop newly relocated to Vista from Escondido. They offer both Vietnamese & Chinese cuisine along with the best service. We prefer this place over Chef’s Pho, but technically, it’s in the next town over. Don’t worry, we’re located on the border of San Marcos and Vista so both recommended pho stops on this list are of equal distance.
Pho Truc Xanh
770 W Mission AveThis popular pho stop newly relocated to Vista from Escondido. They offer both Vietnamese & Chinese cuisine along with the best service. We prefer this place over Chef’s Pho, but technically, it’s in the next town over. Don’t worry, we’re located on the border of San Marcos and Vista so both recommended pho stops on this list are of equal distance.
Two words - Beer slushies. Ok, I'll expand more - Wild Barrel is known for their sour beers, and is definitely worth a trip if you're into sours. I discovered beer slushies there and that's the reason why I go.
21 recommandé par les habitants
Port Brewing Company
692 Rancheros DrTwo words - Beer slushies. Ok, I'll expand more - Wild Barrel is known for their sour beers, and is definitely worth a trip if you're into sours. I discovered beer slushies there and that's the reason why I go.
Markets
One of my favorite little markets in the area. It's a five minute drive from Sunshine Mountain and always worth the trip. You can expect to find organic vegetables, fruit, fresh eggs (sometimes), probiotic drinks and artisan made gifts.
Fresh baked bread on Saturday mornings.
Free yoga Sundays at 11am.
Golden Door Country Store
314 Deer Springs RoadOne of my favorite little markets in the area. It's a five minute drive from Sunshine Mountain and always worth the trip. You can expect to find organic vegetables, fruit, fresh eggs (sometimes), probiotic drinks and artisan made gifts.
Fresh baked bread on Saturday mornings.
Free yoga Sundays at 11am.
Family-owned convenience store for quick groceries, toiletries, beer and spirits. They also have a deli for sandwiches and salads.
Twin Oaks Market
2148 N Twin Oaks Valley RdFamily-owned convenience store for quick groceries, toiletries, beer and spirits. They also have a deli for sandwiches and salads.
Neighborhoods
A new neighborhood in San Marcos by Cal State University. It is filled with boutiques and restaurants. On Tuesday afternoons from 3pm-7pm, the San Marcos farmers market is hosted there.
North City Drive
North City DriveA new neighborhood in San Marcos by Cal State University. It is filled with boutiques and restaurants. On Tuesday afternoons from 3pm-7pm, the San Marcos farmers market is hosted there.
Trading the Land of 10,000 Lakes for the ocean, we have to admit that we do miss fresh water bodies. Lake San Marcos is essentially the only lake in town and is beloved by the locals. There is a popular Italian restaurant there (Amalfi Marina Bar), oh yes, gondolas rides complete with singing gondoliers - you can find deals on Groupon for the gondola rides (search for Black Swan Gondola).
14 recommandé par les habitants
Lake San Marcos
Trading the Land of 10,000 Lakes for the ocean, we have to admit that we do miss fresh water bodies. Lake San Marcos is essentially the only lake in town and is beloved by the locals. There is a popular Italian restaurant there (Amalfi Marina Bar), oh yes, gondolas rides complete with singing gondoliers - you can find deals on Groupon for the gondola rides (search for Black Swan Gondola).
Beach!
Our favorite beach in Carlsbad. It has nice paved trails for a walk or jog along the coast. And not as busy as other beaches in the area.
144 recommandé par les habitants
Tamarack Beach
Our favorite beach in Carlsbad. It has nice paved trails for a walk or jog along the coast. And not as busy as other beaches in the area.
Hiking
Good hiking trails with beautiful views from the other side of the valley. If you go, try and spot Sunshine Mountain from across the way!
45 recommandé par les habitants
Double Peak Park
900 Double Peak DrGood hiking trails with beautiful views from the other side of the valley. If you go, try and spot Sunshine Mountain from across the way!
Medical Emergencies
Of course if you have a medical emergency, call 9-1-1. If you need urgent care, I recommend Urgent Care San Marcos.
Urgent Care San Marcos | Carlsbad - Exhort Health
727 West San Marcos BoulevardOf course if you have a medical emergency, call 9-1-1. If you need urgent care, I recommend Urgent Care San Marcos.
Laundry
Unfortunately we do not provide guest laundry facilities. But we recommend Grande Laundry Place which is about a 10mins drive.
Grande Laundry Place
317 South Rancho Santa Fe RoadUnfortunately we do not provide guest laundry facilities. But we recommend Grande Laundry Place which is about a 10mins drive.