San Diego, CA

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park lets you not only see an impressive variety of wild animals in their natural habitats, but also take a real safari to see it all. A great family day out, this park offers the chance to see some of the world's most exciting creatures while taking in the natural beauty of their surroundings. The layout and presentation of the safari all work together to make the trip to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park a real winner. Plus, the staff are quite helpful and will answer any questions you might have, so you and the kids can learn about your favorite creatures while having an excellent time.

Address: 15500 Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA - MAP
Phone: (760) 738-5051
Web: www.sandiegozoo.org

The Cleveland National Forest offers you a chance to take in amazingly breathtaking views of the desert from a cliff and other picturesque terrain. This area is an unusual forest as it features long stretches of shrubs and scrub oak over the slopes and hills. It is a sprawling 460,000 acres and offers 356 miles of trails while still being near to major metropolitan centers. This is a textbook example of natural beauty unusually sandwiched among the San Diego landscape.

Address: Palomar-Julian, CA - MAP
Phone: (619) 673-6180
Web: www.fs.usda.gov

If you love a great view that's above all else, then the high vantage point of Palomar Mountain State Park will take your breath away! The park offers spectacular views of the Pacific, as well as great campgrounds, spacious picnic areas, rugged hiking trails and some fine fishing in Doane Pond. Palomar Mountain State Park raises the bar when it comes to enjoying some of the area's outdoor beauty.

Address: 19952 State Park Drive, Palomar Mountain, CA 92060 - MAP
Phone: (760) 742-3462
Web: www.parks.ca.gov

The Japanese Friendship Garden is a beautiful bond of nature between San Diego and Yokohama as the two cultures unite in this beautiful garden to create a truly unique experience in the great outdoors. The garden is designed according to the original principals of a Japanese garden that incorporates both the landscape and climate. The overall goal of this alluring place is to develop people's respect for the environment and cultural arts. Let the garden's winding path take you on a private journey of your own.

Address: 2215 Pan American Road East, San Diego, CA 92101 - MAP
Phone: (408) 277-5254
Web: www.niwa.org

San Diego's Balboa Park is much more than just a park. In addition to offering several scenic outdoor spots with areas to enjoy a picnic or stretch out on the grass, there are also several museums on site that include the Natural History Museum, the Aerospace Museum, as well as the world-renowned San Diego Zoo. The park is consistently well-maintained and is a welcoming place to either frolic with family or sit and contemplate nature's omnipresent natural beauty.

Address: 1439 El Prado-Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101 - MAP
Phone: (619) 235-1121
Web: www.balboapark.org

Desert Garden is located within the confines of Balboa Park, but its beauty and serene charm make it well worth finding. More specifically, the garden is located on the side of a cliff on the perimeter of Balboa Park, not to be confused with the Old Cactus Garden on the other side of the park. Featuring awesome views and indigenous plants like various cactus flower and such, visiting the Desert Garden is like being transported to a different world entirely.

Address: Park Avenue and Village Place, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101 - MAP
Phone: (619) 239-4748
Web: www.balboapark.org