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5 Unique Places to Visit in San Diego {Part II}

5 UNIQUE PLACES TO VISIT IN SAN DIEGO {PART II}

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If you enjoyed my most recent post about 5 Unique Places to Visit in San Diego (Part I), then you will enjoy this next post.

Several of the places on this list have either been referred to me by my fellow field trip loving friends or places I have visited with my own family.

In August, my family and I plan to take a mini-vacation down to San Diego.  After the trip, I hope to share with you even more great locations to visit in this beautiful part of the country.

For now, check out my next list of 5 More Unique Places to Visit in San Diego {Part II} with your family.  There might just be a new adventure in store for you.

TanzanitaThe Gemological Institute in Carlsbad

“Established in 1931, GIA is the world’s foremost authority on diamonds, colored stones, and pearls.  A public benefit, nonprofit institute, GIA is the leading source of knowledge, standards, and education in gems and jewelry.”  GIA offers field trips for students in 4th grade and up at their location in Carlsbad.

They also have a museum featuring gems from all over the world that is available to be seen by appointment only.  To schedule an individual or group tour of the museum, please email [email protected] or call 1-800-421- 7250, ext. 4116.

Check out GIA’s fun new educational website for kids called GemKids!

Naoshima04

Queen Califa’s Magical Garden in Escondido

Queen Califa’s Magical Garden is an unusual sculpture garden created by the late famous artist Niki de Saint Phalle.  There are only four of these gardens in the world and only one located in the United States.  Lucky for us it is in Escondido.

Currently, Queen Califia’s Magical Circle is under renovation and is closed to the public.  However, mark your calendars!  The city of Escondido anticipates the garden to reopen in Fall 2014.

Mt. Woodson Castle in Ramona

“In 1909, Amy Strong, a famous San Diego dress designer, hired architects to build her dream home on the Ranch.  They pitched tents on the site for their own accommodations, drew renderings and blueprints. The home was completed by 1921.  The Strong home in Ramona is the vision of this artistic woman, the talents of her architects, and the philosophy of the Craftsman Movement.”

The Castle has twenty-seven rooms and is made of eucalyptus, oak, and redwood, rocks and flagstone, adobe, bricks and tiles, plaster, concrete and stucco.  Tours are available daily.

Walnuts to crack

 Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center

Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center provides families the opportunity to spend time on a working farm.  While there, you will learn how the farm transformed itself from a groove of walnut trees to a full fledge retail business today.

Take a tour and discover how nuts get from the tree to your table.  Tours are available for groups of 15 or more and is $5.50 per person.  Call 760-749-3333 for reservations.

Camels

Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona

“An unusual family; Gil, Nancy, a small handful of very dedicated animal caretakers and a huge family of camels, birds and other farm animals call the Oasis Camel Dairy home.  Located on thirty-four rolling acres, this unique “farmily” supports the efforts of furthering the education of the public world wide about the amazing nature of camels and their milk.” 

They also offer camel rides! 

Public tours are available once a month and school field trips are offered throughout the year.  Please send an email to [email protected] for details. 

SoCal Field Trips will be visiting the Oasis Camel Dairy in October and looks forward to sharing with you our thoughts afterwards.

Happy Field Tripping,

Jilleen

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post.  All points of view are our own.  All images used by permission from Wikimedia commons.  Please click on the individual images above for complete copyright information.

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Christine

Wednesday 30th of July 2014

This is awesome. Thanks for posting this. We are always looking for something new to check out!