 Can we talk for a moment or two about one of my favorite places in San Diego County, San Diego Botanic Garden? Did you know that they were recently named one of the top 10 gardens worth traveling for in North America? WOW! You might want to know that they have been around since the 1940's. It's a 37-acre "botanic wonderland" that features zonal plantings from all over the world, beautiful waterfalls, rotating sculpture gardens and a special Children's Garden with plans to build an educational center. No doubt plants cultivated at the very beginning are still thriving. Did you know that some of these plants have lives that will outlive the average human, and then some? It's truly amazing that this garden grows and develops with the decades that pass. Almost every time you visit, something will be new and different. For the last 24 years, Julian Duval has been at the helm serving as president and CEO. Julian has done tremendous, great work but is now retiring and passing the baton to Ari Novi.The two will work together through the transition. San Diego Botanic Garden hosts a plethora of fun, festive and educational events throughout the year and you will be happy to know that if you are a San Diego County resident, you get free entry to the park every first Tuesday of the month. There is a small parking fee, but it is waived if you have four or more in your car. Regular pricing is $18 for adults, $12 for seniors and active military and $10 for kids 3-18. The garden is opening 9-5 daily except for Christmas.   Rancho Buena Vista Adobe, located at 640 Alta Vista Drive (across from the Civic Center) is a beautiful, fascinating, historical adobe dating back to 1845 that has been preserved for your viewing pleasure by the city of Vista. In fact, if this adobe had not been built, the city of Vista as we know it would not be established today as the surrounding area was built around it to support its function! Learn about the history of the adobe and the many families that lived in it, as well as what life looked like on this homestead. Also onsite are a lovely gift shop and art gallery with rotating presentations.
Tours are provided for a nominal fee on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between the hours of 10am and 3pm (last tour starts at 2:15). Guided tours are also available. Admission: Adults $4, Seniors $3, Students $1 and children 12 and under .50. The adobe also has field trip opportunities for local schools as well as summer programs. Different events are held on the grounds throughout the year and it is also available for wedding and special occasion rentals. What a beautiful backdrop it is! If spooky is your thing, join in the Spirits of The Adobe tours ($25) that take place select evenings once a month. For more on that, call 760-643-5275.  1. Tell us about yourselves:
Carla and I met 23 years ago in Victorville, CA. We have been a couple for 22 years. We have lived in North San Diego County for 16 years. We love food. 2. What inspires you about food in north county? The young Chefs are not afraid to experiment with foods. Cheese does go with fish when done properly. I love that I met Chef Darryll (Masters) at Cyclops Farm. He was there because he wanted to feel the dirt from which his veggies were grown. I love that a lot of the Chefs did other things before they found their calling; Chef Marc (Petite Madeline) was a nurse; Chef Willy (Mission Ave Bar & Grill) trained to be a mechanic. 3. How did you get your start? When we first moved here going out to the Olive Garden was something special. We now know what real good food tastes like and we will never go back. We want other people in our community to know what good food we have right here in our own back yards. We support local food, chefs and farms. Oceanside had a bad reputation for a long time so the food scene kinda surprised a lot of people. We are happy to be part of the explosion. 3. How does a walking food tour work and how much does it cost? We charge $49 per person. The tours run on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1:30 to 4:30pm in Oceanside and Saturdays from 1:30 to 4:30pm in Vista as well. We spend about 30 minutes or so at each place so you can get a feel for the restaurant. We do private tours during the week with certain minimums. We walk you around to 4 restaurants and provide all of the food, beverages are available for purchase at the restaurants. We have great relationships with the Chefs/Owners so we get off-menu dishes from most of our establishments. We also give fun facts about the area as well as telling you about the restaurants and Chefs. 4. What are your favorite parts about running a walking food tour business? The people. We love to share our experiences with others and this is the perfect stage. We are excited about food and love when we can share it with others. We have made many friends. It gives us joy when we have people return to take another one of our other tours. 5. If someone wants to take a food tour, how they go about that? They get on their computer or phone and sign up. www.shoesandchews.com or Linda's private cell number is: (760) 401-5968. They can use code: barb to get $10 off. If you want a private tour you will need at least 4 people and pay full price. You will get to choose what day and which tour...the times stay the same at 1:30 to 4:30pm.  When I was a young girl growing up in the Bay Area, in order to get out of the neighborhoods and onto the freeway, you had to drive past this little old playhouse in the city of Lafayette. I remember the rustic wood shingled building and a sign that had masks on it much like this picture. I always wondered what went on behind those walls. I had no idea. I never met anyone that went to see a production there. I just knew that someday I wanted to find out what it was all about.
Flash forward, (I won’t say how many years 😉) and local theater has become a big part of my life. I’m very thankful that Moonlight Stage Productions, The Star Theatre, Vista's Broadway Theater, productions at local high schools and the former Avo Theatre have pulled me in. I can’t tell you what a treat it is that local theater has become a regular part of my life and something that I value and look forward to. I’ve seen some really amazing shows and I feel like I am greatly enriched because I have. I love that local theater gives local talent a chance to grow and bloom and we all get a first row seat. I also love that they provide so many opportunities to get our young ones involved, both on the stage and in the audience. I would like to encourage you to make local theater part of your life as well if you haven’t already. It's always good to be prepared for an emergency, so I just wanted to get everyone thinking about being prepared, just in case. There are many situations that require an emergency kit for peace of mind and emergency preparedness ranging from big storms to wildfires. When an emergency situation strikes, time is of the essence. Find a sturdy, portable container or tote and assemble the following:
Remember to keep your kit updated and fresh. Check twice a year or more if needed. Has your power gone out? not a bad idea to unplug appliances and electronics, turn off heating/cooling systems to avoid damages that come with power surges once the electricity is restored. Leave on one lamp so you will know when power has been restored. It is a good idea to make a family emergency plan that includes meeting places (one nearby and one further away). Keep a copy of this plan in your kit. Teach all family members to text. Even if phone lines are down or backed up, texting will usually go through. Being prepared = peace of mind.  Nancy, tell me a little about yourself, your background and how you came to work with Alta Vista Botanical Gardens. I was born in San Diego and raised in Lemon Grove, attended UCSB (with a year in Germany) and earned my teaching credential at SDSU. I finished my MA in Special Education in 1979. Don and I have been married since 1974; our two sons grew up in North County and have graduated from UCSD and UCLA respectively. After 28 years in the classroom, I retired from teaching elementary school in Vista Unified in 2006. I was asked to come to AVBG to help start their Children’s Garden in 2008, I joined the AVBG Board, and “Farmer Jones” ended up as Chairman of the Committee. We ran a contest to name the Children’s Garden and chose “Bugs, Birds, and Butterflies.” In addition to the existing small Earth Day Festival, we added the Fall Fun Festival in 2009 and are celebrating our TENTH FFF on October 20 this year. It’s a great experience – creating scarecrows, bobbing for apples, decorating punkins, making crafts, and enjoying the ambience of the Gardens. Vendors, food, and a plant sale are all part of the Fall Fun Festival experience. Many student and adult volunteers – and our dedicated Board members – make it a super day! About how many kids do you filter through your program each year and what brings you the biggest joy working with kids and in the gardens? After our first FFF in 2009, we started monthly Kids in the Garden classes and still offer them on the second Saturday of the month from 10 am to noon for a low $5 fee; these classes are free for family members. The schedule is listed on the AVBG website altavistabotanicalgardens.org . We also offer field trips for students in local elementary and middle schools, as well as homeschool groups. We have served 4000 kids in ten years of Kids in the Garden and field trips. My greatest joy is seeing kids relax, open up, hike to the bottom of the hill and back up, and make discoveries out in nature. What are your hopes for the future with your program? I hope that kids and their parents will become more familiar and comfortable in the outdoors, and appreciate the beauty and tranquility of nature. There’s a BIG beautiful world out there and experiencing it first-hand is a million times better than on an electronic device! We will continue to offer outdoor experiences and hope to expand programs as more teachers and families discover the Hidden Gem that is Alta Vista Botanical Gardens! I see you also work with The Woman's Club of Vista. What does that program do in the community and how can someone become involved if they wish? Membership in The Woman’s Club of Vista GFWC is open to all – women and men! I served as President from 2013-2017 and currently serve as Treasurer. Our Club is 102 years old and we’re growing with active members who are ready to volunteer! We work on projects with organizations in the community (such as AVBG, Operation HOPE-Vista, Women’s Resource Center, Gently Hugged, Rancho Buena Vista Adobe, Alabaster Jar, and many others), and we donate supplies and food. We celebrate our Donation Day every May when we donate to organizations suggested and supported by our members. In June we award scholarships to students graduating from six Vista schools. Our busy Club has won awards for our projects from our international Federation. The Club’s website is womansclubofvista.org . Contact information is in the newsletter which is posted on the website. All are welcome to visit and join! What city do you reside in, and what do you love about it? We have lived in rural Vista since 1987, and we love the open spaces and parks for hiking and nature experiences. I love the people I am privileged to work with – curious kids, caring parents, and devoted volunteers. It’s small-town Vista every day, with many opportunities to grow and serve – which is how I fill my days.  It's always good to be prepared for an emergency, so I just wanted to get everyone thinking about being prepared, just in case. There are many situations that require an emergency kit for peace of mind and emergency preparedness ranging from big storms to wildfires. When an emergency situation strikes, time is of the essence. Find a sturdy, portable container or tote and assemble the following:
Remember to keep your kit updated and fresh. Check twice a year or more if needed. Has your power gone out? not a bad idea to unplug appliances and electronics, turn off heating/cooling systems to avoid damages that come with power surges once the electricity is restored. Leave on one lamp so you will know when power has been restored. It is a good idea to make a family emergency plan that includes meeting places (one nearby and one further away). Keep a copy of this plan in your kit. Teach all family members to text. Even if phone lines are down or backed up, texting will usually go through. Being prepared = peace of mind.  The City of Vista’s Wave Waterpark will open for the season in May. It is open daily through the end of September. Hours vary and are available on the Wave’s website or by phone. Admission is $20.95 for visitors 42” and taller, $16.95 for under 42”, seniors age 60 and over are $13.95, Happy Hour for all heights and ages is available the last two hours the park is open for $9.95, ages two and under are free, military with I.D. is $13.95. Season passes are available for $74 per person, or $69 per person for a family of four.For more information, visit thewavewaterpark.com, or call (760) 940-9283.  More on THE WAVE WATERPARK
The Wave Waterpark is the City of Vista’s popular summertime attraction featuring a slide tower, flow rider, rip tide slide, floating river, competition pool, and spray park. Open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Wave also offers camps, swim lessons, junior lifeguard program, scout programs, CPR and water polo classes, and group and birthday programs. During non-season, the Wave is open for lap swimming and rentals. The Wave is recognized for its extensive safety training programs and safety records. The Wave is a Five Star recognized facility by Star Guard Elite, an industry organization providing comprehensive lifeguard training programs for the waterpark industry.  I want to introduce you to a newer North County business, Riddle Routes. Started in Bend, Oregon, with three routes, you can now find them in California with routes in Carlsbad, Big Bear and Palm Springs.
I took the Riddle Route challenge starting my quest in Carlsbad, totally unsure what the experience would be like. Suggested teams are 2-4 people, so we double-dated and made it a team of 4. The routes are designed to be about 2 miles of walking, 2 hours of time with 22 stops. You purchase the package online for $38 (this fee covers the whole team), which I feel is very reasonable and certainly less expensive than going to a movie. Once you pay you are given a link to access your route, using your smartphone to get your clues. The whole thing was put together very cleverly, and you can tell the designers of Riddle Routes are teachers. Let’s just say I was thankful for the help of my teammates when the riddle involved math! As you go from point to point you are looking for specific things, solving riddles and problems and doing a lot of teamwork. We saw some points of interest that we knew about and others that we were learning about for the first time. After you get to each destination and solve your riddle, you’ll learn some fun facts about that specific location or business. So, with Riddle Routes you are having fun, exercising and getting fresh air, working with others, using your brains and learning new things about the area you are in. We all agreed that it was a lot of fun and interesting as well. I would wholeheartedly recommend that everyone do this with their family or friends. It was a great day followed by a nice dinner in The Village. I did not take pictures (whaaat?) as I don’t want to give away the route. I want it all to be new and fresh when you give it a try. Does this sound like something you would want to do? For more information and to purchase your Riddle Route go to: http://riddleroutes.com/product/carlsbad-route/. Be sure to use code: BARB$10 to save $10!  Downtown, Historic Vista has experienced quite the makeover and seen a major resurgence in the last few years. Some of my favorite businesses reside there like: TownHall Public House, Shaks Mediterranean Bistro, Curbside Cafe, When Pigs Fly BBQ, Belching Beaver, Mother Earth, Yellow Deli, Milk Organics, Metaphor Boutique, Twice, The Avo Playhouse, Vista's Broadway Theatre, Carlenaz Skincare, Urban Barn, Yoga Branch, and that's just to mention a few.
The streets are old, mixed with new. Hundreds of pieces of public art line the streets and are muraled onto the buildings. This little part of town exudes charm and is ripe with possibility. Main Street and the surrounding neighborhood hosts dozens of fun events each year including a beer festival, vintage and makers markets, Alley Art Festival, Taste of Vista, Strawberry Festival and run, the Rod Run car fest, parades and more. When is the last time you paid a visit to downtown, historic Vista? It's calling your name! |
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