Location: El Cajon (17 Miles / 20 Minutes East of Downtown San Diego)
Tour Time: 1PM Monday through Friday (Closed on Major Holidays)
Cost: Free
Features: Factory Tour of the Most Prestigious Maker of Acoustical Guitars; Gift Shop
‘East County’ Theme
Gillespie Field Aircraft Museum
Location: El Cajon (17 Miles / 20 Minutes East of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: 8AM – 3PM Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
Cost: Free (Donations Accepted)
Features: Restoration Hanger for the Air & Space Museum includes More than Two Dozen Aircraft and an Atlas Missile.
Museum Honoring Buffalo Soldiers, US Cavalry, and The American Frontier
Location: Campo (51 Miles / 1.25 Hours East of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: 11AM – 5PM on Saturdays and Sundays
Cost: $2 (Free for Kids).
Features: History of Early Life in the American West Frontier, Buffalo Soldiers, and the U.S. Cavalry at Camp Lockett.
Motor Transport Museum for Antique Trucks
Location: Campo (51 Miles / 1.25 Hours East of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: 9AM – 5PM on Saturdays
Cost: Free; Donations are Accepted
Features: Antique Truck Museum with 200+ Vehicles and Industrial Equipment
San Diego Railroad Museum and Train Rides
Location: Campo (51 Miles / 1.25 Hours East of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: 9AM – 5PM on Saturdays and Sundays
Cost: $5 ($2.50 for ages 6-12); Train Rides are Extra.
Features: 1916 Train Depot is home to Over 80 Train Cars and Locomotives, many dating back to the 19th Century, Hour-Long Train Rides; Setting for Numerous Movies and Commercials.
Beginning of the Pacific Crest Trailhead
Location: Campo (51 Miles / 1.25 Hours East of Downtown San Diego)
Features: The Beginning of the 2,650 Mile National Scenic Trail at the U.S. – Mexican Border Fence
Descanso, Alpine and Pacific Railway
Location: Alpine (31 Miles / 35 Minutes East of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: 1PM – 3PM on Sundays (Call to Confirm) or By Appointment
Cost: Free
Features: Take a 20 Minute Ride on a 24 Inch Gauge Train Track.
Lions, Tigers, and Bears Sanctuary
Location: Alpine (30 Miles / 35 Minutes East of Downtown San Diego)
Visits: By Appointment or Special Event
Cost: $50+
Features: One of 12 Big Cat Sanctuaries in the United States
Viejas Casino and Outlet Center
Location: Alpine (35 Miles / 35 Minutes East of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: Casino Open 24 Hours a Day / 7 Days a Week; Outlet Shops Generally Open 10AM – 8PM; Outdoor Concerts at 8PM from March – October; Indoor Events Vary
Features: Top Rated Casino with Slots, Card Tables, Bingo, Off-Track Betting, Non-Smoking Area; Outlet Shopping; Indoor and Outdoor Concert Venues with National Acts
Barona Casino and Golf Resort
Location: Lakeside (28 Miles / 40 Minutes Northeast of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: Casino Open 24 Hours a Day / 7 Days a Week
Features: Destination Casino; Top Rated Casino with Slots, Card Tables, Bingo, Roulette, Off-Track Betting; Large Selection of Restaurants; One of the Best Golf Courses in California; Free Bus Service from Several San Diego, Los Angeles, and Orange County Locations; Nightly Entertainment
Sycuan Casino and Golf Resort
Location: El Cajon (26 Miles / 40 Minutes East of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: Casino Open 24 Hours a Day / 7 Days a Week
Features: Slots, Card Tables, Bingo, Separate Non-Smoking Casino Room; Free Bus Service from Several San Diego Locations; Golf Resort with Spa
Steele Canyon Golf Course
Location: Jamul (19 Miles / 25 Minutes East of Downtown San Diego)
Open Daily: Year-Round; Dawn – Dusk
Cost: $99 – $139; Discounts for San Diego County Residents
Features: Gary Player Designed Golf Course in a Picturesque Canyon Setting; Golf Club Rentals Available
Cleveland National Forest
Location: Cleveland National Forest (1 Hour Drive from the Coastal Areas of San Diego)
Cost: Most Visitors Will Need An Adventure Pass – $5 per Day or $30 per Year.
Features: Mountains, Meadows, Views of Ocean and Desert; Scenic Drives; Eagles; Falcons; Trails for Hiking, Biking, and Horseback Riding; Campground & RV Sites
Pacific Southwest Railway Museum
Location: La Mesa (13 Miles / 20 Minutes East of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: 1PM – 4PM on Saturdays
Cost: Free
Features: 1915 Train Depot; Steam Locomotive and Freight Cars
Cygnet Theatre
Location: Old Town (4 Miles North of Downtown San Diego) & College Area (12 Miles East of Downtown San Diego)
Performances: Year-Round; Generally Alternate between Both Locations
Cost: $22 and Up
Features: Award Winning Local Theatre Company.
San Diego Regional Visitor Information Center
Location: Alpine (35 Miles / 35 Minutes East of Downtown San Diego)
Hours: Generally open 10AM – 7PM.
Services: Professionally trained staff to assist with San Diego vacation plans, brochures, maps, and discount tickets.
Taking Pictures in San Diego / Photography Help
Features: Get your cameras ready for taking lots of pictures in San Diego County. Learn what to expect, where to look for great photo opportunities, and where to go to address any camera problems you may have while visiting San Diego.
San Diego Weather Forecasts
Find the current weather conditions and forecast for the area of San Diego you will be visiting today. If you are making your first visit to San Diego, you should learn more about San Diego weather so you are prepared for your trip. For example, you will want to bring a light jacket or windbreaker if you plan to watch a baseball game downtown, especially if you are visiting from an area where you are used to a lot of heat and humidity.
Weather Forecasts for San Diego:
Converting Currency in San Diego
There are several locations where foreign visitors can convert currency in San Diego. The main currency exchange company in San Diego is Travelex, the world’s largest retail operator. There are two locations at the San Diego Airport and several more throughout San Diego County. Their details and a currency converter are provided below.
General Aviation Airports
San Diego offers a number of airports for private plane travel. Below, you will find general location information, Google Maps, and web site links for each of the airports.
