Picnic Spots in (mostly Northern) San Diego County
There are a bunch of campgrounds and lots of picnic tables with great views all along the cliff North of the Cardiff Kook. Just park along Coast Highway, either side, and head toward the water.
Park here, Looks like this:
Known as one of the most pleasant hikes, if not the most, in Carlsbad, Bataquistos Lagoon also has a ton of covered benches to sit at and enjoy the views. They make for good picnic spots. This one was spontaneous, so I didn’t bring a table, but that might have been nice. There are also picnic tables by the resource center near the entrance.
Easy parking in the nearby cul-de-sac.
The Foundation Center
Lots of picnic tables there
We chose a bench a few hundred yards down
My daughter and I have long liked to watch planes land and takeoff and this is the best spot we have found to eat & watch. It’s as close as you can get to the runway and be above it. Further down the runway, the parking lots next to it are too low to see the planes.
A couple of Marines flying in for dinner at The Landings Restaurant on the other side. Good chow.
This table is another “Developer Required to Build” hidden treasure in North County, specifically Encinitas. Park in a cul-de-sac, schlep up a nice decomposed granite trail for 5 minutes, and you’ve got a great spot overlooking the Pacific with the sound of the wind and curses of golfers in your ears.
It even has a trash can! Love this spot!
First, park in this cul-de-sac. (Red drop white star on map)
Walk up the trail
Here it is.
The first time we found it, kid age-appropriately posting to soc meeds.
Park in the cul-de-sac at the end of Bella Vista Drive.
Walk through the opening to the left of the gate.
Walk through the neighborhood, keeping left….
… until you get to the trailhead
Can’t miss it from there, enjoy the views.
It’s a bit steep if you’re with someone with balance problems
There’s a little bench to sit on. BYOT (Table).
