7 Fun Ways to Enhance Your Harrah’s Resort SoCal Experience
We know that all the winning and relaxing can be overwhelming at Harrah’s Resort SoCal. Sometimes you need a little break from funner, but you might not know where to go to enhance your stay (as if it needs it.) Never fear, we’ve compiled a list of the best nearby spots to visit round out your SoCal experience.
Just a hop, skip and a jump down the road from Harrah’s Resort SoCal (4.2 miles to be exact) is Hill Top Winery. With their grapes making their debut in bottles in early 2013, Hill Top Winery is seen as leader in bringing the tasting room trend to this area. Hill Top Winery’s industrial decoré inside the vineyard’s backyard barn is a unexpected surprise. Stay cool with the AC while sipping on some Muscat Canelli or mingle with friends while pouring the Meritage (our fave.) www.Hilltopwinery.com
If adventure is more your thing, the La Jolla Zip Zoom ziplines in Pauma Valley are right up your alley. The La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians opened the the La Jolla Campground and have welcomed guests to their reservation as a vacation destination since 1930. The Zip Zoom zipline, the newest attraction on the Campgournd, invites daredevils from all surrounding casinos to spend three hours soaring through the sky at 55mph. The 6,237 foot course overlooks the San Luis Rey River with breathtaking views of Palomar Mountain and Pauma Valley. Need someone to hold your hand at 2,700 feet above sea level? All of the courses have parallel cables so you can overcome your fear with a buddy. www.lajollazipzoom.com
After seeing the mountain from above, you may want to tackle it from below. Palomar Mountain State Park in Palomar, California highlights the beautiful forests and mountain meadows of north San Diego County. Large pine, fir and cedar trees as well as numerous panoramic views make this park one of the few in Southern California with a Sierra Nevada feel. Grab the fishing rod, lace-up the hiking boots and bring the binoculars, there are tons to take in at this 1,862 acre state park. If your king bed is a little too comfy here at the resort, you can rough it one night and camp with the family. Our showers will be waiting for you when you get back. www.parks.ca.gov
Can’t get enough of those furry woodland creatures? Nurtured By Nature in Pauma Valley is your next stop. In an effort to support the Make A Wish Foundation and otter conservation, Nurtured By Nature opened its doors 2008. Since then, it has provided animal education through interactive programs that include kissing a kangaroo, cuddling Cuddles the resident porcupine and snuggling with a sloth. But what Nurtured By Nature is most famous for are its otter swims. Slip on the swimsuit and get your play on with five of their 31 friendly otters. We highly advise booking your visit far in advance. We tried to sneak a furry friend into our Lazy River once, but were told it probably wasn’t best for the otter. www.nurturedbynature.org
Still looking for a way to connect with nature? Lake Wohlford in Valley Center is the perfect place to plan a family fishing trip. A body of what is considered liquid gold in Southern California, since 1894 Lake Wohlford has held only local water and is named after one of the founders of the Escondido Municipal Water Company. Rent a boat, push off the dock and soak up the sun while you wait for the catfish to bite. The lake is open seven days a week and is perfect way to spend a relaxing day playing hooky from work or school. www.lakewohlford.com
In 1921 Gilbert and Beatrice Bates moved their nutty family to Valley Center and purchased what was then Walnut Slope Ranch. Five generations later, the family farm is plowing on and visiting it in the fall has become an annual tradition for local families. Halloween will be here before you know it. While staying at Harrah’s Resort SoCal, take a drive to Bates Nut Farm to pick out your pumpkin or satisfy your sweet tooth. You can also visit and feed Bates’ farm zoo, including donkeys, goats, sheep, llamas, pigs, chickens and peacocks. Afterward, stroll through the general store for some snacks of your own. You’ll go nuts over the dates and pistachios, plus the homemade fudge is to die for. Bates Nut Farm is open year around with events nearly every weekend.www.batesnutfarm.biz
After being spoiled at The Spa at Harrah’s, you may realize you need more of that aromatherapy in your life. This is when you should sashay on down to Keys Creek Lavender Farm in Valley Center. In search of her own zen, Owner Alicia Wolff purchased the 8.5 acre lot in 2008. Over a pot of lavender tea, Wolf planted the idea for a lavender farm in her brain. Eight years later, the Keys Creek Lavender Farm is where you can get your fancy on while enjoying English High Teas and taking in the views of the rolling hills of lavender. Try your hand at a soap making class or join a tour of the property. There is even a shop where you can buy a little something lavender to take home with you. Needless to say, we think the color is pretty awesome too. www.kclfarm.com
