Our guide to unique lodging and adventures in San Diego’s beautiful backcountry
By Bobbi Zane and Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine
San Diego’s backcountry is home to mountains with hiking trails, miles and miles of pine and oak forests, wine regions, deserts, historic highways and rural areas — known as the playground for San Diegans who want a close-to-home getaway.
This beautiful country is mostly untouched by urban development. You can walk through forests, ride bikes on country lanes, horseback ride, pick apples in the fall, sample local wine, hike and dine in the great outdoors most of the year.
East County Magazine’s Backcountry Hidden Pleasures series profiles weekend getaway destination that you can find close to home in San Diego County’s inland region, including lodging plus unique activities and attrations in each region. We have visited them all.
It’s an hour’s drive or less from downtown to the mountains, where you can discover the hidden pleasures by checking into one of many bed and breakfast inns and lodges in Julian, Mount Laguna or Ramona. Elsewhere in our inland region, savor luxury at Native American casino resorts, visit historic lodges, stay at a winery, hot springs retreat, or lavender farm, visit our historic cities and an emerging restaurant row, or find spa pampering services, golf and tennis at hotels in Borrego Springs.
Your lodging options in our inland region also include campgrounds, tipis, “glamping” , cottages, vintage ’50s trailers, and cabins afloat on a lake.
Start your adventure by clicking here and scroll down to read our entries below, plus check back for new additions soon!