A beautiful poetic quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow graces an ocean overlook at Fletcher Cove Park in Solana Beach.
Sit in reverie and watch the changing color of the waves
that break upon the idle seashore of the mind
This Saturday, June 20, 2026, you have the opportunity to learn about beach safety in Encinitas…and win a cool prize, too!
Come down to Moonlight Beach in Encinitas and visit the Ocean Safety Awareness Booth out on the sand between 11 am and 2 pm. The booth is hosted by the Encinitas Youth Commission, Encinitas Marine Safety Division and AMR.
In addition to learning CPR and ocean safety facts, you can win fun prizes and enter a drawing for a FREE pair of AirPods!
While you’re there, why not spend an awesome day at one of San Diego North County’s great beaches!
Some photos from past years…
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
A sign posted inside the playground at Solana Beach’s Fletcher Cove provides some history of the place. I discovered the sign this morning and thought you might enjoy a look.
An old aerial photograph allows the viewer to see how Fletcher Cove had changed between 1923 and 2023.
In 1923, Colonel Ed Fletcher began a project that would provide easy public access to the beach. High pressure water sprayed with a fire hose would carve a path down to the beach through the sandstone bluffs.
On July 4, 1924, Fletcher Cove opened with great fanfare!
Perhaps you saw these guys on television news. When I noticed them at the San Diego County Fair yesterday, I recalled their unique offer. Any member of the public can adopt an avocado tree on a 34-acre organic Hass avocado farm in Bonsall, California!
Years ago, when you drove up Interstate 15 north of Escondido, the steep hillsides would be absolutely covered with avocado trees. Not so much anymore. As the Heal the Earth website explains: San Diego’s avocados are celebrated as the best in the world for their creamy texture and rich flavor—but that heritage is disappearing. Local acreage has dropped by nearly 47% since 2008 as rising water costs and wholesale pressures force family farms to close… Meanwhile, 90% of U.S. avocados now come from imports, crowding out local growers.
These friendly people have developed a solution that helps local avocado farmers. You can adopt a tree at Wild Acres Farm!
You’ll learn all about your unique tree, including a photograph and updates on its growth. Most importantly, you’ll receive shipments of hand-harvested organic avocados from your tree! I was told you can visit your tree on the farm, too, and harvest avocados by hand. By supporting a direct-to-consumer connection between farm and table, you’re keeping San Diego’s organic avocado tradition alive—while enjoying the world’s finest organic avocados, shipped fresh from our groves to your home.
Cool idea!
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
The potential of human creativity is celebrated in a fantastic exhibition in La Jolla.
Art that was created by practical designers is now being showcased inside the Wisteria Cottage, which operates as the museum of the La Jolla Historical Society. The exhibition is titled Space Maker.
Very technical designers–such as architects–often enhance their work with artistic practices. Space Maker explores this fusion. It includes the work of many local visionaries, including the likes of Robert Irwin, Eugene Ray and Sim Bruce Richards.
You’ll be surprised by the range of work in the exhibition: from visual art that is puzzle-like or oddly geometric, to futuristic blueprints, to stained glass that appears 3-dimensional, to textile artwork featuring complex patterns . . .
It’s hard to describe everything you’ll encounter–it’s so very diverse. But that’s the genius of creativity, right?
Two sculptures standing outside of the Wisteria Cottage are also part of the exhibition. I posted photos of them earlier today.
I recommend a visit. But you have one more week. Space Maker inside the Wisteria Cottage continues through June 7, 2026.
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
Strawberries here, strawberries there, strawberries everywhere!
At today’s 15th Annual Vista Strawberry Festival in historic downtown Vista, tens of thousands would crowd into multiple city blocks, exploring over 500 vendors, buying strawberry-themed gifts, enjoying live entertainment, having bushels of fun, devouring every sort of strawberry treat imaginable!
Families wore strawberry costumes, strawberry hats, strawberry dresses and shirts. Dogs often resembled berries. The standout color at the festival was red, not surprisingly.
Kids filled with sugar didn’t need the bounce houses to get jumping.
Smiles and funny surprises everywhere!
Almost forgot to mention–there were loads and loads of actual fresh strawberries for sale, too!
Photographs…
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
Driving west down Valley Parkway toward Escondido’s downtown, the road splits into a pair of one-way streets: Valley Boulevard and Valley Parkway. Several roadside sculptures can be found in the vicinity of the split, including this shining one that I have previously shared.
I discovered two others during that same long Escondido walk. Both are very unique!
The first sculpture rises northeast of the split, at Hickory Street. It depicts a leaf, moon and star, and what appears to be a clock and the telescope atop Palomar Mountain.
I love this unusual public art!
The second sculpture rises on the southwest side of the split. The long metal arms of joined human figures seem to rise skyward as the leafy branches of a tree.
If you know more about this unique public art in Escondido, please leave a comment!
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
You’re looking at a true landmark in San Diego.
In 1983 a modest Orange Julius stand in Pacific Beach was converted into a palace. It would become the original palace of Ralph Rubio, who today is known as the Fish Taco King.
Rubio, credited with making fish tacos popular in Southern California, opened this very first restaurant on Mission Bay Drive. Lovers of nostalgia and tasty Mexican food can still visit it today.
The first Rubio’s location retains its simple charm. To me it resembles both a taco stand and a vintage roadside diner. The menu might have expanded from the original (when fish tacos sold for 99 cents), but I can attest their food remains mouth-watering good. I enjoyed a couple fish tacos the other day. I also took this photo.
If you’d like to visit the original home of Rubio’s Coastal Grill, head over to 4504 E. Mission Bay Drive, just off Interstate 5 in Pacific Beach. Then perhaps head to the beach for a perfect San Diego day!
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
It looks like I’ll be missing Cinco de Mayo events this year. Too busy with work. So I figured: why not revisit past Cinco de Mayo festivals around San Diego?
Here we go!
Click the upcoming links to enjoy several past blog posts!
Click the following links for many more photographs…
Photographs of Cinco de Mayo in the Gaslamp!
Photos of Escondido’s Cinco de Mayo!
Colorful fun at Old Town’s Cinco de Mayo!
Photos of Cinco de Mayo fiesta in Old Town!
Photos of Cinco de Mayo in Balboa Park!
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)
The La Mesa Downtown District sign is rising on La Mesa Boulevard near Palm Avenue! The landmark arch, similar to many others in neighborhoods around San Diego, will welcome those entering the heart of La Mesa’s historic downtown.
Construction officially commenced in February. Yesterday I noticed the two supporting posts now stand on the opposing sidewalks, and several banners on fences announce the Future Home of the Downtown District Sign.
The La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation website contains more details concerning the project, which has been spearheaded by the La Mesa Village Association.
The archway will feature two support columns adorned with a “Community Quilt” of 1,512 hand-painted tiles created by residents and local businesses.
As I walked up La Mesa Boulevard, I took several photos…
…
To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)