San Diego Day Trips?

I will be in San Diego (north county) for the next 45 days (mid july-end of aug). I love day trips and beautiful scenery. Has anyone done road trips and/or is from the area and can suggest some places to see?

I love dramatic landscapes, small towns, beautiful farm lands, funky buildings and great small bars. I have a touristy book about San Diego but am looking for some things a little bit less touristy.

I would even be up for a Mexico trip- but probably not Tiajuana. More beachy type, i guess baja, stuff.

Thanks!

Julian has been attracting tourists for a couple hundred years, but it is still one of my favorite places in So. Cal. Some of the back canyon highways are also remote enough to allow a pretty good testing area for various satellite devices over the years.

Be sure to stop in at Dudleys in Santa Ysabel for some of the best fresh bread around.

Anza Borrego Sate Park is also close by.

Why 45 days?

Work stuff- staying here for a project. Thanks for the info!

T,

There is an improbable railroad trestle in Goat Canyon, that is more than worth checking out. A blurred photo is at http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/deanza.htm

Also, Yuma isn't that far away and the Territorial prison is kinda fun: http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/yuma.htm

The Desert View Tower is worth a drive, (if only because the ghost towns on old US-80 are so interesting). The tower is about 8 miles east of the Jacumba exit from I-8.

Felicity is home to another of the desert's odd characters and also to his vision of the "Center of the World" Pryamid.

One of my favorite road drives is Ocotillo northward on S-2 to CA-79 (check out the mistletoe on the trees around Oak Grove) and then past the wineries of the Temecula Valley. Some of the very best Calzones are made by the chef of the Temecula Pizza Company -- http://www.roadtripamerica.com/eats/temec1.htm

T,

I-5 north to San Clemente, Route 1 to (almost Dana Point) Del Obispo Street which becomes the Ortega Highway (CA-74). When you reach the top of the hill overlooking the Lake Elsinore, there is a cool bar -- local biker hang-out. Don't drive this route, if you don't mind sharing the road with some crazy motorcyclists!

Anywhere in Joshua Tree National Park.

Favorite commercial (local to SD) hot spring pools, great lagoon -- is at Desert Hot Springs: http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/sams.htm Sam has passed on, but the family still runs things.

The San Diego Wild Animal Park is worth a visit. Especially the butterfly exhibit -- the big ones come and sit on your head, shoulder etc. They tend to feed the big cats near the end of the day -- Can be fun to watch.

Old Town SD is a fun place to hang out and watch folks: http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/sandiego.htm

I am looking forward to doing some of these! I just went to imperial beach to watch the sand castle competitions- quite fun!

thanks for all your help!