Pio Pico, CA

Location, location, location … it's a pitch you might hear from a real estate agent trying to sell you property that borders a major interstate with steel and concrete views. At Thousand Trails' Pio Pico preserve, however, this refrain means: "Come and relax with us — amid the rolling hills, live oak and cactus — in between adventures in attractions-rich San Diego."

Favorable climate year-round is one magnet pulling members to Pio Pico. August through October is the hottest stretch — summer highs range from the 80s to the mid-90s. Conversely, Pacific breezes from the west send temperatures downward to between the 50s and the 60s at night. The average annual high temperature in nearby San Diego is 70 degrees, with low humidity.

Stellar Sites

While busy in the summer, Pio Pico fills up in the winter and on holiday weekends. And that's no small feat with 177 full-hookup sites (some 50-amp) and 250 electric/water sites, occupying 178 acres. Drive-through access and ample space between many sites make navigation and set-up easy for folks with big rigs, and there are three RV storage facilities on the property. A large, centrally located area on the south side of the preserve is devoted to tent sites, connected by a bridge to a parking area.

Big Fun

Line dancing and crafts are popular organized activities for adults. Left to their own devices, though, you'll see them basking in a cool dip at the adult pool or a relaxing soak in the adjacent spa.

Kids enjoy the pool tournaments, air hockey, and ping-pong at their own Youth Center, which is adjacent to the family pool.  That is, when they are not shooting rounds of miniature golf or getting a soft ball game going — seemingly ubiquitous in the summer — on the diamond near the south preserve entrance.

Outdoor enthusiasts should check out the Herb Honegger Nature Center, named for a former maintenance employee who died in 1999, for information about preserve vegetation and indigenous species. Rattlesnakes are common in the summer, so if you plan to take the hiking trail up into the mountain, be sure to put on the protective footwear and carry a walking stick. Other critters roaming the area include rabbits, owls, raccoons, mountain lions, bobcats, as well as more common birds like crows, ravens and jays.

Going Places

In addition to the mild climate, the natural beauty of San Diego and its rich cultural heritage draws more than 15 million visitors to the area each year, according to the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau. Where else, the Bureau asks in one of their publications, can you bike through the mountains and go deep sea fishing all in one place?

One fantastic trip through this remarkable city on the Old Town Trolley takes you to eight key stops. Narrated throughout, the tour gives you the option of staying aboard for two continuous hours, or stepping off and on at any stop for a day. Tickets may be purchased at the station or at select stops along the route.

Most folks begin and end their trolley tour at the Old Town station. Encompassing six square blocks, this site of European and Mexican settlement features shops and restaurants in historic adobe buildings, many of which are authentically restored. Parking is free.

Next, you explore the ferries, cruise ship terminals, and historic ship attractions along Harbor Drive. These waterfront treasures lead the way to Seaport Village, where you can saunter down the bayside boardwalk through charming, turn-of-the-century architecture and some of the city's best sightseeing, restaurants, and shopping.

After a jaunt through downtown, featuring Horton Plaza and the trendy Gaslamp District, the trolley crosses the San Diego/Coronado Bay Bridge to the Coronado Peninsula. Sunny, Pacific-facing beaches and bike trails stretch along the entire strip of land. Shopping and dining at the Ferry Landing Marketplace and touring the Hotel del Coronado are must-do activities at this stop.

Wrapping up the trolley tour is a ride through Balboa Park, which includes the "World-Famous" San Diego Zoo and cultural district. Meet some of the most rare and exotic creatures at the Zoo; the Polar Bear Plunge, Gorilla Tropics and Tiger River attractions are among the favorites. Ituri Forest, a central African jungle habitat, hosts giraffes, okapis, hippos and more. Guided bus tours and an aerial tram enable you to take in much of the 100 tropical acres and 3,900 animals from 800 different species in short order. For the kids, there's a petting zoo and baby animal nursery.

The entire Balboa Park area is the largest cultural complex west of the Mississippi. Minutes from downtown San Diego, the park covers 1,200 acres and features more than 85 cultural and recreational organizations. Additionally, the park is acclaimed for its nine glorious gardens, including an award-winning rose garden and butterfly garden.

Thus concludes the trolley tour, but these are merely some of the highlights San Diego has to offer. Closer to the preserve and on the way from the city are the Olympic Training Center and Lower Otay Lakes.

So, stop by Pio Pico, stay awhile, and embark on excursions galore. You'll discover it's a prime location for adventure.

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