1. The Lavender Fields
City: Valley Center, CA
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Address: 12460 Keys Creek Road
Description: Less touristy than the Carlsbad Flower Fields, these sweet-smelling, organically nurtured nine acres of fields are open to the public April through July. Products can be purchased, and on Fathers’ Day, dads can purchase and plant a tiny lavender bush in the Peace Garden to symbolically encourage world peace.
2. Bates Nut Farm
City: Valley Center, CA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (760) 749-3333
Address: 15954 Woods Valley Road
Description: At Bates Nut Farm you’ll find nuts. That’s a given, but you’ll also find an eight-acre park and farm zoo and special events. Insiders enjoy the shaded park for family picnics—especially popular for Mother’s Day and the Fourth of July. Kids of all ages adore the pumpkin patch, but it can become terribly crowded on the weekends preceding Halloween, when there are live bands and craft shows. Later in the year Bates is the place for Christmas-oriented crafts. The grounds also include a nostalgic country gourmet food store and the Farmer’s Daughter gift shop. Cultural events and arts and crafts fairs are held throughout the year. Admission is free.
3. Harrah’S Rincon Casino & Resort
City: Valley Center, CA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (760) 751-3100, (800) 427-7247
Address: 777 Harrah’s Rincon Way
Description: One of San Diego County’s newest Las Vegas-style casinos, this one in the far north of North County Inland offers banquet facilities, six restaurants, a coffee bar, two lounges (one with live music), and a 200-room resort hotel with a pool and gym. In the 24-hour gaming rooms, you’ll find the usual suspects: 8 poker rooms, 50 gaming tables, and 1,600 one-armed bandits. Alcohol is served in the restaurants, bars, and gaming rooms.
4. Bates Nut Farm
City: Valley Center, CA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (760) 749-3333
Address: 15954 Woods Valley Road
Description: At Bates Nut Farm kids can be kids as they discover and touch farm animals. There are wonderful places to let the smaller set run as you put out a picnic lunch. In the fall plan a trip here to pick a pumpkin. Bates fields will be blanketed with bright orange, plump pumpkins. You might want to bring along a wagon as you go out to find your own. Don’t forget your camera; the snapshots are sure to make the aunts, uncles, and grandparents smile. At Christmastime you can select the perfect tree at Bates Nut Farm, and while you’re there, you might want to take a horse-drawn hayride, too. For many families, that’s become a holiday tradition. Mom and Dad will enjoy the craft shows that are scheduled during the fall and December holidays. Parents will also like the gourmet foods found at the Bates general; after all this fun you’ll need some healthy snacks. See Attractions for a full idea of what’s in store for kids and grown-ups at Bates Nut Farm.