Website

2440 Martin Way, Alpine CA 91901

(619)659-8078

Turn left out of RHR, it is just 3 minutes down the road, on the right-hand side, just before you get to the 8 Freeway.

Situated on 93 acres, on the edge of the Cleveland National Forest, Lions Tigers & Bears is an animal sanctuary for rescued big cats, bears and other exotic animals. Nestled in a scenic landscape of majestic oak trees, meadows, and rolling hills, the sanctuary offers an idyllic, natural habitat for more than 60 animals who have been neglected and abused in captivity across the country. The ranch provides a peaceful refuge for the animals to live with dignity in a safe, nurturing environment, where they can run, play, swim and enjoy fresh air. Your membership, sponsorship, and support mean the world to us and ensure the animals get a second chance at a better tomorrow.

Open Weds-Saturday, pricing is $26-$45 per day

Website

5178 Japatul Spur, Alpine, CA 91901

(619)320-4942

Turn right out of RHR, and it is just a mile down the road on your right hand side!

The Children’s Nature Retreat welcomes visitors of all ages, allowing everyone to enjoy and explore the beautiful and tranquil surroundings at their leisure. It is a serene ranch-style retreat, with its 20-acres of terrain, that is a safe haven to over 200 domesticated livestock and exotic animals from around the world. The retreat is specifically designed to help children develop a sense of wonder for nature and its inhabitants through unstructured exploration and learning. Fun and educational `interactive encounters’ are available for everyone to learn and foster an appreciation for animals, nature, sustainable farming and the ecosystem.

Pricing is $20-$38 per day. Military, first responders, veteran families, teachers and Alpine residents: 10% discount, groups of 12+: 15% discount

Website

5000 Willows Road Alpine, CA 91901

(619)445-5400

Outlet Shopping, Roller Skating & Bowling - Viejas Outlets have dozens of America's most popular names in apparel, accessories, footwear, and much more. Kids of all ages can enjoy our interactive fountain and multi-media performances or spend the day at their outdoor skating rink! Galactic Bowl is open on Friday and Saturday nights and includes 12 lanes. They also have a Fun Zone Arcade. Visit the Food Court and enjoy classic handcrafted pizza and antipasto, fresh Mexican fish tacos, hot pretzels, and comfort food fried chicken

Gaming - Voted The best casino in San Diego, with 2,500 of the loosest slot machines in Southern California, the latest table games with huge progressive jackpots, an exclusive bingo hall with non-stop promotions, and off-track betting with a full-service bar.

Hotel and Spa - Enveloping you in the most luxurious and high-end amenities, the Viejas Hotel and Willows Hotel & Spa are perfect places to unwind, allowing you to detach from the realities of the world.

Entertainment - Prior artists include multiple award winners including Grammy-winning singers and songwriters, Viejas is known to have some of the best concerts in San Diego.

Website

30 minutes for RHR

593 Anderson Truck Trail. Alpine, CA 91901

Sky Falconry, Southern California’s premiere federally licensed falconry school, invites you to experience flying a trained bird of prey to your glove and learn about one of the world’s oldest hunting traditions in the picturesque settings of San Diego and the mountains of Alpine.

Free fly a trained bird of prey! Sky Falconry, located in the beautiful San Diego mountains just 30 miles from the coast, offers a full range of falconry classes and services. We invite you to experience having a trained bird of prey come to your glove and learn about one of the world's oldest hunting traditions, raptor biology and conservation. A bucket list must!

Website

A Premier Mountain Getaway, just an 25 minutes from RHR.

Julian is located in the beautiful Cuyamaca mountains. It is a quaint mountain retreat with four distinct seasons: Spring brings the blossoming of many flowers including daffodils and lilacs; Summer is perfect for hiking and star-gazing; Fall is famous for the apple harvest and fall colors; while Winter brings snowfall and bright, crisp days.

Specialty shops line the historic streets, and the attractions are unique, ranging from wineries to gold mines to a wolf preserve. With a year-round calendar of unique events, Julian offers plenty of old fashioned entertainment for couples, families and groups of all ages.

Website

The Cleveland National Forest honors its past and celebrates all it has to offer visitors. The Forest provides various terrains and recreational opportunities, including camping and picnic areas, hiking, exploring on horseback, trail running, mountain biking, and scenic drives.

Horsethief Canyon Trail- 7 min drive from RHR. Turn left, drive 7 minutes, and the entrance is on the left hand side.

Experience this 13.4-mile out-and-back trail is considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 35 min to complete. This trail is great for hiking, mountain biking, and running, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Depending on recent rain fall, also have a swimming hole!

Lawson Peak Trail - 10 Minutes fro RHR. Take a left, drive 10 minutes (3 min past Horsethief Canyon Trail)

This 4.3-mile out-and-back trail is considered a challenging route. This is a very popular area for hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The best times to visit this trail are November through May. This is a great trail with spectacular views! The last push to the summit is a little more than a scramble—definitely some bouldering involved.

A 25 minute drive from RHR, Mount Laguna is approximately 6,000 feet above sea level in a forest of Jeffrey pine, east of San Diego in the Laguna Mountains on the eastern edge of the Cleveland National Forest. The hamlet sits at the high point of a scenic drive on Sunrise Highway from Interstate 8 to Highway 79. Mount Laguna is on the Pacific Crest Trail. Mount Laguna consists of a small general store, rustic lodge and cabins, local restaurant, rural post office, and campgrounds adjacent to the Pacific Crest Trail.

The Laguna Mountain Recreation Area surrounds the village, and the visitor's center for the pine-covered area is located here. The mountain backcountry of San Diego County is high enough to receive snowfall in winter months, and the Mount Laguna region offers locally-unique winter recreation in the form of snow play, sledding, and cross country skiing for several days after larger storms.

Website

From RHR, take a right. Drive down the road for 6.1 miles, the turn off is on your left

The Loveland Reservoir recreation access area includes trails along the shoreline. These areas can be a great spot to experience some of indigenous wildlife and animal species.

To preserve natural habitats, maintain water quality and protect visitors, please obey all posted rules.

Birdwatching - Sweetwater and Loveland Reservoir properties both support diverse bird populations, thanks in part to the range of habitats that exists in and around these reservoirs. Many of these birds can be found from public access areas.

Website

To enjoy incredible hikes, crimson sunsets, and starlit nights—and to view metal dragons, dinosaurs, and giant grasshoppers—venture to one of the Golden State's coolest and most underrated parks: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Spanning more than 600,000 acres and covering one-fifth of San Diego County, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is California’s largest park and among the state's best places for camping. Thanks to its location along the boundary between the North American and Pacific tectonic plates, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is one of the most diverse desert landscapes in SoCal, encompassing 12 wilderness areas rich with flora and fauna.

Located within the Colorado Desert, Anza-Borrego State Park has many hiking, biking, and equestrian trails as well as unique desert attractions. The abundance of activities and points of interest scattered all around the rugged landscape makes Anza-Borrego hikes such a riveting experience for adventure seekers. When exploring Anza-Borrego, always carry enough water, hydrate frequently, and turn around once you’ve finished half of your bottle to ensure you stay safely hydrated.

Website

25 minutes from RHR - Lake Cuyamaca is your destination for fun, relaxation, and reconnecting with nature. Whether you are here for a hike, a picnic, some birdwatching, or perhaps all three, your time at the lake is sure to rejuvenate. The lake offers hiking, a playground , picnicking, wildlife and birdwatching, boat rentals, a tackle Shop , and the Pub at Lake Cuyamaca Restaurant

Fishing- Lake Cuyamaca is an angler's paradise! At 4,600 feet, the climate is colder in the winter and throughout the year, allowing us to be San Diego County’s only year-round trout fishery.

With a valid Lake Cuyamaca fishing permit and a CA State Fishing License, fishing is allowed from an hour before sunrise until an hour after sunset.

Whether you bring your own boat or rent one of ours, a day spent fishing on the lake is a refreshing escape from everyday life.

Website

Day use Hours: 9:30 a.m. to sunset, daily, parking is $3.

Situated 4,200 feet above sea level in a forest of pines and oaks along the northern extremity of the Laguna Mountain Range, this 929-acre park is one of the few San Diego county parks to get snowfall each year.

Forests of oak, pine, and cedar surround peaceful mountain meadows and provide an undisturbed setting for nearly 11 miles of scenic hiking and equestrian trails. Mule deer and wild turkey are frequently seen throughout the park, and rare residents include bobcats and mountain lions.

Rangers lead activities every weekend, and the park office with a small museum is open during the day or by appointment. Fishing is another popular activity in the park. The lake is stocked with a variety of fish, including bass, catfish, and trout. Anglers can rent boats, canoes, and kayaks from the park office, and can also purchase fishing licenses. There are also several trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Visitors can take a leisurely stroll through the meadows, or explore the forests and mountains.

For those looking for a more adventurous experience, there are several rock climbing areas in the park. Climbers of all levels can find routes suited to their skill level, and the park staff is always happy to provide tips and advice.

Website

Address: 8306 CA-79, Descanso, CA 91916

Tammy and Brett Cooker opened Descanso Junction back in 2003, dedicated to bringing their community quality food with big portions in a friendly environment. You will often find families, including their own enjoying a meal. Descanso Junction has provided many kids their first job, helped with fundraisers, and gives locals a spot to connect. With the purchase of their 32ft catering trailer back in 2015 they were able to offer their delicious food to East County.

Descanso Junction prides itself in bringing quality food with exceptional service and beautiful presentation to any event. In 2020 Tammy and Brett took their commitment to the community a step further. They opened Junction Outback; a venue behind the restaurant that blends a backyard BBQ vibe with a concert venue providing events year-round. It offers a fantastic stage for summer concerts with awesome natural acoustics. A horse-trailer bar and outdoor kitchen with everything you need for our concerts, craft fairs and horseshoe tournaments.

Junction Outback has brought the mountain a family friendly place to enjoy all our public events or rent out for private weddings, birthday parties, baby showers and more with all your friends and family.

24680 Viejas Grade Descanso, CA 91916

(619) 445-3804

Located in Descanso, Veronica’s is a small no frills family owned and operated Mexican restaurant. Great food, and amazing service with exceptionally friendly staff.

Website

2506 Alpine Blvd , Alpine, CA 91901

(619)659-3874

Best breakfast in town. Awesome homemade treats, pies and cakes. Open Sunday's 7am - 2:00pm, Monday - Saturday 7am - 2:30pm

2502 Alpine Blvd , Alpine, CA 91901

Great options for lunch, dinner and drinks. From salads to burgers and other bar food. Friendly and quick staff, indoor and outdoor seating. Family friendly.

Website

1347 Tavern Road , Alpine, CA 91901

(619)445-9902

Mediterraneo is a 3 generational family-owned Italian restaurant, serving the alpine community for over 25 years! Mediterraneo's recipes are inspired by Mamma Anna, who came from Sicily to the US in 1962. Awesome food, great staff, happy hour, family friendly and has an arcade for the kids.

Website

2363 Alpine Blvd , Alpine, CA 91901

They are a family-owned brewery in Alpine at the foot of the Cuyamaca Mountains. With a history of medals and awards, including the World Cut and GABF (Great American Beer Festivle), they have a wide variety of hand crafted beers including arguably the best IPA in Southern CA. They are kid and pet friendly and have an outdoor patio area.

Website

1347 Tavern Rd. Alpine, CA 91901

(619) 612-2125

Mike Hess Brewing has officially staked out an East County San Diego presence with our newest location in the beautiful and historic town of Alpine. Featuring a full kitchen with pub fair, including pizzas, salads, 100% grain fed wagyu burgers, and an expansive menu for kiddos, MHB—Alpine has more than 20 beers and seltzers on draft, wine, kombucha and cider, a large outdoor grass area and a lovely, landscaped patio with shade sails, firepit, and an impressive outdoor bar.

Bring the whole family and toss some cornhole bags, breathe in that fresh mountain air, eat, drink and chill with us in Alpine. As with all of our locations, MHB—Alpine is kid-friendly and pet-friendly.

Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 12 PM – 8 PM

Friday – Saturday: 11 AM – 9 PM

Sunday: 11 AM – 8 PM

Website

1945 Alpine Blvd . Alpine, CA 91901-2110

Alpine Coffee Roasters is a micro-coffee roasting company, owned by the family of Padres player Joe Musgrove.They roast their own super-pure, gourmet coffee beans to perfection...after all, our customers deserve their coffee to be roasted at the peak of freshness and to the most excellent flavor. They guarantee you will experience every natural undertone in every sip... chocolate, caramel, spice, berries, citrus..etc.