Escondido Real Estate > Escondido Community Info

Over the years, the city of Escondido has received numerous awards at the local, state, and national levels. Money magazine named Escondido the "Best Place in the West" for retirement. The city has also been named a "Kid-Friendly City" for its broad range of youth programs. The Ladies Home Journal ranked Escondido number eight among the "Top Ten Cities for Government."

Local Education

Escondido has 15 elementary schools, three middle schools, three high schools plus a continuation high school and an independent study high school. Palomar Community College has a large campus in Escondido with its main campus in the nearby community of San Marcos. California State University at San Marcos is a four-year university.

Annual Events

Two annual street fairs are held in downtown Escondido on the third Sunday of May and October. Sponsored by the Escondido Chamber of Commerce, the events annually attract more than 640 vendors and 60,000 people.

Recreation

There are 13 parks of various sizes in the city. Escondido's recreation program is among the finest in the state, with youth sports and evening adult recreation leagues using the Kit Carson park complex year-round. San Diego's world-class beaches are just minutes away. Picnicking, boating and fishing are available at lakes Dixon, Hodges or Wohlford. Lake Henshaw and the Turner Dam and Lake are also close by.

Attractions

The centerpiece of the downtown area is the California Center for the Arts, an $81 million dollar cultural and conference complex with a 1,500-seat theater and a second community theater that seats 400. The conference center complex is 9,000 square feet. International entertainment is featured with guests traveling from all over Southern California to attend concerts and plays.

The world-famous San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly known as the San Diego Wild Animal Park) —located just south of Escondido—is an 1,800-acre wild animal preserve featuring a safari monorail, hiking trails and gift shops. During the summer months, entertainment is also featured in the evening hours. Indoor fun can be enjoyed at the Iceoplex Ice Center, a $61 million dollar complex featuring two Olympic-sized ice skating rinks and a full exercise complex. The city also has three movie theaters and a fourth within a couple of miles featuring a total of 22 screens.

The North County Fair is the area's regional shopping center. The mall is located on 87 acres and features 4,500 parking spaces, more than 160 specialty shops, 15 restaurants and five major department stores.