City: Encinitas, CA

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (760) 436-3036

Address: 230 Quail Gardens Drive

Description: In the midst of developments, Quail Botanical Gardens is a favorite retreat for nature lovers. Ask five people about their favorite parts of the garden, and you’ll receive five different answers. There’s a tropical area, desert display, and a cool bamboo forest with specimens from around the world. You’ll see cork oak, the bird garden that attracts birds and butterflies, and a large display of local plants used by Native Americans for food and medicine, among other wonderful living exhibits.There are guided tours Saturday at 10:00 a.m.; group tours are available for a small fee. Self-guided tours are available with the user-friendly brochures found at the trailhead. Changing activities for children and parents introduce the young ones to plants, bugs, and, hopefully, a love of gardens and gardening. There’s also a bookstore/gift shop and a small attached nursery, which sells plant starters. Plant sales scheduled throughout the year are a hit in the community. Recently, Quail Gardens has become a popular place for garden weddings, so your visit might just include a bit of romance.The gardens are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day; the shop is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Adult admission is $8.00; seniors pay $5.00; children age 3 to 12 pay $3.00. It’s free to all the first Tuesday of each month.