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Sights
Our 304-acre-campus is located in the heart of North San Diego County, in between the inland and coastal regions, with access to the best art, culture, food and sights that Southern California has to offer. San Marcos and its surrounding cities boast history, landmarks and entertainment to be proud of.
Arts & Culture
The California Center for the Arts, located in nearby Escondido, hosts performances and events in theater, music and more.
Live music venues all over San Diego provide nightly entertainment no matter what your musical tastes. From indie rock at SOMA or Casbah to blues and folk at the House of Blues San Diego to classical at the San Diego Symphony, the vibrant music scene in Southern California has something for everyone.
Landmarks
With museums, art galleries dining and shops, the walkable Old Town San Diego is a popular destination. The Old Town State Historic Park shows what life was life in California for Mexicans and early Americans.
With 15 museums, multiple live performance venues, gardens and many other cultural and recreational attractions, the historic Balboa Park makes a great destination. The largest urban cultural park in the nation is also home to the San Diego Zoo.
Established in 1798, Mission San Luis Rey, located 15 minutes from campus, is one of the oldest in California, and the largest of the 22 missions in the state.
Every spring, on a hillside overlooking the ocean, 50 acres bloom into life at The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch.
Activities
Disneyland, the enchanted kingdom of fantasy and imagination filled with more than 60 adventures and attractions across eight themed lands, is located an hour from campus.
It's always a great day for a game in San Diego's temperate climate. Watch America's favorite past-time, at PETCO Park, the home of the San Diego Padres.
The world-famous San Diego Zoo located adjacent to Balboa Park, provides an urban paradise for all ages. Spend a day monkeying around in a tropical paradise while visiting elephants, tigers, koala bears, flamingos, giant tortoises and more.
Enjoy an interactive and hands-on Safari experience at San Diego Zoo's Safari Park, just 20 minutes east of campus. The nearly 2,000-acre wildlife reserve brings nature's most exotic animals and places within reach.
The turf meets the surf at Del Mar Race Grounds where thoroughbred racing takes place July-September. In the off-season the grounds are the site of concerts and expos, holiday festivals and the San Diego County Fair.
