Things to Do in Lakeside, CA, Lakeside, California

I’m pretty sure Lakeside is overlooked by San Diego tourists, maybe even by most San Diego county residents. Which is a little sad, since it’s a small town with some rural character and some beautiful gems. If you were to make a list of things to do in Lakeside, it wouldn’t include beaches and theme parks, because there aren’t any. But what it WILL include is lakes and mountains, impressive parks, a historic main street, ranches, rodeos, and some great eats. And that’s just for starters. Did you know Lakeside’s motto is “A Friendly Place to Live”? Well, it’s just as friendly to visit!

I’m starting with my favorite because this Lindo Lake County Park offers so much AND because this lake is truly the centerpiece of Lakeside (and the source of its name!). Lindo Lake is a beautiful lake and is the only natural lake in San Diego County. The park surrounding the lake includes a walking trail all the way around the park, plenty of parking spots, restrooms, a skate park, fitness stations, a dance pavilion, softball field, butterfly garden, horseshoe pits and tennis courts. A highlight of the park is the beautiful boathouse, built in 1887.

I enjoyed walking around the park and birdwatching, another great pastime here as there are lots of ducks, geese, pelicans, and herons. The view from the boathouse is beautiful, so be sure to wander down there, too. If you have children there, you’ll want to spend some time at the playground and the butterfly garden. Watch out for cute little chipmunks or squirrels who occasionally poke their heads out of the ground or scamper up a tree. And feel free to feed the ducks - only please don’t feed them bread. A posted sign suggests chopped lettuce, sliced seedless grapes, corn, peas, cooked rice, or bird seed. If you include a picnic, you could easily spend several hours here. And that’s if you don’t stop to visit with one of the friendly old-timers who like to hang out here and share their stories about Lakeside! ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).