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OUR GUIDE TO ADVENTURES IN SAN DIEGO'S INLAND REGION
By Miriam Raftery
East County has long been called the playground of San Diego County. Visitors and residents alike will find many unique adventures to experience in our inland region, from tours of rugged desert terrain and wineries to activities such as zip-lining, sky sailing, scenic hikes, trail rides, vintage railway rides, wildlife safaris, fishing, boating, beautiful gardens, and more. There are also unique classes such as falconry, rock climbing, pioneer skills such as axe-throwing, star gazing and more, as well as visits to wildlife preserves, soothing hot springs, farms, flower fields, and even a gold mine.
Some are free, while others have fees ranging from very affordable to more extravagant splurges. There are activities for solo adventurers, couples, and families, many of which you won't find anywhere else.
Here are a few of our East County guide’s favorite local adventures:
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ADVANCING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: ONE YEAR OF CHANGE: REVITALIZE BROADWAY LEMON GROVE CELEBRATES ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY
By Seraphina Eberhardt, Program Director, Institute for Public Strategies East County
Photo: members of the Revitalize Broadway Board celebrate the one-year anniversary of its founding. Photo by Revitalize Broadway
August 12, 2025 (Lemon Grove) -- When a group of Lemon Grove residents and business owners came together last year to reimagine the city’s aging Broadway corridor, they could not have imagined how much progress would be made in such a short time. One year later, their vision has blossomed into a vibrant community movement known as Revitalize Broadway Lemon Grove. And the momentum continues to grow.
This grassroots coalition has not only helped beautify one of East County’s most neglected thoroughfares but has also made significant strides in reducing alcohol-related harm and addressing public safety through the lens of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). The results are inspiring.
OUR GUIDE TO RESTAURANTS IN SAN DIEGO'S INLAND REGION
San Diego’s East County is a wonderful destination for discovering dining adventures. For decades, our region has taken in refugees and immigrants from around the world, bringing culinary delights with international flair to our local restaurant scene.
Our inland region has a wide assortment of restaurants and eateries to choose form, including cuisines from around 40 countries spanning six continents, as well as many varieties of American cuisine such as barbecue, Cajun, soul food, steaks and seafood, burgers, salads and more.
East County Magazine's dining guide also includes specialties such as bakeries, healthy and vegan options, ice cream and frozen yogurt shops, and more.
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EAST COUNTY POSSE COMES TO THE RESCUE OF SAN DIEGO HIGHWAYMAN
CALIFORNIA FIRES BACK AT TEXAS GERRYMANDERING WITH A MIDTERM REDISTRICTING PLAN OF ITS OWN
Both states convene legislators expected to vote August 18 on drawing new Congressional district lines
By Alexander J. Schorr
Miriam Raftery contributed to this report
Photos, left: Texas Governor Greg Abbott and California Governor Gavin Newsom push dueling redistricting plans
August 17, 2025 — It's a race against the clock between California and Texas, with governors of both states striving to draw new Congressional district maps promptly, instead of waiting for the next census as is customary.
Wildfires
SUPERVISORS WEIGH OPTIONS TO ADDRESS UNSAFE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS TO REDUCE FIRE DANGER
By Karen Pearlman
Photo via San Diego County Sheriff: Homeless encampment fire in Santee, February 2025
March 14, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) -- With an estimated one out of every five fires in San Diego County started in encampments where homeless individuals congregate, San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson has said enough is enough.
“Nobody has a right to burn my constituents’ homes down, whether they intend to or not,” Anderson said, two days after the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to update the county’s Unsafe Camping Ordinance. It would apply to property that the county owns or leases and specified areas such as parks, open space and certain public works facilities.
At their meeting on Tuesday, March 11, the supervisors voted 4-0 to empower appropriate authorities “to ensure public safety and do more than just cite repeat offenders,” Anderson said. A final draft ordinance is expected to be presented by county staff to the board in about two months, when a final vote will take place.
STORM SERIES MOVING INTO AREA: FLOOD WATCH ISSUED
East County News Service
Last week’s storms brought 6-10 inches of snow to our mountains with up to 1.5 inches in urban portions of our county. Now, multiple new storms are moving into the area, with rain now falling across the region and multiple atmospheric rivers soon to drench our region, with the heaviest rains Thursday, the National Weather Service predicts. A flood watch has been issued now through Thursday afternoon for San Diego’s inland and coastal areas, including cities such as La Mesa, Santee, Poway, and Escondido as well as San Diego. Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
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ARREST MADE FOR SUSPECTED ARSON IN PALA AND LILAC FIRES
Source: Cal Fire
March 2, 2025 (San Diego) – Cal Fire law enforcement investigators have arrested Ruben Vasquez on multiple felony arson charges following an extensive investigation into two wildland fires that ignited on January 21. The fires, known as the Pala Fire and the Lilac Fire, started 25 minutes apart near Interstate 15 and State Route 76 in the Pala Mesa and Bonsall areas.
SANTEE FUNDS TEMPORARY FIRE STATION, SETS NEW PLAN FOR TOWN CENTER
By Mike Allen
Photo: Santee Fire Department responding in 2023
March 1, 2025 (Santee) -- The chaos and disruption happening daily at the federal government isn’t permeating to the local level in Santee, where the City Council took several significant actions this week, including funding the remaining balance on a $2 million temporary fire station, adopting a new specific plan for its Town Center area, and hearing that its finances are in sterling shape.
SENATOR PADILLA, COLLEAGUES PUSH TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO EXEMPT SEASONAL FIREFIGHTERS FROM FEDERAL HIRING FREEZE
East County News Service
February 27, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined 14 other Democratic Senators in urging senior Trump Administration officials to reverse the hiring and onboarding freeze of federal seasonal firefighters that they say threatens the safety of communities in California and across the nation. The Trump Administration’s January 20 hiring freeze of federal civilian employees inexplicably did not exempt federal seasonal firefighters, despite exempting other critical public safety personnel.