Our Guides

OUR GUIDE TO MOVIE VIEWING OPTIONS IN SAN DIEGO’S INLAND REGION

By Miriam Raftery

San Diego’s inland region has a variety of cinema options, including several movie theaters (some with upscale options), outdoor movies in the park for six months each year,  summer “dive-in” movies at a pool, and a desert film festival.

Beyond popcorn, many local theaters also offer a wide array of foods and even alcoholic beverages.

Scroll down for listings of movie theaters in our inland communities,  as well as where to find movies in the park and more.


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OUR GUIDE TO WINERIES IN SAN DIEGO’S INLAND REGION

By Miriam Raftery

May 9, 2025 (San Diego's East County) -- San Diego County has become a thriving wine region, home to well over 100 wineries.  Unlike wine hubs in Napa or Temecula, our county’s wineries are mostly small, boutique and family-owned, offering visitors the opportunity to meet the winemakers and savor a range of experiences in scenic rural and mountain areas, as well as some urban wineries. Many are producing wines that are winning awards in regional and even international competitions.

You’ll find an array of red, white and rosé varietals from around the world, as well as sparkling wines, apertifs, dessert wines, and even mead, a honey-based wine, to suit your palate.

Some wineries also offer food, as well as other experiences ranging from live music to hayrides through the vineyards.


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OUR GUIDE TO BREWERIES AND DISTILLERIES IN SAN DIEGO’S INLAND REGION

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By Miriam Raftery

San Diego County is known as the “Capital of Craft” beer, home to 150 craft breweries, according to the San Diego Brewers Guild

Our inland region has many breweries, as well as several hard cideries and distilleries offering samples to please every palate. Some also foods, as well as activities ranging from livemusic to trivia nights and more.

Here are the breweries and distilleries in San Diego County's inland region, along with a description of the libations they offer, as well as food offerings and activities:


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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. 

You can search by cuisine type, location, or alphabetical listings. Bon appétit!

Find great restaurants by clicking the headlines below for all restaurants (arranged alphabetically), restaurants specializing in American cuisine, those serving international cuisine, or sweets and treats for delicious desserts--all in San Diego's inland communities.


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OUR GUIDE TO MUSEUMS AND HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS

By Miriam Raftery

March 21, 2025 (San Diego) - San Diego has a long and diverse heritage. Our inland region reflects the historical influence of Native Americans, Mexicans, Spanish, pioneers, cowboys, gold miners, railroads, the military, as well as refugees and immigrants from countries around the world. Below you’ll find a historical overview of our region, followed by a directory of museums and other historical sites in San Diego’s eastern areas.   


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OUR GUIDE TO TRANSPORTATION IN SAN DIEGO’S INLAND REGION

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San Diego’s vast inland region has many attractions, some as close as 20 minutes from downtown San Diego, with mountains an hour or so away and deserts two hours or more. 

Here’s our “getting here” guide:


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OUR GUIDE TO COFFEE SHOPS IN SAN DIEGO’S INLAND REGION

By Branda Gorgies, Miriam Raftery and Karen Pearlman

 

Whether you’re looking for a quick cup of coffee or a jumping java joint complete with live music, poetry readings and delicious dishes, San Diego’s inland region has an array coffee houses brimming with both character and freshly-brewed coffee choices.

Whether you're seeking espressos, mixed coffee beverages, cold brews, or just a good cup of freshly ground java, you'll find plenty of tempting choices, including many that also serve up foods ranging from pastries and snacks to full breakfasts, lunches, healthy options and more.

Here's our guide to the best places to find a great cup of coffee and other coffee-related options:


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OUR GUIDE TO ANNUAL FESTIVALS IN SAN DIEGO’S INLAND REGION

Each year, San Diego County’s inland communities host many special events and festivals that reflect our region’s colorful history, arts and music, cultural heritage, diversity, beautiful environment, and holiday celebrations. 

Parades, outdoor concerts and movies, country fairs, classic car shows, powwows, rodeos, Oktoberfests, ethnic events, wine and food tastings, seasonal and holiday festivities are just some of the many annual events held in our inland region.

For current and complete calendar listings, visit http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/calendar . Also see our seasonal articles on major festivals and our Destination East County column listing top festivals and events.

Some of the major annual festive events in East County include the following. Actual dates vary from year to year, and  new events are frequently added:


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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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OUR GUIDE TO LOCAL FARMS AND FARM-FRESH PRODUCTS SOLD DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS

Find farm-fresh meats, eggs, fruits and veggies, flowers, herbs, honey, nuts, soaps, wool and fiber goods, pumpkin patches,  nursery plants, trees, wineries and more
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
Photos by Miriam Raftery and creative commons images via Bing
 
Updated March 13, 2025 (San Diego) – East County Magazine has compiled our region’s most comprehensive guide to local farms, ranches, nurseries and wineries offering direct-to-consumer sales through farm visits, u-pick orchards, curbside pickup, deliveries to neighborhood pickup points through community supported agriculture (CSA) programs, shipping directly to homes, sales at farm stands, or at farmer’s markets.  
 
San Diego County is home to more family farms (10 acres or less) than any other county in America—giving consumers here a delicious field of choices. Farm-fresh foods are nutritious and delicious. Many are organic. Plus you can avoid grocery store lines and get specialty items not available in stores. 
 
Our guide includes sources to buy these locally grown products:
 
  • Christmas trees
  • Ciders and apples
  • Eggs
  • Emu products
  • Farmer’s markets 
  • Fiber and wool products
  • Flowers, herbs and herbal products
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Hemp
  • Honey
  • Meat, poultry and fish
  • Nuts
  • Plants and trees
  • Pumpkin patches
  • Seeds
  • Soaps
  • Wineries and vineyards

 

Scroll down to view our full directory for each of these local farm product categories.

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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.