Poway

Potato Chip Rock is a fascinating rock that hikers love to take selfies on. It is located on top of Mount Woodson near Poway, California, and can be reached by an 8-mile long hike on a fairly difficult trail.

With an elevation gain of 1,700 feet, it is steep and it goes straight up once you reach the trailhead after looping around Poway Lake. The trail is well maintained and well-marked. From the top of the mountain, you still have about a half mile of scrambling over some cool boulders before reaching Potato Chip Rock, although the view is spoiled by a bunch of communication antennas. You will see Potato Chip Rock from far away, it is just a sliver of stone jutting out over a precipice. Scrambling to the end of it is scary, especially knowing that it is inevitable that one day it will break.

Ramona, CA 92065, Phone: 858-668-4772

Old Poway Park is one of the favorite parks in town, spacious and full of all sorts of activities and attractions. You can stroll through it along the meandering trails, have a family picnic, or get the feel of California in the early 20th century by hopping on the fun Poway Midland Railroad cable car.

The Depot Store at the train station has wooden Thomas trains for kids to play with. You can also visit a fascinating Poway Heritage Museum or explore the beautiful turn-of-the-century Nelson House, both perfect activities for a rainy day. On Saturday morning, a farmers market brings folks looking for fresh produce and home-made goodies.

14134 Midland Rd, Poway, CA 92064, Phone: 858-668-4576

The Iron Mountain is a mountain range located in San Bernardino County, California, part of the mountain complex between the city of Poway and Ramona. One of the most popular trails up the mountain is 5.3 miles long, with an elevation gain of 1,000 feet, with easy access to San Diego, fairly challenging and offering spectacular views.

The trail passes through a corridor of planted oak trees, the only shade on the trail. It continues through fields of wildflowers that alternate with large granite boulders. A few switchbacks will take you to the peak of the mountain, where you can rest on a bench and enjoy the views of entire San Diego. This is not a good hike to attempt in the summer as it gets so hot and dry that many hikers have to be evacuated by helicopter due to dehydration.

Poway, California

The Poway-Midland Railroad is a narrow-gauge full-size heritage railroad that carries passengers aboard antique railroad cars through Old Poway Park in Poway, California.

The cars are pulled by a 1907 Baldwin 0-4-0 steam locomotive, The railroad is operated by the Poway Midland Railroad Volunteers, who provide interpretation to the passengers and work on the preservation, restoration and operation of the historic railroad equipment.

The trains run on weekends and each loop through the park takes about 5 minutes. The railway depot, where the tickets are sold, also provides wooden train toys for the kids to play with. The railroad is owned by the City of Poway.

14154 Midland Rd, Poway, CA 92064, Phone: 858-486-4063

The Blue Sky Reserve is a 700-acre canyon that runs through the hills above Poway, California, providing a habitat to unique flora and fauna.

It is also a popular hiking area with wonderful trails and organized guided tours. The canyon is lined with oaks and eucalyptus groves and flanked by hills covered in chaparral full of wild flowers and coastal sage scrub. A tree-lined creek runs through the canyon, with a scenic trail running alongside.

Guided tours are organized by experienced docents who offer information on the plants and animals living in the area. There is a dam that connects the reserve with Poway Lake.

16275 Espola Rd, Poway, CA 92064, Phone: 858-668-4781

The Poway Sushi Lounge is a popular Japanese-inspired eatery in Poway that provides a unique dining alternative in town with a wide range of sushi, sashimi, and other Japanese favorites.

The space is large and modern, providing an inviting atmosphere and a relaxed vibe in its lounge-like setting. Their focus is on fresh, high quality ingredients. The menu is extensive and offers classic sushi rolls, bento boxes, sashimi, small plates, salads, and other delights. Check out their specialty rolls with imaginative variations such as Happy Wife with tempura sweet potato, cucumber with salmon, avocado, spicy yellowtail, albacore, fresh cilantro, jalapeño, and a truffle “happy wife” sauce.

12622 Poway Rd, Poway, CA 92064, Phone: 858-748-0070

Goodan Ranch Sycamore Canyon Preserve is a 2,272-acre protected area near Poway that includes coastal sage scrub, rolling hills covered in chaparral, and the 325-acre Goodan Ranch. The ranch is a mix of grassland, coastal sage, riparian areas, oak woodland, and chaparral.

It also has an outdoor amphitheater, a horse trough, a hitching post, and 10 ten miles of trails with spectacular vistas, rich wildlife, and centuries-old reminders of human use. Goodan Ranch Center was built near the original ranch house that burnt in the 2003 Cedar Fire. It has a demonstration room, exhibit room, and a range of support spaces with a low environmental impact and high energy efficiency.

16281 Sycamore Canyon Rd, Poway, CA 92064, Phone: 858-513-4737

PowPAC Community Theater is an award-winning community theatre located in the heart of Poway on the second floor of the Lively Center.

It was established in 1981 and every season since then they have been delighting, amusing, and entertaining the folks in Poway and surrounding communities. The first show was a vaudeville called Firemen’s Follies and was a fundraiser for the local fire department’s paramedic program.

The first few shows were set in the Community Center and moved in 1984 to the small 71-seat theatre. Their repertoire today includes dramas such as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, comedies such as Cactus Flower, and musicals like Charlie Brown. They are also known for pushing the boundaries of traditional community theatre with some controversial scripts such as Michael Cristofer’s The Shadow Box.

13250 Poway Rd, Poway, CA 92064, Phone: 858-679-8085

Maderas Golf Club, a Johnny Miller and Robert Muir Graves masterpiece, is located in the hills at the outskirts of Poway near San Diego. It is considered one of the top golf courses in San Diego County.

It offers a combination of beauty and challenge with a setting that includes the cliffs, creeks, rock outcroppings, and forests. The course has three lakes, a number of waterfalls, and more than 40 acres covered in native plants. Maderas provides players with a unique combination of golf course strategy and masterful design. An upscale restaurant The Grille is located in the club house and is a popular location for the local weddings and other celebrations.

17750 Old Coach Rd, Poway, CA 92064, Phone: 858-451-8100