Bespoke Journey to Escondido
Last month the San Diego Professional Tour Guide Association went on a familiarization trip to Escondido, and of course Bespoke Experiences was part of it. While Escondido is its own city, it is within San Diego County located just north of the city only 30 minutes from downtown San Diego.
Let us whet your appetite for the culinary, artistic and viniculture experiences that await you by describing our journey.
Our first stop was the California Center for the Arts, a soulful place not only to admire art, but also for meetings and events. They have expansive services such as education, concerts and performances, and varied facilities such as their galleries, museum and theatre which could be used as an event venue, ideal for a stylish SoCal wedding. We’ll help you align your trip with a special performance listed on their events’ calendar.
The late Nikki de Saint Phalle, a French artist who later in life settled in California, is featured in Kit Carson Park, Escondido. This magnificent artwork, inspired by California’s rich history and culture, is called Queen Califia’s Magical Circle, and it is truly awe-inspiring. Their sculpture garden consists of nine large-scale sculptures, a “snake wall” and a maze entryway, all decorated in colorfully patterned mosaics. The center of the garden is the sculpture of Queen Califia standing on the back of a five-legged eagle, surrounded by eight large totemic sculptures. The garden is only open to the public for three hours every month, so we’ll make sure to time your custom itinerary around their hours, if this is an area of interest for you.
Many of the FAMTrip participants were excited and surprised to learn how rich Escondido is for its wineries. Temecula, approximately one hour north-east of San Diego, is the region typically known for its wineries and popular for wine tasting. Escondido would be a picturesque stop half-way between Temecula and San Diego on the same route, enabling you to compare wines in each destination on a full day itinerary.
We also visited Cordiano Winery, a family-owned and operated vineyard and winery nestled in a hillside idyll with breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. We enjoyed meeting Rosa Cordiano who told us the story of her and her husband, growing up in Calabria, Italy, then moving to New York in the 70’s, where they eventually started their own pizzeria. After owning several Italian restaurants in the US they decided to fulfill their life-long dream of starting a winery, naturally heading to the California coast. If you’re looking for excellent craft wines, authentic Italian pizza and spectacular views, we’ll be sure to include this gem in your itinerary.
Another interesting winery in the Escondido region high above San Pasqual, is Domaine Artefact Winery. This family run, sustainable vineyard focuses on the Rhone grape varietals originating in the south of France. On their property, numerous Kumeyay artifacts have been found which influenced their “artefact” namesake. The tasting room has a warm and relaxing atmosphere to enjoy sublime wines. Definitely worth a visit!
San Diego and its surrounding areas are full of diverse attractions, sites and venues ready for discriminating travelers seeking adventure and stylish comfort. We at Bespoke Experiences are your private tour experts, ready to custom design your luxury itinerary based on your specific interests.
