Plus, drive-in woes and a $100M ranch mansion.
 
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62º | Sunny | 0% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:52 a.m. | Sunset 4:59 p.m. | High tides 6:25 a.m. and 8:27 p.m. | Low tide 1:53 p.m.
 

🏕️ National parks are calling

Our guide to visiting 7 of the best national parks
A single joshua tree against a desert landscape and streams of sun.
The tallest Joshua trees in the park are 40+ ft. high. | Photo by Christopher Prentiss Michel via Wikimedia Commons
Wondering which national park is best for your next trip? Use this great big guide to the great big outdoors to plan your next adventure. We left no stone unturned — check out when to go, what fees you’ll pay, how to camp, and what to do in six of our country’s greatest national parks, including one of SoCal’s favorites.

A pink and blue sky behind two large rock boulders.

Be wary of the summer months at Joshua tree — it’s best to plan a spring or fall trip.

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Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Joshua Tree

When you think you’ve seen all of Joshua Tree, you haven’t — two completely different ecosystems combine to create this bewitching desert landscape. The low Colorado Desert and the high Mojave Desert offer richly different experiences inside this national park (there’s even a podcast called “Where Two Deserts Meet”). Throw in shimmering night skies and 100-year-old trees, and you won’t want to leave.

Getting there
This National Park is a ~4-hour drive from San Diego and features three entrances. Note that the National Parks Service advises not to use GPS directions, which may guide you to inaccessible roads or dirt trails.
    Looking to use public transportation? Check Basin Transit for bus schedules.

    A cluster of palm trees in the middle of rock formations.

    Another great stop on your visit: Fortynine Palms Oasis.

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    Photo via Wikimedia Commons

    Open hours and seasons
    Great news for desert enthusiasts: The park is open year-round, accessible 24 hours a day.

    Time of year can be key for making or breaking your Joshua Tree experience — the desert is prone to extreme temperatures. During the summer, daytime temperatures can exceed 100°, and while winter sees more comfortable days, it can drop below freezing at night. Visit in the fall or spring for your best chance at mild conditions.

    Read before you go: Rain events and surviving summer in the park.

    Fees and reservations
    Reservations are not required, but all visitors must have an entrance pass. Pass options include a $30 private vehicle pass that’s good for seven days and a $55 annual pass.
    Camping + hiking at Joshua Tree
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    Events
    Monday, Sept. 4
    • San Diego Auto Swap | Monday, Sept. 4 | 6 a.m.-1 p.m. | Santee Drive-In Theatre, 10990 N. Woodside Ave. | $15 | Roll through hundreds of vendors selling, buying, and trading auto-related items.
    • San Diego Padres vs. Philadelphia Phillies | Monday, Sept. 4 | 3:40 p.m. | Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd., San Diego | $27+ | It’s an East Coast vs. West (Best) Coast showdown.
    • Van Morrison | Monday, Sept. 4 | 7:30 p.m. | The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego | $250+ | The “Brown Eyed Girl” icon brings his talents to SD.
    Tuesday, Sept. 5
    • Pacific Beach Farmers Market | Tuesday, Sept. 5 | 2-7 p.m. | 901 Hornblend St., San Diego | Free | Fresh food, art, and ocean air are calling.
    • Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night | Tuesday, Sept. 5 | 7-9 p.m. | Ataraxia Aleworks, 7292 Opportunity Rd., Ste. C, San Diego | Free | Test your knowledge of science, sports, songs, and cinema — and don’t forget to grab a drink.
    Wednesday, Sept. 6
    • Nate Bargatze | Wednesday, Sept. 6 + Friday, Sept. 8 | 7 p.m. | Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego | $30+ | The comic hailed as “The Nicest Man in Stand-Up” brings “The Be Funny Tour!” to downtown San Diego.
    Events calendar here
    Click here to have your event featured.
     
    News Notes
    Civic
    • All public San Diego County offices, family resource centers, libraries, public health clinics, and animal shelters are closed today in observance of Labor Day. Services will resume tomorrow.
    Development
    • The Port of San Diego wants to create special community events along the bayfront’s Pepper and Cesar Chavez parks — but needs ideas for themes, entertainment, and food. The agency will host in-person and virtual public workshops over the next two weeks, including this Wednesday, Sept. 6. RSVP.
    Closing
    • The Santee Drive-In Movie Theatre — an East County staple since 1958 — plans to close in January 2024 due to high operational costs and dwindling audiences. The drive-in and Santee Swap Meet will likely stay put through December before the North Woodside Avenue site makes way for a potential industrial development. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
    Today Is
    Cause
    • San Diego Gives’ Day of Giving is on Thursday, Sept. 7, followed by its Day of Service on Friday, Sept. 8 — a time to give back to the local nonprofits that work diligently to improve the lives of San Diegans. Check out our volunteer opportunities guide for more inspiration.
    Real Estate
    • A ~$100 million mega ranch has hit the market in Rancho Santa Fe, and if it sells, it’ll break single-home sales records locally. The 15,000-sqft, 6 BD, 6.5 BA listing features a 27-stall horse barn, lap pool, tennis court, bowling alley, two detached guest houses, and a private lake. (LaJolla.com)
    Biz
    • The San Diego Brewers Guild has named a new executive director: Local craft beer industry veteran Erik Fowler, of White Labs Brewing Co. Fowler replaces Paige McWey Acers, helping to support the Capital of Craft and the 150+ independent brewing facilities that call San Diego County home.
    Eat
    • San Diegan and James Beard semifinalist Chef Claudette Zepeda will host a wine pairing dinner alongside Chef Antonia Lofaso on Thursday, Sept. 7, at VAGA — Zepeda’s restaurant at the Alila Marea Beach Resort in Encinitas. The event is part of this week’s star-studded Del Mar Wine and Food Festival.
    Outdoors

    🥾 Happy trails to you

    TheNat’s Canyoneers kick off their 2023-2024 hiking season in San Diego County
    The Canyoneers volunteer hiking group from The San Diego Natural History Museum
    Approximately 75 active Canyoneers lead free hikes across San Diego County from September to June. | Photo via Alan King + The San Diego Natural History Museum
    As summer winds down, we’re getting excited for the fall hiking season and exploring San Diego County’s beautiful trails.

    One way to trek is by joining a free guided hike led by The Canyoneers, a group of volunteer “citizen naturalists” with the San Diego Natural History Museum who’ve been leading hikes through SD’s diverse terrain since 1973.

    The Canyoneers kick off their 51st season on Sunday, Sept. 10, with a hike at Kate Sessions Memorial Park at 7:30 a.m.

    They’ll offer 60 community hikes from September 2023 to June 2024 (before it gets too hot), including these gems:
    • Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, Marsh Trail | Sunday, Sept. 24 | 9 a.m.
    • Balboa Park, Florida Canyon | Wednesday, Oct. 18 | 10 a.m.
    • Mission Trails Regional Park, Kwaay Peak | Wednesday, Nov. 15 | 8 a.m.
    Capacity is limited, so RSVP in advance; registration opens one month before each hike’s date.
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    The Wrap
     
    Monica Garske headshot

    Today’s edition by:
    Monica
    From the editor
    Happy Labor Day, SD. I hope you get to do what you love today, whether that’s relaxing at home or heading to our beautiful local beaches. San Diegans know we have to get to the beach early to snag a prime spot during a holiday weekend — but fortunately, there’s a lot of shoreline to go ‘round.

    Check out our guide to local beaches and have a safe, happy day off.
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