San Diego Neighborhood Highlight: Scripps Ranch

Scripps Ranch is a charming neighborhood suburb in the northeast part of San Diego County. Though inland, it’s still only about a half hour drive to the beach and close to many booming companies and attractions.

History

Scripps Ranch, like many things in Southern California such as the Scripps Institute of Oceanography and Scripps College, was named after the Scripps newspaper family. E.W. Scripps at first thought he was building a vacation home to get out of Illinois’ frigid winter.  He bought 400 acres of land, gave part of it to his sister, Ellen Browning Scripps, and built a ranch there at the site of where the members-only Scripps Ranch Swim and Racquet Club a community hub, now stands. He also built a castle, called Miramar, where the community of Miramar is today.

Real Estate

Scripps Ranch is considered one of the premiere neighborhoods of San Diego County. With a population of 29,000 and home values at a median of around $700K, Scripps Ranch is a desirable area for families. It has top-rated public and private schools and a variety of public parks and open spaces. 

The outlook for real estate here is good, with a 9% increase in home sales over last year.  Houses here retain their value in an area that has very few vacancies. While there are many single family homes, there are also a lot of condos and townhouses for sale, too, at prices well below $500K. If you’re looking for well-maintained and clean houses, Scripps Ranch is the perfect San Diego neighborhood for you!

Commuting

Scripps Ranch is home or close to many large high tech companies in the area. Among them, Intuit, one of the region’s largest employers, is located in nearby Rancho Bernardo. Broadcom is also close by, as is Fitbit.

If you work on the northwest side of the county over in UTC and Sorrento Valley, the commute’s not bad either—less than 10 miles. The commute to downtown San Diego is a bit longer at 18 miles.

Things to Do

There are lots of things to do in Scripps Ranch. Whether you have a growing family or you’re single, activities abound. Hoyt Park hosts Symphony in the Park, a concert series that has most sessions during the summer, but since San Diego is so mild, it also has a couple of concerts in the fall and winter. There’s a farmer’s market on the site of Innovations Elementary every Saturday, with produce from local growers, as well as kid-entertainment like face painters and balloon artists. Vendors also serve a variety of different foods for breakfast and lunch.

The Scripps Ranch Theatre is a popular and well-regarded community theater run by all volunteers, putting on many different shows, including those written by local playwrights. The Erin Hanson Gallery sells California impressionist paintings created by the local artist; there are frequent shows here open to the public.

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park, formerly the Wild Animal Park, is a few minutes up Interstate 15 in Escondido. At this massive zoo,  you can ride a tram through wild animal habitats, take a behind-the-scenes tour, sleep overnight in the park, take a hot air balloon ride, or zip line.

Scripps Ranch also offers many opportunities for hiking in and around the area. Black Mountain Open Space Park has a variety of trails where you can hike, stroll, or horseback ride. Mountain biking is also a popular pastime in these parts with many options.

Golfing is another big thing around here, with several different courses to choose from. In this area, there’s the executive course, Oaks North; the course at the Rancho Bernardo Inn; and, in nearby Poway, the Maderas Course, the top-rated course in San Diego County.

Restaurants

Despite Scripps Ranch being a suburb rather than a city spot, there are dozens of different restaurants in and around the area. Some of the most popular local spots include Gyu-Kaku, a Japanese grill where you can barbecue your own food at the traditional grill right at your table—including s’mores.

Ballast Point Brewing is a local brewery that’s become popular worldwide in recent years. The kitchen serves Californian cuisine. Cutwater Spirits Tasting Room and Kitchen serves up burgers, sandwiches, and its signature vodkas, whiskeys, and gins made on the premises. You can even get a distillery tour at the same time.

Shopping

Scripps Ranch has a few different shopping centers with grocery stores, including Scripps Ranch Marketplace,  which includes a bank, a Starbucks, and other standbys. By 2020, a project called Watermark will bring in a Whole Foods, a movie theater, more restaurants, and a Marriott hotel.

Only a few minutes further away is Mira Mesa, which has many more shops and a movie theater. Mira Mesa Market includes this, as well as the region’s largest Barnes and Noble bookstore, and many different chain restaurants.

Scripps Ranch is a family-oriented, quiet area that nevertheless has a lot of different activities to keep you occupied. Whether you want a local brew, a nature run, or a relaxing round of golf, Scripps Ranch has it all.

Where to Explore When you Move to San Diego

Laid-back, hip, and perpetually sunny, San Diego is a slice of beachy paradise—and a hotbed of wonderful culture, worldly cuisine, shopping, and nightlife. Apart from well-known attractions like the famed San Diego Zoo and the iconic Balboa Park, there are numerous art galleries, quirky-cool museums, and high-end eateries to discover. If you’ve just taken a leap and moved to the area, check out these top places to explore in San Diego!

Arts & Culture

San Diego is a city in which the arts, in all their forms, are widely beloved. From well-established museums to small-scale galleries, these are the top arts & culture experiences to have when you visit San Diego:

Visit world-class art museums.

San Diego Museum of Art

Though Balboa Park is touristy, the San Diego Museum of Art and the Timken Museum of Art are must-see destinations for serious art lovers. The former attraction houses masterworks by Rembrandt and Jacques-Louis David, and the latter has works by dozens of popular American painters, from Georgia O’Keefe to Stuart Davis. Fight the crowds or go on a weekday; both museums are well worth it. Either way, you’ll avoid San Diego traffic, as Balboa Park is a highly walkable area. Park your car in a convenient lot and leave it for the day!

See Chicano murals.

In the neighborhood of Barrio Logan, you’ll find Chicano Park, which features the biggest collection of Chicano murals in the world (there are over 80 paintings on seven acres), as well as several art galleries and shops. Head here in the daytime to be able to appreciate the true vibrancy and beauty of the murals.

Stroll around an artsy neighborhood.

In North Park, art loving-travelers can experience an abundance of cool street art, in addition to galleries and studios, performance art spaces, and under-the-radar concert venues.

Dining & Drinks

Historically influenced by Mexican cuisine, the food scene in San Diego is thriving and growing all the time. The city is now home to a variety of farm-to-table restaurants, top French and Italian eateries, and some of the best fresh seafood in the country. And the drinking scene is diverse, as well. Take your pick from upscale oceanfront cocktail bars, neighborhood watering holes, and over 150 craft breweries.

Little Italy in San Diego

Little Italy in San Diego

The best place to get an all-around feel for the local food & drink scene is the lively, cool Little Italy neighborhood, where you’ll find a plethora of awesome eateries, cool coffee shops, wine bars, craft brew pubs, and more. Stroll through the buzzing Mercato Farmers’ Market on a Saturday to sample fresh-baked bread, locally-made jams, farm-fresh produce, and other artisanal foods from over 175 farmers and vendors. This is the city’s biggest downtown market, and it’s definitely a local fave spot.

Also in Little Italy, James Coffee Co. is the perfect spot to enjoy handcrafted roasted coffee blends, Bottlecraft Beer Shop & Tasting Room has excellent local brews, and Craft & Commerce has tasty small plates (think grilled oysters, charred eggplant dip, and marinated olives) and craft cocktails. Even a drive down the main drag, India Street, is a great way to explore the area.

Here are three other can’t-miss San Diego food & drink experiences:

Check out a hip food market

At Liberty Public Market, a 25,000-square-foot public market in Point Loma’s Liberty Station, visitors can peruse a dazzling array of food and goods from 30 local chefs and artisans—there’s also live music every week, and a dog-friendly market patio every Sunday.

Sample the best tacos in the city. 

Best Tacos in San Diego

Craving tacos? Look no further than El Paisa Mexican Grill, easily one of the most beloved taquerias in the city—they make their own tortillas here, and you can pretty much get any type of taco you want.

Dine at a five-star French hotspot.

And for those who want to splurge on a decadent five-star meal during their trip? Make a reservation for Addison, a critically acclaimed Grand Del Mar resort with incredible dishes like langoustines with caviar and parsley and mussels with green curry, as well as a killer wine list.

The Outdoors

It’s near-impossible to go to San Diego and not spend some time at the beach—not only is the weather here perma-beautiful, but the city boasts over 70 miles of scenic coastline punctuated by pristine beaches, rugged cliffs, and gorgeous blue-green bays. Take a drive out to one of the many beaches. Although you can’t really go wrong with any of the beaches here, there are a few standout spots to check out:

La Jolla Cove

La Jolla Cove is the place to be if you want to try your hand at snorkeling or scuba diving—this tiny gem of a beach has crystal-clear waters and exciting marine life, like the bright orange Garibaldi fish.

Ocean Beach feels like 70s-era hippie California, with its barefoot surfers, funky beach communities, and collection of novelty and vintage shops. Head here if you’re into bohemian vibes, oceanfront live music, and boho-chic boutiques.

At Mission Beach, you’ll find over two miles of oceanfront boardwalk, tons of surf shops, and an old-school amusement park right on the water. In other words, it’s pretty much impossible to get bored at this bustling, action-packed beach.

Finally, although Coronado Beach is a bit touristy, it’s well worth a visit—with the postcard-perfect Hotel del Coronado, sparkling white sand, and the city skyline in the background, it’s the quintessential San Diego beach.

All in all, San Diego is chock-full of exciting culture, cuisine, and nightlife—and, not to mention, some of the most stunning beaches in the country. Whether you’re looking for the ideal romantic getaway, a great place to spend the weekend with friends, or the perfect family-friendly destination, San Diego has a little something for everyone.

Design Trend: Marble Waterfall Kitchen Island

Marble Waterfall Kitchen Islands are a beautifully contemporary addition to your kitchen, and a popular trend to consider for your renovations! Here is some inspiration to help you design the perfect kitchen!

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Reasons to stay in/move to San Diego

San Diego has always been praised as one of the best cities worldwide whether it be for its food, it’s entertainment, the people, or the amount of sunshine they all get year round.  Here are a few motives to stay in or move to the sunniest region in California.

1.  The Beaches.

If the sun is shining on the weekend where does everyone go?  The beach, because they sure aren’t going downtown.  There is one for each flavor, check out Mission Bay for some great biking or hit Pacific Beach for a little bit more prep.  With over 70 miles of coastline you are bound to hit one that floats your boat, some of which are leash free for you favorite companions convenience.  However, many locals tend to wait out the tourist season until October where the beaches aren’t as crowded, the jellyfish have dispersed, the water gets warmer and there’s plenty of parking.

2. Weather Fit For Paradise.

Winter.  Summer.  No matter the season you can bet on it being close to 70 degrees outside.  With the edges of the city reaching around 80 or the suburbs getting in excess of 100 you can be sure of ditching your winter clothes

3.  The mouth-watering food.

Between all the varieties of ingredients and ethnicities of meals in San Diego, the mexican cuisine is what most San Diegans take to heart.  Fish tacos, enchiladas, and the most sacred of sustenance, the famed California Burrito.  Beloved by starving surfer, college student and businessman alike, the burrito’s filled with carne asada, cheese, salsa, guacamole and the magic ingredient: french fries.

4.  San Diego knows a thing or two about beer.

San Diego knows its way around a tasty IPA.  Coming in hot at No. 3 on the Forbes best beer cities ( behind Portland and San Fran.), nearly every bar carries a selection of local brews like Karl Strauss, Stone, and Ballast Point.  However, with great beer comes great festivals.  The Festival of Beer in September donates money to cancer-fighting causes while the International Beer Festival in June crowns a best in show.

5.  The Festivals

Yes, San Diego has great weather, that’s no secret.  What isn’t widely known is that the year-round sun means there’s almost always a free street festival to crash.  From the Adams Avenue Street Festival to Chula Vista’s Lemon Festival, each celebration gives you a taste of our many different neighborhoods.

Local Business: Sally Piano Music

Sally Piano Music 

Sally Piano Music has been providing quality music lessons to students via private and group lessons since 1999. They offer the convenience of learning in your home or in one of their studio locations in San Diego, Orange County and Riverside County. The age range of students who have learned piano or other instruments and read music at Sally Piano Music spans from 3-4 years to the senior citizen. The skill level of their new students range from beginners who have never laid hands on a piano to advanced pianists who simply want to improve their skills. Sally Piano Music provides a supportive atmosphere for kids of all ages to learn music with the most creative and highly-qualified instructors in San Diego, Orange County and Riverside County. They work with knowledgeable and friendly teachers who design a unique custom plan for the students to meet their needs and goals and more importantly, they make the experience fun and exciting!

Their instructors are music majors with experience teaching music to children and adults. Teachers customize lesson plans to each student’s interests and ability, and most of all, they make learning music fun. Sally’s  interviews potential music teachers face-to-face, and conduct background and reference checks before hiring them. Most of our teachers stay with us long-term, which provides continuity and a better learning experience for students.

Learning how to play music or sing opens up a world of creativity and possibility for students of all ages! Visit their website or their Facebook Page for more information and get started on your musical journey today!

 

Community Connection Video Series

A few months back, we started our Community Connection video series. While we’re still doing our Community Focal Point blog column, we wanted to mix it up with some videos taken with local small business owners and representatives of charities and non-profits.

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