5 Best Gardens and Nature Reserves in San Diego

"Spring has sprung," as they say! Although San Diego’s changing seasons are far less noticeable than that of, say, Denver, it’s still your civic duty to take in the fresh air of Spring. So for your convenience, I’ve written down the five gardens and trails most likely to give you a transcendental experience.

Torrey Pines State Reserve

You can find the Torrey Pines State Reserve in that indistinct bed of swamp between La Jolla and Del Mar. Just look for the imposing mountain off of the I-5. Most hikers park first and then ascend the mountain, colloquially known as the Hill of Death. While descending along the trails, you can see the ocean and cliffs so finely weathered that they look like sculptures. The whole trail is sprinkled with a variety of desert plants with names like "coastal prickly pear." While hiking, you can smell a distinct scent melding those of the ocean, the citrus of a cactus, and the dirt of a hiking trail. Good job, Mother Nature.

The trails are all easy if you start at the top and hike downhill. A few trails end at the beach, the crown jewel of the Torrey Pines area. This stretch of beach isn’t crowded with Igloo coolers and volleyball players; no, there are just gorgeous cliffs, unadulterated sand, and the Pacific Ocean. Bonus: after walking South on the beach for long enough, you’ll come to a building called the "Mushroom House." It looks more like a UFO than a mushroom, and it has a tram track running up the cliffs. This house was built to adjoin the cliffside home of a ‘60s potato chip magnate.

The trails are open from 7:15am to sunset every day of the year. The beach doesn’t close, but alcohol is forbidden after 11pm.

Self Realization Fellowship

At the line between Cardiff and Downtown Encinitas rests the unmissable Self-Realization Fellowship. You might remember it as that building with gilded Persian dome roofs, and you might remember thinking, "That sort of looks like the Taj Mahal" (You would be right; it’s the same style of architecture). Meditation experts lead multiple classes per day within this building. But since you’re reading this article to learn about gardens, I’ll note that the Self-Realization Fellowship has botanical gardens up the block. This little plot of land is dreamlike, with tight pathways curving up the hill and gnarled trees hanging close overhead. At the top are two ocean overlooks framed by birds of paradise. Bring your good camera.

The garden also features a koi pond. This is where you might gape in awe and simultaneously remember that koi fish of this size can cost around $200 a pop. But take a deep breath and remember: this garden is 100% free to visit and is open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays (closed Mondays), and open at 11am on Sundays. The organization has three other locations in Southern California, and the international organization has been around for about a century.

San Dieguito County Park

Like the previous two entries, this park lies at a border between neighborhoods. This line happens to be the one between Solana Beach and Rancho Santa Fe. Upfront, the park disguises itself as a playground. The playground, according to people on Yelp, has been there since Paula Abdul was a popular recording artist. But once you venture up into the hills and valleys of San Dieguito County Park, there’s about 120 more acres to explore.

You’ll find dusty hiking trails with suspension bridges marked with tall wooden poles. There’s a gazebo, amphitheater, and baseball diamond scattered around the premises. Somewhere in the forest is a sprawling, picturesque park with picnic tables, trees that turn red in the fall, and a duck pond. You can consult the map or you can find everything on your own in a genuine woodland adventure. Be sure to note that the park is open from 9:30am to sunset every day. There is a pay-to-park lot, but street parking is also available.

Harper’s Topiary Garden

This place is terrifying, but I swear it’s a good thing! Near the airport, someone named Edna Harper has filled her front lawn with topiaries. Harper has been sculpting her garden for fifteen years, a few hours each day. She takes her inspiration from her travels - note the shrubs in her garden shaped like the Pyramids of Giza.

Being only a lawn, you can witness the whole attraction in one moment. You can’t walk between the shrubs or touch them. Instead, you might spend a while looking at all the topiaries and trying to figure out what you’re seeing. Dozens of designs grow on the lawn, and only a few are identifiable. There are some spirals, a man wearing a hat, a bunny... is that a child on a rocking horse? Harper insists that all civilian interpretations are valid. This attraction is always open, being a roadside item. Bright a flashlight if it’s nighttime, or flip on your high beams.

The Botanical Building

Balboa Park could be the centerpiece of San Diego, and the Botanical Building could be the centerpiece of Balboa Park. The building was made in 1915 for an exposition, and it is massive in the Convention Center sense. Coupled with its domed, wood-ribbed ("lath") architecture, the building is plain majestic. Outside is a long rectangular pool filled with lily pads, ducks, and koi. 

The inside feels incomprehensibly massive. With its lath ceiling dappling light onto the trees below, you could think of it as a giant birdcage. It’s a forest in there, with butterflies and a plethora of seasonal plants and flowers. This includes an excessive variety of orchids. Once you’re done wandering, you can also take a look at the other gardens Balboa Park has to offer, such as the Japanese Friendship Garden or the Zoro Garden. The Botanical Building is free and open from 10am to 4pm on every weekday, except Thursday.