Mountain biking in San Diego is a celebration of the senses: the sharp tang of sea air, the warm gust of an afternoon breeze, the jitter and bump of a rocky single track, the nurturing patter of a mountain waterfall, the refreshing splash of mud after tearing through a puddle.

If you’re a “Top Gun” fan, you’ll feel a need to speed to all the San Diego sites featured in the hit 1986 movie and its 2022 sequel, both filmed here. So strap in, make like Maverick (the films’ fighter-pilot hero, played by Tom Cruise) and get jetting to these famed San Diego shoot locations.

San Diego's sunny weather and shimmering coastlines aren’t the only perks worth swooning over. At one time, the county’s night skies were so clear that it became a sought-after spot for researchers to build astronomical observatories. While the city lights have changed the skies since then, the county still stands as an excellent place to stargaze. From surprising spots within the city to mountain getaways just outside of town, read on to find the best places for stargazing in and around San Diego.

With its temperate year-round climate, varied terrain and abundance of outdoor activities, Escondido is the perfect launchpad for exploring North Inland’s vast open spaces.