Even the bigger towns are small compared to the other regions of San Diego County. La Mesa, for example, which has a population of 57,065, has a charming small-town village central business district. The cars still park diagonally on the main street, and parking meters cost only (50¢–75¢) an hour.

By car, it’s only 15 freeway minutes east from downtown San Diego off I-8 or Hwy. 94. Take the Spring Street exit off either freeway and it will take you right to the center of La Mesa Village. If you prefer, you can take the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Orange Line (800-266-6883). This rail transit goes directly to the Village, stopping at the corner of La Mesa Boulevard and Spring Street.

La Mesa’s biggest annual event is their Oktoberfest. This three-day event will be held October 4th, 5th, and 6th in 2013. It’s loads of fun! They have live music, outdoor booths, food, fun and entertainment. For details call (619-465-7700).

On the north side of Interstate 8 is the immensely popular Grossmont Shopping Center (619-465-2900). This modern shopping center boasts more than 100 specialty shops, a Macy’s and a Target.

Here too is Casa de Pico Mexican Restaurant at 5500 Grossmont Center Dr. (619-463-3267). This restaurant which was a favorite dining destination in Old Town, has been a La Mesa favorite since 2005.

Another San Diego tradition dating back to 1961 is Anthony's Fish Grotto Restaurant and Fish Market at 9530 Murray Dr. (619-463-0368). This awardwinning seafood lovers’ paradise is built on its own private lake.

El Cajon is the largest city in East County. It is also home to the impressive 80-acre Westfield Parkway (619-579-9932), which is the largest regional, all enclosed, air-conditioned shopping center in San Diego County. It has 186 stores anchored by JC Penney, Macy’s, Sears, WalMart and a Regal Cinemas. The shopping center is just off Interstate 8 at the Johnson Avenue exit.

One of their most popular restaurants is Hacienda Casa Blanca at 700 North Johnson Ave. (619-442-9827), this newly renovated hot spot. Delicious food, paired with authentic Mexican decor blend together to immerse you in culture, making your dining experience an event.

Each autumn, people flock to El Cajon for the popular Mother Goose Parade (619-444-8712), which will be held on Nov. 24th,2013, from 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. This is the second largest parade on the West Coast.

Gillespie Field is the oldest and largest of San Diego County’s eight airports. It includes not just runways, tower, and a terminal, but many airport-related businesses as well. It is comfortably located in the northwest corner of El Cajon, off Bradley & Highway 67, 10 miles north east of Downtown San Diego, at 1960 Joe Crosson Drive (619-956-4800). 

Rancho San Diego is a master-planned community filled with affordable homes. For storage space in East County, look no further than Jamacha Point Self Storage at 2550 Folex Way in nearby Spring Valley (619-567-4179). It is part of the San Diego Self Storage network of neighborhood self storage facilities.

Also freeway close is Sycuan Casino at 469 Sycuan Rd., El Cajon (800-2- SYCUAN). It’s just 30 minutes from downtown San Diego making it the closest casino from downtown San Diego via Hwy. 94 through Rancho San Diego.

Here too is the Heritage of the Americas Museum which is located on the campus of Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego. The Museum is a cultural and educational facility featuring the prehistoric and historic art, culture and natural history of the Americas.

Skydive San Diego hosts the newest, safest, and largest jumpships in the skydiving industry. Our flagship Twin Otter holds 23 jumpers, and our Cessna Caravan holds 12 jumpers, allowing you the opportunity to jump with your friends. No other parachute center in the world has newer planes than Skydive San Diego!

Adventure and scenic beauty fill East County’s backcountry. For example, Old Highway 80 has now been designated by the State of California as a historic highway. This means that this 30-mile stretch of highway is an official historic site. It was commissioned a federal highway in 1926.

To get on to this historic route from the west, exit from Interstate 8 at Lake Jennings Park Road. Then head east and look for the Historic Highway 80 road signs.

Mission Trails Regional Park is the largest of the City of San Diego’s parks and is the third gem of the city’s park system. Mission Trails is larger than Mission Bay and Balboa parks combined. At 5,800 acres, it is the largest open space urban park west of the Mississippi. It includes two lakes, a scenic stretch of the San Diego River and Old Mission Dam; a day-use campground for picnics; and Cowles Mountain, whose summit offers a panoramic view of the city clear to the ocean. Over 40 miles of trails accommodate hikers, mountain bikers, rock climbers, birders, and equestrians. There are about 600 different types of plants within the park, including over 300 varieties of wildflowers.

Various interpretive walks and special programs afford visitors unique, exciting outdoor educational and recreational experiences throughout the park on a regular basis. There are a number of points from which you can enter Mission Trails Regional Park: going east on Mission Gorge Road enter at the west end of Father Junipero Serra Trail to reach the Visitor Center, at the east end Clairemont Mesa Blvd. in the community of Tierrasanta, The Equestrian Staging Area at SR 52 & Mast Boulevard, at Jackson Drive and Mission Gorge Rd., at Cowles Mountain at the corner of Golfcrest Dr. & Navajo Road or from Barker Way or from Big Rock Road in Santee, or the east entrance of Father Junipero Serra Trail to drive to the Kumeyaay Lake Day-Use Campground and the Old Mission Dam.

With great schools, a bustling new community and new malls and restaurants, East County is one San Diego's new vibrant community. Brookfield Homes has many great homes in East County.

San Diego Self Storage is a neighborhood self storage facilitiy, they focus on the surrounding communities this helps them to better serve each and every individual customer whether it is for a small personal unit or multiple larger units for large commercial accounts.