San Marcos Brewery & Grill at 1080 W. San Marcos Blvd. (760-471-0050) is an award-winning brewery and restaurant that specializes in 'American Grill' classics from steaks to pastas, seafood, burgers, sandwiches and salads.

On the other side of the freeway is Dalton’s Roadhouse at 775 Center Dr. (760-746-8340). They specialize in savory steaks, prime rib and barbecue. 

On Centre City Parkway is Mi Guadalajara at 575 W. Second Ave. (760-746-4371). This family-owned restaurant has been serving traditional Mexican cuisine since 1982.

North County is also home to two great wineries, Orfila Vineyards and the Bernardo Winery, which are perfect for an afternoon wine tasting, or as a venue to hold your next event.

Orfila Vineyards & Winery is nestled in the pristine San Pasqual Valley agricultural preserve just 30 minutes from downtown San Diego. It is on the way to the Wild Animal Park. The boutique winery and tasting room is open every day from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and the cost is ($8) for six tastings. They also offer free guided tours at 2 p.m. daily or self-guided tours anytime. Orfila’s wide selection of award-winning wines and gourmet products are available for purchase in their tasting rooms or online.

Bernardo Winery is San Diego’s oldest operating vineyard and winery. Enjoy lunch inside at Cafe Merlot or dine on the patio. Also, a big attraction here are the winery’s charming village shops. They are open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wine tasting is available daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $8 for 5 tastings.

What is unique about Deer Park Winery is that it caters to connoisseurs of both good wines and antique cars. Their collection of one-of-a-kind American convertibles includes over 100 models. Equally as impressive as their vintage cars are their wines, which include zinfandel, Sangiovese, merlot, California champagne and petite syrah.

Harrah's Rincon Casino features 1,600 slot machines, 64 house-banked table games including blackjack, baccarat, Pai Gow poker, Rincon Craps, Volcanic Bingo, roulette, a 12-table poker room featuring Texas Hold ’em and 59,000 sq. ft. of space devoted just to gaming. The resort includes a 7,500-sq. ft. spa and two hotel towers, the 4-story Garden Tower and the 21-story Spa Tower.

Valley View Casino is an award-winning neighborhood casino, featuring a southwestern adobe-style atmosphere, and located in beautiful North County San Diego. This 46,000-sq. ft. casino features more than 1,750 state-of-the-art Vegas-style slots, video poker machines, single-deck and multideck blackjack with tables for wagers of $5 to $1,000, three-card poker, 12 high-limit gaming tables and more!

Casino Pauma has most of the bells and whistle that the gigantic San Diego casinos have except one. It’s smaller, which is an asset if you like the feeling of being a big fish in a small pond. Instead of there being a maze of rooms filled with slot machines, you’ll find plenty to choose in one large ballroom.

The World-Famous Wild Animal Park, is located just off of Highway 15 in Escondido. Here you can find many impressive and expansive exhibits with the wildlife living just as they would in the world.

Downtown Escondido is the cultural center for North County Inland. Here you’ll find the magnificent and beautiful California Center for the Arts, Escondido at 340 N. Escondido Blvd. (760-839-4138). This state-of-the-art complex includes a 1,523-seat concert hall, a 406-seat center theater and a museum.

Here too is the Mingei International Museum, North County at 155 W. Grand Ave. (760-735-3355). It features Southern California’s largest collection of mingei art, which is art of the people from all eras and cultures of the world. The museum features dynamic, changing exhibitions of historical and contemporary folk art, craft and design.

San Marcos is home to Old California Restaurant Row, where you will discover over 15 impressive restaurants and a diverse selection of cuisine from around the world. Many of these restaurants are great for live entertainment, dancing and happy hour. Enjoy an afternoon of shopping at the charming Village Boutique stores in their Courtyard near Friar's Folly.