The two southernmost communities on the I-15 corridor are Mira Mesa and Scripps Ranch. The latter is strictly a bedroom community.

Mira Mesa, on the other hand, has a thriving commercial zone. At the Mira Mesa Boulevard exit of f of the I -15 freeway is the impressive Mira Mesa Market Center (9). It’s anchored by San Diego County’s largest cinema center, the Edwards Mira Mesa Stadium (858-635-7716). Complimenting these two shopping centers is the Mira Mesa Shopping Center East (14) at 9460 Mira Mesa Blvd., which is just across the street from the Mira Mesa Market Center.

This center is anchored by an Asian Supermarket and is home to a Shell gas station, an Applebee’s Restaurant and a GNC Store (858-549- 3774). GNC stands for General Nutrition Center and it’s everybody’s favorite shop for nutritional suppleents to make your body healthier.

The heart of Mira Mesa is the Mira Mesa Mall (11), which is located at Mira Mesa Boulevard and Camino Ruiz. It has more then 50 shops and services, a Vons supermarket, a CVS/pharmacy and an abundance of restaurants.

The Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (13) is only 1.3 miles west of Interstate I-15 at Miramar Road. It’s also home to The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum (13) (858-693-1723). The outdoor museum features more than two dozen vintage and historically important aircraft. It’s open Tues.–Sun., 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. and offers free admission. Plus, it’s the only command museum dedicated to the history of Marine Corps aviation. Use their coupon for 20% off Gift Shop Purchases.

Also here is a bank that is popular with military personnel and civilians alike. It's Pacific Marine Credit Union (12) at 9222 Miramar Rd. (800-736-4500). Don't let its name confuse you, it offers membership to everyone. So stop by and see what they have to offer. They are ideally located and open six days a week.

North County Inland is home to thousands of former residents of India. To satisfy their cravings for authentic Indian food, staples and clothing, this center sprang up. It's the Mall of India (12), which is located at Black Mountain Road just off Miramar Road. The star in this galaxy of businesses is Ashoka, the Great Cuisine of India (12) at 9474 Black Mountain Rd. (858- 695-9749).

Rancho Peñasquitos is a masterplanned community located on the west side of I-15 across from Poway. An ideally located new home development minutes from the ocean via Highway 56 and only 16 minutes and 9.7 miles from the nearby Marine Corps Air Station Miramar is called Latitude (18). They are being offered by Pulte Homes, and are located off Camino Del Sur. Three spacious models ranging in size from 2,606 sq. ft. to 2,977 sq. ft. are now available (866-779-1941).

A fun outing is a visit to the historically significant adobe Los Penaquitos farmhouse. It’s the oldest private private residence in San Diego County dating back to 1824 when it as part of a 4,243- acre land grant.

Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve (10) is at 12020 Black Mountain Road (858-484-7504). The preserve is home to perennial streams and steep slopes, where there are many rare plant and animal species. Lots of hikers, off-road bicyclists and equestrians come here to enjoy the scenic beauty. Free docent-led tours are offered on Sat. at 11 a.m. and Sun. at 1 p.m., and the museum is open to the public daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closing hours change seasonally. Call or visit penasquitos.org for closing hours, hikes and event information.

The City of Poway, is known as the “city in the country.” It has a population of more than 50,000 affluent residents with a median household income of $78,000. Poway is best known for having one of the top school districts in the state and nation. The Poway Unified School District office is located at 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego, CA 92128 (858- 748-0010) and has a student enrollment of 33,000 students.

The biggest annual attraction each year is Poway Days (858 -748-0016). Poway Days celebrates the area’s historic roots with the Old West. This festive celebration includes a parade (Sept. 8), and ends with a rodeo. This year the 40th Annual Poway Rodeo (760-736-0594) will be held Sept. 28–29.

One of San Diego’s most recommended family restaurants is located in Poway too! It’s The Original Pancake House (8) at 14905 Pomerado Rd. in the Target Shopping Center (858-679- 0186). As its name implies, their specialty is pancakes, and the selection is second to none. For a meal to remember, order the apple pancake. It’s so big that it looks more like a cake than a pancake. They also have locations in Encinitas, Temecula, Vista and Kearny Mesa.

Also located in the Target Shopping Center is Chicken Pie Diner (8) at 14727 Pomerado Rd. (858-748-2445). It’ s a perennial winner for being voted “best kids menu” for 16 years. So bring your kids here and find out why it’s such a favorite!

My Kids Clubhouse at 12636 Poway Road (858-668-2838) is a great place watch your kids laugh as they race down their triple wave slide and climb through a maze of tunnels in one of San Diego’s largest indoor play structures.

Once a rambling countryside dotted with grazing cattle, 4-S Ranch (12) has become a highly sought after master planned community two miles east of I- 15 via El Norte Parkway. It’s within the jurisdiction of the city of San Diego and is home to seven first class schools, many parks and recreational fields, and a large shopping center anchored by a Ralph’s Supermarket and many restaurants including a Miguel’s Cocina Mexican Restaurant.

The builder with the best selection of new homes is Pulte Homes featuring The Pines at 4S Ranch (866-785- 8310) and The Willows at 4S Ranch. This family orientated community is a great place to raise a family. Plus, it is freeway close to the work including the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, which is only 17 minutes and 12.8 miles away.

Family-owned Bite of Boston in Rancho Bernardo at 15721 Bernardo Heights Pky. (858-451-2900) produces a very simple and straight-forward menu of East Coast-style submarine sandwiches, Maine Lobster Rolls, North Atlantic-harvested seafood, fresh cold-cuts, and other accompanying food items to eager consumers throughout Southern California.

Escondido, which means “hidden” in Spanish, was once a tiny rural agricultural town. Today, it’s the hub of commerce with I-15 and Hwy. 76 running through it. It’s also the most northern and largest city in North County Inland, with a population in excess of over 140,000 people. Yet, it still retains much of its smalltown charm with tree-lined streets in its downtown area.

Here too, is the cultural center for North County Inland. It’s the magnificent and beautiful California Center for the Arts, Escondido (3) at 340 N. Escondido Blvd. (760-839-4100). This state-of-the-art complex includes a 1,523- seat concer t hall, a 406- seat center theater and a museum.

Rarely is a restaurant a major attraction, but this one is just that. The unique Original SandCrab Tavern (7) at 2229 Micro Place (760-480-2722) is a casual Escondido seafood eatery that has been a local and internationally known favorite for over 24 years. This restaurant is so special that it defies an adequate description. But nearly 25 years in business and international recognition should give you a clue as to why you should dine here! Great seafood entrees are offered for lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch. Their always popular Sunday “Big Easy” brunch with live Blues music make this place “the coolest little seafood joint in North County” and well worth the effort to find it. Call them at (760-480-2722) for perfect directions.

More good reasons to visit Escondido is to say that you have been to the stunning 55,000 sq. ft. Stone Brewing Co. and World Bistro (2) at 1999 Citracado Pkwy. (760-471-4999). In addition to their daily brewery tours, they also offer a fabulous bistro with produce from their own 19 acre vegetable farm, a bar and beautiful one acre organic beer garden, which is the site of summer evening movies.

Hamburgers, hamburgers and more great tasting hamburgers are what you can expect when you dine at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (4) at 200 East Via Rancho Parkway (760-747-7112). It’s ideally located in the Westfield North County Mall, which you’ll pass on your way to and from Orfilia Winery. They are open daily at 11 a.m. Closing hours vary with the day of the week. Check out their frequent online coupon specials, and if it’s your birthday month, go online and get a coupon for a FREE burger.

Also in Escondido is one of 33 locations of the nationally acclaimed GNC Stores (15) at 1210 Auto Parkway (760-781- 1251). Their claim to fame and rightly so is their commitment to integrity when it comes to standing behind the ingredients that makes their supplements so good by demanding truth in labeling. They carry a wide variety of health, workout and dietary supplements to drive your body to its peak in performance.

Escondido also has one of the highest per capita retail sales totals in North County Inland. The biggest contributor is Westfield North County (4) at 272 E. Via Rancho Pkwy. (760-489-2332). It’s the largest enclosed shopping mall in the county, with 150 stores, including Nordstrom and Macy’s, and impressive places to dine.

En route to Westfield North County (8) is Orfila Vineyards and Winery (6) located at 13455 San Pasqual Rd. (760-738- 6500). They feature award-winning wines and daily tours at noon. Plus, by using their discount coupon in this book you’ll get a two for one wine tasting. And if it’s your birthday you’ll get a Free wine tasting. So mark your calendar! And bring your I.D.

Valley Center is one of San Diego County’s oldest communities. Its great appeal is its rural setting and slow growth. Here in Valley Center is the impressive Harrah’s Rincon Casino and Resort (1) at 777 Harrah’s Rincon Way (760-751-3100). It’s located on an Indian Reservation owned by the Rincon San Luiseño Band of Mission Indians. It features 2,000 slot machines, 60 housebanked table games including blackjack

A gaming destination with a smaller venue is Casino Pauma (2) (877- 687-2862) at 777 Pauma Reservation Rd. It's located off of Hwy. 76. See map. This tropical-themed casino is a great place to enjoy exciting table games, video poker and slots galore! See San Diego's Casinos. Enjoy $20 in FREE Play for New Members!

The Chicken Pie Diner at 14727 Pomerado Rd. in Poway (858-748-2445) is a perennial winner for being voted "Best Kids Menu" for more over 20 years in a row. And for 14 years in a row they have been voted "Best Bargain" by Rancho Magazine. It’s destination dining at its very best!

The Sandcrab Tavern at 2229 Micro Place in Escondido (760-480-CRAB) serves the best East Coast-Styleseafood in San Diego County. This fun East Coast-style crab house, which has been in business since 1988, is truly a great dining destination! The big attraction for dining here is that they specialize in serving East Coast-style seafood combinations, such as their all crab combo, shrimp and lobster dinners.

The Original Pancake House at 14905 Pomerado Rd. in Poway (858-679-0186) is the place to go for great-tasting pancakes at their best! A memorable meal is the apple pancake, which is baked instead of cooked on a griddle. It is so big that it looks more like a cake than a pancake. And the taste, aah the taste. It’s heavenly! Ideally located at the very end of Highway 56 at Pomorado Road in the Target Shopping Center. So it’s not only easy to find, but it is easily accessible from both I-5 and I-15 via the 56 freeway for residents living along the coast in Del Mar and Carmel Valley.

Serving home-style food since 1979, the Broken Yolk Café in Carmel Mountain 11630 Carmel Mountain Rd. (858.270.YOLK (9655) is a favorite among local San Diegans and hungry visitors alike. With a strong dedication to good food and equally good service, the Broken Yolk has built a reputation for its large menu, ample portions and freshly-made flavor. With over twenty different omelets plus a large variety of breakfast favorites including pancakes, waffles and French toast, Broken Yolk satisfies even the heartiest of diners - all in a clean, comfortable and casual atmoshpere.

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. 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. Use their coupon for buy one get one free wine tasting.

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 & Resort 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. Enjoy $20 in FREE Play for New Members!

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.

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.

Fallbrook Community Airpark at 2155 South Mission Road (760-723-8395) is a gateway to this village of 35,000. It sits atop a hill, and houses about 125 aircraft. Fuel and transient parking are available. Views from the runway and the adjacent viewing and picnicking area are spectacular: Mt. Palomar to the east, Camp Pendleton. to the west, the San Luis Rey Valley to the south and downtown Fallbrook to the north.

Surprisingly, housing still remains affordable in North County Inland San Diego, averaging $477,000. The surrounding countryside is incentive enough for living here. The terrain, for example, is marvelously varied with oak-covered hills, lakes, vineyards, avocado groves and citrus orchards. Contact the Escondido Chamber of Commerce at 720 N. Broadway (760-745-2125) for business and personal relocation information

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. Be sure to use their discount coupon for new customer savings.

For your local banking needs, Pacific Marine Credit Union is one of San Diego's most trusted banking institutions, with over 50 years of service and multiple locations throughout San Diego to serve you. Pacific Marine Credit Union membership is open to everyone.