Lakeside, CA Area Guide

Lakeside's history dates back to the California Gold Rush era when the town's first business, the Lakeside Inn, opened its doors in the late 1800s. Featuring 80 rooms and an impressive dining area, the Lakeside Inn catered to travelers who came to the area to hunt, fish, and get away from the stress of city life.

Although Lakeside has grown considerably since then, it remains a great place for rest and relaxation. Lakeside also offers an opportunity to explore the culture of the local Native Americans who inhabited the area prior to the Gold Rush and who still reside there to this day. The Barona Cultural Center and Museum features exhibits focused on the culture and lifestyle of the indigenous people of the region, from paintings and sculptures to photos and historical documents. The center operates Tuesday through Friday, and admission to the museum and parking are free. Plan a visit for a local learning experience the whole family can enjoy.

Restaurants in Lakeside tend to cluster near the freeways, and most eateries are scattered near Highway 67 on the north side and Interstate 8 on the south side.

For an Italian food fix, try the family-friendly atmosphere and generous portions offered at Gaetano's Italian Restaurant to feed your need. Located on Highway 8 Business between Los Coches Road and El Dorado Parkway, Gaetano's keeps locals coming back for more with its great prices and extensive menu. Stop by any day of the week, and sit down for a dinner that leaves you full to bursting, or call ahead to order food to take home and enjoy. Seafood lovers rave about the Oceano pizza, featuring shrimp smothered in garlic and mozzarella. For a lunchtime, try the signature torpedo, which comes stuffed full of salami, provolone, mortadello, lettuce and tomato, all served on a fluffy roll and dressed in a vinaigrette.

For margaritas and Mexican fare, look no further than La Palapa Mexican Restaurant & Cocktails on Woodside Avenue. Regular patrons recommend the cheese enchilada platter, which features two enchiladas topped with a savory red sauce, lettuce and cheese, all served up with a heaping helping of Mexican-style rice and refried beans. Open from 10 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. daily, La Palapa satisfies your desire for Mexican fare at any meal. See why the locals love La Palapa by stopping in for a famed margarita and a California burrito filled with carne asada, pico de gallo, guacamole and potatoes.

Get a tasty sub that you never mistake for a bland chain option by heading over to Merry's Subs at the corner of Woodside Avenue and Prospect Avenue. Using only the finest and freshest ingredients, Merry's serves up deli favorites with a twist that makes them uniquely Merry's. Try the chicken salad sandwich with bacon crumbles mixed in or the California club featuring Havarti cheese and a thick avocado spread, or build your own sub with ingredients you choose. Merry's opens at 10 a.m., Monday through Saturday.

Limited options characterize the nightlife in Lakeside due to its small-town nature and lack of noterity as a party hotspot. However, some nearby options do exist. Company Pub and Kitchen, possibly the most exciting addition to the Powell party scene, serves up British food, brews and more for a true Gastropub experience. Hospitality, comfort food, good wines, craft beers and cocktails combine to equal a fun night out on the town.

Lakeside's location, with easy access to Highway 67 and Interstate 8, makes it ideal for commuters who want to work in the city of San Diego but live someplace where they can see the stars at night. Two bus lines service the area for public transportation, but the schedules are most amenable to those who work a first-shift job.

You can call for a taxi cab or Uber if you live in Lakeside, though most residents here drive or ride bicycles. The main roads tend to feature bicycle lanes, making them appealing to cycling enthusiasts. Free street parking abounds, and most businesses feature large parking lots to accommodate their clientele.

Lakeside offers several parks for its residents and visitors to enjoy. Whether you like fishing or hiking, or just want a picnicking spot with a playground, Lakeside has something to appeal to everyone.

Lindo Lake County Park features one of the lakes from which Lakeside got its name, as well as a fitness course, lakeside walking path and a playground with play equipment for kids of all ages. Within its boundaries, you can find tennis courts and horseshoe pits; it even has a skate park area for the skateboarders in your household. Located on Lindo Lane at the Lakeshore Drive intersection, the park opens to the public daily at 9:30 a.m. and remains open until sunset.

Tucked away from it all, Lake Jennings on Harritt Road offers a day of leisure for boating and fishing enthusiasts alike, or you can come for a nice picnic and just enjoy the view. Lake Jennings stocks the waters regularly with trout and offers a monthly "free fishing day" where you can fish free of charge without a permit. Parking at Lake Jennings, although free, can be very limited — so carpool if you plan to bring a large group. Guests may not swim in the lake, but you can take your boat out for a spin. Though the park closes daily at sunset for day visitors, a campground area may be used by overnighters year-round. Call the park or visit the website to make your reservations.

Compared with the cost of living in San Diego, Lakeside living hits a home run for affordability. A one-bedroom apartment runs about $1,085 per month, which again compares favorably with San Diego's monthly rental of $1,300. Dining and entertainment costs in Lakeside have always been low, so if you need affordability, Lakeside will hold much appeal for you.

Lakeside offers relatively little in the way of upscale shopping, but that doesn't mean you can't find what you want without making a long drive. Many shops can be found along the freeways that create Lakeside's borders, if you know the right places to look.

If you want fresh, local produce, Lakeside Certified Farmers' Market sets up shop in the parking lot at the corner of Vine Street and Lakeshore Drive, across the road from Lindo Lake. A variety of vendors selling fruits and vegetables, meats, baked goods and even crafts man booths in the market on Thursdays year-round from 2-6 p.m. Drop by to see for yourself why local Lakeside denizens love their farmers' market.

Thrift shops dot the Lakeside landscape, but Dream Center Thrift Store stands out. Benefiting Dream Center's addiction recovery program, this store offers a great selection and amazing discount prices. Inside, you can find clothing in every size for men, women and children, home decor items, games, toys and more. The storefront often diplays unique furniture items, and the business operates six days a week, making it a convenient spot to stop off and bargain hunt on the way home from work.

While on the topic of frugal finds, Tiny Tots Resale on Woodside Avenue houses a wide variety of toys, clothes, and furniture for parents of newborns and toddlers and the forward-thinking parent-to-be. Find cribs and toddler beds, jumpers and onesies, and hand-crafted toys at prices that are a steal. The store opens daily at 10 a.m., and each day it has new items in stock. Come down to browse the selection, and see what keeps local moms and dads coming back.