Between San Diego And Palm Springs Is A Laid-Back Escape With Scenic Wineries And Family Fun

California is a vast state, and it's easy to skip inland cities and go straight to the coast when you're planning a West Coast getaway. If you do that, however, you're going to miss out on some great locations, including the laid-back town of Ramona. Ramona sits around 35 miles northeast of San Diego and 94 miles southwest of Palm Springs, and unlike those more well-known places, Ramona isn't packed with tourists. Instead, you'll find a chill spot full of wineries, Western-themed murals, and lots of family-friendly fun (including at some of the wineries). There are outdoor activities, history to explore, a rodeo in the summer, and so much more. 

Ramona is an ideal spot for a vacation with the kids, and one place you can't miss if you have little ones along for the trip is the Oasis Camel Dairy property, which has a farm store and an open farm experience, with performing animals like a parrot, turkeys, and camels. You can feed the camels, pet mini "lambradoodle" sheep, and check out a giant goldfish. You can also book a private encounter if you want to make the most of your adorable animal time. Then there is Camel Valley Lavender, a seasonal lavender field where you can bring the kids (and dogs) to pick some of the sweet-smelling plant. It's free to enter, with free parking.

After you visit the animals at Oasis Camel Dairy, you can give the kids a dose of educational fun at the Ramona Heritage Museum (also known as the Guy B. Woodward Museum). It's the perfect spot for the family to learn about the area, with self-guided tours through preserved structures and rooms, including the blacksmith shop, the tack room, a honey house with information on beekeeping, the wine cellar gallery, and an 1886 adobe house full of antiques. There are also an old jail and wagons, buggies, and more vehicles to check out. (Note that the museum is closed in August.) The Ramona Rodeo, which has been held in town for 45 years and counting, is another fun family activity in the summer, boasting competitions, entertainment, and activities, with several tiers of admission tickets to choose from.

Families can also visit Ramona Grasslands County Preserve, a 3,867-acre area with some parts open to the public. It's full of hikes and creatures to spot, including bobcats, raccoons, golden eagles, and arroyo toads. One trail to check out is the easy 3.3-mile Ramona Grasslands Preserve loop trail, which has a 278-foot elevation gain. It's both dog- and kid-friendly, and you can even take mountain bikes if you have them along. If you happen to visit on a Thursday evening, you can do a post-hike visit to the Ramona Grange Farmer's Market at Ramona Grange Hall. (It's open all year.) You can purchase fresh fruits and veggies, snacks, candles and crafts, candy for the kids, and more. There are food trucks and live music to dance to as well.

If you want to kick back and relax with some wine, Ramona is the town for it. There are over 40 wineries to explore, where you can do a tasting and purchase a few bottles. Ramona Ranch Winery has award-winning wines and is a Certified Sustainable Vineyard & Winery. You can take a tour or do a tasting in a lovely setting, surrounded by mountains, and check out live music performances on Sundays. The winery is open Thursday through Monday, and it's dog- and kid-friendly. You and the little ones can check out the adorable animals on the ranch as well, including dogs, goats, chickens, a horse, and ponies.

Turtle Rock Ridge Vineyard Winery is another great spot for wine-tasting. It has indoor and outdoor seating and tastings Thursday through Sunday. (You can also taste the vineyard's wines at its wine bar in the beautiful, waterfront village of La Jolla, about an hour away.) Make sure to visit the Pamo Valley Winery tasting room in downtown Ramona as well. It was voted "Best Ramona Wine" in 2025 and "Best Tasting Room" in 2024 in the Best of Ramona Readers Poll. It claims to be the first woman-owned winery in San Diego County, and the tasting room is open seven days a week, featuring live music and both indoor and outdoor spaces. It's also kid- and dog-friendly.

The closest major airport to Ramona is the San Diego International Airport (SAN), which is around 40 miles away. If you're coming in this way, you might want to hit the San Diego Zoo first, as it's only around 4 miles from the airport. (You can often find great Costco deals on the zoo for families on a budget.) You're also close to the laid-back city of Escondido, with more wineries and family fun to explore.