SAN DIEGO BOTANIC GARDEN OR MEDITATION GARDENS – WHICH ENCINITAS GARDEN TO VISIT

Oct 10, 2023California, Day Trips, Nature, North America, USA7 comments

Encinitas, CA, offers not only one but two popular botanical gardens: the San Diego Botanic Garden and the Meditation Gardens of the Self-Realization Fellowship.

So which one should you visit?

During my recent trip to Southern California I visited both in one day and while they are both well worth a visit they are quite different from each other and will appeal to different people.

This post will first give a short overview of both the San Diego Botanic Garden and the Self-Realization Fellowship Gardens: how to get there and what to expect.

And in the final part I will give my opinion on which garden is better for a visit for YOU – depending on your personal interests and needs.

Let’s go for it!

Table of Contents

The San Diego Botanic Garden

Over tall green and red plants a manicured lawn can be seen.

What is the San Diego Botanic Garden?

The San Diego Botanic Garden is an urban oasis with 4 miles of trails and 5,300 plant varieties in 29 themed gardens representing 15 different regions and habitats.

When can you visit the San Diego Botanic Garden?

The San Diego Botanic Garden is closed on Tuesdays but otherwise open daily from 9 am to 5 pm (last ticket entry at 4pm).

How do you get in?

On their website, they strongly recommend that you pre-buy a timed entry ticket online before your visit.

However, I did not realize this (and hate being locked into a specific activity) so I just showed up.

As long as they are not too busy you can buy a ticket at the entrance to the San Diego Botanic Garden.

The cost is $18 per adult (Military/Senior/Student are $12 and kids $10). You wont get a paper ticket – they just wave you in.

Please note: They do not accept cash – you have to pay by card!

If you want to leave and come back on the same day you may do so – just make sure you get your hand stamped for re-entry.

The path through the large metal gate leads to the ticket counter for the San Diego Botanic Garden in Enicinitas. Next to it is a large greenhouse.

Luckily, I had no problems getting a ticket on the day of my visit.

How long should you spend at the San Diego Botanic Garden?

If you just want to have a quick look around, you can see the better part of the gardens in about an hour.

If you want to see everything, read the educational signs, maybe have a snack, and relax a bit on one of the benches, 2.5 to 3 hours are probably about right.

Where is the San Diego Botanic Garden and how to get there

Location

Given its name, you might think that the San Diego Botanic Garden is in San Diego but not so!

The San Diego Botanic Garden is actually on the outskirts of Encinitas, about 25 miles north of San Diego.

Getting to San Diego Botanic Garden by car

With a car, your best bet is to follow your GPS or Google Maps.

There is a parking lot right next to the entrance and for general admission parking is free.

The Entrance to the parking lot of the San Diego Botanic Garden is well marked by a sign

Free parking – always a plus

Getting to San Diego Botanic Garden by public transportation

Not surprisingly, getting there by public transit is a bit more involved but can be done.

When I looked at the map I thought getting to the San Diego Botanic Garden would be easy. Unfortunately, it took more effort than I had expected.

1. Make your way to Encinitas

Coming from either north or south your best option is to either take the Coaster commuter train (runs between San Diego/Old Town San Diego and Oceanside) or bus 101 (runs between Oceanside and La Jolla).

When taking the bus get off at the Encinitas train station (same as if arriving by Coaster). As both have the same final stop it doesn’t matter which one you choose.

So decide based on which is more convenient for you. The bus will likely be cheaper (a flat $2.50) but slower if you are coming from further away.

2. Travel along Encinitas Boulevard

From here you could take bus 309 which travels along Encinitas Boulevard to the East. Unfortunately, this bus only goes once an hour so depending on when you get to Encinitas you might have to wait a while.

As the bus only takes you about half-way to the San Diego Botanical Gardens I decided to walk.

The first half of the walk follows the bus route along Encinitas Boulevard. It is not exactly unpleasant but neither is it a pretty walk. Just your basic plodding along a busy street.

Stay on the right side of the street as that way there will be a sidewalk for the entire stretch.

Busy Encinitas Blvd with a sidealk on the right side of the street

Walking along Encinitas Blvd. is safe and easy but not exactly a joy

3. Turn left onto Quail Gardens Dr.

After about 25 minutes (1 mile) you will reach a crossing with Quail Gardens Dr/Westlake. (The San Diego Botanic Gardens used to be called Quail Gardens)

This is also where you would get off the 309 bus and start walking if you had decided on that option.

Cross Encinitas Blvd to turn left into Quail Gardens Dr. Again, best walk on the right side of the street as the sidewalk on the left side doesn’t go all the way to the gardens.

The old entrance to the San Diego Botanic Garden is closed and a sign points to the new entrance further along the street

The walk would have been shorter if they still used the old entrance

Here you will walk uphill along a quieter street. Unfortunately, the entrance has moved so you will have to walk along the outside of the entire garden to get to the entrance (about another 10 minutes).

A sidewalk leads to the driveway for the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas

You have finally arrived at the Botanic Garden – cross and walk up the street for a minute

Amenities at the San Diego Botanic Garden

There are restrooms located throughout the gardens and you can get limited snacks/drinks at a coffee cart (they are working on a café).

Outdoor sign with map of the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas

This map of the San Diego Botanic Garden is helpful to make sure you don’t miss anything

What is there to see and do at the San Diego Botanic Garden?

Overall Layout

The garden is separated in different themed sections. There is a Walled Garden, a South African Garden, a Herb Garden etc. Unfortunately, the Bamboo Garden was closed during my visit.

There was quite a bit of construction going on. I believe they are updating paths to be ADA compliant.

The San Diego Botanic Garden has a fair size. There are various paths winding through bushes, trees, and other plants. If you wander back and forth you can get a decent work-out.

A path leads through the San Diego Botanic Garden with smaller palm trees on the side.

Impression

For the most part this is not one of those gardens that wows you with displays of colorful flowers, topiaries, and manicured lawns. So to me it is not as pretty as for example the Palmengarten in Frankfurt or the park of Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra.

However, if you want to learn more about plants you are in the right place. You can see a huge variety of different plants from different parts of the globe. So if you are interested in the native vegetation of South America or Australia you have come to the right place!

Education is one of the goals of the San Diego Botanic Garden You will find plenty of signs with interesting and educational facts. Great for any keen botanists!

This was one of the aspects I appreciated here. Not knowing much about plants I do prefer being told what I am looking at. However, the signs did look a bit worn.

Dirty sign with information about Native Garden Maintenance at San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas

Interesting information but a bit dingy looking

Luckily, there was plenty of seating available. It was not difficult to find a place to sit and rest up a bit. A definite plus!

I did feel though that not all of the benches had the best view. You definitely were out in nature and had a view of plants but there weren’t many spectacular views.

Kids

There is plenty of space for kids to let off some steam in the San Diego Botanic Garden. A definite plus is the kids’ area that looked fun and inviting. I especially liked the look of Toni’s Tree House, a fake tree to climb around in.

Too bad I am too big to check out this tree house

Kids will also get a kick out of the Overlook Tower. The view isn’t amazing but you do see the ocean and little ones will enjoy the experience.

Wooden boardwalk with small look-out tower at the end at the San Diego Botanic Garden

From the top of the Overlook Tower you get a good idea of the native vegetation

Highlights

Even though this was more a plants/vegetation than flowers/pretty vistas garden, there were some definite highlights.

My personal favorites were:

Figure of a Mexican Mariachi player formed out of flowers at the Mexican Garden in Encinitas

The Mexican Garden was probably my favorite display at the San Diego Botanic Garden

Tall palm trees and smaller plants form a jungle landscape

I loved the jungle vibe and the waterfall

A path leads through a stone gate overgrown with plants to the Walled Garden

The rather unkempt and overgrown charme of the Walled Garden had an appeal of its own

The Self-Realization Fellowship Meditation Garden

An empty path leads deeper into the Meditation Gardens in Encinitas. On the sides gnarly trees and smaller plants give it a fairy-tale look.

What are the Meditation Gardens of the Self-Realization Fellowship?

The Meditation Gardens in Encinitas are run by the Self-Realization Fellowship, an international religious organization founded 1920 by Paramahansa Yogananda for the teachings of Kriya Yoga.

No worries however – visiting the gardens does not require you to attend services or talk about religion. While there are some brochures available, no effort to proselytize was made.