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California Travel Articles
The Jewel of the Hills, La Mesa
By Susan M. Keenan ©2007
Situated east of San Diego, La Mesa offers an enjoyable taste of panoramic beauty and a refreshing ambience. The rolling hills of Mt. Nebo and Mt. Helix add more beauty to this already charming countryside.
La Mesa enjoys a quaint nickname, "The Jewel of the Hills." In fact, in the early 1900s, its gorgeous scenery was interspersed with jewels of its own, mostly lemons and avocadoes. Today, the scenery is interspersed with many different styles of homes including farmhouses, cottages, and bungalows.
The historic homes of the area portray quite a few architectural styles including French Colonial, Mission Revival, the prairie style, and the craftsman style. La Mesa Village offers quite a few original buildings along with the antiques and contemporary merchandise that are sold there.
La Mesa offers a wide array of recreational activities and interesting community events. With an eye on physical fitness, weekly walks have been scheduled as a community event. Plus, hiking tours are available at the Mission Trails Regional Park, which offers 40 miles of gorgeous trails as well as guided hiking tours.
Annual and seasonal events are also scheduled in to help fill out the days with fun and enjoyment for everyone. The Summer Concert Series brings music to the ears of many residents and visitors while the Thursday Night Car Show delights car enthusiasts from April to September.
Yearly events such as the Flag Day Parade and La Mesa Oktoberfest bring entertainment, culinary treats, and camaraderie to this fine city. Fishing enthusiasts can always enjoy a bit of fishing challenges at Lake Murray as they attempt to bring in bluegill, channel catfish, snag bass, or rainbow trout. Plus, the lake also offers boating, biking, picnicking, and hiking.
Lots of restaurants provide the essentials for keeping hunger away. The dishes are decidedly ethnic in flavoring and range from Italian to Mexican to Californian. With both indoor and outdoor dining opportunities, the restaurants in La Mesa have something to offer everyone.
Plus, if you are staying in La Mesa for more than a day or two, you can always venture a short distance away for a taste of another kind. Mexico is only a mere 25 miles away and the Pacific Ocean is only 15 miles away. Whether you select a travelodge, an inn, or a hotel for your stay, you are sure to be more than satisfied with the entire experience.
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