If you’ve spent enough time in Southern California you know there’s so much more to SoCal than sandy beaches and oceanfront property. If you enjoy exploring remote parts of our state as much as I do, then you’ll want to take a look at this super tiny town that you may have passed through before without ever knowing it existed.
Pine Valley is a small town in San Diego County tucked inside the Cuyamaca Mountains that runs along Old Highway 80.
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With a population of less than 2,000 as of the last census, this is one town that is so small that you just might miss it if you blink.
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Although Pine Valley isn’t your typical SoCal small town getaway, it’s definitely worth a stop for exploring if you happen to be passing through.
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For starters, you won’t want to miss Major’s Coffee Shop.
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This old time diner along the highway is a great little mom and pop restaurant that serves homemade meals that are lip-smacking delicious.
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If you want to experience a classic small town burger joint and ice cream shop then you’ll want to check out Frosty Burger. Make sure to order a soft serve twist cone as a treat.
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To complete the small town experience, you’ll even find a local corner market where you can load up on snacks for the rest of your trip.
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For some fresh air and green grass, you can stop at Pine Valley County Park where the locals hang out.
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If the park isn’t enough nature for you, you’ll soon discover one of the highlights of Pine Valley is the Pine Creek Trailhead.
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This scenic trail starts in Pine Valley and runs all the way to Barret Lake. Watch this awesome video posted by Billy Ortiz to get the directions to the trail and see a glimpse of the creekside route:
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San Diego Parks
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Have you ever had the chance to stop in Pine Valley before? It’s a great place to get away from the hectic city and spend some time in a place where life moves a bit slower. And you’ll definitely want to check out that gorgeous hiking trail while you’re there.
If you enjoyed learning about Pine Valley, you might also want to take a look at a few more small SoCal towns: 10 Slow-Paced Small Towns In Southern California Where Life Is Still Simple.
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