2 San Diego Area Parks Voted Among CA's Best State Parks

SAN DIEGO, CA — Two state parks in San Diego County were named among the best in the state, according to poll results released Wednesday by the California State Parks Foundation.

The poll highlighted California's best parks for birdwatching, camping, hiking, learning about history, picnicking, wildflowers, views, and dog- and kid-friendly adventures. The poll also revealed the best state beach.

"We launched the first-ever 'Best of California's State Parks' poll to honor and highlight the deep connection that people have to our parks," said Rachel Norton, executive director of California State Parks Foundation. "These places represent the incredible diversity of experiences we can find in our state parks, from exploring the California coast to learning about our history. With summer approaching, we hope Californians will use the 'Best of California's State Parks' poll results to get inspired to get outdoors with family and friends."

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in San Diego, Imperial and Riverside counties was named the best in the state for seeing wildflowers, while Torrey Pines State Beach was named the best place for picnicking.

San Diego area parks also earned honorable mentions. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park received honorable mention for camping. Palomar Mountain State Park received honorable mention for both dog-friendly adventures and picnicking. Cardiff State Beach won honorable mention for best state beach.

The foundation invited members and supporters this spring to nominate and vote on their favorite parks across 10 categories. More than 1,300 people participated. Many of the survey participants also sent in photos and personal stories and memories about why the parks are special.

The California state park system includes 280 state park units, over 340 miles of coastline, 970 miles of lake and river frontage, 15,000 campsites, 5,200 miles of trails, 3,195 historic buildings, and more than 11,000 known prehistoric and historic archaeological sites.

See the full list of winners.