Benjamin Lavender's "Bulbous" sculpture
During your beachfront vacation, don’t miss the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas. Just a short drive from your vacation rental, explore and enjoy the four miles of garden trails, beautiful views, flowering trees and the nation’s largest bamboo collection.
The Garden boasts exhibits, a Bird and Butterfly Garden, and even the Hamilton Children’s Garden, the largest interaction children’s garden on the West Coast.
For something different, why not take a class? The garden hosts a variety of classes on most Saturdays, such as “Designing with Native Plants” and a Succulent Wreath class. There are even garden-to-table cooking classes, and a Bird Watching group that meets the first Monday of every month! Check out the full list and sign up here.
Through April, 2012, the Sculpture in the Garden Exhibit features sculptures from 26 regional artists, installed against the background of the beautifully lush 37-acre gardens. This is the fourth consecutive year the Garden has hosted the popular exhibit. Many of this year’s artists are returning from previous years, bringing a wide variety of pieces with them. Artists include Benjamin Lavender, John Rawlinson, Lia Strell and many more.
The unique experience of perusing a “Phantom Gallery” – a gallery exhibition of artwork integrated temporarily into a on-gallery venue – is not one you’ll soon forget! 
The San Diego Botanic Garden is open 9:00am to 5:00pm daily, and until 8:00pm on Thursdays during the summer. Don’t miss it!
