Felicita, Escondido, CA

Curving streets, big lots and old oaks define Felicita, the hilly southwest edge of Escondido between Interstate 15 and the city line. It is quieter and greener than the flats closer to downtown, and it takes its name from the county park at its edge. Most homes are single-family houses from the 1980s and later, often on lots that run toward an acre. Renovated ranch houses sit a street away from newer Spanish-style places, and a late-1980s condo pocket and a newer development near the park add smaller options. Felicita County Park, just over the city line on Clarence Lane, is the neighborhood's backyard. Its roughly 346 acres fill a narrow valley under big oaks, with a creek that runs year-round, about two and a half miles of trails, picnic areas and two playgrounds. The park is on the National Register of Historic Places for its Kumeyaay village history, and it hosts the Escondido Renaissance Faire. Lake Hodges and Bernardo Mountain are within reach for longer hikes. Eating out centers on Auto Park Way. Vintana Wine and Dine sits on the top floor of the Lexus dealership, reached by a glass elevator, with mountain views, popovers and a long wine list. Downstairs in the same building, Culture Craft Coffee and Espresso makes espresso drinks and serves breakfast and lunch. Rock N' Jenny's Italian Subs, on West Valley Parkway just outside the neighborhood, is known for East Coast grinders, and Forgotten Barrel Winery pours on a residential street a few minutes east. Daily errands are by car. Albertsons and Valley Market are just north on West Valley Parkway, the Auto Park Way plaza has quick lunches, and the Westfield mall is a short hop south on the freeway. Interstate 15 is the main route out, with Highway 78 a few minutes north, and buses do not run through the neighborhood itself. The lots and the hills come with distance. Walking to a store is not part of most days here, and anything beyond the park and the plaza starts with getting in the car. Mornings in Felicita often start with a loop under those oaks before the drive to work.