5 Reasons You Should Move to Lakeside

In the foothills of San Diego County lies the small town of Lakeside. Established in 1886 as a tourist destination, Lakeside is roughly 25 miles east of San Diego. Surrounded by 6,600 acres of land and resting on the western side of the Cuyamaca Mountains, Lakeside has four lakes—Lake Jennings, El Capitan Lake, the San Vicente Reservoir, and Lindo Lake, which is the heart of the community.

Lakeside is a hybrid of a suburban and rural community, where you can take a moment and watch the geese and horses pass by. Touted as “a friendly place to live,” it began as an inn of the same name that offered fishing, hunting, boating, and relaxation. From there, the full-fledged town of Lakeside was born.

Lakeside’s development was heavily influenced by the community’s desire to keep a rural lifestyle. Many homes have small horse corrals, allowing many residents to own horses. Farming, albeit on a small scale, is prevalent here, which maintains the small-town vibe of the area. At present, there are just over 21,000 residents, so you’re bound to run into some familiar faces. For these reasons, it’s said to be a great place to raise a family.

Its prime location is another bonus. Lakeside is only 25 minutes from Downtown San Diego, making it easy for residents to commute into the city for work or play. Due to its close proximity to Highway 67 and Interstate 8, traveling is a breeze for both residents and visitors as well.

Here are five reasons why moving to Lakeside is a good bet.

Neighborhoods

Lakeside is home to numerous distinct neighborhoods that offer a variety of home designs as well as price points.Currently, Lakeside homes are priced from the under $100,000 to over $1,000,000, making it easy for homebuyers to find the right home and neighborhood that fits their budget and lifestyle. Some affordable neighborhoods include Lindo Lake, Lakeside Heights, Winter Gardens Terrace, Casa Del Sol Estates, and Lake Jennings. Homebuyers can find reasonably priced homes in Lake Jennings, which has a median home sales price in the mid $300s. Lake Lindo has a median sale price in the mid $200s.

Outdoor Recreation

In central Lakeside you’ll find the landscaped Lindo Park and Lindo Lake. Located in the heart of Lakeside, it’s no surprise that the lake is the primary recreation center for residents of this community. Beyond the traditional picnicking and playgrounds, Lindo Park has 17 physical fitness stations. In addition to its multi-use trails, there’s a special trail for children that offers guided hikes with park volunteers and rangers, as well as scavenger hunts. Lake Lindo is also great for bird watching. In addition to ducks, geese, pelicans, herons and American Coots, you can spot other rare species, such as Avocets, Stilts, and Cinnamon Teals.

Also, Lakeside is home to the Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary. This 785-acre preserve maintains the natural environment by protecting native plant and animal species. As part of the San Diego Audubon Society, the sanctuary provides the community with education, environmental recreation, and conservation programs.

Lakeside also offers two golf courses for residents and visitors: the Willowbrook Golf Course, which is a nine-hole regulation golf course and the Barona Creek Golf Club, a championship-level course that blends naturally with the rolling foothill landscape. 

Lakeside is ideal for those who enjoy staying active outdoors. In addition to hiking trails and golfing, there’s also recreational facilities for rock climbing, camping, fishing, boating, jet skiing, horseback riding, and bird watching as well as plenty of tennis courts, skate parks, and ball fields in Lakeside. The Lakeside Rodeo Grounds contributes to the reputation of Lakeside being a “rodeo/cowboy town.”

Attractions

Lakeside is known for its Lakeside Rodeo competition in April, which attracts a lot of people to the area. The first one was held back in 1920, and at its current facility, it’s become a huge, annual fundraising event for the Youth of Lakeside. Starting in 1964, Lakeside Rodeo is now owned by a nonprofit which donates all proceeds from the facility to the Youth of Lakeside. Also, Lakeside’s Main Street offers plenty of boutique shopping and a variety of restaurants.

With sweeping hillside views and a private tasing room, the Trevi Hills Winery is a vineyard within a gated community. The vineyard started producing in 2014, growing Brunello, Primativo, and Syrah grapes (red wine) and Sauvignon Blanc grapes (white wine).

Another attraction is the Barona Casino, offering a hotel, concert venue, golf course, and gambling. If Las Vegas is too much of a trek, Lakeside’s got you covered.

Top School District

Between its 11 schools, the Lakeside Union School District has seven elementary schools, two middle schools, a charter elementary school, and a charter high school, serving 5,000 students. There are infant and preschool education programs available. El Capitan, the local high school which is managed by Grossmont High School District, offers well-rounded educational opportunities as well as an agricultural program, one of the few in the county. And due to the language immersion programs (including Mandarin and Spanish at several school locations) that have been in effect since 2006, Lakeside Union School District is one of the best for foreign language learners. Other programs include its Festival of the Arts, Performing Lakeside for Acting Youth, and Global Youth Ambassador program. The LSUSD also has the services of the El Capitan Stadium Association, a nonprofit organization that donates in excess of $100,000 in funds and services to the Youth of Lakeside through education, the arts, youth sports, and youth community groups.

Active Social Groups

Lakeside has two major housing sites for the U.S. Navy, making it a very military-driven town. But there’s more to Lakeside than horses and the Navy. There are many active social groups for just about anyone. There’s 4-H, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, youth soccer, baseball, and football leagues, and the Boys and Girls Club. There’s also the Elks Club, Optimist, the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, and more. Residents looking for ways to get involved within their community will have plenty of options to choose from in Lakeside.