As one of the newest members of the San Diego Museum Council, the Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum located in Escondido has a lot to offer visitors of all ages. My family enjoyed the beautiful collection of over 100 antique American convertible cars and Americana and the great quality of their wine.
This museum is a great place for kids to learn more about early 20th-century American culture since the focus of its collection is from around 1920 to 1960. We saw so many beautiful cars including a 1928 Ford Model A Sports Coupe, a 1931 Chrysler Deluxe 8 Roadster, a 1941 Packard 110 Convertible, a 1953 Nash Healey, and a 1957 Thunderbird. It was especially fun for my multigenerational family since my parents, who are Boomers, got to share lots of interesting stories with their grandkids that were sparked by the vintage objects.
My kids age 7 and 10 loved the cool cars and all the Americana artifacts including a gramophone from 1921, bikes, toys, a train set, appliances, the Coca-Cola room and the Barbie room. Yes, the museum has a massive collection of Barbie dolls including fancy dolls from the Diva collection and the Wedding collection along with Barbie cars. It was also nice that the museum has so much space for kids to walk around outside as we traveled between all three buildings.
Since 1979, Deer Park in Escondido has been showcasing cars and pouring wine. The property spans 15 acres with vineyards, orchards, picnic grounds, and over 100 antique convertibles, radios, TVs, bicycles, and themed rooms.
Deer Park annually produces and releases award-winning estate wines available for wine-tasting weekends as one of the top things to do in San Diego County
After exploring the museum we sat outside on the patio overlooking 15 acres of vineyards and orchards and enjoyed a flight of their wines along with a delicious charcuterie board. We especially enjoyed their Sparkling Peach Wine, Mead, Merlot, and Mulled Wine. This museum is an exciting family destination-enjoy your visit Thursday through Monday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Here are some visitor tips to help you prepare for your museum adventure:
- The Museum offers free visitor parking and is located just off the I-15 in Escondido. The museum is open Thursday – Monday from 10 a.m to 5 p.m.
- No reservations are required to visit the museum or for the wine tastings. Purchase your tickets inside the gift shop.
- Enjoy your visit to Deer Park and consider adding lunch from the deli or a wine tasting with indoor & outdoor seating.
- The gift shop offers wines, jellies and deli-style picnic spreads.
- Standard tastings are just $15 and a premium tasting is $25. Charcuterie board and non-alcoholic ciders are all available for purchase.
- There are three large buildings of automobiles and Americana to explore. One building requires walking up an incline for access. You may drive your car to that building if mobility is an issue.
- There are plenty of restaurants nearby the museum for lunch or dinner
More Information about the Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum Here
Written by Danielle Deery
Danielle Deery lives in the Encinitas area of San Diego’s North County with her husband, two kids who are 7 and 10 years old, and a dog. One of her favorite things to do is take her kids on museum adventures around San Diego. She is a Freelance Curator, San Diego Museum Council Board member, former President of the San Diego Museum Council, and former Director of Exhibitions at Oceanside Museum of Art.
Currently, Danielle has curated an exhibit titled “Order/Disorder: Belonging in Nature” at the La Jolla Historical Society’s Wisteria Cottage gallery. This exhibit is on view now through Sunday, May 26. If you’re in the area, be sure to check it out and appreciate the wonders of nature through Danielle’s expert curation.
