Escondido is located in a valley surrounded by coastal mountains and filled with palm trees. Avocado and citrus groves spread out from Escondido, and beautiful lakes hidden by cliffs helps create a landscape that feels more pastoral than urban -- even though Escondido is only 30 miles northeast of Downtown San Diego. As one of San Diego County's oldest cities, Escondido incorporated in 1888. It was settled long before that, and a key battle of the Mexican-American war was fought in Escondido in 1846. Today, the city is a sought-after community with a variety of parks, including the 3,058-acre Daley Ranch. Here, visitors enjoy hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.