After you've soaked up the sun in San Diego for a few days, you can take a break by exploring the mountains nearby and a special destination that will be fun and educational for the entire family.

Just north of San Diego is a historic facility that many people don't realize is available for touring every day of the year except for Dec. 24 and 25. Just head up into the mountains northeast of Escondido and you'll find a series of hairpin turns that take you to the 5500-foot summit of Palomar Mountain. Just five miles further is the world-famous Palomar Mountain Observatory.

Getting there is half the fun of this adventure into the foothills just west of San Diego and the mountains they turn into. You'll see that this area isn't quite as green as the Northwest forests or even those in the Sierra Nevada, but the area holds a certain charm of its own.

The Palomar Mountain Observatory is operated by the California Institute of Technology and is where you find some of the best scientists in the world doing astronomical research. Altogether there are five telescopes at the observatory that, each night, are trained on the stars looking for new secrets to be discovered.

Among the telescopes is the 200-inch Hale Telescope which, between the years of 1948 and 1993, was the world's largest effective telescope. Still in use, the Hale Telescope is operating up to 290 nights a year.

Another example is the 60-inch telescope that has been used since 1970 to search for planets and to study gamma-ray outbursts. It was through this telescope that astronomers discovered the first brown dwarf star. Currently, the telescope is operated remotely by astronomers located at Caltech and elsewhere.

And, if you wonder how they find those comets out there, some 50 of them have been found using the 18-inch Schmidt telescope, which today is no longer in use. The Schmidt was the first operational telescope at Palomar.

The good news for visitors is that anytime between 9 a.m and 3 p.m., they'll be able to go right in and see the Hale Telescope up-close. Rest assured the scientists can't have you actually using the telescope, but the sheer size of the instrument and the importance of the work done here is enough to make you feel like you're visiting a little piece of scientific history. The astronomers work mainly at night so, don't worry, you won't be interrupting anything.

After visiting the observatory be sure and walk some of the trails that meander through this beautiful mountain setting. Whether you want a short walk or a long day hike, there are trails on Palomar to suit your needs.

If you want to spend the night, there are several campgrounds nearby and you'll find a picnic area adjacent to the observatory. Even if it's just a day trip (Palomar is about 70 miles from San Diego) the views are worth it. As you make your way up and down the mountain, there is something scenic around every corner.

An interesting side trip in this area is the old mining town of Julian, which has turned into a Wild West sort of village that is a popular destination for residents of Southern California. The historic buildings make it look like the Old West and you'll find plenty of visitor shops and restaurants as well as bed-and-breakfast inns if you want to spend the night.

All and All, this part of Southern California is a real surprise -- and an educational one for families who visit the observatory. For more information about the Palomar Mountain Observatory, phone (760) 742-2119.