North County toolkit

Kids Free all October. Kids 12 and under get in free with a paid adult at 70+ San Diego museums through Oct 31, with each venue's coupon from the San Diego Museum Council. Text PJ for a museum-day plan.

Official: San Diego Museum Council: Kids Free in October 2026 · SanDiego.org: Kids Free San Diego. Checked Oct 5, 2026.

Ask SideGuy

Matches your words to SideGuy's live local pages, in your browser. Nothing is sent unless you tap Text PJ.

144 live tools for North County San Diego, each built from public data (NCTD, MTS, NOAA, SDG&E, the state license board, team schedules and ticket listings) and rebuilt every morning. Every page has a share bar and a way to text PJ.

• North County alerts: Weather warnings, nearby wildfires, recent earthquakes, transit alerts and power-shutoff status, three times a day.
• Shows and games today by Coaster: Everything on today you can reach without a car, each with its train plan and the last ride home.
• The Board: Power hours, chargers, shows, roads, Coaster, surf, tides and licensed trades on one screen, rebuilt three times a day.
• North County this week: Heat, power, shows with ticket prices, local news and new chargers.
• This weekend: What is on in North County Saturday and Sunday, from the venues' own listings.
• Next 90 days: Every dated thing coming up, by weekend and month, from official listings. Rebuilt every morning.
• Power today: SDG&E time-of-use windows today and what solar exports earn.

• By train from Solana Beach: Every destination the Coaster reaches, with what is coming up next at each.
• By train from Encinitas: The same trips from Encinitas Station.
• By train from Carlsbad: The same trips from Carlsbad Village Station.
• By train from Oceanside: The same trips from Oceanside Transit Center.
• Coaster times today: Every train from Solana Beach today and tomorrow, both directions.
• To the airport: Coaster to Old Town plus the free San Diego Flyer, FAA status, and flights from Palomar.
• UCSD by bus: BREEZE 101 straight down the coast to the Epstein Family Amphitheater.

• Show night planner: Pick a show at Belly Up or The Sound: dinner with walk times, the nearest charger, the last Coaster.
• Belly Up shows: What is on at Belly Up in Solana Beach.
• The Sound shows: Every show at The Sound in Del Mar for 30 days.
• Downtown shows by train: House of Blues, the Casbah, the Rady Shell and more, with the last train home.
• Padres game today: First pitch, TV, pitchers, what the market says, and where to watch near Solana Beach.
• Coaster to Petco Park: Trains for every Padres home game and the trolley to the ballpark.
• Snapdragon Stadium: Aztecs, San Diego FC and Wave: Coaster plus the Green Line.
• Viejas Arena and SDSU: Concerts and Aztecs games on the SDSU campus by train.
• The Observatory North Park: Coaster plus an MTS bus to University Avenue.
• Pechanga Arena: Coaster plus an MTS bus to Sports Arena Boulevard.
• Humphreys by the Bay: Shelter Island shows by Coaster and bus.
• SOMA: Mainstage and Sidestage shows by train and bus.
• Soda Bar: El Cajon Boulevard shows by train and Rapid bus.
• Del Mar Fairgrounds events: Every event for 30 days, by Coaster and BREEZE bus.
• Del Mar fall racing: Race days, first post and the stakes from the track's own calendar.

• San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park: Morning trains and the bus to the zoo, and the last way home.
• USS Midway Museum: A short walk from Santa Fe Depot.
• Old Town San Diego: A short walk from the Old Town stop.
• La Jolla Cove: Coaster to Old Town, then the MTS bus up to the Village.
• Mission Beach and Belmont Park: Coaster to Old Town, then the MTS bus to the boardwalk.
• Torrey Pines State Beach: BREEZE 101 down the coast, no transfer.

• Beach day today: Heat, UV, water, surf, rip risk, tides and sunset in one checklist for today, and what PJ can bring.
• Beach Day Picker: Tide pools, the most sand, a sunset walk or a surf check: pick a day, get the right time.
• Tides and surf: Seven days of tides, today's waves and water temperature.
• Surf report: Buoy swell, wind by the hour (glassy or blown out) with the tide, and the week's swell outlook.
• King tides: The biggest tides of the year and the best daylight tide pooling.
• Meteor showers: Peak nights and the darkest moon-free hours from Fletcher Cove.
• Sunset: Sunset, golden hour, the sky forecast and the tide at sunset, with the best evening of the week.
• Water temperature: Four NOAA buoys from Oceanside to Point Loma, with the last 7 days.
• UV and air quality: UV index by hour with sunscreen hours, and air quality across the county, three times a day.

• Ice delivery: Out of ice for the party, the beach or an outage: text PJ. Plus the week's hot days and event days.
• Questions answered today: Heat, rip currents, low tide, sunset, the last Coaster, EV hours and local rules, answered with today's data.
• Ballot drop boxes: Nov 3, 2026: 24-hour drop boxes, vote centers and key dates near Solana Beach.
• Didn't get your ballot?: Register by Oct 19 or same-day after, replacement ballots by Oct 27, moved, can't get out.
• Dog beaches: Every dog-friendly spot on the San Diego County coast, nearest Solana Beach first.
• Beach fire pits: Every beach fire pit spot in San Diego County, nearest first, with tonight's sunset.
• Lagoon trails: Every active San Elijo Lagoon trail, measured: length, the climb, the nearest trailhead.
• Solana Beach parking: Free street parking at every access, the Fletcher Cove and Seascape lots, Del Mar Shores free lots, Encinitas access parking.
• Emergency rooms: Licensed emergency departments and trauma centers nearest Fletcher Cove, from the State's data. Call 911 first.
• Del Mar parking: The free Civic Center garage, every beach meter zone, the City's free-parking tips, and what changes today.
• Bike rides: Eight rides from Fletcher Cove, measured: miles, minutes, climb, and how much is on a bike path.
• Farmers markets: Every certified market from Oceanside to La Jolla on this week, with hours and phone.
• Beach access: Every way down to the sand from Del Mar to Leucadia: stairs, parking, restrooms, dogs, tide pools.
• Cool Zones: Free, air-conditioned places near Solana Beach to sit out the heat, nearest first, from the County's map.
• Free sandbags: Every County, CAL FIRE and city sandbag site, nearest Solana Beach first, with this week's rain chances.
• Fire hazard zone check: Type your address: Very High, High, Moderate or none, from CAL FIRE's official maps.
• Home hazard check: One address, four official maps: FEMA flood, CAL FIRE fire, State tsunami and earthquake fault zones.
• Kids Free October: Kids 12 and under free at 70+ museums all October: rules, North County picks, the Coaster route.
• Cost to run AC: Dollars an hour for your AC on SDG&E's time-of-use rates, a calculator, and what pre-cooling saves.
• CARE and FERA discounts: Up to 35% off the SDG&E bill: the 2026 income limits and a 30-second check.
• IHSS caregiver pay: A family member can be paid to help a parent on Medi-Cal stay at home.
• Medicare scams: Medicare never calls to sell you a plan: the red flags and who to call.
• Nursing home cost: The State's 2026 average: $14,440 a month, who pays, and the cheaper rungs.
• Adult day health care: CBAS: nursing, a meal and a ride; the North County center and who qualifies.
• HCBA waiver waitlist: Medi-Cal care at home: 792 waiting in San Diego, up to 2 years.
• Section 8 waitlist: Closed since Feb 20, 2026: the numbers and the routes still open to seniors.
• Medicare 48-hour rule: Gone since June 1, 2026: what changed and what still protects you.
• PACE in North County: The four programs, who qualifies, and what it costs with Medi-Cal or Medicare.
• VA Aid and Attendance: 2026 rates, who qualifies, and free County help in Oceanside.
• Meals on Wheels: $5 to $7 lunches for 60+, free County meals for those who qualify, the waitlist.
• Caregiver respite: A break for the family caregiver, with no income test.
• Medi-Cal asset limit: $130,000 for seniors through June 30, 2027, then $21,000.
• Every senior waitlist: The assisted living and home care waivers, MSSP, meals, Section 8: how long, and who gets in first.
• Assisted living waitlist: Medi-Cal's waiver has more people waiting than enrolled; what to do while you wait.
• The care ladder: Every rung from part-time help to a $14,440-a-month nursing home, and who to call.
• Heating bill help (LIHEAP): One-time bill help, crisis help up to $1,500 on a shutoff notice, free weatherization.
• LifeLine phone discount: Up to $28.25 a month off a phone; since Feb 2026, two sign-ups and two renewals.
• Unclaimed money: Search every name free; no deadline; never pay a 10% finder.
• CalFresh for seniors: Easier rules at 60+, the medical-cost deduction, and hot meals with EBT.
• Snowbird here: Less is best to start: short stays by town, Medicare away from home, a local to drive you around.
• Move a parent here: Out of a cold winter: Medicare, the DMV, checking movers, and a guy on the ground.
• Make your fix plan: Check what's hard, get a plan from official sources, text it to PJ. Plans from $25.
• Senior benefits checkup: Every benefit and bill fix seniors miss, narrowed to your situation, plus a human.
• Medicare Extra Help: About $5,700 a year in drug help many people miss: 2026 limits and the Medi-Cal route.
• Lower your SDG&E bill: Every option in one place, narrowed to your home, plus the energy bill tune-up with PJ.
• Mini-split heat pumps: Heat and cool on about half a space heater's electricity: costs, the EPA install rule, the 2026 credit change.
• Clean Energy Alliance plans: Solana Beach, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Oceanside: the cheaper CEA plan almost nobody picks.
• SDG&E winter rates: Nov 1: 4-9pm gets cheaper, every other hour costs more on TOU-DR1. Numbers, a calculator, EV and CCA notes.
• SDG&E Climate Credit: Where the October credit went: 2026 amounts and months for homes, gas, small business and CCA customers.
• Just need a human: The right real person: PJ by the hour, local partners, and the official lines people can never find.
• Property tax bill check: The $7,000 homeowners' line, the disabled veterans' exemption, appeals by Nov 30.
• Property tax due dates: Nov 1 and Dec 10, Feb 1 and April 12: the countdown, the free e-check, and what late costs.
• Flu shots: County Public Health Centers for anyone 6 months and up, the Oct 22 no-cost clinic, at-home shots.
• Great ShakeOut: The Oct 15 drill, Drop Cover Hold On, MyShake and phone earthquake alerts.
• Pumpkin patches: Del Mar Pumpkin Station, the corn-maze farms and Bates Nut Farm: hours, costs, dogs.
• Halloween 2026: Trick-or-treat times by town, the Pumpkin Plunge, the Haunted Trail, and the Scream Zone answer.
• Día de los Muertos: Solana Beach Oct 18 and Oceanside Oct 25: altars, music, parking, marigolds.
• SDG&E outage claims: When SDG&E pays for an outage, why shutoffs usually don't, how to file, food keep-times.
• Report a pothole: Pothole, dead streetlight or clogged drain: who owns the road and how to report it.
• REAL ID or passport: What TSA accepts, the $45 ConfirmID, passport timing, and a quick trip check.
• Animal control: Strays, lost pets, barking dogs, injured wildlife: who handles it and the numbers.
• Library parks pass: Free day-use parking at Torrey Pines, Cardiff, San Elijo and Carlsbad state beaches.
• El Niño 2026-27: NOAA's advisory, the County emergency, and a get-ready list for North County.
• Water company: Which district serves your street, its billing number and its after-hours line.
• Which bin?: Green, blue or never: food scraps, the compostable-bag trap, batteries, and who picks up.
• NCTD fares: New Coaster, Sprinter and Breeze fares from Oct 1, 2026, and when a monthly pass pays off.
• Medical Baseline: Extra energy at the lowest price and shutoff help for homes with medical equipment.
• Help for seniors: The County's AIS line, Meals on Wheels, Medicare help, half-price Coaster, and PJ.
• Fall deadlines: Medicare, flu clinic, Election Day, property tax, Covered California: soonest first, with help.
• Covered California: Nov 1 to Jan 31: the dates, what changed for 2027, and free enrollment help.
• Medicare Open Enrollment: Oct 15 to Dec 7, 2026: the countdown, free unbiased counseling from HICAP San Diego, and what to bring.
• Check a contractor: The license check, the 10% or $1,000 deposit cap, days to cancel and lien releases, with a contract calculator.
• Eat and drink near the shows: Restaurants and bars near Belly Up and The Sound, with walk times.
• EV charging: Fast chargers near Solana Beach and what they cost.
• Licensed electricians: From the state license board, by town.
• Licensed plumbers: From the state license board, by town.
• Licensed roofers: From the state license board, by town, with this week's rain and what to do about a leak.
• General contractors and ADUs: From the state license board, by town, plus what state law says about building an ADU.
• Recalls: Food, drug and eye drop recalls reaching California, last 30 days.
• Moving to North County: Ten towns compared: coast vs inland heat, Coaster stops, power provider.
• Ocean power: Tides, waves and the gravity storage that actually works here.

• Encinitas today: The town's high, sunset, tides, market and every local page, with PJ's photo.
• Cardiff today: The town's high, sunset, tides, market and every local page, with PJ's photo.
• Ballot Drop Boxes and Vote Centers near Encinitas: Nearest Moonlight Beach first, from official data.
• Beach Access near Encinitas: Nearest Moonlight Beach first, from official data.
• Emergency Rooms near Encinitas: Nearest Moonlight Beach first, from official data.
• EV Chargers near Encinitas: Nearest Moonlight Beach first, from official data.
• Cool Zones near Carlsbad: Nearest Carlsbad City Beach first, from official data.
• Ballot Drop Boxes and Vote Centers near Carlsbad: Nearest Carlsbad City Beach first, from official data.
• Beach Access near Carlsbad: Nearest Carlsbad City Beach first, from official data.
• Emergency Rooms near Carlsbad: Nearest Carlsbad City Beach first, from official data.
• EV Chargers near Carlsbad: Nearest Carlsbad City Beach first, from official data.
• Cool Zones near Oceanside: Nearest Oceanside City Beach first, from official data.
• Ballot Drop Boxes and Vote Centers near Oceanside: Nearest Oceanside City Beach first, from official data.
• Beach Access near Oceanside: Nearest Oceanside City Beach first, from official data.
• Dog-Friendly Beaches near Oceanside: Nearest Oceanside City Beach first, from official data.
• Emergency Rooms near Oceanside: Nearest Oceanside City Beach first, from official data.
• EV Chargers near Oceanside: Nearest Oceanside City Beach first, from official data.
• EV Chargers near Del Mar: Nearest Powerhouse Park first, from official data.
• EV Chargers near Cardiff: Nearest Cardiff State Beach first, from official data.

Need a human?

This page is built every morning from public data by SideGuy, run by PJ, a local in Solana Beach. If something looks off, or you want a hand with your plans, text PJ at 858-461-8054. A real person answers.

Local help, free to read: make your fix plan · senior benefits checkup · lower your SDG&E bill · Medicare Extra Help · the next 90 days. Plans start as low as $25.