Located on the banks of the San Diego River, Santee is a suburban city on the northeastern outskirts of San Diego. It was originally inhabited by the Kumeyaay people before becoming part of Rancho El Cajon. Today, it is a popular residential area with bustling commercial and recreational facilities.
Things to do in Santee
In the heart of the city is Santee Trolley Square, a huge shopping complex home to big-name chain retailers such as Barnes & Noble, Target and Bath & Body Works. You can dine at Anny’s Fine Burgers and the Broken Yolk Cafe or enjoy a sweet treat from the Cold Stone Creamery. Santee Trolley Square also boasts an outdoor amphitheatre where live performances are held.
Just across the San Diego River is Sportsplex USA Santee, a large sporting complex with softball diamonds, batting cages and soccer fields. A riverfront walking trail connects to Mask Park, where you’ll find a children’s playground and a disc golf course. Also on the banks of the San Diego River is the 18-hole Carlton Oaks Golf Course, which was designed by the renowned golf course architect Pete Dye.
Santee makes an excellent base for exploring Mission Trails Regional Park, which encompasses rugged canyons and hills surrounding the 485-metre-high Cowles Mountain. It’s traversed by around 100 kilometres of hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trails, as well as several well-known rock climbing routes. Anglers can lure trout and bass in the waters of Lake Murray.
Getting around Santee
Santee is around a 30-minute drive from the centre of San Diego and 45 minutes from San Diego International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Buses and trams connect to the Santee Town Center while renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the area.