Queen Califia's Magic Circle in Kit Carson Park

Just a few miles from Dave's parent's home in Escondido, CA is a nice park tucked away from the freeway called Kit Carson Park. Within the park is a sculpture garden inspired by the story of California's namesake, Queen Califia of the Amazon. French sculptor Nikki de Saint Phalle created the garden as a tribute to her majesty. Featured in the huge walk-in Queen Califia's Magic Circle are nine large-scale sculptures, mirrors and colored tiles galore.

 The sculpture garden, which opened in 2003, is located in the Iris Sankey Arboretum area of the park. The garden consists of nine large-scale sculptures, a circular "snake" wall and maze entryway, sculpturally integrated bench seating, and native shrubs and trees planted within the interior plaza and around the perimeter.

The centerpiece is the 22-foot Queen Califia and Eagle Throne, where you'll often find people sitting within the bird's legs, just enjoying the whimsical setting. The circular snake wall welcomes you into the garden, and as you navigate the mosaic maze, you deposit into a plaza of an array of totems, all bearing the unmistakable stamp of the artist."Queen Califia's Magical Circle Garden" is a wonderful spot to disappear into and escape into a magical and fanciful world, even if only for a few short minutes as I did with Brenden, my niece Jordan and Shirley.