Frosty Burger & Pine Valley County Park

A good friend once advised me that it’s best to have dessert before dinner. That way, he argued, if you choke to death on a chicken bone, at least you’ll meet your Maker with dessert in your stomach.

It was hard to defeat that twisted logic, so on a warm, muggy Sunday afternoon, I headed to Frosty Burger in Pine Valley, about an hour east of downtown San Diego for a pineapple milkshake. (The pineapple milkshake was recommended by a colleague.) I thought it would be a great way to cool off and take a Sunday afternoon drive.

What I didn’t expect was a little bonus in the form of Pine Valley County Park.

This post may have been better split into two posts, so be sure you scroll all the way to the bottom to make sure you get all the pertinent information for each.

Frosty Burger

Frosty Burger is located not more than a half a mile north of Interstate 8, just off the Pine Valley exit (Exit 45), so it’s very easy to get to.

Because I only had the pineapple milkshake, I really can’t speak to the quality of the food on the menu, but it included burgers, fish sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, corn dogs, and chili dogs. I do know that it’s usually a very busy place which typically indicates good food. The pineapple milkshake was large, thick, and very refreshing. It was just what the doctor ordered for a muggy summer day.

The staff were friendly and attentive, and my shake was ready in just a matter of minutes. (I was there at 3 p.m. on a Sunday and it wasn’t crowded, but there was a steady flow of customers.)

I definitely want to try other items on their menu for my next visit.

There is no indoor seating from what I could see, but there was plenty of outdoor seating available. If that was full, you could certainly walk across the street to the Pine Valley County Park and find a place to sit there.

Pine Valley County Park

My employer has a facility in Pine Valley, and I’ve driven past the Pine Valley County Park multiple times and never really knew what was inside it. From Old Highway 80, you really don’t see much of the park, so I didn’t expect what was there. (Never judge a book by its cover.)

The park is much larger than I expected, with dozens of concrete picnic tables and grills scattered throughout. A few playgrounds were great escapes for the children playing in the park, and there was plenty of open space for them to run around and blow off some steam.

In additional to the playgrounds, there were horseshoe pits, tennis courts, basketball courts, and a combination soccer field / baseball diamond with artificial turf. I was impressed. There also were at least two public restroom buildings available at the park.

Pine Valley County Park participates in the Summer Movies in the Park program and, this week at 7 p.m. on 23 July 2021, they will be showing Raya and the Last Dragon. There is no fee.

Pine Valley Days – 30 & 31 July 2021

I happened to see a banner over Old Highway 80 running through town advertising Pine Valley Days, so I had to learn a little more about what the event involves.

This year, according to the East County Magazine:

The festivities begin with a deep pit barbecue on Friday night, July 30, with seasoned pork cooked 24 hours and brought to the Pine Valley Park for guests to savor along with side dishes; chicken is also available.
On Saturday morning July 31, the Pine Valley Days Parade rolls out at 9 a.m. along Old Highway 80 from the library to the middle school, followed by family fun festivities at the Pine Valley Park with activities for kids, live music and vendors.

It sounds like it could be a fun time for the family.

Pine Valley certainly can provide an escape from the city, whether you bring your own picnic lunch or choose to get something from Frosty Burger. It would make for an enjoyable weekend afternoon in the park.