Are there any viable public transportation options to get from North Park to Escondido? I'm trying to avoid renting a car on our upcoming San Diego trip.
Getting to Stone's main facility in Escondido via public transit would be a serious pain...you could probably do it via some combination of the bus, Coaster, and Sprinter, but it would take a huge chunk of time and honestly isn't worth it. The newer Stone facility in Liberty Station, however, would be a fairly easy cab ride (roughly $25 each way) or roughly an hour each way taking the bus.
For shits and giggles, I ran the trip from North Park to Escondido via Google Maps' public transit directions - best case is about 2 hours each way, and that's on weekdays. On weekend, it will be roughly 3 hours each way as everything runs less frequently.
there's a rail stop that you can walk from to Stone but it's a good 25+ minute walk with a steep hill. you'd be better off planning a beer tour along the north/south "Coaster" rail line, which would include PP Solana Beach, PP Carlsbad, Stone Oceanside (maybe Break Water Brewing if you want), and then if you want to really go the distance there is an east/west rail line from Oceanside that would fairly easily get you to Mother Earth in Vista and Lost Abbey in San Marcos.
Unless you think you must see the original as part of your pilgrimage, or are going to be in the Escondido area anyway for other reasons (e.g. Lost Abby, Rip Current, Churchill's, etc.), I strongly suggest you go to the Stone World Gardens & Bistro in Liberty Station instead (that is very, very close to the airport). It's closer, an easier trip, and the beer and food is more or less the same.
there is a stop RIGHT in front of the brewery! greg himself has known to use it sometimes http://www.brewerytoursofsandiego.com/dailytours.html this is your best option!!
Yeah, I'll add that its going to be either expensive or impractical time-wise to do anything in this town without a car. Our transit exists, but its not up to the standard of practically anywhere else. You certainly *can* arrange your trip to fit in cab rides and such, but that usually means visiting breweries that are all close to each other, e.g. Ballast Point Scripps Ranch/Green Flash/Alesmith or Port/Rip Current/Stone Escondido. Not to mention the Escondido location isn't even the "original" location anyways. The original location doesn't even exist anymore; its where Port Brewing/Lost Abbey is right now.
