One of the things I love about Fallbrook is that it is not like the rest of Southern California.

There is a freeway close by, but it doesn't run through the middle of town.

There are a couple of shopping centers, but they are far outnumbered by our groves and fields and wildlife preserves.

Either you love the fact that we're a half-hour from city life or you don't.

Regardless, if you live here, it makes sense to go out and enjoy the fresh air.

Get pebbles in your shoes, come home smelling like sage.

What good is being 20 minutes away from the nearest shopping mall if you don't take advantage of the tranquility once in a while?

Last week, it was time to practice what I preach.

For years, I have heard people talk about how much they enjoy hiking in De Luz ---- from the director of the Fallbrook Land Conservancy to friends who live out in the hills north of Fallbrook.

But until last week, I had only ever been on one short walk along the Santa Margarita River.

I assumed that any outdoor experience that does not take you out of cell phone range could not be truly peaceful. How wrong I was.

From the trailhead off Sandia Creek Road on Monday morning, my wife and I headed east along a dusty path. We were passed by a group of horseback riders, and saw evidence of coyotes and other critters along the way.

A few hundred yards from the parking lot, the trail splits, with one course heading left across the river and one skirting the base of the hills to the right.

We went right.

A few minutes later, I stood in admiration before a stand of trees with red and yellow leaves falling to the ground.

Someone must have forgotten to tell them we don't do seasons in Southern California.

According to a sign posted at the trailhead, there are seven interconnected trails that weave through the valley, linking an equestrian staging area about a mile north of downtown Fallbrook to the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve farther upstream.

I like the idea of someday walking the entire length of the 5.8-mile River Loop Trail, but on Monday, we only made it about a quarter-mile up the south side of the river.

There, the trail runs along a shelf about 20 feet above the river, and you could hear the water running over rocks.

Signs of civilization were few and small: an occasional beer can floating in the water, Red Mountain off in the distance, the straight lines of an avocado grove on a hillside across the valley.

It was a beautiful spot, the kind you expect to find only after hours of driving.

For one thing, it made me glad that we have volunteers and organizations in Fallbrook dedicated to maintaining trails for us to explore.

The land conservancy owns almost 2,000 acres of preserves in the greater Fallbrook area, and its Web site estimates that 10,000 people visit them annually.

Another thing is that it reinforced my desire to see more of Fallbrook, because even though I've spent most of my life here, I realized last week that I am still unacquainted with a large portion of it.

Near the end of our hike, I pulled out my cell phone to confirm a lingering suspicion.

Indeed, full service (thank you, Red Mountain). I could have ordered a pizza or checked my e-mail if I wanted to, but I didn't.

Back on Sandia Creek Road, I switched off the radio and rolled down the windows.

Fresh air, pebbles in your shoes and a safe distance from city life: These are all things I highly recommend, and they can all be found right here, in Fallbrook.

Contact Tom at fallbrooktown@gmail.com.