Archive for
2007
November 1st, 2007 by amy c
Old Town
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San Diego’s Old Town exudes Cal-Mex culture with mariachi bands, margaritas, and markets that feature traditional hand-made Mexican arts and crafts. An afternoon in Old Town will take you back to the days of California’s first European settlement and offer a taste of traditional Mexican cuisine.
The Junipero Serra Museum, created in 1929 to commemorate the first mission established by Father Junipero Serra and Captain Gaspar de Portola, features artifacts from the Native American, Spanish, and Mexican periods.
Frequented by the ghost of San Diego pioneer, Thomas Whaley, the historic Whaley House is said to be the most haunted house in America, gaining world-famous stature for several paranormal incidents experienced by the visitors. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, you’ll appreciate the beautiful architecture and rich history that has made this house a San Diego landmark since 1857.
No Old Town excursion is complete without a taste of the traditional Mexican flavors that have seasoned California cuisine. I recommend El Agave, to get an intoxicating Mexican experience with its variety of fresh seafood, traditional dishes, including “moles” which utilize a wide array of surprising and complementary spices, and their selection of over a hundred tequilas. Not only does the food make this restaurant worthy of its “Best Mexican Restaurant in San Diego” title, but the rustic decor and outside seating will give you the feeling you are dining in a Mexican palace.
Check back for ways to enjoy another one of San Diego’s historical neighborhoods: Coronado Island!
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October 31st, 2007 by amy c
Wednesday, October 31
: Today is your last day to experience the bone-chilling Halloween adventure of Balboa Park!
Saturday, November 3
: The perfect time to explore Old Town is during their weekly market, featuring live music, food, art, and gifts.
Sunday, November 4
: The Maritime Museum of San Diego, celebrates the history of San Diego’s maritime past with this recreation of sail warfare.
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San Diego?
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October 31st, 2007 by carrie t
If you’ve been to San Diego, I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s “America’s most hospitable city” (in fact, readers of Conde Nast Traveler voted San Diego in their top 10 US cities!). The locals are great people, and the entire city has been united through the recent tragedy.
San Diegans have opened up their homes and their hearts for each other to accommodate the 900,000+ evacuees last week. There is no doubt that the city will recover quickly and become stronger than ever.
San Diego thrives from the tourism here so look for great travel specials over the next few months as San Diego rebuilds!
Planning a trip to
San Diego?
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October 30th, 2007 by susan j
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One of the (very few) downsides of going on vacation is trying to keep up your exercise and healthy eating habits on the go (just ask my abs after I took a week-long Caribbean cruise earlier this year, 24 hour buffets and $4 drink specials are tough to resist!). That’s why we’ve compiled a few helpful suggestions for keeping in shape on your trip to southern California:
If you’re up for an adventure, then you could rent a kayak and bike to go exploring. You’ll get a great workout as you see sights including the Gaslamp District, Mission Bay, and more.
For some lighter exercise paired with sightseeing, try the Hotel Del Coronado Walking Tour. This legendary seaside resort offers unique architectural charm and gorgeous views.
has even more ideas for keeping in shape on vacation. Their guides cover dozens of cities in the United States and Canada, and they even offer a as a free preview. Now you have no excuse for not staying active on your trip!
Planning a trip to
San Diego?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Diego Card.
October 29th, 2007 by susan j
Over the weekend, fire crews managed to contain all fires within city limits. The air quality has improved and tourist attractions have reopened for business. Click here for from the city of San Diego’s website.
And now for more good news… several airlines including American Airlines, , Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and US Airways have opted to waive flight-change fees for those impacted by the fires, saving passengers up to $100 each. Speaking of airlines, word on the jetway is that Virgin America will be adding flights to San Diego in the near future, giving tourists yet another option for traveling to San Diego. Happy travels!
Planning a trip to
San Diego?
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Go San Diego Card.
October 26th, 2007 by carrie t
California sunset
Photo by Carrie Tayloe
As of yesterday, the wildfires are slowing down and many are already fully contained. There are still plenty of places to go in this area that have not been affected at all.
In San Diego, tourists can still go sightseeing throughout the waterfront, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla. The air quality can be poor at times so if you are planning to visit this weekend, you might want to plan to stay indoors for a decent amount of the time.
Throughout Southern California, the winds constantly shift throughout the day, but typically at worst there is haze and a very dry heat. The temperature has dropped considerably, and in addition the Santa Ana winds have died down, so things are already much better!
Many people have expressed an interest in volunteering to help. If you live close by, you can volunteer through the American Red Cross. If you are not local, your donations are greatly needed to help all of the people that are currently evacuated from their homes or lost their homes already.
However, the best way you can help us rebuild in Southern California is to come here for vacation! Look for travel specials online through Travelocity and other online operators. Remember that most of the beach areas in San Diego were not affected so once the smoke clears (by early next week), San Diego will be back in business. Don’t cancel your holiday plans to come and enjoy our beaches!
If you’re here in Socal, you’ll notice there are amazing sunrises and sunsets this week. This is due to the fact that the ash and smoke in the air scatters out the light from the sun and magnifies the hues. It’s quite beautiful and if you’re up close to the ocean you’ll see the waves sparkling with a rainbow of colors. Above is a photo taken from Manhattan Beach on Tuesday evening.
For updates on the fires San Diego, please check out www.SanDiego.org.
Planning a trip to
San Diego?
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October 25th, 2007 by amy c
This is not the week to visit San Diego. More than a thousand homes have been destroyed and thousands of people evacuated due to the wildfires in San Diego County, making this the state’s largest fires since 2003, which made California history.
SignOnSanDiego.com and The San Diego Beat offer up to the minute coverage of new developments in the San Diego Wildfire emergency to inform you about evacuations, traffic, highway closures, and safety information.
Planning a trip to
San Diego?
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Go San Diego Card.
October 24th, 2007 by jamie a
photo uploaded by Gary J. Wood
A botanical wonder just to the north of San Diego, this park is home to many of the city’s museums. Balboa Park was established in 1886, so you can enjoy the Spanish colonial architecture that most of the modern buildings have also followed. Along the El Prado pedestrian mall, you can spend the day hopping from one attraction to the next!
Start off by spending some time at the San Diego Zoo, rated one of the best in the world. With more than 4,000 animals, you can meet creatures from every corner of the globe. Known for their Giant Panda Research Station, you can stop by and meet Gao Gao, Bai Yun, and little Mei Sheng, the resident pandas.
Be sure to visit the Japanese Friendship Garden, built in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition. Experience the beautiful Zen design of this garden, complete with sand and stone gardens, koi ponds, and a shishiodoshi, a bamboo pipe waterfall that is meant to scare away evil spirits.
With more than 9,000 images chronicling the art of photography, the Museum of Photographic Arts is a sure stop for any shutterbug. Tackling the political, social, and cultural topics of the art, this museum provides a wonderful all-inclusive view of the medium. From September 15, 2007 to January 13, 2008, you can see the exhibition entitled Picturing Eden, a study of all things related to the idea of paradise.
For a luxurious dinner in the heart of Balboa Park, make a reservation at The Prado. Known for his unique California cuisine, chef Jeff Thurston is a risk-taker. With stunning architecture and atmosphere, enjoy a lovely dinner on the patio overlooking the park.
An exact replica of Shakespeare’s original theater, The Old Globe is a Tony award-winning regional theater. There are a dozen performances a year at this magnificent venue, with a Shakespeare Festival that delights audiences every summer. For all the thespians in the group, there’s even a backstage tour!
For even more excellent attractions, be sure and look through our expansive list of museums!
Planning a trip to
San Diego?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Diego Card.
October 23rd, 2007 by amy c
photo uploaded by Advencap
No vacation to San Diego is complete without a trip to California’s famous long stretches of coastline, speckled with surfers all year long. Whether you’re a seasoned surfer, looking to learn, or just want to check out the locals riding the “gnarly” waves, San Diego has a beach for you.
So you’ve never been on a surfboard in your life… You can still get a taste of California surf culture (and perhaps a few gulps of salty sea water) at Mission Beach, home to a two mile stretch of white sand that attracts bronzed crowds for sun bathing and water sports. The mild waves offer a gentle initiation to the Pacific as does Endless Summer Adventure’s surf lessons.
For the surfing novice… So, you know how to navigate the tide and maybe you’ve been on a surfboard once or twice, then La Jolla Shores is the perfect place to hone your surfing skills on smaller, gentler waves in an area specified just for surfing. (This way you can avoid navigating around pesky swimmers or waders.)
For the full blown surfing beach bum…Windansea Beach: Hard breaking waves crash right at shoreline on a scenic strip of soft sand that meets gently sloping hills, covered in greenery. Windansea Beach embodies both classic California beauty in the heart of Palm Tree-covered La Jolla, and a challenge for surfers looking for an exhilarating meeting with the chilly Pacific Ocean. Even if the surf proves to be too rough, you can always take a break on the sand and admire the rip curl action (not to mention ripped abs) of the local surfers.
Just steps away from the surf on Mission Beach is Belmont Park where you can experience one of the last remaining beach front amusement parks, satisfy that surfing-induced craving for fair food, and stock up on California beach apparel at the various surf shops.
Check back for more ways to enjoy the San Diego coastline!
Planning a trip to
San Diego?
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October 22nd, 2007 by jamie a
Comfort Inn & Suites at the Zoo
Photo courtesy of Hotels.com
Whether you’re traveling with your furry four-legged friend or with your three kids, we’ve got your bases covered on finding the right hotel in San Diego.
For family…
Just 3 miles from Sea World and the San Diego Zoo, the Comfort Inn & Suites at the Zoo is great for family traveling. It’s also near Old Town and Mission Beach for outdoor fun! The kids will enjoy the deluxe complimentary breakfast to start their day out right as well as the beautiful outdoor pool.
For pets…
The pet-friendly Dana Hotel on Mission Bay is wonderful for those traveling with their pets. It has beautiful waterfront views and is less than a mile from the beach. You can also check out San Diego’s Wild Animal Park, which is minutes away. A complimentary shuttle also runs from the hotel to the airport, Amtrak, and Sea World.
For business…
The Sofia Hotel, just 8 minutes from the airport, is perfect for any business traveler. With top-speed internet connections, a 24-hour business center, and meeting rooms to suit any need, it is also steps from downtown. With the Gaslamp Quarter, Museum of Contemporary Art, and Rock Bottom Brewery close by, you can even have time for some fun!
For a romantic trip…
Voted one of the top ten resorts in the world, the Hotel Del Coronado is perfect for a romantic getaway. Known for having incredible beaches and stunning views of the Pacific, this hotel is also served as the backdrop for the film Some Like It Hot, starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon. Enjoy the best brunch in San Diego in the famed Crown Room, with chandeliers designed by L. Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz.
Planning a trip to
San Diego?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go San Diego Card.
