Friday, October 3rd, 2008
Along with the beaches La Jolla gives the San Diego
area, it also has some very nice caves. The caves
of La Jolla are great for tours, exploring, or
anyone wanting to see the best of La Jolla.
Carved into the sandstone cliffs of La Jolla, there
are seven caves. Most of the time, you can visit
any seven of these caves by sea kayak. Although
all but one are accessible by foot, you should be
very carefully when minus tides sweep the area.
The Sunny Jim Cave is one of the most popular and
well known caves of La Jolla. You can enter
through the Cave Store by paying a small fee. There
are 145 steep steps to get through the cave,
which is great for exploring and seeing the area.
The cave store can tell you many things about the
caves, including tours. If you plan to visit the
La Jolla area of San Diego, the caves can be a great
place to explore. Those of you who have kids coming
along for the trip, should remember to be very
careful – as the caves provide a lot of beauty -
they can also provide a lot of danger as well.
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Thursday, October 2nd, 2008
The Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego contains some of
the most extensive and dramatically designed
historic buildings in the area. Constructed between
1873 and 1930, these Victorian style buildings are
truly a sight to behold.
The Victorian era buildings found in the Gaslamp
Quarter are home to night clubs, restaurants,
theaters, and shops. A simple stroll down 4th
and 5th avenue will put you at the heart of the
Gaslamp Quarter.
Also found in the Gaslamp Quarter is the Horton
Plaza and Horton Plaza Park. The Plaza is the
first place in the United States to feature a water
fountain containing electric lights; a true
tribute to the designer Alonzo Horton.
The Gaslamp Quarter received its name from the
gaslamps that were used in the area around the early
1900′s. During those times, gaslamps were the
main source of light for the area that is now
the vision of Modern Day San Diego.
Now days, there are more than 130 stores and shops
filling the Gaslamp Quarter. With everything from
Macy’s to Mervyns, Gaslamp Quarter has plenty for
you to see and do. In Horton Plaza, you can find
a multi screen movie theater that is sure to please
movie lovers.
For a wonderful experience, the Gaslamp Quarter of
San Diego shouldn’t be overlooked. There is a lot
you can do here, from fine dining to excellent
shops. For a family vacation, San Diego has a
little bit of something for everyone.
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Wednesday, October 1st, 2008
Located in San Diego California, the Cabrillo National
Monument provides a historic lighthouse with plenty
of activities. There are great views here as well,
with tidepools, flora and fauna, whales to watch,
and even military history.
The Monument offers hiking along designated trails,
bicycling on paved roadways, and swimming within the
park boundaries. Fishing is permitted here as well,
with hook and line – although only one fish may be
taken. When walking the trails and exploring, make
sure to be on the lookout for cliff areas, as they
can be very unstable.
A lot of visitors come to the National Monument to
enjoy the breathtaking views of the San Diego Bay and
the Pacific Ocean. Because of this very reason, the
park has become of the best harbor views anywhere in
California – or the world for that matter!
The tidepools are great to see here as well, although
you should always be careful. Even though they are
great to admire, the surface may be very slippery.
Anytime you are in the San Diego area, a trip to
the Cabrillo National Monument is more than worth the
time. You can walk the trails, have fun, or just
enjoy the breathtaking views of San Diego that only
the Cabrillo National Monument can provide you with.
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Tuesday, September 30th, 2008
Visiting San Diego for the first time can be quite overwhelming,
especially when you consider that there are so many things you
can do. Deciding where to go and what to do can be quite time
consuming, which is where we can help. Below, you’ll find the 8
best spots in San Diego – things you simply must experience.
1. Hitting the beach.
No matter what season you visit, the beach is one area that
personifies the entire San Diego lifestyle. Whether your watching
the tide come in or soaking in the sun, the beach is where the
action is. From Mission Beach to the Belmont Park rollercoaster -
make sure you hit the beaches here.
2. Trying a fish taco.
Although it may sound a bit weird, the fish taco is one
of the best foods in San Diego. Deep fried, battered fish encased
in a corn tortilla is one of the foods that once you try it the
first time – you’ll crave anytime you come back!
3. Going to Mexico.
It’s no secret that San Diego borders Mexico, with Tijuana
being a metropolis in its own right. Visting Tijuana or Baja Mexico
is perfectly safe day or night, no matter what you have heard. Keep
in mind that they have their own laws, bring your passport, then
enjoy everything that this foreign paradise will provide you with.
4. Take a ride on the trolley.
San Diego doesn’t have the best public transit system, yet
they do have the well known trolley. The highways here can be quite
intimidating, making the trolley the ideal way to travel. If you
want to learn more about the city, simply buy an all day trolley
pass – you’ll see more of San Diego this way than you ever thought
possible.
5. Visiting the Pandas.
While Sea World and Legoland has their share of animals, the
San Deigo zoo is no stranger to Pandas. The zoo is a tourist attraction,
with the baby Su Lin, which is quite a feast for the eyes. When you
visit the San Diego Zoo, visit in the morning – when the pandas are
most active.
6. Balboa Park.
After you check out the pandas, take a trip to the jewel of
the city – Balboa Park. The atmosphere is breathtaking here, no matter when you visit. If you visit on Tuesdays however; you’ll find that most museums have free admission. After you visit a while, dine at the Prado Restauraunt and experience great food in a great setting.
7. Gaslamp and the nightlife.
The Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego is the place to be
for dancing, eating, or just people watching. You can experience the
best of life in San Diego here, with food to fit every taste.
8. The Old Town.
While historical San Diego isn’t always apparent, a visit to the
Old Town State Historic Park can bring back the past. There are snippets of Old San Diego found everywhere you look here. Although there are many fine restaurants here, make sure you visit the Old Town Mexican Cafe, as it serves the best Mexican food around San Diego.
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Monday, September 29th, 2008
One of the biggest and most attractive features to
San Diego is Sea World. Sea World is one of the most
popular amusement parks and also happens to be one of
the main reasons behind tourists. Anyone who visits
San Diego has the intentions to visit Sea World – or
at least they should.
Being famous for Shamu the killer whale, Sea World has
the ability to entertain kids and adults for hours.
There are many different animal shows here as well,
along with other amusement park thrills. While Shamu
is a must see, there are other animals here as well,
that you simply have to see.
Sea World also offers an exciting dolphin interaction
program where you can get in the water and play with
the dolphins. This is a great learning experience,
especially for those who love dolphins. Dolphins are
an integral part of Sea World, as there are literally
hundreds of them here.
Once you visit Sea World, you’ll go below the surface
and see life that you may have never before thought
possible. You can feed the dolphins and other mammals,
even count the teeth that a shark has! When you
consider what Sea World has to offer, you simply can’t
compare it to any other amusement park.
On the entertainment side of things, Sea World offers
a haunted lighthouse and several other rides and shows
for you to see. You can even get an all day pass here,
which is great for anyone who is wanting to enjoy all
that Sea World has to offer.
New to Sea World is Believe. This is a new show that
will show you Shamu like never before. It’s a journey
of wonder and magic that you simply must see to believe
and appreciate.
No matter what season of the year you visit, you’ll be
happy to know that Sea World is open year round. It
does close on major holidays though, which isn’t really
a bad thing. As long as you don’t visit on a holiday
you can pretty much expect Sea World to be open.
On a vacation, Sea World in San Diego will have something
to please everyone. The kids will have plenty to do
here, while you experience things that interest you as
well. The neighboring areas to Sea World have plenty
to offer you as well, from dining to many different
sights to see.
When the time comes for you to go on vacation you
shouldn’t pass up Sea World. It’s in a great location
with plenty of activities and things to see. Sea World
can show you the creatures of the sea like never
before – which is reason enough to go.
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Sunday, September 28th, 2008
Aside from the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Wild
Animal Park is the best place in San Diego to see
animals. Over the spread of 1,800 acres, the animal
park gives animals the room they need to roam and
play. The animals here play just like they do in
the wild, which almost makes you feel as if you
are in their native of Africa and Asia.
Throughout the 30 year history of the animal park,
the Noah’s Ark symbol of endangered species has grown
to dozens upon dozens of animals. Now, every Arabian
Oryx found in the wild is the descendant stock from the
San Diego Wild Animal Park.
In the park, there are many different paths you can
take to visit the smaller animal exhibits. Although
the smaller animals are a sight to see, the main
thing to see is the hour long trip on the Bush Line
Railway. Along the railway, you’ll see animals that
you’d never get the chance of seeing anywhere else,
such as the white rhino and the rhinoceros.
If you plan to visit the park in the summer, it’s
always a good idea to visit early. On a normal summer
day, ten – fifteen thousand people will visit the
park. During the winter, the ratio is down as
normally 2,000 people will visit. Although it’s much
colder in the winter, the park is less frequent with
people looking to see the animals the park offers.
You can find the animal park 32 miles north of
Escondido in San Diego. The park is in a peaceful
area, which makes things a lot better for the animals
that live there.
When visiting in the summer, it’s a great idea to walk
a while, then take the railway. After you have took
the railway a bit, you can walk some more. It’s also
good to take plenty of sunscreen with you as well, as
summer at the park can get very hot. Water is great
as well, simply because the summer in California can
be a bit of a scorcher.
The San Diego Wild Animal Park is ran by the San Diego
Zoological Society. The society also runs the San
Diego Zoo, which is one of the most popular animal
parks in the entire world. With the park and the zoo,
the society does more than its part to bring the
best of seeing the animals to you.
The next time you are in San Diego or if you are
visiting for the first time, the Wild Animal Park is
a great place to visit. You can check out some truly
endangered species and learn more about the types of
animals that you’ll see in this once in a lifetime
opportunity.
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Saturday, September 27th, 2008
It’s no secret to anyone that the coast of San Diego
is the ideal place to watch the annual migration of
the gray whale. Looked upon as one of nature’s ultimate
spectacles; the migration of gray whales is nothing
short of breathtaking. The coastline of San Diego is
one of their migratory points as they travel from the
waters of the Arctic to the warmer regions of the Baja
(California), where females also give birth.
Every year, roughly 26,000 gray whales will make the
long journey of 10,000+ miles from the Arctic to the Baja
and back. If you look at this journey and compare it to
any other mammal, you’ll notice that the gray whale by
far has the greatest amount of traveling at hand.
If you’ve never experienced whale watching, you’ll be
happy to know that anyone will find it memorable – young
or old. Spotting a gray whale along the coastline is
something that is truly a memorable moment, making you
stop for a second and truly appreciate these awesome
mammals.
If you ask the Birch Aquarium in San Diego, you’ll find
that gray whales are seen most frequently from December
through March. While they travel in dozens normally,
it’s nothing to see pods of them (2 – 3) as they travel
during migration. Throughout the coast of San Diego,
you can easily spot these whales as they are somewhat
slow swimmers.
During their swimming, they will normally dive to a depth
of 100 feet or more for a few minutes, then surface and
blow. Then, they will do a few shallow dives, before
making that deep dive again. When watching whales, figuring
out this pattern makes the success of watching them all
the more fun and exciting.
While there are many common places to watch whales,
nothing seems to compare to the excitement of watching them
from aboard a cruise. There are many cruises that take
place in San Diego, many of which offer unbeatable deals.
From H&M Landing to the Birch Aquarium, cruises are some of
the best ways to see the beauty and tranquility of the
traveling gray whales.
The beauty of the gray whales can also be seen from many
points of the San Diego coast, including the Cabrillo
National Monument on Point Loma or the cliffs of Torrey Pines
State Beach. Along these points, you can see the whales as
they make their travels.
Whether it’s a cruise or just watching from the coast, whale
watching in San Diego is something you truly have to see to
appreciate. You can take your kids, family, or even your
friends. Whale watching can definately be exciting, all you
have to do is plan your day and enjoy everything that the
beauty of the gray whale will provide you with.
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Friday, September 26th, 2008
As vast as the San Diego harbor is, a simple walk
around it doesn’t do it justice! To partake in the
beauty that is San Diego Harbor, you need to take a
tour of the bay. San Diego Harbor Excursion can
help you do that, as they are the most established
tour company throughout the bay.
As a guest, they will treat you with as one of them,
helping to bring your cruise to life. There are
a few parts to the tour, ensuring that you get the
most out of your time on the cruise.
Tour of the North Bay
On your tour of the North Bay, you’ll see the North
Island Naval Air Station, Shelter Islands, and even
the Naval Sub Base. If you look closely, you’ll
also be able see the Cabrillo National Monument as
well.
The tour of the North Bay is around 12 miles in length
and lasts about an hour. This is a fine tour for
anyone interested in the Navy as well. During your
tour the guides will explain everything to you as
you see it. This way, you’ll always know what’s going
on.
Tour of the South Bay
Your tour of the South Bay consists of the Star of
India, the Naval surface fleet, Coronado Bay Bridge,
and the shipyards. This is a very busy and hectic
area, which makes a tour excellent to see everything
that this area has to offer.
The tour of South Bay is roughly 12 miles in length
and also lasts around an hour. The guides will explain
things here to you as well, ensuring that you know
exactly what you are seeing.
Tour of the Bay
Those of you who are looking to see it all should go
for the deluxe tour of the entire bay. You’ll see
everything covered in the North and South Bay, along
with everything else the bay has to offer. The tour
is around 25 miles in length and lasts around 2 hours.
To get started on your tour, all you need to do is
contact the Harbor Excursion. The price for the tour
is very reasonable, considering everything you’ll be
seeing.
If you happen to live in San Diego, taking the tour is
easier than ever. Those of you who are visiting or on
vacation should give the tour a shot as well. This way
you’ll get to experience everything that San Diego Bay
has to offer you without having to walk around. And
best of all – tour guides will explain the sights to
you – so you’ll never miss a second.
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