La Jolla October 6, 2013

Sunday October 6, 2013 was clear and warm. We decided to take a look at San Diego from Mount Soledad. This is possibly the best view in San Diego. From Mount Soledad it seems that on a clear day, you can see forever and then some. There has been a cross on top of Mount Soledad since 1913. The current cross has been in place since 1954 and is currently a Korean War memorial site. There have been law suits filed to remove the cross since 1989, but it remains (at least for now). This is a wonderful location to visit on a clear day and take in the beauty of this area. For more information see www.soledadmemorial.com
In only a few short minutes from the cross, you can go to the La Jolla Farmers Market at Girard Avenue and Genter Street. The La Jolla Farmers Market is one of the best in San Diego County. It is on Sundays from 9 am to 1:00 pm. See www.lajollamarket.com
From the market we decided to take a walk along La Jolla Cove.

La Jolla Cove is a true treasure. `The Cove` as locals call it, is one of the very best swimming and diving beaches in the area. Sunday was a day of near perfect conditions with clear water, clear air and warm temperatures. Enjoy!
For more information see www.lajollabythesea.com/activities/beaches

La Jolla Shores Beach

La Jolla Shores or simply `The Shores` is probably the safest beach in San Diego County. The beach is about one mile long and runs from La Jolla Cove to Black`s Beach. The waves are usually small and this allows for easy access to the ocean for kayaks and boats. Yes, you can launch your small trailered boat here. The beach is extremely popular with kayakers. You can bring your own kayak or rent one from one of the retailers on Avenida De La Playa in the small business area of La Jolla Shores. This beach is great for locals and tourists alike. There are restaurants for every budget and a hotel if you plan to stay the night. This is also a popular dive spot for snorkelers and SCUBA. There is even a nice grassy area, a playground for kids and restrooms with outside showers. This is one of the best ways to Enjoy San Diego!
For more information visit  www.lajollabythesea.com/la-jolla-shores-beach

La Jolla Festival of the Arts

The La Jolla Festival of the Arts was June 22 and 23, 2013. For 27 years this event has showcased some fantastic art. The proceeds are used to help several charities. The event is held at UCSD on a beautiful grass field. There are booths set up by a variety of artists as well as several music stages and good selection of food and drink. This is one of the classiest events of it`s kind. The rows between displays are wide so people have plenty of room to wander around without feeling crowded. This is another way to Enjoy San Diego!
For more information visit  www.lajollaartfestival.org

South Park

South Park is that area of San Diego that is east of Balboa Park and south of North Park (imagine that). The area is comprised of mostly homes that were built in the early 1900s. Many of the homes have been lovingly restored. This is a great place to enjoy a walk and find some fun restaurants, bars and small shops. South Park has seen a surge in popularity and property values in the past 5 to 10 years. Last Saturday June 15th was the South Park Old House Fair. During this annual event, you have the opportunity to take tours of some of the old homes in the area. There is also a street fair with music, food and information about the area. South Park is always a good place to Enjoy San Diego!
For more information go to www.southparkscene.com

San Pascual Valley

The San Pascual Valley sits between Escondido to the north and Poway and Rancho Bernardo to the south.This is a rural section of the county with lots of open space. There are some homes on larger lots, but this is primarily an agricultural area. The valley is a great place for a drive in the county. San Pascual Valley is the home of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the San Dieguito River Park and the San Pascual Battlefield State Historic Park. If you feel like getting away from the city for a drive or hike, this may be the place. Enjoy!
For more information see www.sdzsafaripark.org or www.sdrp.org

Shelter Island

Shelter Island at San Diego Bay was originally constructed from sand dredged from the bottom of the bay to allow larger ships to navigate the bay. There are a number of great hotels and restaurants on Shelter Island and of course Humphrey`s By the Bay. Humphrey`s has concerts with some of the best performers in the world. It is a small outside venue with views to the bay. There is a new restaurant on Shelter Island Pier called Fathom Bistro, Bait and Tackle. As funky as the name is, the food and drinks are great. They have a good selection of beers and unique sausages, hot dogs and burgers. This is a fun place to have a drink and view the `Big Bay`. Enjoy!
For more information visit www.humphreysbythebay.com and www.fathombistro.com

Mount Soledad

Mount Soledad in La Jolla has some of the best panoramic views in San Diego County. The park and cross sit at just over 800 feet above sea level and views from every angle are spectacular. There has been a cross on Mount Soledad since 1913. Of course it has been rebuilt several times and has not been without controversy. The controversy stems from a religious symbol on public land. Regardless of your view on this matter you only need spend a few minutes here to appreciate the fantastic location. The drive up the hill will take you past many multi-million dollar homes. This is one of those places that you need to see to believe. Enjoy!
For more information go to www.soledadmemorial.com

Hillcrest Farmers Market

The Hillcrest Farmers Market has been around since 1997 and has become one of the largest in San Diego County. The market runs from 9:00am to 2:00pm Sundays. This farmers market is big, diverse and crowded. We think that the market is second only to Little Italy`s Mercato and are thankful that Little Italy`s is on Saturdays. If you like farmers markets, you will not be disappointed. Enjoy!
For more information go to www.hillcrestfarmersmarket.com

EarthFair 2013

EarthFair 2013 was on Sunday April 21 from 10:00am until 5:00pm at Balboa Park. Earthday is actually April 22 this year. This is billed as the largest annual environmental fair in the world. The event has been running for 24 years and takes over most of Balboa Park. There are lots of exhibits and of course food booths galore. You can find information on everything from solar energy to electric vehicles to waste management. The people watching is probably our favorite pastime at the fair. If you like a diverse group of people in a beautiful setting with typically wonderful weather and an abundance of information on how we can all improve the earth`s environment, this may be the event for you. Enjoy!
For more information see www.earthdayweb.org

Ramona Grassland Preserve

The Ramona Grasslands Preserve is a great place to take an easy day hike. The preserve is 3521 acres of open space that has well maintained hiking and horse trails. The trails are easy to hike and there are lots of animals and native vegetation to enjoy. This area is especially known as a great place to see hawks and other birds of prey. Many birds make this their winter home with January and February being peak months. In March and April the wild flowers show themselves. If you want to take a unique hike in one of San Diego`s newer parks, try Ramona Grasslands Preserve. Enjoy!
For more information see:
www.co.san-diego.ca.us/parks/
or
www.ramonatrails.org/news/headline2

Del Mar Beach March 2, 2013

The city of Del Mar has one of the best beaches in San Diego County. The north end is `dog beach` and continues south to Torrey Pines State Park. The residential area along the beach has some great homes that front the sand as well as restaurants and a nice grassy park. The city has been incorporated since July 15, 1959. The most recent 2010 census showed a population of 4161. The Del Mar Fair started in 1936 and the race track in 1937. This great city has a history of being a fun place to visit all year long. 

The above photos were taken from the patio of the Poseidon Restaurant on a nice day in early March. Enjoy this San Diego gem! For more information visit www.poseidonrestaurant.com and  www.delmar.ca.us                            

Del Mar Dog Show

Last weekend was the Silver Bay Kennel Club Dog Show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. This is a 3 day event that started on Friday February 22 and finished on Sunday February 24, 2013. This is one of the largest dog shows in the country and includes many different breeds. These are some of the most beautiful dogs that you will see anywhere. In addition to the competition there was a large assortment of vendors selling everything for you dog. If you like dogs, this is another way to Enjoy San Diego!
For more information see www.delmarfairgrounds.com/index.php?fuseaction=calendar.home&op=detail&pkid=1707

La Jolla

La Jolla is one of our favorite destinations in San Diego. This seven mile stretch of coastline within the City of San Diego has been a `jewel` for many years. The ocean water is normally more clear than other beaches in San Diego and is known as one of the best dive spots in Southern California. The homes in the area are some of the most expensive in the United States. Shopping, art and outdoor activities abound in La Jolla. The photos above show the wide range of wildlife that call La Jolla home and you will see a fantastic variety of marine life under the water also. This is one of the few places that the garibaldi damselfish can be seen in abundance. The garibaldi is the California marine state fish and is a protected species. La Jolla is a gem in so many ways and another place to Enjoy San Diego!
For more information see www.lajollabythesea.com and www.sandiego.gov/lifeguards/beaches/cove.shtml

Hawk Watch in Ramona

During the months of January and February Wildlife Research Institute in Ramona has Saturday morning `Hawk Watch` events. The event starts at 9:00am each Saturday and allows visitors the opportunity to see local and migratory hawks and falcons close up. This is a great way to see and photograph these amazing birds and learn more about them. The setting is at a facility that sits in an open grassland area. If you want to see hawks in their natural environment this is also a great venue. The open area has a large number of birds at this time of year. There are even a few bald eagles in the area. This is another way to Enjoy San Diego!
For more information got to www.wildlife-research.org

Little Italy

Little Italy in San Diego is one of our favorite neighborhoods. There is a great farmers market (mercato) from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturdays. The area has many restaurants and there always seems to be a special event in the works. Many of the residents still speak Italian and live the Old World Italian life in downtown San Diego. The harbor is nearby so the views are spectacular from many parts of Little Italy. Make sure to slow down and talk to the residents. This is another way to Enjoy San Diego!
For more information visit www.littleitalysd.com and www.littleitalymercato.com

Lake Hodges East Arm

Lake Hodges is a man made lake in north San Diego. The dam which is not visible from the 15 freeway was built in 1918.Rancho Bernardo is to the south and Escondido is just north. The eastern section of the lake may or may not have water depending on the rainfall. The area is a great place to hike, bike, fish and bird watch. There is a pedestrian bridge just west of the 15 freeway that is said to be the longest stressed ribbon bridge in the world. The bridge was built in 2009. Lake Hodges is part of the San Dieguito River Park that runs from the Pacific Ocean to the mountains. When the lake is full, fishing is good in this area. When the lake is low there are lots of birds and you may see freshwater clam shells. This is just another way to Enjoy San Diego!
For more information see www.sdrp.org and go to the resources tab.

Crystal Pier

Crystal Pier is located in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego. The pier was built in 1927 and the cottages were added in 1930. This is a fun place to take a walk when the surf is high. The pier moves with the large wave action. It is also the only place in the area that you can actually sleep above the ocean. The cottages are old, but are located just above the surf line and you will hear the surf all night. This is another place to Enjoy San Diego!
For more information see www.crystalpier.com