Earth Fair 2014

Earth Fair 2014 was on Sunday April 27th. The fair is said to be the world`s largest environmental fair. It is free and held at Balboa Park. This is a celebration of products and ideas to benefit Mother Earth. San Diego`s Earth Fair is a wonderful place to see all types of interesting people in a beautiful outdoor setting. The weather is usually `San Diego Perfect` and there are lots of exhibitor giveaways. The food and entertainment options for adults and children are plentiful. This is well worth a visit and another way to Enjoy San Diego!
For more information visit www.earthdayweb.org

Olympic Training Center

The Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista is located on 155 acres adjacent to Lower Otay Reservoir. This is one of only 3 Olympic Training Centers in the United States. The other two are in Colorado Springs, Co. and Lake Placid, Ny. This is a beautiful complex with sweeping views of the mountains and reservoir. Olympic and Paralympic athletes can train here year round in near perfect weather. This facility houses training grounds for a variety of sports. It is open to the public and there is no admission fee. Enjoy!
For more information see www.teamusa.org/About-the-usoc

Balboa Park

Balboa Park is a San Diego landmark. The park houses many museums and the San Diego Zoo. There are gardens to explore and unique buildings to view. The park was first used on a large scale for the Panama-California Exposition in 1915. You may want to visit Balboa Park even if you do not go to a museum or the Zoo. This is a fun place to walk around on nearly any day of the year. You may even want to come when the park is having one of it`s many special events. Enjoy!
For more information see www.balboapark.org

Wilderness Gardens Preserve

Wilderness Gardens Preserve is a San Diego County Park in the San Luis Rey River Watershed. The entrance is located east of Interstate 15 (and Pala Casino) on Highway 76 in North San Diego County. The park is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Friday to Monday. This is a great place for a walk. The trail is level and hard packed so it is an easy hike. Enjoy!
For more information see  www.sdparks.org

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