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