Want to rock the night and party Gaslamp style? Join the rocking jamboree called Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp Quarter on 21st February, 2012. Always celebrated on a Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras is a hugely popular event that attracts thousands of revellers each year. Imagine people clad in colorful costumes, music, dance and the bonhomie. Wouldn’t you like to be a part of it?

If you have never attended Mardi Gras, you have missed one of the most colorful carnival parties celebrated in the streets of the historic district of San Diego – Gaslamp Quarter.

Mardi Gras will begin at 6pm and continue till midnight at the Fifth Avenue in Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego. Be a part of this fabulous outdoor celebration where you can enjoy a spectacular grand masquerade parade, groove to the music by the top Electronic and international DJ’s present there, enjoy LIVE music performances by bands, have cold beverages and collect as many beads as you can. There will be street performers throughout the Gaslamp Quarter to entertain people.

Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp Quarter never stops before midnight whether rain or shine. Proceeds from the event will also benefit the Gaslamp Quarter Association.

If you are on a vacation to San Diego in February, attend this event to have the time of your life. In order to make the most of your stay in San Diego, try to choose a good San Diego lodging.

Ideally located in Clairemont Mesa Blvd, California Suites Hotel is the leading budget San Diego hotel from where Gaslamp Quarter, and various other tourist hotspots such as Old Town, La Jolla, Balboa Park are nearby. This makes it easy for guests to commute to different destinations without wasting much time on traffic and parking.

Always believing in customer’s satisfaction, California Suites Hotel provides fine facilities which includes continental breakfast, spa, heated outdoor swimming pool, free parking, Internet access, laundry facilities, cable with HBO, 24 hour security and more.

Photo Courtesy: sandiego-answers.com

Lots of interesting events keep taking place in San Diego throughout the year. Here are some of the events which will take place in the month of February:

Nations of San Diego International Dance Festival

Are you fond of dancing? Then do attend the Nations of San Diego International Dance Festival. It is going to take place from 10^th to 12^th February, 2012 at the Coronado High Performing Arts Center in Coronado. Over 150 talented dancers and musicians from all over the world will participate in the event. You can check out around 18 traditional performances from different countries such as Sahar Dance Company from Middle East, World Music Odissi Dance Academy from India, Bollywood Tranz from India, Flamenco Arana from Spain,Blue Ming Chinese Dance Company from China and more. If you are really inclined towards dancing, don’t miss this event.

Mexican Modern Painting

Are you inclined towards paintings and arts and crafts? Then Mexican Modern Painting exhibition is a must for you. Set to take place till 19^th February, 2012 at the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park, this exhibition showcases paintings from the renowned Andres Blaisten Collection during the period of 1907 and 1962. You can check out the works of various artists such as Maria Izquierdo, David Alfaro and more.

So if you are planning to come to San Diego, make sure to choose a good affordable San Diego hotel and book your rooms in advance.

California Suites Hotel is the leading budget hotel in San Diego which offers unbeatable rates for all the its facilities to make guests feel at home. Enjoy the heated outdoor swimming pool and spa tub, continental breakfast, laundry facilities and well furnished rooms equipped with microwave, Internet access, refrigerator and more.

From the California Suites Hotel, various other top hotspots are nearby. This will make it easy for you to commute to the venue.

Photo Courtesy: indianetzone.com

The 39th Annual California Open Wildlife Art Festival and Decoy Carvers Competition will take place on February 11 & 12, 2012 from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm at the McMillan Event Center in beautiful San Diego, CA.

California Open Wildlife Art Festival will feature more than 150 artists and carvers, many of whom will compete for ribbons.

Artists and wood carvers from the United States, Canada and Japan will showcase their work. Featured work will include the traditional hunting decoy, considered an American art form.

Carvers are encouraged to freely express themselves and not be limited by rules. In an effort to simplify the rules and encourage competition, yet still attempt to honor the spirit of the classic working decoy.

This festival is organized by Pacific Southwest Wildlife Art. The PSWA has taylored the event and rules to be as follows:

• Enter what you have made and use for hunting.
• Decoys must self right and have a means of anchor attachment.
• Judges will emphasize simplicity and field markings.

Other than 1st, 2nd and 3rd BOS, all other entries will be available for sale to the public for $175. These carvers will receive $150 and PSWA will retain $25.00.

If you are planning to attend the California Open Wildlife Art Festival in San Diego, check out California Suites Hotel.

California Suites Hotel is the leading budget hotel in San Diego which offers unbeatable rates for all the its facilities to make guests feel at home.

Enjoy the heated outdoor swimming pool and spa tub, continental breakfast, laundry facilities and well furnished rooms equipped with microwave, Internet access, refrigerator and more.

During winters when most of the regions become unbearably cold, San Diego offers a respite from chilly cold and gives you a wonderful opportunity to run along the beautiful route and enjoy the lovely views of the coastline.

Come, be a part of it!

Source:
www.pswa.net/
www.iwfca.com/

Photo Courtesy: zvents.com

Set for January 23rd – 29th, originally known simply as the San Diego Open – the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament has had many corporate sponsors since its inception in 1952 and was also associated with a celebrity host in its storied past – that was then called the Andy Williams San Diego Open.

There have been some great champions over the years who’ve won the San Diego Open like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tommy Bolt, and more recently Davis Love, Phil Mickelson, and John Daly.

The tournament is played at the Torrey Pines Golf Course, located on the coastal bluffs of the Torrey Pines Mesa in La Jolla, CA which is a Southern California coastal community. Torrey Pines Golf Course is about a 20 minute drive from downtown San Diego. Both Torrey Pines golf courses are Championship 18-hole golf courses and are played by the PGA TOUR professionals during the Buick Invitational of California held each year in January or February.

General parking this year will be available only at Qualcomm Stadium and Del Mar Show Park. Patrons will be shuttled continuously throughout the day from these two locations to the golf course.

So if you are planning to come to San Diego, make sure to choose a good affordable San Diego hotel and book your rooms in advance for this prestigious event.

Located within 15 minutes from the Golf venue, California Suites Hotel is the leading budget hotel in San Diego which offers unbeatable rates. Enjoy the heated outdoor swimming pool and spa tub, continental breakfast, laundry facilities and well furnished rooms equipped with microwave, Internet access, refrigerator, free parking and more.

Photo Courtesy: centuryclubofsandiego.org

Do you enjoy running and jogging? How about running along sandy beaches and through the picturesque Carlsbad Village on your San Diego vacation? It will be a heady experience.

Set to take place on 22nd January, 2012, the Carlsbad Marathon & Half Marathon attracts participants from all over the world. More than 10,000 runners and walkers are expected to take part in the event not only from the USA but also from various other countries.

There will be two races. One is the 26.2 mile course and the other is 13.1-mile. Both marathons will begin and end at the Westfield Plaza Camino Real, Carlsbad. While the Carlsbad Marathon will flag off at 6 a.m., the Half Marathon will begin at 7:30 a.m.

The participants will run along the Oceanfront Pacific Coast Highway, lagoons, sun-kissed beaches and through the beautiful Carlsbad Village. If you get tired or need any help, there will be support stations to help you catch your breath. Plus at every mile, there will be LIVE bands to motivate you to carry on. Apart from all this, the breathtakingly beautiful views of Pacific Ocean are sure to lift your spirits. There will be scores of spectators and volunteers along the course to cheer you on.

The Tri-City Medical Center Carlsbad Marathon also helps to raise money to support various charities. Participating in this marathon will not only be fun but will help a social cause.

San Diego is at its charming best during winters. New Year celebrations may have ended but the number of tourists coming to San Diego in January has not dipped. So if you are planning to come to San Diego, make sure to choose a good affordable San Diego hotel and book your rooms in advance.

California Suites Hotel is the leading budget hotel in San Diego which offers unbeatable rates for all the its facilities to make guests feel at home. Enjoy the heated outdoor swimming pool and spa tub, continental breakfast, laundry facilities and well furnished rooms equipped with microwave, Internet access, refrigerator and more.

From the California Suites Hotel, Carlsbad and various other top hotspots are nearby. This will make it easy for you to commute to the venue.

During winters when most of the regions become unbearably cold, San Diego offers a respite from chilly cold and gives you a wonderful opportunity to run along the beautiful route and enjoy the lovely views of the coastline. So be a part of it!

Photo Courtesy: activemug.com

Join hundreds of football lovers on 28th December, 2011 at 5 p.m as the Holiday Bowl kicks off at the Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego. Teams from the Pac-12 conference and the Big 12 conference will compete against each other in a pulse-racing match.

The match will be aired on ESPN as well as broadcast on ESPN Radio Network. But as we said in our previous posts, what is the fun of watching such an interesting match on television. The excitement is in being there at the stadium, shouting, screaming and cheering for your favorite team.

Holiday Bowl is an annual college football bowl game that has been played in San Diego, since 1978. After Bridgepoint Education replaced Pacific Life as the Holiday bowl’s title sponsor in the year 2010, Holiday Bowl is officially known as the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl.

A large number of football fans are expected to attend the game, and hence getting parking at the Qualcomm Stadium will be tough. If you plan to drive to the stadium, be there as early as possible. The parking lot at the stadium will open at 8 a.m. Best is if you try to carpool with some people so it saves parking space. The stadium parking lot is expected to close almost two hours before the match begins.

If you don’t have a car or can’t rent one; then come either by a bus or a trolley. It is advisable that you find out alternative traffic routes when attending the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl as Interstate 15 to Friars Rd will remain congested due to heavy traffic and major delays.

You can buy the tickets for the 34th annual Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl from the bowl’s ticket office at Qualcomm Stadium – Gate A, or by calling (619) 283-5808. You can also purchase tickets through TicketMaster.com. But keep in mind that Ticketmaster tickets do not qualify for annual recurring memberships, so those who wish to become members should call or visit the Holiday Bowl office directly.

If you are coming all the way to San Diego to attend the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl, prefer to stay in a hotel in San Diego from where Qualcomm Stadium is nearby.

Located in Clairemont Mesa Blvd, California Suites Hotel is a Value Price Leader among budget San Diego hotels. Qualcomm Stadium and other major tourist hotspots are hardly a short drive away from the hotel. This will enable you to reach at the Qualcomm Stadium early and get easy parking.

Known for impeccable services, California Suites Hotel provides continental breakfast, heated outdoor spa and pool, high speed Internet, cable with HBO, free parking, 24-hour front desk, safe deposit box and more. Besides the hotel is also offering irresistible discounts for Christmas and New Year celebrations. Now that is icing on the cake!

Hopefully all you football fans will not miss this superb upcoming match on your vacation to San Diego!

Photo Courtesy: http://www.poinsettiabowl.com/

Are you fond of football bowl games? 7 days from today will be an action-packed day as the much-awaited Poinsettia Bowl will take place on 21st December at 5 p.m. at the Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. On this day, the TCU Horned Frogs from the Mountain West Conference will clash head to head against the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs will be making their first bowl appearance since 2008.

Presented by the San Diego County Credit Union, the Poinsettia Bowl is taking place for the seventh year in a row. The game will be telecast on ESPN. But what is the fun of watching it on television? Instead be a part of the madness, cheer your team and have fun. The event will kick off with a parade of marching bands, and children from the Make-a-Wish Foundation will sing the national anthem.

Tailgating at the Poinsettia Bowl is an option you can try out. But keep in mind that tailgating is allowed only in the area you are parked in. Come a few hours early before the games start. Being early gives you the chance to catch up with other fans and enjoy a good time. Beer is served in the stadium. You can go hoarse cheering for your favorite players and enjoy your drinks too!

You can reach Qualcomm Stadium either by bus, trolley or drive your own car. Getting parking at the stadium can be a bit tedious. Try to reach as early as possible. You can buy tickets from the official website of Poinsettia Bowl.

As mentioned before, getting parking can be a difficult at the stadium. To avoid heavy traffic and parking hassles, stay in a San Diego lodging from where Qualcomm Stadium is nearby.

California Suites Hotel is a leading budget San Diego hotel which is centrally located in San Diego. Most of the tourist hotspots such as beaches, Balboa Park, Gaslamp Quarter, Old Town, Seaport Village and including Qualcomm Stadium are nearby. Convenient location of the hotel will save you time and help avoid parking hassles of the New Year peak tourist season.

Approved by AAA, California Suites Hotel provides excellent services to make the stay of the guests comfortable such as continental breakfast, heated outdoor spa and pool, high speed Internet, cable with HBO, free parking, 24-hour front desk, safe deposit box and more.

Both are strong teams and the match between the two is expected to be something to watch out for. Don’t miss this evening of fun on your San Diego vacation! Besides, $1 out of each ticket sold will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. So this event combines fun and charity both.

Photo Courtesy: rivals.yahoo.com

The SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration is one of the biggest draws of San Diego’s festive season.

If you have been on a San Diego vacation before, you must have seen the Sea World and the antics of the famed Shamu. However during the time of Christmas, the razzmatazz and charm of Sea World acquire a much more festive flavour.

The SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration starts in November and the celebrations will continue till the last day of the year i.e. 31st December, 2011. Till 11th December, you can attend the event on weekends whereas from 17th December to 31st December, 2011, the shows will take place daily.

Once there, you can enjoy LIVE shows under the stars, meet with Santa, watch silly antics of dogs, cats, and birds in Christmas Tails show, do some ice skating with your kids, and share some funny moments with sealions. And of course do not forget to watch Shamu’s Christmas show which includes music, Christmas carolers, Live singers and saxophonist. The Shamu show converts into some kind of winter wonderland with Christmas trees and decorations.

Besides you can also experience the wonders of The Polar Express 4-D show which is about a  young boy who boards a train to the North Pole, and realizes how the wonders of life never disappear if you believe in them. If you come to attend the SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, DO NOT miss this 4D show at any cost!

Since plenty of tourists land in San Diego for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, it is recommended that you choose your hotel in San Diego very carefully. First of all, make sure that the hotel provides good facilities. Besides, several San Diego accommodations are providing attractive San Diego vacation packages and discounts around this time, so pick a hotel which gives you good discounts.

Another factor which most tourists overlook is the location of the hotel. Ideally, your San Diego lodging should be centrally based so that you can commute to various destinations by reducing the likelihood of traffic congestions.

California Suites Hotel is a San Diego hotel which is strategically located and from where Sea world, Balboa Park, beaches and shopping areas are nearby. So you get to save time and avoid the New Year’s traffic jams.

AAA approved, California Suites Hotel offers fine services and facilities including heated outdoor spa and pool, breakfast, cable with HBO, high speed Internet, free parking, 24-hour front desk, safe deposit box and more. In short, California Suites Hotel provides the best value in San Diego.

Holiday spirit/cheer is in air. Attend the SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration to make your festive season even more interesting.

Photo Courtesy: attractionsmagazine.com

The pleasant weather of San Diego and its colorful attractions make for a great Christmas holiday spot. This year, a new Christmas-related event ‘A Christmas Tabernacle’ is all set to liven up the festive season in San Diego.

As the name suggests, A Christmas Tabernacle is all about spending a good time you’re your family and friends, having fun and soaking in the spirit of Christmas. This three day Christmas festival will take place from 16th to 18th December, 2011 at the NTC Liberty Station in Point Loma.

Imagine Christmas trees, spectacular lighting, strolling carolers, music and the falling snow! A delightful sight, no doubt! The venue of A Christmas Tabernacle will turn into some kind of winter wonderland. Since San Diego has everything but one thing it doesn’t have is snow. But at A Christmas Tabernacle, visitors won’t miss the falling snow on Christmas.

A Christmas Tabernacle promises something for all age groups. You can take your kids to the Fune Zone area where children can enjoy carnival games and inflatables. A Christmas Tabernacle is not only for kids. Adults too can have lots of fun. Bring out the child within you and chill out with your children and friends.

Watch the engrossing puppet theater, check out Santa’s Village with its live reindeers, enjoy delicious food at the food court, listen to story readers and groove at the Christmas concerts and musical performances. And there is more fun lined up with Christmas-themed plays and skits, nativity scene, interactive workshops, and other fun activities.

During Christmas, San Diego will receive plenty of tourists. So make sure to do your bookings in advance. Reserve your rooms preferably in a San Diego lodging from where NTC Liberty Station and other attractions such as beaches and shopping centers are nearby.

Regarded as a Value Price leader amongst budget San Diego hotels, California Suites Hotel is located right in the heart of San Diego. From the hotel, you can commute conveniently to all major tourist spots including NTC Liberty Station and enjoy such colorful event to the maximum without worrying about parking or traffic jams.

California Suites Hotel provides fine services at affordable prices. From Internet access, complimentary breakfast, large warm open swimming pool, to free parking. California Suites Hotel has everything to make your stay comfortable and memorable one.

As mentioned above, this is the first time, A Christmas Tabernacle is taking place and promises to be a lot of fun. Don’t miss it on your San Diego vacation!

Photo Courtesy: 101things.com

San Diego city is in all its glory in December. The festive season nears it speak lifting the spirits of city and San Diego gears up to host plenty of events. One event which thousands of visitors is the Balboa Park December Nights.

Balboa Park December Nights cheers up the holiday mood with fun activities. It is a kind of two days gift to the community. On 2nd and 3rd December, the entire Balboa Park will be buzzing with activity, scrumptious food, theatrical shows and musical entertainment.

And of course, all the museums which are participating in the event will offer free entry to the visitors. If you want to know about the culture and heritage of San Diego’s Native American community, you can check out “My Ancestor’s Village”. Other than that you can check out exhibitions, and the Santa Lucia Procession. Once you are done with the museums, head to the International Christmas Festival at the House of Pacific Relations Cottages to satisfy your taste buds with a wide variety of delicious food from around the world.

Whether you love to dance or not, everyone likes to be entertained with a fine, mesmerizing dance performances. Then why not head to the San Diego Junior Theater, or the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet to get enthralled with dance and musical presentations.

One of the highlights of the event is the International Cottage Christmas Festival. There will be music, dance and food! Well, you might say such entertainment will be available at other museums or venues at the Balboa Park as well. Then what is the difference? Well, at the International Cottage Christmas Festival, arts and crafts and food samplings will be presented to you from more than 30 countries. You can devour hummus from Palestine, bratwurst from Germany, paella from Spain and much more. And of course, you can also watch traditional dance and music.

And how can any event or holiday be complete without shopping? You can shop to your heart’s content as most shops will be offering their holiday best prices. So pick up all the souvenirs or antiques and interesting items from the museum stores that catch your interest.

In order to soak in the holiday atmosphere to the fullest, try to find a San Diego accommodation from where Balboa Park and other attractions are nearby so that you save time and money on commuting on your San Diego vacation.

Always believing that customer is the king, California Suites Hotel is a Value Price leader hotel in San Diego which provides impeccable services. And the best part is that most of the favorite tourist destinations including Balboa Park are nearby. The hotel offers good services at affordable prices such as complimentary breakfast, Internet connection, free parking, large warm outdoor swimming pool and more.

If you want to experience the holiday cheer and have a great time with your friends and family do attend the Balboa Park December Nights. It rocks!

Photo Courtesy: activerain.com