Colorful Cinco De Mayo

Quintessential Mariachi music, flamenco beats, great food and entertainment! The 30^th Annual Old Town Fiesta Cinco de Mayo promises great fun and much more.

To be held from 3^rd to 5^th May, 2013 in Old Town (the birthplace of San Diego); the Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican spirit, culture and history. Considered as the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration north of the border, this event is a window to the rich heritage, history and culture of Mexico.

Music and dance will fill the air at the 3-day extravaganza. Enjoy the flamenco beats, and the Norteno flairs – a genre of Mexican music. Not to forget the Mariachi music – the quintessential sound of Mexico.

Dating back to hundreds of years, Mariachi music celebrates the struggles, the joys and the pride of Mexican people. A typical Mariachi music band plays music using violins, trumpets, guitars, round-backed guitar called the vihuela and a Mexican folk harp.

Apart from music and dance, go and explore the museums, check out the specialty shops and buy souvenirs or unique items ranging from jewelry, handmade leather items and bric-a-brac typical of the Mexican culture.

Enjoy riding the stagecoach, chill out in the beer garden or sample tequila in the tequila sampling area.

As for food, you can try out authentic Mexican delicacies at any of the 20 restaurants in Old Town.

This three-day FREE festival guarantees a spectacular array of activities and entertainment that is sure to delight you and the entire family. If you want to experience great Mariachi music, sample Mexican tequila and savor authentic Mexican cuisine, then the Old Town Fiesta Cinco de Mayo is the place to be in.

If you are coming on San Diego vacation with friends or family, you can include Cinco de Mayo event in your traveling plan.

For your convenience, stay in a hotel located close to Old Town. Regarded as a value price leader amongst budget hotels in San Diego, California Suites Hotel is located in the middle of San Diego from where Old Town and many other attractions are a stone’s throw away. From the hotel, you can commute easily to all these destinations and enjoy such colorful festivals to the maximum.

Being San Diego’s AAA rated San Diego hotel, California Suites Hotel makes your stay comfortable and memorable one with continental breakfast, Wireless Internet access, large warm swimming pool, free parking, safe deposit box, spa tub and more.

Pic Courtesy:  laprensa-sandiego.org

San Diego Vacation during Del Mar National Horse Show

Elegance, Excitement, and Excellence await you in San Diego this April!

The 68th Annual Del Mar National Horse Show 2013, one of the oldest and most celebrated events in San Diego, is set to take place on April 18–May 5, 2013 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Arena.

Plan your San Diego Vacation during this period and be a part of this ever-engaging event. The whole event is divided into three weeks based on the type of activities and shows:

• Western Week: April 18–21, 2013

The major attraction of the Western Week is the “Night of the Horse”, to be held on April 20, at 7:00 pm. Night of the Horse will be followed by a free concert that will feature country music’s, Herrick.

• Dressage Week: April 25–28, 2013

The Dressage Week features qualifying competitions for Intermédiaire Championships and the USEF National Grand Prix. Dressage competition – Evening of Musical Freestyles – is set to take place On April 27.

• Hunter/Jumper Week: April 30 – May–5, 2013

Hunter/Jumper Week hosts $100,000 Grand Prix of Del Mar that features excitement and nail-biting competitions.

Over 3,000 horses from different breeds will display their speed and stamina at the equestrian complex in coastal Del Mar. The acts of reining, elegant dressage moves choreographed to music, spins, sliding stops, trick riders, comedy acts, daredevil show jumping, thrills and spills. will grip the audience.

Don’t miss the excitement. Book your tickets NOW. Lodging in San Diego is no more a matter of worry as California Suites Hotel – one of the leading budget hotels in San Diego – is offering attractive discounts this season. Choose California Suites Hotel for your lodging in San Diego and save high on your budget.

An AAA-approval and membership of the San Diego’s Chamber of Commerce earn California Suites Hotel huge reputation in San Diego. Moreover, it offers plentiful services including free parking, continental breakfast, large warm swimming pool, Internet access, safe deposit box, spa tub and more.

Pic Courtesy: InlandSoCal.com

Picturesque San Diego Botanic Garden

Bamboo groves, desert gardens and a tropical rainforest – all in one place! It can only happen in the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas.

San Diego Botanic Garden was once the private property of Ruth Baird Larabee. In 1957, she donated her estate to the County of San Diego. Earlier known as Quail Botanical Gardens; the garden name was changed in 2009.

Spread over 37 acres, it has got the largest bamboo collection in the United States.

San Diego Botanic Garden has miles of garden trails, palms and around 3,000 varieties of subtropical, tropical and California native plants. Come and explore the breathtaking bamboo groves, lush succulent gardens, check out the herb garden, view different plants from all over the world and enjoy picturesque views.

Other highlights include a subtropical fruit garden, California native plants, firesafe landscaping and Mediterranean landscapes. Once there, check out the beautiful fuchsias, cacti, hibiscus, cork oaks, wildflowers, perennials, brugmansias and lots more.

The spectacular variety of trees, diverse topography and the microclimates you see here is hard to find anywhere else. San Diego Botanic Garden can arguably be called the only place where you can transit from a tropical rainforest to a desert environment in minutes.

If you want to see plants that grow in the Canary Islands, the San Diego Botanic Garden has a garden devoted to it. Interested to know the plants and flowers that grow in the Himalayas? Check out the special garden dedicated to it.

Visit San Diego Botanic Garden on your Vacation to San Diego

The climate-specific gardens are based on different geographic regions ranging from Central America, Mediterranean, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and more.

San Diego Botanic Garden keeps hosting different events throughout the year. In December, the San Diego Botanic Garden will play host to Garden of Lights when the beautiful garden is transformed into winter wonderland with
dazzling lights illuminating the whole place.

If you are planning a San Diego vacation in the coming months, do spare a day to come and relax in this picturesque garden. As the holiday season is soon approaching, lots of San Diego accommodations are offering great discounts and offers on daily room stays and extended stays.

Located in Clairemont, California Suites Hotel is the Value Price Leader among budget hotels in San Diego. Strongly believing in customer satisfaction, California Suites Hotel’s motto is to make the stay for guests Convenient, Comfortable and Affordable. Our services include continental breakfast, large heated swimming pool, cable with HBO, high speed Internet access, free parking, laundry facilities and more.

Come and spend a day in the lap of nature at the San Diego Botanic Garden!

Photo Courtesy: sandiegan.com

Legoland California is one of the main attractions in San Diego for kids and adults of all ages.

Located in Carlsbad (California) around the Lego toy brand, the miniature park and theme park Legoland California is one of the main attractions in San Diego for kids and adults of all ages.

Amusements at Legoland

Legoland offers a day full of excitement, happiness, colors, adventure and lots of action to the visitors. The thrill begins at the front entrance where a 9-foot, bright red LEGO dinosaur welcomes you to a joy ride.

The park has different fun zones including:

Dino Island –Dino Island has a mini steel roller coaster – Coastersaurus – that curves and dips around huge models of Lego dinosaurs.

Duplo – Duplo brand – especially designed for children aged 1½ to 5 years –features several Duplo themed and water-oriented attractions.

Fun Town – A role-playing amusement area, Fun Town features activities for adult skills or professional identities, which include Volvo Driving School, Volvo Junior Driving School, Lego Factory Fire, Academy, Flight Squadron, Sky Patrol, and Skipper School

Miniland USA – Miniland USA – a scale model miniature park – features outstanding architecture and symbols from America and other parts of the world. The cities included at Miniland are Legoland Miniland New York City and Legoland Miniland Washington DC.

Castle Hill – Castle Hill – a medieval castle-themed area – features Dragon roller coaster, Knights Tournament ride, Hideaways, and Royal Joust.

Imagination Zone –Imagination Zone allows visitors to ride a Wild Mouse-style roller coaster – Technic Coaster-Test Track. Visitors can choose from three different 4-D movies – Bob the Builder, Spellbreaker, and Clutch Powers.

Pirate Shores – Pirate Shores – a popular splash park – features six water-oriented rides and other attractions including Splash Battle, Soak ‘N Sail, Treasure Falls, Swabbie’s Deck, Captain Cranky’s Challenge, and Pirate Reef.

Land of Adventure – This is the newly introduced feature theme park, designed to replicate the 1920s in Egypt.

Legoland Water Park – Located next to the buildings in Fun Town, it is the water park area in Legoland California, which was opened on May 28, 2010.

For tickets and other details visit http://california.legoland.com/.

San Diego Lodging

Planning to visit Legoland California but worried about accommodation in San Diego?

Put your worries to rest as California Suites Hotel – one of most preferred San Diego budget hotels – offers comfortable lodging services. An AAA-approved hotel and a proud member of the San Diego’s Chamber of Commerce, California Suites Hotel offers world-class services including

• Large heated swimming pool
• Air-conditioned public areas
• Complimentary newspaper in lobby
• Cable with HBO
• High speed Internet access
• Spa tub
• Laundry facilities
• Continental breakfast
• Safe-deposit box

Visit Legoland California and make your San Diego vacation even more memorable.

Photo Courtesy: mytripolog.com

Kidvasion of San Diego will be offering free meals for kids from October 1—31, 2012.

San Diego will be free for kids in October!

This October, get ready for a host of fascinating events in San Diego with the Kidvasion of San Diego being an icing on the cake. Kidvasion allows kids to eat, play, and stay for free throughout San Diego.

The arrival of fall cannot be more fun-filled as it brings with it different kid-friendly promotions including October Free Kids Days at the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park along with the visits to SeaWorld and LEGOLAND. Moreover, check out other fun and educational offerings across the county to make the most of your San Diego beach vacation.

There are great deals on offer at more than 100 participating partners that will make your San Diego vacation even more enjoyable.

There are number of offers under Kidvasion of San Diego including:

Fall for the Arts 2012 – Museums

Learn while having fun at different museums throughout San Diego during October’s Fall for the Arts. Around three-dozen museums are participating in the San Diego Museum Council’s Kids Free in October. Some of the participating museums include:

• Barona Cultural Center & Museum,
• Birch Aquarium at Scripps
• California Center for the Arts, Escondido
• California Surf Museum
• Coronado Historical Association
• Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation
• Gaslamp Museum
• La Jolla Historical Society

You can download the coupon at www.sandiegomuseumcouncil.org

Kids Eat Free

Kidvasion of San Diego will be offering free meals for kids from October 1—31, 2012. Come with your family and enjoy the offer at leading restaurants throughout San Diego. Some of the participating restaurants include:

• Bahia Resort Hotel
• Chianti Restaurant
• Marriott San Diego Downtown
• Croce’s Restaurant & Jazz Bar
• Hard Rock Café San Diego
• Hostelling International
• Point Loma
• Humphreys Restaurant at Humphreys Half Moon Inn & Suites
• La Costa Resort and Spa
• Humphreys La Jolla Grill at the Sheraton La Jolla

Plan an extended stay at San Diego during the Fall and enjoy the pleasant weather and numerous attractions. As far as finding an affordable San Diego lodging is concerned, you won’t have to worry as there are plenty of San Diego budget hotels which offer good facilities at budget prices.

Luckily, our California Suites Hotel is located quite nearby to most of the attractions including Balboa Park, Old Town, La Jolla, Del mar and lots more. Regarded as a value price leader amongst budget hotels in San Diego, California Suites Hotel has everything to make your stay comfortable and memorable one.  Our services include continental breakfast, large heated swimming pool, cable with HBO, high speed Internet access, free parking, laundry facilities and more.

Photo Courtesy: blog.sandiego.org

The 33rd Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-off Festival for eclectic fun in the sun, shopping, festival nosh, surf and beachfront entertainment.

The Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-off Festival has been a vibrant community tradition for more than three decades, attracting tourists and San Diego natives alike to sunny Ocean Beach each year. It will take place at the Ocean Beach, Newport Ave on 23rd June, 2012  from 10am.

This year at the 33rd Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-off Festival for eclectic fun in the sun, shopping, festival nosh, surf and beachfront entertainment.

There will be festival activities for all ages and interests including:

* Five stages of continuous live music
* Chili Cook-Off
* Beachside Beer Garden & Spirits
* Food vendors and local restaurant fare
* Community Mural Art Project
* Artists Alley
* Wonderland Children’ Area
* Unique handcrafted merchandise: clothing, accessories and more
* Skateboard Exhibition from Ocean Beach Surf & Skate Shop
* Climbing Walls
* Raffle with prizes from more than 20 local businesses

Best part is it is a FREE event which promises lots of fun. Everything about the OB Street Fair will be special this year because it is the occasion for celebrating the 125th Anniversary of Ocean Beach.  If you are coming on a San Diego vacation in June, come to this event to celebrate with the thousand others!

For your convenience, stay at a hotel in San Diego which is in close proximity to the beaches, where most visitors flock to in the summer time.

Regarded as a value price leader amongst budget San Diego hotels, California Suites Hotel offers all facilities to make your stay comfortable and a memorable one.

Approved by the AAA and a proud member of the San Diego’s Chamber of Commerce, the California Suites Hotel offers fine services at affordable prices which include continental breakfast, large heated outdoor swimming pool, cable with HBO, high speed Internet access, free parking, laundry facilities and more.

The biggest advantage is that the hotel is close to almost all beaches and other top attractions as well such as Old Town, Sea World, Balboa Park, La Jolla, and shopping centers. As San Diego receives a large influx of tourists in June, try to book your rooms in advance.

Sources include:

yelp.com
oceanbeachsandiego.com

Photo Courtesy: myspace.com

Spend Memorial Day weekend at Sea World San Diego, and enjoy an evening of fireworks at Mission Bay.

Sea World is one of the prime attractions of San Diego. No matter what time of the year you visit San Diego, a trip to Sea World is a must.

In summer, Sea World enthralls its visitors with spectacular fireworks. The Sea World Fireworks Show will take place on Memorial Day weekend 26^th and 27^th May, 2012 tentatively around 9:50 pm, and on 28^th May, 2012 tentatively at 8:50 pm.

Spend Memorial Day weekend at Sea World San Diego, and enjoy an evening of fireworks at Mission Bay.

Summer time in Sea World means good times as the park transforms after dark with extended hours and seasonal nighttime only shows. Feel the amazing energy of Shamu Rocks, the SeaWorld’s killer nighttime show. Shamu- the famous killer whale is a major attraction and is a huge draw.

Or share a laugh with the hilarious Sea Lions Tonite show. It features sea lions- Clyde and Seamore who enthrall the audience with their mischievous acts. And finally let your spirit soar during the “Into the Blue” fireworks finale.

Sea World Fireworks Show is a complete family-friendly event. If you are planning a vacation to San Diego in May, do attend this event. It would be fun spending a day with your family at the mesmerizing Sea World.

Public Transportation: 

SeaWorld is easily accessible by public transportation.

As far as San Diego lodging is concerned, choose a San Diego hotel which is centrally located. Approved by the AAA and a proud member of the San Diego’s Chamber of Commerce, the California Suites Hotel is a leading budget hotel in San Diego which offers easy and convenient access to all the top attractions of San Diego.

Sea World, Balboa Park, Old Town, La Jolla, Little Italy, shopping centers and all the popular beaches are nearby. Well-known for its hospitality, California Suites Hotel provides fine services at affordable prices which include continental breakfast, large heated outdoor swimming pool, cable with HBO, high speed Internet access, free parking, laundry facilities and more.

Source includes: Yelp.com Events

Photo Courtesy: examiner.com

As the month of April is approaching, lots of pulse-racing San Diego Padres games are going to be played in the San Diego city.

In the city of San Diego, baseball games are watched and enjoyed a lot by a large number of baseball fans. One of the most popular baseball teams in San Diego is the San Diego Padres. Founded in 1969 and based in San Diego, the San Diego Padres is a Major League Baseball team, which has won the National League Pennant twice.

As the month of April is approaching, lots of pulse-racing San Diego Padres games are going to be played in the San Diego city. This year the San Diego Padres will compete against different teams at the Petco Park. You can catch the San Diego Padres take on the Los Angeles Dodgers on 6th – 8th April, 2012.

Similarly from 10th to 12th April, 2012; you can watch an interesting match between San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks. San Diego Padres will take on Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals on 19th – 20th April, 2012 and 24th – 26th April, 2012 respectively. Likewise you can catch various other interesting matches between San Diego Padres and other teams such as Milwaukee Brewers and Miami Marlins.

To enjoy the game reach Petco Park as early as possible to get parking easily. If you are planning a San Diego vacation in April or May, and if you love baseball you must not miss the San Diego Padres games.

Stay in at a San Diego lodging from where Petco Park is nearby. California Suites Hotel is a leading budget hotel in San Diego which is centrally located and offers fine services. From the California Suites Hotel, Petco park is just a short distance away.

Approved by the AAA and a proud member of the San Diego’s Chamber of Commerce, the California Suites Hotel provides impeccable services and facilities which include continental breakfast, heated large swimming pool, cable with HBO, high speed Internet access, free parking, laundry facilities and more at affordable prices.

Photo Courtesy: zimbio.com

Whale watching is an annual ritual of San Diego which has now become known the world over. The reason is that the migration of California gray whales from the chilly Alaskan seas to the warm water lagoons of Baja California is a unique natural phenomenon specific only to this region.

If you are a nature lover, and especially fond of watching marine life from up close, whale watching is a delightful adventure which you will enjoy with your family and kids. A San Diego vacation planned around this time is never complete without a whale watching cruise.

As the winter gently slips into spring, thousands of these “peaceful giants of the sea” come within a few miles of the San Diego coast on their 5,000-mile southern journey. It is a natural wonder that these whales travel the longest distance any mammal migrates on an annual basis and they birth and rear their young in the placid warm lagoons of Baja California.

From mid-December to mid-April, San Diego offers a great lineup of whale watching events. Book your rooms in advance in a conveniently located San Diego hotel and plan out an itinerary where you can enjoy some of these cool events.

Next Level Sailing and the Maritime Museum of San Diego - a unique 4-hour whale watching experience aboard the139-ft. long sailing yacht America, a historic replica of the world’s first America’s Cup winner (on going, December 17, 2011 – April 15, 2012)

Birch Aquarium at Scripps and Flagship Cruises & Events – Narrated, 3.5-hour whale watching cruises out of San Diego Bay (on going, December 26, 2011 – April 15, 2012)

Hornblower Cruises and Events – A 3.5-hour deluxe whale watching adventure cruises in partnership with San Diego Natural History Museum, (on going, December 10, 2011 – April 15, 2012)

H&M Landing – Daily 3-hour whale watching cruises (on going, mid-December through mid-March) and 6-hour cruises (on going, late December through May)

OEX Dive & Kayak Centers – A 2.5-hour Whale Watching Kayak Tour (on going, December 15, 2011 – March 1, 2012)

Adventure RIB Rides – A thrilling fast paced whale watching excursion aboard an authentic 30’ Navy SEAL Rigid Inflatable Boat (R.I.B.) (on going December 17, 2011 – April 15, 2012)

La Jolla Kayak – Close encounters with grey whales and other marine life including sea lions, garibaldi and leopard sharks through 2.5-hour tours along the La Jolla coastline and through La Jolla’s incredible Sea Caves (on going, mid-December through the end of the season)

H&M Landing Special Expedition - An 11-day seagoing expedition to some of Baja California’s most remote islands and breathtaking coastal areas. Expedition includes whale watching, nature walks, beach combing, snorkeling and dune and marsh explorations (February 24 – March 6, 2012).

If you are looking to have close encounters with San Diego’s incredible marine life this March, choose a San Diego lodging which is located near the beaches. California Suites Hotel is a leading budget San Diego hotel which is known for its hospitality and fine services at affordable prices.

Guests can enjoy continental breakfast, large heated swimming pool, cable with HBO, high speed Internet access, free parking, laundry facilities and more. The California Suites Hotel is ideally situated from where all major attractions including Balboa Park, Sea World, Birch Aquarium and the San Diego Zoo are nearby.

Photo Courtesy: missionbeach.com

Springtime in San Diego means colorful flowers in full bloom, lots of greenery, pleasant weather and happy faces. The month of March is a great time to visit the beautiful city of San Diego. Here are two fairs which you must attend on your San Diego family vacation around this time of the year:

La Mesa Antique Street Faire

Ladies - get ready to indulge in some fun shopping! More than 100 antique dealers from all over the country are going to present their antique collections in La Mesa. The annual La Mesa Antique Street Faire is going to take place at the La Mesa Blvd. between Spring Street & Third Street on 25th March, 2012 from 9am to 4pm.

You can buy genuine antiques and collectibles, check souvenirs at local specialty shops, enjoy LIVE music, entertainment and relish a hearty meal or delicious snacks at restaurants or pubs.

Annual Rolando Street Fair

There is one more fair that will take place in San Diego on the same day- the annually held Rolando Street Fair i.e. on 25th March, 2012. The 16th annual Rolando Street Fair will be held at the Rolando Blvd. between El Cajon Blvd. and Solita Avenue in San Diego. It is a free event which guarantees fun for people of all ages.

More than 100 vendor booths and non-profit community organizations will participate in the event which always attracts a good number of visitors. Once there, you can buy unique items, check out arts and crafts, enjoy LIVE shows and some gripping performances, try out some fabulous delicacies and do lots more.

Especially for music lovers, Rolando Street Fair promises a lot. Performers such as Steph Johnson, Ambrosia and Cathryn Beeks will be present at the event to enthrall the audience. If you are wondering, how to keep the kids busy, drop in at the Kid’s Corner which will have carnival rides, face painting, a climbing wall and other fun activities for children.

As far as San Diego accommodation is concerned, choose a hotel which is centrally located so that you can spend most of your time in exploring places rather than on commuting.

California Suites Hotel is one such San Diego hotel which is ideally located from where La Mesa, Rolando village or other major attractions are nearby. Approved by AAA, California Suites Hotel is the leading budget hotel known for providing fine services at affordable prices such as continental breakfast, heated large swimming pool, cable with HBO, high speed Internet access, free parking, laundry facilities and more.

When you come to San Diego in March, enjoy the beauty of this lovely city and attend these charming events.

Photo Courtesy: secretsinsandiego.com