One of the most eagerly awaited events, Mardi Gras is back in Gaslamp Quarter!

The 19th Annual Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp will be held on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 from 6:00 PM to midnight

Mardi Gras is a French term which literally translates to “Fat Tuesday.” It applies to the Tuesday that comes before Ash Wednesday. Celebrated worldwide, Mardi Gras attracts hundreds of thousands of people be it New Orleans or Rio. And San Diego is no different.

Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp Quarter in the heart of Downtown San Diego, is celebrated with much fervor, enthusiasm and with a unique flavor of Southern California. This year Mardi Gras will take place on 12th February, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. to midnight.

A grand parade will be held that will travel straight down Fifth Avenue.
Plus, there will be lots of renowned DJs, LIVE bands, dancers and street performers to entertain attendees throughout. The restaurants and the bars in Gaslamp Quarter will also present LIVE entertainment.

More than 40,000 people are expected to be a part of this grand celebration and indulgence. Do come to this rocking event on your San Diego vacation.

You just need to be 21 years or older to enter. And do carry a valid ID.

Come dressed in colorful costumes – wear beads, feathers, masks or whatever you like. Just remember to not change your appearance so drastically that you can’t be recognized through your ID proof check!

To reach the Gaslamp Quarter, you can either drive or take a cab or trolley from your hotel.

To enjoy not just Mardi Gras but also your vacation to the fullest, it is advisable to find a hotel in San Diego which is centrally located.

California Suites Hotel is located right in the heart of San Diego so that makes it easy to easily commute to the Gaslamp Quarter and other various places and San Diego attractions. The hotel provides good facilities at budget price such as continental breakfast, free parking, Internet access, large warm swimming pool, safe deposit box and more.

Being an AAA-approved and a member of the San Diego’s Chamber of Commerce, California Suites Hotel provides services and room accommodation in San Diego that are Convenient, Comfortable and Affordable.

San Diego Zoo's Nighttime Zoo' theme is a China celebration. The festivities will begin from 23rd June and continue till 3rd September, 2012.

Let the wonders of China enchant and amaze you at the San Diego Zoo’s Nighttime Zoo.
This year, the San Diego Zoo’s Nighttime Zoo’ theme is a China celebration.
The festivities will begin from 23rd June and continue till 3rd September, 2012.

You can check out various shows at the Nighttime Zoo, such as:

Dr. Zoolittle Explores Asia

Dr. Zoolittle brings his own special take on science when he “transports” audiences to Asia to study the giant panda. Come get the scoop on these black-and-white wonders, such as the fact that pandas poop an average of 48 times a day!

The Legend of Dragon Mountain-Heibei Chinese Acrobats

Let the Heibei Chinese acrobats dazzle you with “The Legend of Dragon Mountain”, featuring gravity-defying acrobatic feats, enchanting traditional dances, and stunning martial art performances.

Golden Lion Acrobats & Dragon Dance

Join the Golden Lions as they entertain and delight the crowd at Canyon Cafe with their astounding talents and acrobatic skills. Five times a day they will invade the food court with their performances along with the Dragon from Dragon Mountain, a colorful, 20-foot-long serpent brought to life by puppeteers. Marvel as it sinuously winds through the Zoo’s Panda Canyon, mesmerizing visitors along the way in honor of the Year of the Dragon.

Power and Air – Strength and Aerial Acrobats

Five times a day, this dedicated team of professionals will be displaying amazing athletic prowess as precision balancing will be matched with the beauty and skill of the aerial lyre. These cool cats will be on display in front of the Skyeast Pool.

Surfin’ Safari Bush Band

Many regular guests have come to know and enjoy this zany, interactive minstrel-style band. Their antics will be inspired as they bring limbo sticks, hula hoops, and fun interactives to get kids and adults alike involved in the organized mayhem.

Animal Activities

San Diego Zoo is home to more than 4,500 rare and endangered animals at the Zoo. Here you can indulge in various interesting animal activities.

Check out Panda Trek where you get to enter into the world of giant pandas, red pandas, takins, and the Mangshan pit viper at the San Diego Zoo’s Panda Trek! Or you can go for Giraffe Feedings and help feed the giraffes at the Urban Jungle.

After you are done with watching wonderful shows, you can enjoy dining at the Albert’s Restaurant. Here you can dine and unwind at your leisure.

If you are planning a San Diego beach vacation between June and September, do visit San Diego Nighttime Zoo. It is totally crazy and lots of fun. Plenty of San Diego budget hotels offer great discounts on room rates during this time. Do your research and choose the San Diego lodging which is closer to various San Diego attractions.

California Suites Hotel is one of the best amongst budget hotels in San Diego and is in close vicinity to the San Diego Zoo and other top tourist hot-spots of the city.

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

Sources include: sandiegozoo.org
Photo Courtesy: 101thingstodosw.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

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

Is music the food for your soul? Do you find Jazz music invigorating? Then come to the Town & Country Resort Hotel & Convention Center, San Diego, to attend the Dixieland Jazz Festival from 23rd to 27th November, 2011.

Dixieland Jazz Festival is extremely popular for Jazz lovers around the world. World renowned musician will land in San Diego in November to enthrall guests with soulful music and some dance. You can take in the sounds of traditional Jazz, Dixieland jazz and swing style music. In other words, Dixieland Jazz Festival has got a wide variety of Jazz music to soothe everyone’s ears. There will be concert rooms or large auditoriums with double dance floors where you can jive to great music. Besides there will be smaller rooms where you can enjoy music in a peaceful, private setting.

More than 15 bands will perform at the event. You can listen to various musicians and bands such as Dixie express jazz band, Dave Bennett quartet, Heliotrope ragtime orchestra, Katie cavera, Tex wyndham, Yerba buena stompers, Stephanie trick and more.

Almost all the bands performing at the jazz festival will offer recordings for sale. Go, grab a copy of your favorite artists’ recordings and festival souvenirs as well. Light snacks and drink will be available at the Convention Center and smoking is not allowed at the event.

Since this Jazz festival lasts for 5 days, consider a San Diego accommodation from where Town and Country Resort and Convention Center is nearby so you can commute easily.
Surrounded by beautiful tropical plants and flowers, California Suites Hotel is one of leading budget hotels in San Diego which offer good services at competitive rates.

Rooms come equipped with Queen or King size beds, microwave, refrigerator and more. Besides California Suites Hotel is centrally located so most of the tourist destinations including Town and Country Resort and Convention Center is nearby. California Suites Hotel is also providing good San Diego vacation packages and discounts in the coming festive months of November and December. So check out the site for details.

For more than 25 years, music lovers come to San Diego to experience the joy of traditional Jazz music. It is 5 days of pure entertainment and blissful music with incredible musicians. After all Dixieland Jazz Festival is not called ‘the crown jewel of jazz festivals’ by the die-hard Jazz fans just like that. Therefore do not miss it on your San Diego vacation!

Photo Courtesy: wn.com

Do you enjoy your mug of beer? Do you have an interest in learning and understanding about the brewing heritage of San Diego? Then San Diego Beer Week is an event you shouldn’t miss. Organized by the San Diego Brewers Guild, the San Diego Beer Week is all set to take place from 5th November to 14th November, 2010.

Throughout the San Diego County more than 500 interesting events will take place during the San Diego Beer Week. The ten day celebration will kick off with the Brewers Guild Festival and conclude with the Chef Celebration of San Diego. Some of the other major events the attendees can look forward to are the gourmet beer and food-pairing event, beer and cheese pairings, specialty beer dinners and lots more. One of the most popular events, the Beer Garden will be held at the Lodge at Torrey Pines.

With an interesting array of events set to unfold at the San Diego Beer Week, you can expect to have loads of fun. Try the exclusive beer produced by breweries in San Diego, gorge on mouth-watering food cooked by renowned chefs, enjoy beer and cheese pairings, meet with the brewers and have a blast with like-minded people who share the common love for beer as you. Lots of breweries are participating in the event such as AleSmith Brewing Company, Green Flash Brewing Company and many more. There is also a long list of chefs who will take part in the event.

Running in its second year, the San Diego Beer Week was initiated with an aim to encourage people to take up local beer and promote the beer brewing culture in San Diego on a big scale. Noticeably, the San Diego Beer Week has been able to successfully achieve its goals considering that it won several medals at the World Beer Cup a few months back. Not just that, the San Diego city in fact outnumbered the medals won by other nations which are traditionally known for beer such as England, Belgium and Germany too. Knowing that the San Diego city earned such an international recognition, this should be another reason for you not to miss this event.

As far as finding a good an affordable San Diego accommodation is concerned, go for a hotel in San Diego from where you can easily commute to various venues of the San Diego Beer Week. Located in Clairemont Mesa Blvd, California Suites Hotel is centrally positioned and easily accessible to the Lodge at Torrey Pines as well as other venues. Known for impeccable services at reasonable prices, this Value Price leader among budget San Diego hotels is also providing tempting discounts and good San Diego vacation deals to visitors.

The San Diego Beer Week will last for ten days, so you can also choose to book an extended stay at California Suites Hotel. The hotel is one of the most affordable extended stay hotels in San Diego which offers a “home away from home” like environment to the guests.

San Diego Beer Week is the event where you can try the best of beers from local breweries. Imagine what a heady combination a mug of beer along with scrumptious food will make. These are the experiences any beer lover will relish!

Photo Courtesy: http://static.sdnn.com/

Halloween is just round the corner and it is time to start preparing for the Halloween costumes, parties, and events.  When it comes to events and festivities, the mesmerizing city of San Diego hosts some really great Halloween events. One such event is the Halloween Family day at Balboa Park.

Wondering what you can see at Balboa Park during Halloween? It’s a feast of entertainment and fun with spine-tingling tours, variety of spooky activities, scary storytelling, Halloween scavenger hunt, creepy crafts and lots more at the largest urban cultural park. The best part is of course the free entry to the museums. On 31st October, more than a dozen museums will throw open the doors for kids of 17 years and under.

Adults too have plenty of exciting things lined up for them. They will get discounts on their  Halloween passes. On buying a Stay-for-the-Day Pass, you can gain entry into any of the five museums for a nominal $35.

You can dress up your kids in colorful Halloween costumes and make them participate in the kiddie costume parade at the Natural History Museum. A kiddie costume parade will also be held at the Natural History Museum. Kids with best wildlife costume will win exciting gifts.

Fond of face painting? Then head to the San Diego History Center where you can learn a few tricks of face painting as well as hat making. Did you check out various rail models the last time you visited the San Diego Model Railroad Museum? This Halloween, you can build and  decorate your own glow-in-the-dark steam engine.

How about decorating sugar skulls or skull masks? For this you will have to visit the San Diego Museum of Man where you can also build miniature altars.Interestingly, a doggie costume show will also be held at the Spanish Village Art Center. The winners will receive doggie treats as prizes. Apart from the doggie costume show, there will also be trick-or-treat bag decoration, steam-powered giraffe performance and various free art activities.

If you happen to be on a vacation to San Diego around Halloween, make it a point to take your kids to Balboa Park. Since a large number of tourists will be arriving in San Diego during this festive season, make sure to book your rooms in a good San Diego lodging in advance.

California Suites Hotel is one of the budget hotels in San Diego which has been known for impeccable services and hospitality. During this festive season, the hotel is also providing awesome discounts and San Diego vacation packages to the visitors.

Halloween Family day at Balboa Park is a whole lot of fun for both kids as well as adults. Make sure to attend it!

Photo Courtesy: http://static.sdnn.com

Does music make your world go round? Is music your food for the soul? If music is your life, then you must not miss the La Jolla Music Society Summer Fest at any cost. Soon to be held from Aug 6 to Aug 29, 2010, in La Jolla,San Diego, this music festival presents an array of programs to provide music enthusiasts with an enriching musical experience.

A long list of artists are slated to delight the audiences with classical as well as new, contemporary compositions. Orchestra aficionados can look forward to some lively concerts when the most celebrated performers from all over the world descend in La Jolla to enchant you with their performances.

There will also be exciting jazz performances by the best names in the industry. This year, the La Jolla Music Society summer fest is bringing together more than 70 renowned artists from all over the world.

The La Jolla Music Society summer fest began in 1986, and since then millions of music lovers have been enthralled by the over 650 artists who have performed here. On the opening night, attendees can watch “String Spectacular’ to be performed by none other than Cho-Liang Lin; the music director of the summer fest.

Some programs will also be dedicated to the music of Chopin and Schumann. Check out ‘Schumann I – A Poet’s Love’ by Harrell and baritone Kelly Markgraf on August 10.

This three-week-long music festival also features workshops, family concerts, multi-disciplinary lectures, pre-concert talks, round table discussions, and other social events. All concerts and programs are scheduled to take place at Sherwood Auditorium, except August 7 when the’Age of Enlightenment’ program by keyboardist Anthony Newman will be presented at the St. James by-the-Sea.

The festival spans three weeks and it will be convenient for any music tourist to find a hotel in San Diego from where La Jolla is nearby. Known as a value price leader among budget hotels, California Suites Hotel is centrally located from where La Jolla and other major attractions are within easy distance. And even San Diego International Airport is just a 15-minute drive away from the hotel.

California Suites Hotel provides fine services and facilities at competitive prices including a complimentary “extended” breakfast, laundry facilities and most importantly awesome discounts, San Diego packages and California vacation packages to their guests. Not everyday you get a chance to watch performances of widely respected musicians, or a chance to interact and learn from them. Don’t miss this richly varied music festival.

Photo courtesy:http://www.instantencore.com

With Christmas and New Year holidays just round the corner, San Diego is all set to celebrate this grand holiday season. In the spirit of the holidays, the renowned Balboa Park is preparing to hold the largest free community festival known as December Nights. This is one event that people wait for eagerly throughout the year. Not just the localities, even people from far away places come to San Diego to be a part of this celebration.

The excitement for this grand celebration can be felt everywhere in the environment. Preparation for this grand event begin months before and hotel rooms are booked in advance to get rooms in good budget hotels in San Diego at the last moment.

Balboa Park December Nights features sparkling lights and theatrical and musical performances. These events are scheduled to take place on the 4th and 5th of December this year and are expected to attract more than 400,000 visitors. During this festival, most of the Balboa Park museums can be explored free of any charges.

Balboa Park brims with joy and holiday cheer during this event. There are major activities and various entertainment options for everyone. Food samples available from around the globe make this festival very special. The major highlights of December Nights this year are: Christmas on the Prado, International Cottage Christmas Festival, Cascades Holiday Marketplace, Palisades Midway – The Ultimate Family Zone, Museums & Cultural Organizations, My Ancestor’s Village, etc.

Balboa Park December Nights would be incomplete without the lighting of the Plaza de Panama. Beautiful light displays make the gorgeous Spanish Revival architecture in the Plaza de Panama even more attractive. The Spirit Lounge located at Plaza de Panama will offer mouth watering food delicacies along with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Shopping opportunities also abound at the Balboa Park December Nights for purchasing one-of-a-kind and specialty gift items. There are appropriate arrangements for dance and music. With the music and dance artisans of local as well as international fame performing here, the fun never ends here for the entire two days of celebrations.

While taking part in the December Nights extravaganza, take some time out to visit the awesome Balboa Park sprawled across a massive 1,200 acres of land and dotted with museums, theaters, gardens, shops and restaurants. For those who are interested in architecture, Balboa Park will surely live up to your expectations. There are many beautifully designed museums and cultural attractions that are living examples of Spanish and Latin American architecture.

For your convenience, stay at a hotel which is in close vicinity to the park. California Suites Hotel, one of the best amongst budget hotels in San Diego.

Rocking nightlife, tanned bodies, bars, restaurants and lots of adventure; that’s Pacific Beach for you!

Nestled between La Jolla in the north and Mission Beach in the south, Pacific Beach enjoys immense popularity with youngsters in San Diego. Fondly called ‘PB’ by local residents here, Pacific Beach has the most rocking nightlife of all the beaches in San Diego.

With a chain of clubs, beachside bars, pubs, dance spots and lounges, Pacific Beach offers a heady concoction of fun and entertainment to make you forget your worries and just soak yourself in the merriment.

At the Pacific Beach, there is no dearth of bars and clubs buzzing with activity and where you can hang out with the cool crowd and rock the night away. Hanging out at the coffee house is popular pastime here. Have your favorite drink, chat up even with strangers and enjoy the amazing artwork at the cafes.

If you had had enough of drinking and partying, check out the great sporting options here. You can play beach volleyball, or go rollerblading, surfing, or simply stroll along the P.B. boardwalk. It is one of the best pleasures of Pacific Beach.

And finally, can one do without shopping? Well, Pacific Beach won’t leave you disappointed. Check out the shopping district at the beach side which is full of clothing stores, salons, and retail stores. You can browse and shop for some wonderful stuff here.

If you want to enjoy Pacific Beach and its wonderful nightlife as much as you can during your San Diego vacation, stay in a good lodging in San Diego that is near the beach so that you can commute easily.

Our hotel, California Suites Hotel, is located near the Pacific beach and other sun-kissed beaches and world famous attractions of San Diego. Moreover we also provide unbeatable discounts which would make your San Diego accommodation easy on your pocket especially in these days of a market downturn. Our discounts are aimed at ensuring that you have a wonderful time in San Diego with all the premium facilities of a luxury hotel at amazingly affordable prices.

Come to San Diego’s Pacific Beach and enjoy what life has to offer, minus the worries!