Automobile aficionados and aviation enthusiasts can tighten their seatbelts for Annual American Heritage Car Show

Automobile aficionados and aviation enthusiasts can tighten their seatbelts for two exciting events lined up in San Diego in late May and early June.

The 15^th Annual American Heritage Car Show is set to take place Saturday, May 26, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and will provide a visual treat of out fabulous vehicles in a beautiful setting, Grape Day Park, Escondido, CA. With close to 250 vehicles parked on grass, this is one of the nicest car shows anywhere.

Start the day off at 9am with a delicious pancake breakfast. Then, walk the park to find your favorite car, while listening to a DJ spinning classic rock ‘n roll tunes. Buy some raffle tickets and you might win a fabulous prize. Local car dealers sponsor this show, which benefits the non-profit Escondido History Center. They’ll be on site with some new cars for you to see, too. Vendors offer a variety of merchandise, but you don’t need to spend any money to enjoy the American Heritage Car Show. Spectators are free, and so are tours of the Escondido History Center.

This year’s show honors local builder Randy Clark of Hot Rods & Custom Stuff. Entry for spectators is free and vehicle entry is $25. No dogs or alcohol allowed.

For aviation enthusiasts, the 17^th Annual Wings Over Gillespie air show is set to provide a great time for the whole family on the weekend of June 2-3, 2012. As “A Salute to 100 Years of U. S. Marine Corps Aviation”, the 17^th Annual Wings Over Gillespie air show is again planning to feature the awesome howl of airplane engines such as WWII bombers, F4F Wildcat, the TBF Avenger, the A6M Zero, the SBD Dauntless, and many more “Flying Museums” including the only remaining of their type, the Northrop N9M Flying Wing and the F3F Flying Barrel.

Also on hand will be USN/USMC helicopters and other static displays, Navy SEALs, special military and law enforcement vehicles and equipment, and much more. The gates open for the air show performance from to 9 am to 4 pm, at Gillespie Field in El Cajon on the show days.

The Air Show is a unique family, vacation day event with a special KidsZone area. Amusements, rides, entertainers, games and prizes, face painters, education displays, a great variety of food and beverages, and SHADE, will be abundant for the entire weekend. We will also feature a Beer Festival to add to the festivities of a great summer weekend for all. With the new SR-52 extension that now connects to SR-67, Gillespie Field is now more accessible than ever.

The air show is a glorious commemoration of American History:
- 70th Anniversary of WWII
- 70th Anniversary of Doolittle Raid
- 70th Anniversary of Battle of Midway
- 100th Anniversary of Marine Corps Aviation
- 100th Anniversary of El Cajon
- 70th Anniversary of Gillespie Field

If you are planning a San Diego vacation in late May and early June, do not miss out on the heritage car show and the air show. Make your room reservations in 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. All the popular beaches including Harbor Beach, La Jolla Cove, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach are nearby. Even shopping centers, Balboa Park and other major attractions are a few minutes away.

Well-known for its hospitality, California Suites Hotel provides fine services at affordable prices which include continental breakfast, large swimming pool, cable with HBO, high speed Internet access, free parking, laundry facilities and more.

Main source for content: Yelp.com/Events
Main source for content: Air Group One of the Commemorative Air Force

Photo Courtesy: new-car-automotive.blogspot.com

The Sicilian Festival, famed for its procession featuring costumed musicians and dancers.

The Sicilian Festival, famed for its procession featuring costumed musicians and dancers, will bring alive San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 20 as part of the 19^th Annual Sicilian Festival celebration.

The family event is free and features authentic Sicilian music, dance, culture and cuisine, surrounded by the ambiance of the Little Italy  neighborhood, located within walking distance of the beautiful San Diego harbor and within minutes of San Diego’s downtown district. If you are planning a vacation in San Diego during this time, book your rooms in a San Diego hotel that is located near Little Italy. You will love the ambiance.

Along Beech Street from Kettner to State Streets, car lovers will encounter Bellissimo! A Celebration of Italian Automotive Artistry. Offering an intimate look at a broad spectrum of Italian car designs – including Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Fiat, Lancia, and Alpha Romeo – visitors can mingle with proud car owners and cast their votes for a “Peoples Choice Award” for the car that captures their heart. Participating car clubs include the Ferrari, Alpha Romeo and Fiat/Lancia clubs, as well as support from FIAT Kearny Mesa.

Food booths will represent the many restaurants in Little Italy, serving up Sicilian specialties of all varieties.  Tarantino’s Sausages will also be on hand to serve up some of the best Italian sausages in the nation. Peroni, the official beer sponsor of the Sicilian Festival, will feature a Peroni Nastro Azzurro, the #1 Premium brand in Italy imported from Rome, in the beer and wine pavilion.

Guests will dance in the streets throughout the day.

At 11:30 am, a procession of dozens of costumed dancers, musicians, and representatives of the City and County of San Diego and the House of Italy, Sons of Italy, Italian-American Association, and other San Diego Italian organizations, will parade through the streets carrying flags from the different regions of Sicily and Italy. A very special guest in this years costume parade will be newborn Amelia Tripoli, born March 4, 2012 to Tony and Diana Tripoli who were married at the 2010 Sicilian Festival.

Four stages will feature non-stop Italian and Sicilian entertainment. The event is highlighted by the nationally acclaimed Roman Holiday Ensemble which will be on hand with their costumed musicians and dancers to provide a lively show of Sicilian and Italian music. The Screamin’ Primas will also be featured in a salute to Sicilian-American trumpeter and bandleader Louie Prima. Sicilian Swing’s New Orleans Italian jazz ensemble and renowned soprano Cristina Fontanelli will be among notable Italian-themed acts to be enjoyed at the Festival. The Grape Street stage will feature culinary demonstrations from San Diego’s leading chefs, highlighted by a pasta-eating contest.

All children’s activities are free, and include a large inflatable slide, puppet theatre shows, face painting, and many other activities to keep the bambini entertained throughout day.

A Sicilian cultural zone will feature photo and cultural displays by local and national authors and artisans that reflect the Sicilian American heritage in San Diego. The area will feature chalk art and displays of the rich history of San Diego’s tuna fishing industry, which flourished from the beginning of the 20th century until the 1970s. Among the exhibitors will be the San Diego History Center, Maritime Museum, and the Women’s Museum of California.

Free street parking is available throughout the Little Italy neighborhood. Free parking is available in the north lot of the County Administration Building, with a free shuttle to the Festival. The AMTRAK station is less than a mile from the Sicilian Festival area and can be reached either by foot or by using the San Diego Trolley. The Coaster also runs on Sunday. Take the MTS Trolley’s Blue Line to the County Center/Little Italy Station.

And there’s free parking at many of the Trolley’s park-and-ride lots (especially Qualcomm Stadium).  Also, on weekends, two children (12 and under) ride free with a paid adult (18 and over).

Little Italy is the first stop on the blue line north. 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 is centrally located. All the popular beaches including Harbor Beach, La Jolla Cove, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach are nearby. Even shopping centers, Balboa Park and other major attractions are a few minutes away.

Well-known for its hospitality, California Suites Hotel provides fine services at affordable prices which include continental breakfast, large swimming pool, cable with HBO, high speed Internet access, free parking, laundry facilities and more.

Courtesy: Southwest Riverside News Network

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