San Diego is a melting pot of various cultures and ethnicities. From celebrating Irish heritage to staging German festivals such as Oktoberfest, San Diego offers a rich and vibrant cultural mix, all in one city.

Keeping with this tradition, San Diego is now gearing up to celebrate its rich Mexican heritage with the festival of Dia de los Muertos on October 31st  2010. Whether you belong to the Mexican community or not, you can attend this family oriented event which is a sort of a celebration of life and death. It is a wonderful tradition which brings together people of different origins to honor their loved ones. However, contrary to what the name suggests it is a festive time.

In San Diego, Dia de los Muertos is organized by the Mission San Luis Rey, a non-profit organization and National Historic Landmark, at the Mission San Luis Rey. The highlight of the festival is the ofrendas. Ofrendas are the altars which are decorated with thousands of orange Mexican marigolds, not larger than 12 square inches. Kids who come up with the best looking mini ofrendas are given interesting gifts.

Apart from this, the festival offers mouth-watering food, dance, music, a symbolic procession, free chalk cemetery decorated with flowers and candles and also an activity area for children.

Dia de los Muertos is an opportunity for musicians, dancers and artists to showcase their talent whereas it is an equally great opportunity for visitors to witness rich Latino culture.  Both Dia de los Muertos and Halloween will be taking place around the same time. Therefore get your kids dressed in their best Halloween costumes of skeletons, spirits for the Dia de los Muertos celebration. This family friendly festival is free and will begin at 10am and continue till 4pm.

If you are on a vacation to San Diego for Halloween, make sure to add this event too in your itinerary. Considering it is a festive time, a large number of hotels in San Diego are offering great San Diego vacation deals and packages to attract tourists.

Located in Clairemont Mesa Blvd, California Suites Hotel is offering awesome discounts to visitors. Known for good ambiance and hospitality, the hotel provides impeccable services to the guests. Some of the amenities include an extended complimentary breakfast, Internet facility, voice mail service, spa tub, safe deposit box and more. Besides, the hotel is centrally located from where Mission San Luis Rey is a short distance away. You can go through the website to know various other facilities available as well as the discounts offered.

Photo Courtesy: http://spookybubble.wordpress.com

Get your face painted with fishes, listen to the dramatic readings of classic tale ‘One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish’and other stories on the World Ocean Day in San Diego.  This year the event is going to be held from June 5 to 8, 2010 at various places throughout the city.

The city of San Diego, celebrates World Ocean Day in order to raise awareness about the significance of oceans and the ways to protect them. This year World Ocean Day is very special as it honors the former La Jolla resident Dr. Seuss and marks the 50th Anniversary of his classic book for children called “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.”

You can take your kids to the San Diego Zoo where a  snow sculpture building contest will take place. A local celebrity and the national spokesperson will also present a reading of the book.

How about underwater reading of the book? Sounds magical? For this you would have to visit the Sea Life aquarium where this underwater reading of the book and lots of arts and crafts will be held.

Want to participate in a  scavenger hunt? Then go to Birch Aquarium at Scripps where apart from the scavenger hunt, a dive show will also be held on June 8. At the Bahia Belle,  cruises for children around Mission Bay are offered where children can play lots of games, music, interesting activities and more. Among all these places, make sure to go to the Hornblower Harbor Cruises on the beautiful San Diego Bay. Artists here do the Seuss-themed face paintings on children for free.

If you are by chance on a San Diego vacation during the first week of June, make sure to take your whole family to all these places to enjoy and celebrate the World Ocean Day. And find a hotel in San Diego which is centrally located and from where San Diego Zoo, San Diego Bay and other places are nearby.

Picture Courtesy: http://aquarium.ucsd.edu

San Diego is a mecca of cultural events and festivals. Around the year, San Diego hosts a number of exciting and spectacular festivals and events ranging from Salsa festival, kite festivals, food festival and lots more. If you are a movie buff, be assured that you would have a hard time choosing from among the umpteen choices in good cinema available, as San Diego hosts a number of film festivals around the year. One of the most popular festivals is the San Diego Latino Film Festival.

This internationally renowned festival is a celebration of Latino films by filmmakers around the world. So if you are a fan of Latino movies, you can’t afford to miss this prestigious festival. Presented by the Media Arts Center San Diego, the 17th Annual San Diego Latino Film Festival would take place from March 11 to 21, 2010. Originally established as a student film festival, over the years this festival has gained recognition internationally and has gone on to become one of the most respected Latino film festivals.

This festival is a haven for film lovers. Every year it showcases a selection of acclaimed films, short movies, documentaries by new, talented and established filmmakers. More than160 works would be screened from across Latin America and the United States. Along with great cinema you would also get to hear and know renowned filmmakers, actors, technicians and film critics. Apart from watching films, attend workshops, seminars, concerts, exhilarating activities and lots more.

Since San Diego Latino film festival is going to take place over a period of few days, it is best that you stay in a San Diego lodging which is located in the heart of San Diego so that you can commute easily. California Suites Hotel is a value price leader among budget hotels in San Diego providing complimentary breakfast and good facilities at affordable prices.

The San Diego Latino film festival is a great opportunity to meet filmmakers, enjoy great movies and gain an understanding in the visual arts field through cross-cultural communication. Don’t miss this event for a great cinema experience you would remember for years to come.

Pic Courtesy: http://www.sdlatinofilm.com

The beautiful Torrey Pines golf course at La Jolla in San Diego will bring you one of the finest and most watched tournaments in the PGA Tour, officially marking the beginning of the season. This year, the prestigious golf tournament is sponsored by the Farmers Insurance group. The 2010 Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament will kick off on January 25th , 2010 and will go on till the 31st of January. This tournament brings together some of the best golfers in the nation for a week of golf and entertainment. Please note that the first day of the event on 25th January is free for everyone. So please take care to get there early to get the best view. Don’t forget to book your San Diego accommodation in advance with us so that you do not have to go hotel hunting at the last minute.

The sponsor, Farmers Insurance have their headquarters in southern California and is a subsidiary of Swiss-based Zurich Financial Services, which is the title sponsor of the PGA Tour stop in New Orleans. The tournament which dates back to 1952 was known as the Buick Invitational Golf tournament since 1992 and the automaker sponsored the game every year till 2009. Last year, Buick filed for bankruptcy and ended its sponsorship when a U.S. bankruptcy court ordered Buick’s parent company, General Motors, to stop sponsoring PGA tournaments.

The event is being organized by the Century Club of San Diego and tickets with their logo should be enough to gain admission to the greens. Last year, Nick Watney rallied from five shots back to capture his second career PGA Tour title here. This year too the tournament will have its share of entertainment for a week and be sure to reserve your San Diego accommodation as soon as possible.

Pic Courtesy: La Jolla Travel Information

Here is your chance to discover the finest restaurants in San Diego. The San Diego Restaurant Week presents spectacular three course meals from the best restaurants in San Diego. Experience the best of the city cuisine during the week of  January 17th to January 22nd, 2010. In its sixth year, the San Diego Restaurant Week was launched with the intention of highlighting the city as a premier dining destination. Anyone taking a San Diego family vacation can have an extraordinary time at the Restaurant Week with cuisine pleasing to the palate and culinary magic which delights your taste buds.

Unlike ordinary food fairs where you get to sample only a small portion of any dish, San Diego Restaurant Week allows you to sit down and have a scrumptious feast complete with a three course menu. Experience the art of dining from over 180 participating restaurants and that too at discounted prices.

Enjoy a three course meal for $20, $30 or $40 per person, depending on the restaurant. Do not miss out on this rare opportunity to discover new culinary destinations in San Diego. It is the perfect idea for a good San Diego family vacation where your whole family can have a wonderful and delectable week.

You can also give out Restaurant Week gift cards of any denomination to surprise your friends and relatives this holiday season. These gift cards will be valid at all the participating locations during the Restaurant Week.

San Diego is known for its dining treats and this event will illustrate why the city is much talked about among food connoisseurs. The San Diego Restaurant Week is organized by the San Diego chapter of the California Restaurant Association and through this event, they aim to introduce the local community to the finest restaurants in the city while showcasing the industry’s best talent.

California Suites Hotel is located minutes away from some of the finest restaurants of San Diego. Enjoy a comfortable stay and dine away to your heart’s content at the restaurants of your choice.

Pic Courtesy: Sandiegorestaurantweek.com

If you thought San Diego is a tourist haven only for its sun kissed beaches, colorful festivals and year along pleasant weather, think again. Sport lovers too have a number of attractions to look forward to while planning a vacation in San Diego. For example, the upcoming Pacific Life Holiday Bowl is a very popular college football bowl game  played annually at the famous Qualcomm Stadium since 1978, for which sport aficionados eagerly wait the year round.

On December 30th, 2009, the 32nd Pacific Life Holiday Bow will be played between the University of Arizona Wildcats and University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. Tickets are available now and people have begun booking their seats to avoid the last minute rush. Apart from the bowl game, Qualcomm Stadium will also host numerous tailgate parties and the halftime show fireworks. Thus, it makes a lot of sense in staying a budget hotel in San Diego near the stadium.

One of the major events during Pacific Life Holiday Bowl which spectators wait for eagerly is the annual Port of San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade. This colorful parade is in fact the “America’s Largest Balloon Parade” and this year it will be held on the morning of 30th December where a parade of colorful floats, unique drill teams, heart-pounding marching bands, racing wiener dogs and of course, large balloons can be enjoyed. This parade begins at the County Administration Building on Harbor Drive and continues down to Seaport Village. It actually sets the mood for the interesting match to be held in the evening.

Another event that visitors look forward is the Big Bay Family Festival which is a fun filled event to be enjoyed by the whole family. Here don’t miss to climb 25 feet up into the air on the Coconut Climb as this is the main highlight of the event. Kids can try kicking legs at the Field Goal Kick and have great fun. Along with this, you get to see and enjoy various carnival games, balloon artists and airbrush tattoos. The mood of the event is set by the steel drum band as well as a live ship battle organized between the HMS Surprise and the Californian.

If you intend to drive to the venue, start early as the parking lot surrounding the stadium fills up quickly. No matter what, the fun at the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl will not get over till the last.

As far as lodging in San Diego is concerned, we are a favorite accommodation for tourists wanting to visit San Diego. California Suites Hotel is located at a stone’s throw away from the Qualcomm Stadium, and we provide high quality affordable accommodation at budget prices. Make your reservations with us now and enjoy these magnificent attractions of San Diego thoroughly.

As the holiday season begins and the month of December brings with it the holiday spirits and the reasons to celebrate; the city of San Diego would be buzzing with so many events and activities. San Diego hosts a number of popular events during the month of December.

One such popular event is the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights. It is an elaborate and spectacular boat parade of lights you have never seen before. Though lots of boat displays take place in California, the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights beats all of them.

Boats, yachts, lights and the open sea, this is what this colorful annual event is all about. It takes place on the 13th and 20th December of 2009, just a week after the enchanting December Nights in Balboa Park, and begins with sparkling fireworks. Imagine how enchanting it would look when over 100 boats would bob on the water, decked in holiday lights and Christmas themes.

These boats travel past Embarcadero, Coronado, Harbor Island, Convention Center, Seaport Village and others. To get the best access to events, stay in some budget motel in San Diego preferably located right in the heart of San Diego, close to all these destinations. Come up to the north and south ends of the Embarcadero to catch the best view of the boats or the pathway along Coronado as they are comparatively less crowded.

December Nights in Balboa Park is of course, is a complete package for the whole family – an event full of dazzling lights and so many entertaining musical performances. Held in the first week of December, it brings alive theatrical presentations, offers sumptuous culinary delights from different countries and delightful rides for children.

Besides, you can also catch up on other December events in San Diego such as the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl Parade or go for shopping in downtown San Diego. After all, shopping during Christmas is not just about buying but is more of a social outing.

In order to fully enjoy all these events, stay in a budget motel in San Diego which is located nearby to Balboa Park and other destinations. California Suites Hotel is one of the leading budget hotels located right in the heart of San Diego. From the hotel, you can commute easily to all these destinations and enjoy these colorful events to the maximum. The city of San Diego surely knows how to celebrate the year’s end and welcome the new year with a bang.

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.

A trip to the Wave House in San Diego, transports you right into the hub of the Colorful youth culture of this enchanting city. Wave House is a unique entertainment and bar and restaurant complex where commuters can enjoy walking barefoot on the sand under the azure sky.

At the Wave House Athletic Club, you can enjoy a ride at the famous FlowRider Wave which rumbles as much as 100,000 gallons of water as fast as 30 MPH, creating waves as big as 10 feet for you to enjoy. The best part is that you get to see the awesome power of the ocean in an area which is just about the size of a living room.

The fun doesn’t stop here. There is also this Olympics-sized swimming pool for you to enjoy free swims and games. This is the place for non-stop live music and DJs, food and drinks and the sights and sensations of the happening lifestyle of California. With three restaurants, multiple bars, and a jam-packed event schedule, there can be no better place to get the feel of a rocking beach party, especially for tourists who are on a San Diego vacation.

Plus, the Wave House is also in the same area as the historical Belmont Park. Where you can also enjoy the Giant Dipper roller coaster during your San Diego vacation.

Pic Courtesy: Wavehouse.com

Summer in San Diego is a hot and eventful time with the marvelously varied sights, sounds and smells of the popular San Diego County Fair. The 22-days-long fair is the fifth largest in North America and San Diego is set for a delightful jamboree this year too.

This year, the San Diego County Fair is going to take place from June 12 till July 5 (closed June 15 & 22) in Downtown San Diego, its usual place. Last year, over 1.2 million visitors visited this fair which includes both local visitors along with tourists from different parts of the world.

People come to see this fair as it showcases a wide range of fun exhibits, contests, concerts, and attractions that satisfy both new and long-time visitors.

During this time, the prices of hotels, air tickets, rented vehicles, etc usually rise markedly in the city. But if you plan early, you can enjoy this fair without spending over your budget. To start with, you can book rooms early in for a good and reliable budget hotel in San Diego or an affordable accommodation in a centralized location from where you can easily commute to Downtown San Diego.

The theme for 2009 San Diego County Fair is “Music Mania”. Understandably, music with all its trends and genres, from marching bands to garage bands, is going to be the main highlight of the fair. Music lovers can enjoy music performances by some 24,000 performers and entertainers, from nationally known bands to children’s dance troupes and musicians of all genres and ages. In short, there is music to see, hear and experience.

Apart from this, the fair is going to showcase stand-by competitive exhibits such as the flower and garden show, gadget show, carnival rides, various art exhibitions, the wood design exhibit, gems, minerals and jewelry, home and hobby, photography and digital arts, pie-making and pie-eating competitions, and, of course, the livestock and small animal competitions.

San Diego County fair has something for everyone to see and experience. If you are planning to visit San Diego during June and July, make sure to visit the famous San Diego County fair.

Needless to say, at this time of the year, visitors from outside the city are on the hunt for some reliable and affordable budget motel San Diego based lodging facilities. Due to its close proximity to the venue, California Suites Hotel is the perfect place to stay for you to enjoy the fair. There is a lot of rush for premium budget motels in San Diego; hence book your rooms now in California Suites Hotel, “San Diego’s Value Price Leader”.

Pic Courtesy: Sandiego.about.com