Breathtaking Blue Whale Watching

San Diego offers some of the best whale watching in the world.

During winters between late December and March, whale watching is quite common as grey whales migrate to the warm water lagoons of Baja California. However in the past 4-5 years, the Summer Blue Whale Migration has allowed us to spot these mammals during the warm summer months and fall period too.

Come and spot the giant blue whales as they migrate to the waters off Newport Beach and make Southern California waters their home. The blue whale is more than 90 feet long and weighs around 170 tonnes. No wonder, it is the largest creature on earth. Along with blue whales you can also get to view finback whales (the second largest whale), humpback whales, minke whales, sea lions and dolphins.

Till the beginning of 20th century, blue whales were found in abundance. However, they were on the verge of extinction due to hunt expeditions. But with the efforts of international community, blue whale sightings have increased. In the summer of 2012, more than a thousand of blue and finback whales were spotted.

The sheer size of the whales is hard to imagine. During the summers, many whale watching cruises are available. One of the whale watching cruises is offered by Newport Landing Whale Watching.

So take a break and plan a vacation to San Diego and don’t miss out on a whale watching cruise.

Some of the things that you need to carry on your whale watching trip are:

• Sunglasses with UV protection
• Camera to capture beautiful creatures
• Binoculars
• Jacket because summer or winter it can get chilly as you leave the shore

Don’t forget to book a San Diego accommodation in advance during the busy summer.

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 provides good services at affordable prices. The best part is that California Suites Hotel is centrally located. Needless to say, most of the beaches, Balboa Park, shopping centers, and other major attractions are a short distance away.

Our facilities include continental breakfast, large warm swimming pool, cable with HBO, wireless internet access, free parking, safe deposit box, laundry facilities and more.

Picture Courtesy:  Newportwhales.com

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

50 acres of hills get covered with a giant blanket of ranunculus flowers during the Flower Fields Ranunculus Season at Carlsbad

March signifies the arrival of spring. It is the time when San Diego city is bursting with blossoming, colorful flowers. March 1st is the beginning of Flower Fields Ranunculus Season at Carlsbad and it will continue till May 13th, 2013.

During this time, 50 acres of hills get covered with a giant blanket of ranunculus flowers. Imagine losing yourself in the lap of nature and seeing an ocean of flowers as far as your eyes can see!

Carlsbad Flower Fields is the place for the entire family where adults can laze around admiring the natural beauty and kids can run and play around. You can stroll in the beautiful gardens, walk through the fragrant sweet pea maze, check out the miniature rose garden and buy saplings, orchids and gift cards from a gift shop. In short, feel the joy of being among colorful flowers in full bloom overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

If you don’t want to walk, you can take the antique tractor wagon ride through The Flower Fields and also listen to the audio commentary telling about the characteristics and history of different flowers.

Are orchids your favorite flowers? Then visit the Cymbidium Orchid Greenhouse. For kids, the Santa’s Playground is a great hideout with play houses, Doll House and Crooked Treehouse.

And also make sure to visit the Artist Gardens. Here you will be awestruck as to how artists have created paintings using flowers as medium of art. There will also be American Flag of Flowers where red, white and blue petunias are systematically arranged in the shape of a giant American flag.

Visit Carlsbad Flower Fields on San Diego Vacation

If you are coming on a San Diego vacation between March and May, do include a trip to the Carlsbad Flower Fields during your stay. Do visit the city during this time and stay in an affordable San Diego lodging.

Located in Clairemont Mesa Blvd; California Suites Hotel is a centrally located San Diego budget hotel from where Carlsbad, beaches and other attractions are nearby. Being an AAA-approved and a member of the San Diego’s Chamber of Commerce, California Suites Hotel is well respected for plentiful services which include free parking, continental breakfast, large warm swimming pool, Internet access, safe deposit box, spa tub and more. Stay in California Suites Hotel to enjoy a Convenient, Comfortable and Affordable vacation in San Diego.

Pic Courtesy: bellcurveoflife.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

Time to watch some hula-hooping and feather-balancing as the exciting Circus Vargas – The Big One is back in San Diego to entertain the audience. The event which kicked off on 10th February will go on till 11th April, 2011 at various San Diego locations, including Del Mar Fairgrounds, Balboa Park, National City, El Cajon, and Vista.

Circus Vargas – The Big One is a huge draw for kids of all ages. If possible, come early to watch the free preview show and watch Jon Weiss and Laura Weiss, the well-renowned circus performers and hosts of the show, as they teach kids to hula-hoop and balance feather in the center ring and give a preview of how life is like under the Big Top. Circus Vargas is going to present an entirely new show for 2011 which include hula-hooping, juggling, feather-balancing, great music, great performers and more. Watch skilful acrobats and aerialists performing feats which are sure to leave you enthralled.

Besides, there will be colorful clowns which are sure to bring out a laugh. From March 24th to 28th, Circus Vargas will take place at the Del Mar fairgrounds, while the event will shift to Promenade Temecula from March 31st to April 11th, 2011.

Circus Vargas is an event where most talented performers come with presentations and performances which transcend all languages, age and culture. No wonder, Circus Vargas is a delight for both kids as well as adults. If you are planning a vacation in San Diego during March-April, make sure to take your kids to this colorful and exciting event. Your kids will surely love it!

As far as San Diego accommodation is concerned, reserve your rooms in an affordable San Diego vacation rental from where Del Mar Fairgrounds, Balboa Park, Promenade Temecula and other venues are nearby so that it is easier for you commute.

Located just15 minutes away from the San Diego International airport, California Suites Hotel is a leading budget hotel in San Diego which is known for impeccable services and hospitable staff. The hotel provides free parking, complimentary breakfast, laundry services, Internet access, well equipped rooms with microwave, refrigerator, a large heated outdoor pool and more. California Suites Hotel is also known as an affordable extended stay hotel San Diego which provides home away from home kind of services to the guests. In short, the hotel is convenient, comfortable and affordable!

Photo Courtesy: www.circusvargas.com

San Diego is set to witness yet another great fair on November 1st in the coastal city of Carlsbad. Billed as the largest one day street fair in the country, the semi-annual event attracts tourists from South California and other states as well. The Carlsbad Village Street Faire is held once in May during the spring season and then in the month of November. It’s usually held on the first Sunday of November.

This year, downtown Carlsbad will get ready to host the carnival which attracts over 100,000 people every year. Most Americans plan their vacations in San Diego around this event and if you are looking for good affordable accommodation during this time, the California Suites Hotel would be an ideal place to stay for the whole family. With its lush green surroundings, excellent facilities and connectivity to all other major attractions of the city, you can have a rocking time in San Diego.

The Street Faire will leave you awestruck for its sheer variety of vendors from around the world. The event features over 900 unique vendors with a little bit of everything. Name it and you can find it in any one of the booths. Clothing, accessories, arts, crafts, antiques, household products, home decor and much more. Grand Avenue from Carlsbad Boulevard to Jefferson Street and all other cross streets in between will be closed to make space for thousands of booths.

The street fair takes is held between 8 AM to 4 PM but you should go early if you want to pick up one-of-a-kind items. However, if you want a good bargain, you could visit the booths during closing time sometime late in the afternoon as vendors would give in to much lower prices during that time in a bid to sell off their wares rather than pack  up the unsold items. Whatever the time, you will find a unique collection of stuff from all around the world at this fair.

You can also feast on scrumptious snacks and savour the culinary treats from all over the world. The international food court will feature more than 50 booths serving everything from Thai to Hawaiian cuisine. There will be special entertainment for kids and the entire family with rides and games, a super slide and a bounce house, a rock climbing wall, face painting, arts and crafts, etc. Live bands will keep the mood happening and agog with excitement and you can enjoy a pancake breakfast which includes pancakes, sausages, coffee and juices which will be served between 7 AM and noon. Parking spaces are very limited but complimentary shuttle buses which runs every 15 minutes will take all visitors to and fro from the nearest station. If you are planning your vacation in San Diego during that time, make sure to reserve your rooms well in advance to avoid paying higher last minute prices.

Pic Courtesy: Carlsbad.org