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Father’s Day Top 10 Things To Do In San Diego Get Your Great Idea Here!

Jack — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 14:58:31 +0000

Tired of giving out ties?

Flip the switch with one of our Top 10 Father’s Day bright ideas!

Counting down from the simple to some forward planning…

10. Belmont Park – Ride the legendary Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster, let Dad win a prize at the Arcade or… surf the endless wave at WaveHouse, where Sundays feature a special flat-rate for an afternoon on the Bruticus Maximus. $ – $$

9. Pier Fishing – Municipal piers are a great place to cast a line, no license required! Oceanside, Ocean Beach & Imperial Beach piers are located close to amenities & a perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon. Gear rentals and bait are available on the piers in Oceanside & OB. $

8. Bond with Dad – See the James Bond film ‘Thunderball’ in the open-air theater at Cinema Under the Stars, with zero-gravity lounge chairs at this hidden gem in Mission Hills. Showtime at 8:30. $

7. Brewery Tour – If you’ve celebrated 21 Father’s Days with Dad, maybe this is the year to enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at one of San Diego’s craft breweries! Sample the tastes at your table ( Karl Strauss), enjoy a free tour, the true ‘beer garden’, & special BBQ at the largest craft brewery in southern California (Stone Brewery) or go behind the scenes & check out a no-frills tasting room that serves up award-winning beers (Green Flash Brewery & Ballast Point). $ – $$

6. Kayak Tour of La Jolla Caves – Paddle dad around the amazing caves in & around La Jolla Cove. Dads are free of charge for the holiday, while spots last! $$

5. Sail America – Join the Maritime Museum of San Diego for a day on the deck of the America on Saturday (Sunday trips have sold out, tickets are going fast) as she sails San Diego Bay. Your commemorative photo will be ready when you return to the dock! $$

4. Sportfishing Charter – Let the pros take you offshore overnight & wake up to a day of blue skies & blue fin. The newly renovated Fisherman’s Landing is sending out 1 1/2 day trips, and the fish counts are coming up as saltwater fishing season picks up its pace. $$$

3. Padres vs. Orioles – Enjoy a home game at Petco Stadium. Special Padres baseball mitts will be available to the first 10,000 kids (14 and under) to enter the stadium. Stick around after the game, when kids are invited to the field to play catch! $$

2. Legoland Water Park – Check out the brand new waterpark, with various slides that accommodate rafts holding 1 – 6 people, or ride a raft of your own design around the lazy river. Admission includes entrance to the Legoland California theme park. $$$

1. Go Wild! – Special sleepovers are planned for kids & Dads at the San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal Park. Tour behind the scenes & see the animals after dark! For a memorable daytime experience, check out the Flightline and ride 160 feet above the exotic animals of the Wild Animal Park. $$$

Happy Father’s Day Dad!

Top 10 Romantic Beaches In San Diego County

JT — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:02:10 +0000

“Ah, springtime… [it comes early in San Diego]

Romance fills the air…”

In America’s Finest City, we can’t be bothered with seasons. We just have Spring & Summer. Period. We don’t need the other stuff. Who needs leaves turning red, when you have fiery red & gold sunsets over the Pacific? Or crunchy cold snow, when you have soft warm sand? With miles of beckoning coastline, romance is just a beach away.

Here’s our top 10 romantic beaches [and what to do when you get there]

Starting with #10 and making you wait for #1…

10. South Mission Beach – As the sun sinks toward the waves, the kiddos pack up and leave Mission Beach with their families, leaving a long boardwalk, a peaceful sunset, and the bright lights of the beach-side amusement mecca, Belmont Park. Unlike the daytime, dusk in Mission Beach becomes downright tranquil. At the south end of Mission Beach, plentiful parking is available in a large public lot. Bonfire pits along the Mission Bay channel provide a front row seat as boats head in and out to sea. Looking for a bite? Eateries are mostly located in the central area of Mission Beach, where you can visit the traditional favorite Saska’s Steak & Seafood ($$), or hit the WaveHouse Bar & Grill ($) where you might find a quiet corner on their large patio and listen to a little live music.

9. Pacific Beach – Crystal Pier – Crystal Pier offers a quiet stroll while open to the public during daylight hours. One benefit to the sunset above the sea is the amazing golden glow it casts back along our waterfront. Watch PB light up with the setting sun as dusk falls. Afterward, keep your ocean view with a stop at the chic JRDN ($$$) on their patio located off the boardwalk at the Tower 23 Hotel. For more frugal fare, check out World Famous ($$) just 5 blocks south of the pier, with fresh seafood and excellent cocktails.

8. Del Mar – City Beach – There is always something going on in Del Mar, and the perfect end to a day is an easy stroll along the walk-out beach. Check out the view up the coast from Powerhouse Park, as well as the variety of sand-level beach front homes (a rarity in North County.) Afterward, splurge on a nightcap at L’Auberge ($$$) or stay beach-side and continue to enjoy the waves from the patio at Poseidon($$)

7. La Jolla – Coast Boulevard Park – They don’t call it the ‘Wedding Bowl’ for nothing! This narrow grassy park along Coast Boulevard has panoramic views of the reefs and beaches south of the Children’s Pool. Pack a picnic basket & blanket and enjoy a breathtaking sunset. Or walk a few blocks into the Village for refreshments at one of many popular eateries, such as Roppongi ($$$) for an indulgent Asian treat.

6. Oceanside Pier – We’re not sure what it is about a pier that’s so romantic. Maybe it’s the easy pace, enjoying a walk above water and watching the skyline recede as you walk with someone special. Maybe it’s feeling of a walk back in time as you tread the worn boards underfoot. Regardless, Oceanside’s pier is one of our top picks. Extend your stay & enjoy refreshment from Ruby’s Diner ($) at the end of the pier, or head back to shore for a special evening at 333 Pacific ($$$)

5. Carlsbad – Robert C Frazee Beach – Romance is often times spontaneous, and this beach has amenities to accommodate your mood. Whether you feel like a stroll in the sand or a tour along an oceanwalk path [or both,] Frazee can meet your needs. Stay at street level and walk along Highway 101 on several miles of sidewalk that overlook the beach, or head down to walk in the sand at one of several access stairs. After your stroll, head to Carlsbad Village and ‘go French’ at ultra-romantic Le Passage ($$$) or cross 101 at Tamarack to Vigilucci’s Seafood & Steakhouse ($$) for ocean view dining.

4. Ocean Beach – Sunset Cliffs – Sunset is a magical time of day, and there’s no better place to watch the sun make its final fiery descent than at Sunset Cliffs. You won’t find a beach here [except at low tide] but there’s plenty of space atop the towering bluffs to have a seat, and watch Mother Nature at work. Impressive waves churn below the golden rocks, and surfers always impress with their determination & skill. Bring a picnic to fortify yourself, or stop by one of OB’s growing selection of wine bars such as The Vine ($$) or 3rd Corner ($$) as you head back to civilization.

3. La Jolla – Torrey Pines – If you’re looking for a peaceful escape, Torrey Pines State Reserve & Beach delivers. Enjoy the bluff-top trails, or walk along the beach. At lower tides, you can continue south in the direction of Black’s Beach, La Jolla’s unsanctioned nude beach. [Participation is by no means mandatory, and you risk a fine, as law enforcement increases in the area] Crowds dwindle as you make the long trek, and you may very well have a stretch of beach all to yourselves. There’s no dining in the immediate area, but if you drive just north to Carmel Valley Road, charming restaurants will welcome you. Eda-mami ($$) often has sushi specials, and Iris ($$) features some well conceived signature drinks & plates.

2. La Jolla Cove – Want to impress? The Village of La Jolla is the place to begin. Step back in time to the Cave Store and descend into the mouth of Sunny Jim’s Cave. There’s even a marriage proposal etched in the handrail! [TIP: Don't go during low tide, it gets a little pungent from the fauna] Continue your walk around the point through Scripps Park and down to the much photographed La Jolla Cove. At this popular destination you probably won’t have privacy, but the cozy beach is a romantic spot regardless. Near the Cove, Brockton Villa ($$) offers dining with a marvelous view in one of the original dwellings of old La Jolla at a reasonable price. Over at La Valencia’s Sky Room ($$$) rise above it all to an elite romantic get away, with stellar views of the coastline.

1. Coronado – Hotel del Coronado Beach – Coronado Beach, our number 1 pick, ranks in the Top 10 Beaches, nationwide. The beloved ‘lady of the beach’, the historic 1800’s Hotel del Coronado sits upon the shore, continuing her legacy of romance and mystery. The white sandy beach stretching in front of the ‘The Del’ is perfect for a meandering stroll or a spot to take in the expansive view. The epitome of fine dining, 1500 Ocean ($$$) awaits as the quintessential romantic restaurant. The Sheerwater ($$) offers eclectic dining on the oceanfront patio, tucked against the historic white clapboard of the hotel, or overlooking the beach complete with fireplaces. Don’t forget the Del during the winter holiday season, when their ice rink makes for a truly unique San Diego experience with ice skating at the beach!

Lockwood Table Cafe – The Hot Ticket In The Cedros Design District

Beach Patrol — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:52:13 +0000

“Grilled brioche french toast with agave nectar

or baby spinach salad with candied walnuts…”

We’re sitting at the Lockwood Table Cafe in the ultra popular Cedros Design District, trying to decide if we are saints or sinners. Do we watch our waistlines, or opt for watching each other smile as we pay a visit to the french? Or perhaps a foray into their world of scrumptious gluten-free desserts…

“Decisions, decisions…”

Alicia Douglas, the woman behind LTC, is a chef extraordinaire and marketing visionary. She knows what we want. [To stay fit, keep in budget, be entertained, and still satisfy our palates...]

Tantalizing breakfast offerings… baked egg and Gouda souffles, steel-cut oatmeal & fruit, or yogurt bowls & ultra-exotic teas…

For lunch there’s eight specialty salads (Nicoise, Quinoa, Greek, Farmer, Spinach…) and toasty panini sandwiches (the ‘Cedros’; a grilled turkey, bacon, Gruyere & avocado comfort ensemble is all the rage.) Everyone, saint or sinner, leaves Lockwood Table Cafe satisfied.

Want to out-do the couple on the next beach blanket over? Get a Lockwood Table Cafe ‘picnic basket’, the must have of beach dining chic!

Click here for an exclusive coupon from Lockwood Table

What’s Your Catch Of The Day?

JT — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:26:06 +0000

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