Travel San Diego http://www.travelsandiego.org Hotels Tours Museum Tickets Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:12:20 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Titanic Centennial http://www.travelsandiego.org/titanic-centennial/ http://www.travelsandiego.org/titanic-centennial/#comments Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:12:20 +0000 admin http://www.travelsandiego.org/?p=47 In a tribute to the sinking of the HMS Titanic 100 years ago, the San Diego Museum of Natural history has it’s own venue spotlighting the event. From April 9 to the 15th there’s an event that allows for tours of some of the amazing artifacts retrieved from the remains of the vessel 2 miles below the Atlantic Ocean’s surface.

recreation of Titanic First Class cabin

You can see around 100 artifacts from the ship, its crew and passengers. There are movies to watch that portrayed the disaster over the past decades and there are actors there portraying the crew and passengers who interact with you as you take a look at the stunning artifacts from the ship once thought to be unsinkable.

Just think, you’ll be right there with devices, tables, chairs, cutlery, private possessions of the people who lived or died on that fateful night 100 years ago. You’ll hear their stories and read them. You’ll actually feel the energy of the brave and tragic souls that battled for survival in the cold of the Atlantic when this tremendous ship hit an iceberg dooming over 1,000 people.

]]> http://www.travelsandiego.org/titanic-centennial/feed/ 0 Gaslamp Quarter http://www.travelsandiego.org/gaslamp-quarter/ http://www.travelsandiego.org/gaslamp-quarter/#comments Sun, 25 Mar 2012 08:55:57 +0000 admin http://www.travelsandiego.org/?p=41 100 of the city’s finest restaurants, pubs and nightclubs, dozens of retails shops tempt to pay a visit to the modern district with an exciting, but rather villain provenience.

At the beginning of 20th century the area was known as Stingaree District, as it was easy to be robbed there as fast as the splash of a stingray fish. There were brothels, opium dens, saloons and gambling halls, including several owned by Wyatt Earp. The decline period lasted till 1070′s when it started to recover with the active help of Gaslamp historical Quarter Foundation.
The slum turned slowly into the modern district full of pubs, restaurants hotels and shopping centers, like Horton Plaza or boutique shops, including Lady Asher and the Lingerie Longue.
From the turning of 19th century there are left a lot of Victorian style buildings, for example Louis Bank of Commerce, or Horton Grand Hotel, the residence of Wyatt Earp during his staying in San Diego. The wrought-iron gas lamps, that contributed to the name of the district are still all over the streets, but at present run on electricity.
Today Stingaree is still alive in the name of the popular luxury restaurant, a nightlife destination, along with Ivy Nightclub,Café Sevilla and the Field Authentic Irish Pub & Restaurant assembled from pieces brought over the ocean from Ireland. The atmosphere there is jet much tamer that the district’s reputation from the past.
The classy entertainment is provided inside old historical buildings, including Balboa Theatre and Ingle Building, which today hosts Hard Rock Cafe.

Today Gaslamp quarter witnesses yearly concerts and festivals, among them you will find ShamRock celebration of St. Patrick’s Day with Irish music and streams of green beer for everybody.
[photo courtesy of Justin Brown]

]]> http://www.travelsandiego.org/gaslamp-quarter/feed/ 0 Park Balboa http://www.travelsandiego.org/park-balboa/ http://www.travelsandiego.org/park-balboa/#comments Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:02:36 +0000 admin http://www.travelsandiego.org/?p=33 Park Balboa in San Diego is a large town park with wonderful open areas, home gardens and crops, the well known San Paul Zoo, the ancient Old World Cinema, and several galleries. Hillcrest, just to the northern west of Park Balboa in San Diego, is a heavy town group that has lately gone through a lot of gentrification and is home to many locally-owned companies and most of San Diego’s gay nightlife
Believe it or not, there are still items in life that nourish the mind and heart and at nearly no cost.

Botanical building in Balboa Park

Here we are referring to Park Balboa in San Diego, and if you have never walked base in any of the Park’s amazing exhibits and art exhibits, well, then one should do so.
The Park Balboa in San Diego you can get in for no cost. Yes it is real that it is free. As a community service to San Paul, most of the Park’s exhibits and art exhibits provide no cost entrance on Tuesdays monthly. One thing to note is that, not every location is at free on each Tuesday. The Recreation area main exhibits move them on each Tuesday, so certain exhibits are free to watch on certain Tuesdays in a month. Also, be advised, the free entrance generally is applicable only to the venue’s lasting selections, not any function, fascination or display which may be in process at the time of your check out.
Nevertheless, it’s a great chance to familiarize you with some lifestyle in the town’s pride of a park all for the right price. The Park Balboa in San Diego gardens have many things to see. If you like blossoms and vegetation, examine out the Organic Yard in the park. In case you want a more overseas wildlife, examine out the Japanese Yard, with its koy lakes, bamboo sprouts bedding and bonsai trees. There is an exotic garden which runs without water. Finally if you did not see enough vegetation, blossoms and bushes and shrubs, just move along the limitless paths throughout the recreation area.

]]> http://www.travelsandiego.org/park-balboa/feed/ 0 San Diego Zoo http://www.travelsandiego.org/san-diego-zoo/ http://www.travelsandiego.org/san-diego-zoo/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:53:23 +0000 admin http://www.travelsandiego.org/?p=26 Surrounded by the green of Balboa Park, the zoological garden is a really city’s celebrity. Or, better to say, a showcase of over 4000 celebrities representing some 800 endangered species.
The exotic celebrities have their own ‘catwalks’ and the zoo is divided into the sections of various environments. The zoo is also the accredited botanical garden, and the animals are presented with the real plants from their habitat.

panda Yun Zi, © Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo.


So there is Gorilla Forest with apes, African Plains showing giraffes mixing with zebras, Elephant Valley and White Rhino.
The birds have their own Flamingo Lagoon, dedicated aviaries and many of these species one can see around a replica of Nairobi Village in Mombasa Lagoon. Condor Ridge features the largest birds of the Americas.
The transparent plastics allow to peek at polar bears, but the real celebrities are three panda’s breed in Giant Panda Research Station, one of four places in US, where these big bears are kept.
Although the animals have plenty of space to move, in many cases you can watch them from the close distance.
Ituri Forest, which simulates Africa rainforest has the large pool with hippos to be seen through underwater glass exposure.
The Monkey trail leads through treetops allowing close look at these animals and exotic birds. In Children’s Zoo you can pet some of cute furry creatures, also see some shows, like the popular one that include sea otters.

There are several ways to move around San Diego Zoo. Besides of walking, you can get aboard on Express Bus that stops in five main points of the park, or join Guided Bus Tour with explanations given in various languages, which may be a good start of a visit. An aerial tram Skyfari goes above most of key attractions of the zoo.

]]> http://www.travelsandiego.org/san-diego-zoo/feed/ 0 The best golf courses in San Diego http://www.travelsandiego.org/the-best-golf-courses-in-san-diego/ http://www.travelsandiego.org/the-best-golf-courses-in-san-diego/#comments Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:02:06 +0000 admin http://www.travelsandiego.org/?p=4 In the area of county San Diego a visitor can choose from almost 100 courses. There is a great variety of terrain from panoramic ocean views to the rocky hill surroundings.

Torrey Pines Golf Course

Park Hyatt Avaiara Resort

Formerly known as Four Seasons this challenging course is located in Carlsbad some 20 min from the city centre.
Legendary golfer Arnold Palmer designed a demanding field full of water polls and valleys. He followed the natural shape of terrain overlooking Batiquitos Lagoon.
The clubhouse is a part of a large resort with almost 400 rooms, spa and fitness centre.

Torrey Pines Golf Course

These are two 18-holes courses overlooking the Pacific Ocean waters. While the north course is more picturesque with candid views of the shore, the south one is definitely more demanding,
The course is open for public and constantly is placed among the US top municipal fields both by readers and professionals in various rankings.

Balboa Park Municipal Golf Course

Golf in the centre of the city with the background consisting of eucalyptus leaves of Balboa Park and skyline of San Diego.
A perfect location for tourists, who want golf to be only one of ingredients of good vacations. You don’t even need a club, rent it on spot.
Still is is a regular 18-holes green with a cafe Tobey’s 19th Hole, where one can seat over a meal and enjoy the surrounding area.


Mission Bay Golf Course & Practice Center

The quite old course, that came into existence in 1955 is one of the most popular among the locals. You can practice your skills at the place, where Tiger Woods won a Junior World title.
And only your stamina is the limit here, as this is the only golf course in San Diego with night lighting.

Sycuan Resort & Casino

The course is located on the territory of Indian gaming resort some 30 min drive from San Diego.
Instead of ocean views you are surrounded by various forms of rocks and hills with 54 holes to conquer. Willow Glen and Oak Glen are two challenging 18-hole championship San Diego golf courses, while Pine Glen is 18-hole par 3 course.

Photo courtesy of Tuki Shimazu

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