Archive for December, 2009

Border Patrol Checkpoints Leave San Diego Tourists Scratching Their Heads

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 by The Best Places in San Diego

With news that the Border Patrol checkpoint on highway I-15 between San Diego and Riverside Counties is back open, it gives me a good reason to finally write about one of the interesting oddities facing tourists and newcomers to San Diego.

I remember scratching my head as I approached my new hometown of San Diego after driving 3,000 miles cross country. I was making my way through the mountains on highway I-8 passing signs that were counting down the miles remaining on my journey to San Diego. I was ready to release my grip from the steering wheel and soak my feet in the Pacific Ocean.

Border Patrol Checkpoint on Interstate 8

Border Patrol Checkpoint on Interstate 8

And then, I saw a traffic jam ahead. Upon closer look, I realized it was a Border Patrol checkpoint. Questions started racing through my head. Had I accidentally driven into Mexico? Did I need a passport to get through? Were they going to rummage through all the belongings I had stuffed into my car for my new life in San Diego?

It turned out I hadn’t left the country, I didn’t need a passport, and no, they didn’t rummage through my belongings. All they did was take a good look at me as I made a rolling stop and waved me on my way.

That’s the way life is entering and exiting San Diego County. Whether you are crossing the border with Mexico or traveling to and from Arizona to the east, Temecula Wine Country to the north, or Los Angeles to the northwest, every major highway in and out of San Diego has a Border Patrol checkpoint.

You even drive through a one in the middle of the desert on the S-2, which winds its way out through a checkpoint to adjoining Imperial County before you reach I-8, which brings you back to San Diego County and through the checkpoint I encountered on my first drive through San Diego. (Yes, you have to drive through two separate Border Patrol checkpoints when returning from a day of relaxing at the hot springs in a San Diego County Park or hiking through the mud caves in California’s largest state park.)

The checkpoints are not open all the time. Sometimes, they close down for a few hours,  a few days, and even a few months, as was the case with the I-15 checkpoint when more personnel were needed to patrol the border with Mexico. Come to think of it, it’s been a few years since I’ve had to stop on the I-5 on the occasional trip up to Los Angeles.

Despite the traffic delays, having the Border Patrol checkpoints to cross from one county (not country) to another is one of the unique aspects I love about San Diego. How many people get to say they had to pass through a couple Border Patrol checkpoints on their way home from the county park?!

Posted in Unique Gems | No Comments »

Christmas Inspiration for Your Home

Friday, December 11th, 2009 by The Best Places in San Diego

I hope the wife doesn’t mind I’m posting pics of her Christmas displays. They are too nice for me to be the only one to enjoy them. Happy Holidays!

IMG_3154IMG_3146IMG_3148IMG_3156

Posted in Brains / Talent, Unique Gems | 1 Comment »

America’s Cup Contender Stuck On San Diego

Thursday, December 10th, 2009 by The Best Places in San Diego

The old adage that visitors come to San Diego for vacation and end up staying for a lifetime held true for one of San Diego’s more noticeable visitors the past year.

In the fall of 2008, I wrote a post about the arrival of BMW Oracle Racing for six weeks of training on San Diego Bay.  BMW Oracle is the contender for the 2010 America’s Cup. Their boats were docked behind the Convention Center and could be seen gliding effortlessly past pleasure boats and aircraft carriers through the San Diego Harbor and out to the Pacific Ocean.

Those six weeks of initial training in San Diego turned into six months and then much longer. Their experience in San Diego was summed up in a ‘Thank You San Diego’ advertisement in this past Sunday’s Union Tribune. To quote, “We came for 6 weeks and stayed for 16 months. The sailing conditions were perfect and your hospitality was even better.”

bmw-oracle

Another satisfied visitor to San Diego. For those who have not been to San Diego, come find why San Diego is a place where people come to vacation and fall in love for a lifetime.

The last American team to win the America’s Cup was the San Diego Yacht Club’s America3 team in 1992. Plan on the San Diego spirit of that  team to be carried forward by today’s BMW Oracle Racing team to victory in February when they take on the Swiss.

Good Luck BMW Oracle! San Diego will be cheering for you!

Posted in Brains / Talent, San Diego Ranking | No Comments »

Great Places to See Christmas Lights in San Diego 2009

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 by The Best Places in San Diego

holiday-lightsAre you ready to get in the Holiday Spirit?!  The recent bout of cold nights and mountain snow has help create the perfect setting to enjoy Christmas light displays and get into the holiday mood, San Diego style.

My favorites are the residential light displays. I love it when a whole neighborhood comes together to brighten up the holidays for the rest of us. Most of them string their own Christmas lights and they all endure a higher utility bill so we can get in the spirit. (Thank you to all those who put up neighborhood Christmas lights for the holidays!)  Best of all, there is no cost for us to see them.

A few years ago, I came across a web site for Tom Chapman with Fidelity National Title. He updates it each year with a listing of all the neighborhood Christmas light displays in San Diego. I’ve checked out a number of them and have never been disappointed. Generally, you will find at least three or four streets in each neighborhood where almost every home is covered in lights.

My favorites are in Clairemont, Poway, and Rancho Penasquitos. The display in Rancho Penasquitos offers the added benefit of viewing giant Greeting Cards designed by its very talented and creative residents.

I’ve heard the displays in Chula Vista are quite good and will try to check them out this year.

To enjoy the residential Christmas light displays, it is best to find nearby parking and walk through the neighborhoods. Many displays include Christmas music and handful of neighbors will have parties in their driveways. If you just want to drive through the neighborhoods, watch out for the following, especially on weekends:

  • Lots of stop-and-go traffic.
  • Lots of kids crossing the street.
  • Drivers only using their fog lights to help keep the neighborhoods dark.
  • Sudden stops by the car in front of you when you they see something that really catches their attention.
  • Sudden stops by you when you see something that really catches your attention.

If driving down neighborhood streets seems too stressful, you may want to check out one of the commercial displays instead.

Professional Holiday Light Displays

The Festival of Lights at the Wild Animal Park, a North County favorite for years, is replaced this year by the San Diego Zoo’s Jungle Bells.  The Zoo will be open until 8PM in the evenings, starting on December 12th, with plenty of holiday lights, shows, and activities.  (I’m crossing my fingers that the holiday magic the Zoological Society created at the Wild Animal Park can be replicated at the Zoo.)

The Del Mar fairgrounds is once again holding the largest animated drive-through holiday light show on the West Coast. This might be the best option for those who want to stay warm during our current cold snap. The show runs until 10PM daily (11PM on weekends). You can buy discounted tickets at Albertsons and Sav-On. Bring 5 cans of food for charity and get a coupon for next year’s San Diego Fair.

The world’s largest LEGO Christmas Tree will be shining at LEGOLAND and one lucky guest will get to light the tree each day. They will also being shooting off fireworks each evening between Christmas and New Years.

Keep your eye out when driving along I-5 for the largest Christmas tree in Southern California at SeaWorld. They too have a number of events to celebrate the holidays.

The most picturesque holiday light display will arguably be at the San Diego Botanic Gardens in Encinitas. Over 100,000 lights will glow throughout the gardens. Starting on December 10th, the Gardens will be open until 9PM and will feature a different live music performance each evening.

So, get in the Holiday Spirit by visiting wonderful displays of light and attending the various parades and other San Diego holiday events I posted last week.

Happy Holidays!

Posted in Things To Do | 1 Comment »

Community Christmas Events in San Diego 2009

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 by The Best Places in San Diego

December is the 2nd sunniest month in San Diego (tied with February if you can believe it). With plenty of sunshine and daytime temperatures often reaching into the 70s, it can be hard to get into the holiday mood. That is especially true for those of us who moved from colder climates.

Last year I helped people get into the holiday mood by offering information on which neighborhoods do the best jobs decorating their homes for the rest of us to enjoy. (I’ll post a 2009 update for neighborhoods with holiday lights in a day or two since they won’t be in full swing until next week.) Because of the good response, I decided to expand with information on community holiday celebrations in San Diego.

There are quite a few to pick from starting tonight. Just about every community from Oceanside down to Chula Vista and out to Julian has something to offer those of us needing a kick-start to fuel our holiday spirit. In the coming weeks you’ll find a couple pet parades, four boat parades, and three outdoor ice skating festivals among your options.

So, get out there and enjoy!

Happy Holidays!

Wednesday, December 2: Horton Plaza Tree Lighting – 7:30PM; Enjoy a New York City style Christmas celebration in San Diego. Instead of Rockefeller Center, we have Horton Square where you can enjoy ice skating, a tree lighting, and if you can’t make it in person, you can watch it all on NBC 7/39. Or, get a double dose by checking out the live NBC New York web cam on Rockefeller Plaza where they are preparing for their tree lighting, which will also be shown on our local NBC station tonight at 8PM.

Wednesday, December 2: Hotel Del Coronado Holiday Festival – 4PM – 7PM; Includes Fireworks and Ice Skating with views of the Pacific Ocean.

Thursday, December 3: Carnivale on Cedros – 5:30PM – 9PM; Stroll through the Cedros Design District in Solana Beach and be entertained by colorful street performers, music, food, and festivity.

Thursday, December 3: Oceanside Holiday Tree Lighting – 6PM – 7PM; Following the tree lighting in front of the Regal Cinema, take part in the weekly Thursday night Sunset Market street festival and farmers market.

Friday, December 4: Coronado Holiday Parade & Christmas Tree Lighting – 4PM – 7:30PM; Be sure to visit the Hotel Del for Ice Skating afterwards.

Friday, December 4 & Saturday December 5: December Nights at Balboa Park – Begins at 5PM on Friday and Noon on Saturday; Ends at 10PM both evenings. This is the largest holiday event in San Diego with 300,000 visitors. Most museums will be open for free from 5PM – 9PM both nights and host special events. Events take place both indoors and outdoors throughout Balboa Park. Many of the main events take place at the outdoor organ pavilion near the middle of the park. If you do not arrive before 5PM, avoid Park Boulevard. All of the parking lots will be full. Between 5PM – 6PM, you can try approaching the Zoo Parking lot on Zoo Drive coming from the Hillcrest area. Otherwise, you will need to take a shuttle from pickup points around San Diego. (I wish I heeded this advice last year.) Check the event website for more information on the entertainers, venues, schedules, maps, shuttles, and parking. (By the way, if you have not been to Balboa Park, you are missing out on a great treasure. Learn more about it on my travel website.)

Saturday, December 5: Ocean Beach Holiday Parade and Fun Kids Zone – Set-up beings at 7AM in the Ocean Beach Pier parking lot. Parade heads down Newport Avenue starting at 5:05PM.

Saturday, December 5: North Park Marching Band Competition & Toyland Parade – Band Competition starts at 9:30AM at the North Park Recreation Center followed by the Toyland Parade at 11AM.

Saturday, December 5: Encinitas Tree Lighting and Holiday Parade – Tree Lighting is at 5PM; Parade starts at 5:30PM and runs along Coast Highway 101 from D Street to J Street.

Saturday, December 5: Chula Vista Village Starlight Parade – 6PM – Third Avenue from H to E Streets; 100,000 spectators

Sunday, December 6: La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival – Starts at 10AM; Parade at 2PM (west on Girard and south on Prospect); Christmas Tree Lighting at 4:30PM (Recreation Center); Includes Antique Aircraft Flyover.

Sunday, December 6: Carlsbad Pet Parade and Tree Lighting – Pups on Parade begins at 12:30PM. (You can have your pet’s picture taken with Santa from 9AM – 12PM.) The annual Rotary Club tree lighting & festivities take place from 2PM – Dusk. Location: Shops at the Village Faire.

Sunday, December 6: Solana Beach Holiday Tree Lighting – 5PM at Fletcher Cove Park; Cookies, music, and a visit from Santa.

Thursday, December 10: Gaslamp Quarter Holiday Music Event – 5PM – 1AM; Live music performances at a dozen venues throughout the Gaslamp Quarter, including David Patrone performing on Broadway Circle at Horton Plaza; Free.

Saturday, December 12: Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights – 6PM – 9PM; Parade starts at 7.

Saturday, December 12: Mission Bay Christmas Parade of Lights – Starts at 7PM followed by a Fireworks Display at 9PM; 100 boats; 60,000 spectators

Saturday, December 13: Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade – Pet Expo from 1PM – 5PM; Parade starts at 3PM; Pet Costume Contest; Location: Hilton Gaslamp at 4th & K Street.

Sunday, December 13: San Diego Parade of Lights – From Shelter Island (5:30PM) to Coronado Ferrylanding (7:30PM); Begins with Fireworks. Repeated again on the 20th. You can also take a cruise with San Diego Harbor Excursions or Hornblower.

Saturday, December 19: Christmas at the Mission – 6pm – 9pm; Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside; ‘Evening of a Thousand Lights’; Carolers in the Old Mission Church; free tastings from local restaurants.

Sunday, December 20: San Diego Parade of Lights – From Shelter Islands (5:30) to Coronado Ferrylanding (7:30); Begins with Fireworks. 1 of 2 Sundays. You can also take a cruise with SDHE or Hornblower.

Monday, December 21: Gaslamp Battle of the Bands – Marching Bands from universities competing in the Poinsettia Bowl and elite high school marching bands from the local area will entertain spectators along 5th Avenue during the evening.

Wednesday, December 30: San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade – Starts at 10AM at the County Administration Building, runs along Harbor Drive, and ends at Seaport Village. Televised Nationally.

Julian Carolers – There are quite a few events in Julian during the month of December, including a Holiday Home Tour, Living Nativity, and Community Christmas with Santa. Any weekend will be nice to go enjoy the crisp mountain air, fall foliage, and the  Julian Carolers, who will be wandering around town from 4PM – 6PM on Saturdays.

Ice Skating

Hotel Del Coronado – November 25 – January 3, 11AM – 9PM Daily: Includes Views of the Pacific Ocean

Horton Plaza – November 19 – January 10, 10AM – 10PM Daily: Helps support Rady Children’s Hospital

Viejas Outlet – November 14 – January 3, Open until 10PM Daily.

Posted in Enjoy the Outdoors, Things To Do | No Comments »