An 18-hour road trip was not in the plans when we booked our flights to Idaho this year. Many people have canceled trips, rescheduled, or decided to take a road trip. By the time we decided to cancel our flights and hit the road, we only had two days to prepare. These are trying and sometimes lonely times for many and seeing family responsibly is important.

We had all dreamed for months of staying in the Cascade mountains, reconnecting with friends and family outdoors, and just getting away fr...

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Staying at the Crystal Pier Hotel was worth every penny. May is always a big month of celebrating a birthday, wedding anniversary, and Mother's Day. We called the Crystal Pier Hotel to see if they had any openings. We were able to book three weekday nights before Memorial Day weekend. It can be difficult to reserve a cottage because they are usually booked for loyal visitors who rebook every year.

​We arrived on Wednesday night and stayed through Friday night. The pier was closed to the pu...
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This is an interesting, uncertain, and unprecedented time. We are keeping our clients, friends, and family in our thoughts and doing our best to remain as optimistic as possible. This time will pass and we will be left with gratitude for things we use to take for granted.

When you are struggling to understand the global situation we are facing it helps to stay present. Spiritual leader Eckhart Tolle says, “To stay present in everyday life, it helps to be deeply rooted within yourself; otherw...
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With over 30 public libraries in San Diego, there are so many resources for people of all ages. After visiting the Point Loma library with my three kids in tow I felt prompted to write this post. The librarian was very friendly and helpful when it came to finding and checking out books. My kids were excited to choose their library cards and electronically check out books by themselves. We were happy to find out the city is no longer charging a fee for items returned late. This library has a g...
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We all need to take time to stay present, enjoy our surroundings, and connect with nature. One of the most beautiful and calm settings in Encinitas is the Meditation Gardens at The Self-Realization Fellowship. As I walked into the garden, greeted by a friendly security guard, the breeze coupled with the sun made me feel at peace.

Each path leads to a different tranquil backdrop. Thankfully, the day I toured the grounds there were very few visitors. Guests spent their time engrossed in books, f...
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On a warm Saturday in August, after getting a babysitter for the weekend, we headed to Cheval Winery in Escondido. It’s a quick 40 minute drive from our house in Bay Park. The moment we entered the property lined with grapevines we felt at home. Easy parking on the gravel and a short walk to the vineyard casita and tasting room. The rustic, cozy bungalow had everything we needed including a coffee maker, dishes, refrigerator, and even a frother.

After settling in, we walked over to the Tip...
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We were excited to visit The New Children's Museum for Mass Creativity Day on June 22nd. I was looking forward to the kids having fun but dreaded looking for parking. The drive was easy, then began the constant circling of downtown streets. After 15 minutes, waiting for an older man to leave his spot, we finally secured parking. I was thrilled to see we were right around the corner from the museum. The check-in process was a breeze, and there were a ton of activities outside like coloring, pa...
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The beautiful City of San Diego has many options to choose from for dining, coffee shops, and cafes. Whether you have company in town, have a meeting, or simply running errands there is a place for everyone to enjoy. We took friends visiting from Switzerland to Cafe 21 for breakfast and the food, drinks, and atmosphere were great. Also, the S3 Coffee Bar is unique and fun offering rainbow lattes on the weekend, brunch, cookies, and so much more.






Cafe 21, Gaslamp Downtown San Diego








the Grounds b...
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It was another beautiful Sunday in San Diego County right after a storm came through. We decided to take a short drive to Solana Beach to take a walk along the water. Fletcher Cove Park was beautiful and has a ramp leading straight to the sand, but we ended up venturing over to the long stairway at Del Mar Shores instead. The beach was very clean and quiet. Following our amazing time at the beach we made our way to Pannikin Coffee & Tea in Encinitas. I have never been to a coffee shop with so...
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On a beautiful January day, we decided to drive about an hour away to stay at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa. It's at the top of a hill overlooking the ocean and Dana Point harbor. This is a very nice hotel with many activities for kids. The harbor is a 10-minute walk where guests can enjoy many restaurants and bars. There are two pools one of which has a large hot tub, children's pool, and play area. Our room had two sliding glass doors that opened up to a large patio and view of th...
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Welcome to 2019! Last year was full of wonderful experiences with an amazing family, friends, and clients. One of the fun things we did was take our kids to iFLY San Diego to try indoor skydiving. They have a wonderful monthly program for kids and adults. The instructors are all very experienced, understanding, friendly, and helpful. The flight school is a great program for kids that want to go weekly. They provide pizza, drinks, and a fun easygoing environment. There is a lot to be learned f...
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We had a fun weekend celebrating my daughter's birthday in Julian. The brief trip started out with a visit to the California Wolf Center. The center is commited to helping wild wolves return to their natural habitats. There were just a few wolves on exhibit one of which was the Mexican wolf. The property was near a campground and those visiting said they could hear the wolves howling throughout the night. Those wishing to visit must call the center well in advance to book either a public or p...
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My family finally made it to the La Mesa Oktoberfest this year, we were able to see a friend perform in his band along with other talented musicians. We were amazed by all of the entertainment offered including rides, food, live music, and of course beer. This event has been going on since 1973 and attracts people from all over San Diego County. Play Glücklich games, take the kids over to the German Kinder Karneval, grab food from the many food booths and food trucks, enjoy a drink from the ...
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If you are looking for shade, drinks, entertainment, food, and popular concerts make your way down to the Del Mar Racetracks. Enjoy a Mint Julep cocktail and beer battered fish tacos at Cafe Del Sol located trackside in the Clubhouse Level 1. There are many food stations and stands around the track. Concerts are free with admission and include big performers. The valet is pricey at $25 so bring cash. Many people choose to take the Amtrak surf liner down to Solana Beach, then a shuttle to the ...
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After many years of enjoying the people watching, free activities, and events outside of the convention center in downtown San Diego where Comic-Con is held, we finally secured a badge in 2018. My wife was able to bring our children to this huge and exciting event because of the generous child policy allowing each badge holder to bring two children, free, under 12 years old. Inside the convention center, it is very crowded and attendees will have the opportunity to see thousands of booths rel...
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The WorldBeat Center in Balboa Park holds many events including Children's Summer Performing Arts & Science Camps and concerts. My family and I had the pleasure of enjoying a live show recently at this great venue. Plenty of seating, clean restrooms, and a small cafe make for a nice time. Our son is in a band through the School of Rock program which brought us to the Worldbeat Center on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. For more information including directions, hours, and events visit their webs...
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Looking for a relaxing getaway? Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Corona is perfect for a full day of spa treatments, pools, food, and great drinks. With my wife's birthday, our wedding anniversary, and Mother's day all in May I was happy to find out about the Wellness package offered by Glen Ivy Spa. Make sure to call well in advance to book your facial, massage, and grotto treatments. It's important to call first thing in the morning as many find it hard to get through to customer service to make res...
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Good family fun at the 54th Annual Lakeside Rodeo. My daughter loves horses, so despite living in the city we try to find fun events in San Diego to be in the country and around horses. This is the first visit to the Lakeside Rodeo, not only is this a fun event, but it is a non-profit organization that donates funds to the youth of Lakeside each year.

There was plenty of parking for a fee of $5. We enjoyed the booths with cowboy hats and accessories for sale, along with spinning wheels for p...
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Beach, surf, laser tag, rides, rock climbing, game booths, treats, food, drinks, you will find it all at Belmont Park. Before heading down to this area make sure to see if Groupon is offering a deal. After taking advantage of the attractions at the amusement park walk down to the beach, take a walk on the boardwalk, and have a drink at the Beach House Grill. Enjoy happy hour at the 30,000 square foot outdoor venue with tiki bars, cabanas, and fire pits. Visit www.BelmontPark.com for more info...
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Black's Beach is a beautiful place to visit for a surf session or to relax on the sand. To access this incredible beach walk down the paved road near La Jolla Shores Road or hike down the dirt trail by the Torrey Pines Glider Port. There is another small path mostly used by surfers. If going with small children it may be better to take the paved road because it's a smoother walk, there is restrooms at the end before going down to the beach, and this is the part of the beach that nudity is not...
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Whether you are in Palm Springs for business or pleasure, make sure to visit the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. We were looking for a little adventure and came across the tram, what a treat. Enjoy the many hiking trails at the top during summertime or have some fun in the snow during winter. The Gondola ride has rotating floors allowing everyone to see the views from all angles. There is plenty of parking and a bus will take you to the ticket area. Things to do include hiking, camping, skiing, ...
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People move to San Diego everyday to be near the ocean and enjoy the beautiful weather. I moved to San Diego almost 30 years ago to surf and still love it to this day. My favorite things to do in San Diego are surfing, fishing, and having fun on a boat. Thankfully I have taken full advantage of Freedom Boat Club in San Diego, which is "designed for folks who want to access a versatile fleet of boats on a regular basis, at an affordable cost of entry." My family and I have made memories to las...
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Liberty Public Market is a great place for seafood, meat, sweets, and beverages. There is a great sitting area outside with grass for people to hang out and listen to music. Visit on a Sunday for live music from 1pm-4pm. Looking for a happy hour? Click here for a list of Market Happy Hours. There are a ton of shops to browse like Wicket Main Lobster, Mama Made Thai, Lolli Sweets, Liberty Meat Shop, and even a pet and flower shop.

View homes for sale in Point Loma












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While traveling through Oceanside on a birthday trip we stopped in the California Surf Museum. Everyone was very friendly and the fee was only $5/person. Not only were they nice, but we got a tour filled with extremely interesting information. There was numerous exhibits one being the history of surfboards including wood, foam, and fiberglass. It was a pleasant surprise to see the museum displaying Eddie Aikau's rescue board and Bethany Hamilton's surfboard and swimsuit from the day she was a...
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It's that time of year! Many people are running around trying to get the latest electronics, toys, and Christmas items before the stores run out. Here is a list of retailers that have changed their hours to accomodate shoppers in the days before December 25th: Kohl's, Toy's R Us, Macy's, Target, Sears, and more.

Some of the more exciting events of the season are December Nights at Balboa Park, San Diego Parade of Lights, Gaslamp Holiday Pet Parade, Coronado Holiday Open House & Christmas Parad...
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Visiting Torrey Pines State Reserve and Beach is by far one of my favorite things to do in San Diego. There are many trails for hiking such as the High Point Trail, Parry Grove Trail, and of course the Beach Trail. My son was lucky enough to go on a field trip with his class to Torrey Pines. We had a very informative guided walk down to the beach where the kids were looking for shells and cool rocks. This beach has an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean and the huge cliffs block the wind on clo...
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We wanted to get away for a day and what better place then Catalina Island. Not far from home, but far enough to feel like we are on vacation. The trip to Long Beach from San Diego is about 2 hours. After leaving early, we made it to Island Express Helicopters, just in time for our flight at 8:30am. It was a sunny day and flying over the ocean was a beautiful sight. Another option for getting to Catalina is a high-speed ferry that will take about 1 hour (may need to bring something for seasic...
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Looking for something peaceful to do in San Diego? Take a stroll through the Japanese Friendship Garden at Balboa Park. Have lunch at the Tea Pavilion, which offers imported teas and appetizing foods, take a tour, or check out the exhibitions. Many take advantage of the educational programs offered such as, The Study Center, Cultural Classes, and the Wellness Program. In addition, San Diego residents can visit the garden free on the 3rd Tuesday of every month.

Don't miss the Annual Cherry Blos...
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Living in beautiful San Diego, California allows for many different activities including boating, surfing, paddle boarding, biking and more. However, growing up in the country myself I want my kids to experience being in nature with horses. We have started with a few riding lessons and will go from there. It was more than a pleasure driving up to this beautiful ranch in Carmel Valley. My son immediately took to the process and thoroughly enjoyed his first lesson on Cosmo the horse. My daughte...
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This is a spectacular display of art done by Do Ho Suh for UC San Diego's Stuart Collection. Find this little cottage at an angle above Jacobs Hall, otherwise known as Engineering Building 1. Thankfully the "Fallen Star" is open to visitors Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"Fallen Star" is furnished and has a growing garden including wisteria vine and a plum tree. My family had the priviledge of touring this incredible structure. Although at times we felt dizzy while walking aroun...
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There are dozens of good golf courses in San Diego and people from all over the United States visit these courses. The following is a shortlist of some of the best golf courses in San Diego County.

1. Park Hyatt Resort Aviara Golf Course - This place was once known as Four Seasons Resort, but today is one of the most popular courses for golfers that are looking for luxury. Arnold Palmer designed this beautiful and professional course. Park Hyatt Resort Aviara has three coastal valleys with pan...
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