Although most of us around the country have had a mild winter, nothing beats taking a vacation to a vibrant, beach location where you are almost guaranteed to enjoy nice weather during your stay. With spring break just around the corner, this is a great time to start looking at prime vacation spots. San Diego is one of the premier vacation destinations in the country, and is the perfect location for everything spring break!

Whether you are taking a vacation with a group of friends, or treating the family to a getaway from work and school, San Diego is sure to meet everyone’s needs. There are many attractions, including Little Italy which features several authentic Italian restaurants and cultural events. Or attend a Flagship Cruise to enjoy the wonderful Pacific Ocean scenery and wildlife. Even consider getting aboard a Paradigm Shift Charter to get in an awesome fly-fishing adventure. When traveling with a group, there is no better place to visit than Pacific beach, right on the coast in San Diego. Pacific Beach is known for its beach and boardwalk that plays host to some of the region’s most popular restaurants, bars, and attractions. A local hotspot, Garnet Street, is home to an infinite number of these bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, making it the perfect destination for the late night crowd. For those visiting as a family, there are numerous theme parks and attractions to check out, including Sea World Adventure Park, the San Diego Zoo, Legoland (in Carlsbad), and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. There are also an array of museums to take in, including the USS Midway Museum which is an awe-inspiring display of a retired aircraft carrier, the San Diego Museum of Art which hosts various exhibitions year-round, and the Maritime Museum of San Diego which highlights historical ships and nautical exhibits.

One of the factors that makes a vacation perfect is where you stay. The Ocean Park Inn, one of Pacific Beach’s premier oceanfront hotels, is perfect for everyone. Within walking distance of all things spring break, the OPI offers wonderful group packages and rates, as well as an easy booking process for affordable stays for everyone. The hotel offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, spacious rooms, affordable prices and packages, and several in-room amenities that cannot be beat. Go to www.oceanparkinn.com for more information about family stays and group rates.

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The month of February offers us several varied holidays to celebrate, from Groundhog Day and President’s Day, to the romance of Valentine’s Day. In recent years, however, perhaps the biggest celebration for the month of February has been Mardi Gras! Mardi Gras is also known as ‘Fat Tuesday’, and is celebrated on the Tuesday before Lent season. The term ‘fat’ comes from the old tradition of eating big meals and desserts before fasting of some kind began with the start of Lent. This year, Mardi Gras falls on Tuesday, February 21, but in many big cities Mardi Gras celebrations last not just one day–but for an entire week!

There are several events happening in the San Diego area that will help you celebrate Mardi Gras as if you were in Louisiana’s French Quarter. This February 21st consider heading down to the Gaslamp District for the ‘San Diego Mardi Gras Ball’ at 4th and B, a premier live music venue. This party is sure to please with its Brazilian theme, Samba music and dancers, Capoeira performances, and an abundance of beads and feathers to add to the fantasy atmosphere. You can also check out the Little Italy ‘Carnevale’ event located on India and Hawthorne streets on February 18th. Enjoy celebrating with over 12,000 people amidst old-style Venetian regalia and décor. Or consider joining the Hillcrest Mardi Gras street party on the 21^st for festivities, food, live entertainment, and outrageous costumes.

After a long night (or week!) of celebrating, rest your head on a comfy pillow at the Ocean Park Inn. Located in San Diego’s Pacific Beach, the Ocean Park Inn is the perfect place to stay to be within a close distance of multiple Mardi Gras events. Not to mention the OPI’s wonderful group packages and easy booking process, which allows for easy and affordable stays for your whole group. The hotel offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, spacious rooms, great prices and packages, and several in-room amenities that cannot be beat. Go to www.oceanparkinn.com for more information about the hotel and nearby places to celebrate Mardi Gras!

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San Diego Restaurant Week

At Ocean Park Inn, one of our staff’s favorite weeks of the year is San Diego Restaurant Week.  Taking place this year from September 19^th through the 24^th, this event allows San Diego’s best restaurants to offer unique 3-course meals designed especially for the food connoisseur at affordable prices.

San Diego Restaurant week is organized by the local chapter of the California Restaurant Association, and a massive 180 establishments in the area participate.  Some of our favorites include:  Cowboy Star, Taka Restaurant, Currant American Brasserie, Acqua, Firehouse American Eatery (Which sits right next door!), Flemings Prime Steakhouse and Quarter Kitchen.

Taking part in Restaurant week is easy—there are no special fees or tickets required, and while reservations are not mandatory, they’re highly encouraged.  Before you can make the important decision of where to take in this appetizing event, check out a full list of participating restaurants here.  If you click on a listed venue you will find the mouthwatering menu they’re planning on serving.  Warning: Don’t do this when hungry!

Also, if you can’t make it in September, this a twice-a-year event will occur again in January, so plan ahead!

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Pacific Beach is known for beautiful sandy beaches, sunshine and surf. If you are a local San Diegan or a traveller coming to SoCal this summer and you have sun and surf on the brain, you most likely have PB as one of your targeted hotspots. What a lot of visitors do not know is that Pacific Beach offers great music throughout the summer.

A few local bars and hotspots specialize in live music.

LongBoard Grill, Cabo Cantina and WaveHouse provide rocking sounds late into the night. WaveHouse has known to provide in the past. This summer they bring you The Wailers July 11.

For an outdoor experience, try Pacific Beach Concerts on the Green sponsored by The Pacific Beach Town Council and The Pacific Beach Community Foundation. Held in beautiful Kate Sessions park, these concerts allow you to feel the vibe of the music and the ocean breeze through your hair.

Concerts are an excellent alternative to the traditional summer hotspots in San Diego such as a San Diego Padres game or Sea World. Not to say that a Padres game or trip to Sea World is not amazing, especially since the Padres are doing so well this year, but there is something unique and magical about the rising sounds of live music in Pacific Beach. And whether you like to enjoy music in a bar atmosphere or outside in the fresh air, Pacific Beach has it covered. For an outdoor experience, try Pacific Beach Concerts on the Green sponsored by The Pacific Beach Town Council and The Pacific Beach Community Foundation.

Visit Pacific Beach this summer and don’t forget to enjoy some live summer tunes along the way!

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