Nothing represents the holidays better than bright, and festive light displays. Despite the lack of blistery snowstorms that many equate to the holidays, San Diego does boast  great light displays that will rival those of our northern counterparts. These spectacles bring together entire neighborhoods as they compete for the silent title of “best light display.” Observers will drive all around the county just to catch a glimpse of these magnificent displays, and if you’re in town visiting the Ocean Park Inn, be sure to join in on the fun! While some local commercial and corporate displays may be grandiose, nothing brings out the true essence of Christmas like an illuminated neighborhood. The following are just a few of the San Diego locales that will have you singing Christmas tunes all the way home:

Chula Vista:

Whitney St./Mankato – Christmas Circle between First and Second Ave.

Dates: December 10 – December 25. 5-10 pm. Over 55 homes decorated

Eastlake Neighborhood – Off Otay Lakes Rd. and Eastlake Pkwy.

Dates: Evenings December 15 – December 31. They will also hold the Homes for the Holidays contest on December 15.

Clairemont:

Lana Dr. and Jamar – Off Mt. Abernathy Ave.,

Dates: December 10 – December 25. Over 40 homes decorated

4760 Norwalk Ave. – Off Clairemont Mesa Blvd./Moranga Ave.

Dates: December 1 – January 1. 6-10 pm

East San Diego:

1523 48^th Street – Off Federal Blvd. & 48^th St. Arron Christmas Lane

Dates: December 1 – December 30. 5-10 pm.

El Cajon:

Jingle Bell Hill (aka Pepper Drive Lights) – Solomon Ave./Pageen Pl. and surrounding area

Dates: December 1 – December 25. Evenings.

La Mesa:

Bob’s Christmas Wonderland – 7171 Cornell Ave., La Mesa. This residence is transformed into a winter wonderland every year around Christmas. The wonderland is open from 5-9 pm nightly throughout the month of December. Visitors are asked to bring one canned food item to be donated to the Salvation Army.

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As the holiday season swings into full gear, we will be featuring a new blog every week until December 25^th that will showcase the various Christmas activities taking place in San Diego near the Ocean Park Inn. This week our featured event is Balboa Park’s December Nights 2010. The holiday season kicks off with a big celebration in Balboa Park with this two-day celebration that brings out the holiday spirit in everyone. San Diego has a ton of positive qualities, but the one thing our climate lacks is seasonal snowfall. Despite the lack of blizzards and snowmen in San Diego, the December Nights celebration brings forth the holiday spirit in all of us.

This long-standing event has been a staple of San Diego’s holiday celebrations for thirty-three years. This year the celebration is running on December 3 from 5-10pm and December 4 from noon to 10 pm. Participating Balboa Park museums will be open free-of-charge from 5-9pm both nights. The December Nights festival features Christmas light displays, theatrical and musical entertainment, and rare foods and spirits scattered throughout the park. The celebration is expected to draw more than 300,000 people over the exciting two days.

Some of the featured events of the December Nights celebration are as follows:

Christmas on the Prado

Christmas on the Prado features food from around the globe at the House of Pacific Relations Cottages, the Santa Lucia procession at the Museum of Man, gift shopping at the museum stores, and musical and dance presentations from the San Diego Junior Theatre, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, De Cerro Baptist’s Christmas Story Tree and more. This is one exhibit you won’t want to miss.

International Cottage Christmas Festival

The International Cottage Christmas Festival features authentic music, dance and other holiday festivities from over 30 countries. Here you can sample international cuisine, and view traditional holiday dances and music complete with ornate holiday costumes on the Cottage Stage.

Spreckels Organ Pavilion Stage

This is December Nights’ main performance stage, which features music and entertainment from local San Diego groups. Some highlights of this stage are the House of Scotland Pipe Band and the Chorus of Sweet Adelines.

And finally, check out a new addition for this year at the gourmet food truck. Prado owner David Cohen is partnering with executive chef Deborah Scott to debut this amazing food truck. So swing by and grab a local delicacy created by Deborah and enjoy the celebration. We may not have a white Christmas this year, but San Diegan’s don’t have any trouble getting into the Christmas spirit at this amazing event!

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San Diego has something for everyone, and when you come to visit us at the Ocean Park Inn with your significant other we know that your individual vacation plans don’t always match up. When you visit us in San Diego, however, there is a perfect package designed to fit both the male and female desires alike: Fishing and Massages.

For the Guys: San Diego has some of the best deep-sea fishing on the west coast. You can go out and catch a multitude of species including Sea Bass, Halibut, Dorado Tuna and Yellowtail. There are a variety of deep-sea charters around the city, including Seaforth Charters, Islandia, and Fisherman’s Landing. We will connect you with the best charter to help you bring in a trophy fish, and go home with another great fishing story to tell around the boardroom.

For the Ladies: While your man is out on the open water spend your time relaxing in the privacy of your own room with one of our amazing in-room massages. Listen to the waves of the Pacific Ocean crash into the shoreline just steps from your hotel room and let one of our massage therapists work the kinks out of your stress-ridden muscles. After your massage, sit back in your robe and top the experience off with a glass of champagne and watch the sunset. When your better half returns home from his fishing adventures you can enjoy the fruits of his labor and head down to the grill to cook up the catch of the day.

The fishing and massage combo is an ideal solution for guys who want to indulge their inner sport-fisherman, and for ladies who enjoy a day of relaxation and pampering. Call us today and inquire about our fishing and massage packages, and we’ll make sure your experience is unforgettable!

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From December to March visitors to San Diego have the one-of-a-kind opportunity to witness one of nature’s most majestic events: the migration of the California Gray Whales. The whales migrate from the Alaskan seas, where they spend the spring and summer, down to the warm water lagoons of Baja California, where they birth and rear their young. Ocean Park Inn is centrally located for either viewing the whales from land, or chartering a day excursion to view them up close.

Those of you wishing to stay dry should

head down to Cabrillo National Monument, one of San Diego’s most picturesque national parks. The monument is located on the southern tip of the Point Loma peninsula and offers a glass enclosed observatory which serves as the perfect lookout for these amazing creatures. The monument also features whale exhibits and a taped narration explaining the characteristics of these animals.

After Christmas, the Birch Aquarium at Scripps celebrates the gray whale season with whale exhibits and educational activities. The aquarium’s outdoor tide-pool area overlooks the La Jolla shoreline and the Pacific Ocean, making it an ideal vantage point for viewing the migration.

For those of you that are more on the adventurous side San Diego offers a number of day excursions for whale watching, and there is an excursion for every level of explorer. If a leisurely luxury cruise is more your style, then check out Hornblower Cruises and Adventures, which offers a 3½-hour deluxe whale watching adventure cruise from December to April. If you are the kind of person who likes to get up close and personal with nature, be sure to schedule a whale watching kayak tour with OEX Kayak and Dive Center. This excursion gives you 2 ½-hours of whale watching action, and takes you on a one-mile paddle trip around the Pacific.

Be sure to add San Diego to your travel plans this winter or early spring because whether you charter an ocean adventure or simply view the whales from a distance, this is one experience you won’t want to miss!

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The seasons are changing, and fall is coming into full swing in Pacific Beach, and at the OPI. There is a slight, but nevertheless present nip in the air, people are breaking out their light winter sweaters and the traditions of autumn are rapidly coming upon us. As the seasons change, so does the local fare around San Diego. Despite the consistently sunny days, San Diegans still yearn for the comfort foods of fall that make us feel like we are back in mom’s kitchen.

No fall season menu is complete without the mouthwatering baked goods that pop up this time of year. Nothing is better on a cool fall evening than homemade desserts and pastries that remind us of Thanksgiving dinners with the family. Pumpkin pies, fruit pies, layered cakes and cookies are just a few of the yummy treats that we indulge upon in autumn. Just because you are vacationing in sunny San Diego this fall doesn’t mean you can’t get your hands on these delicious comfort foods. In San Diego proper, The City Delicatessen offers some of the best baked goods in the area. From apple, blueberry, cherry and peach pies to cakes, pastries, éclairs and cookies, City Delicatessen has a treat to satisfy every taste and sweet tooth. So head on over to Hillcrest and pick up your favorite treats from this classic San Diego restaurant.

Another trademark of fall is football season, and nothing says football like tailgating. Whether you’re enjoying the game from the comfort of your hotel room, or watching the bolts play live at Qualcomm, don’t forget to take part in the tailgating festivities that complete the football experience. Hotdogs, hamburgers beer and bratwurst are tailgating favorites. If you want a true San Diego experience, grill up some carne asada or pollo asado and make yourself a savory homemade Mexican meal. If you want to watch football from the comfortable seats of a popular restaurant, try Rocky’s Crown Pub in Pacific Beach for burgers and beer, or Casa Guadalajara in Old Town for authentic Mexican fare.

Lastly, no fall would be complete without hot beverages to warm you on cold nights. Regardless of whether you like hot chocolate, fancy lattes, bold coffees or hot teas, try Café Bassam in Banker’s Hill. They have an expansive array of unique blends, various hot chocolates and frothy lattes. The old-timey charm of this place is the perfect locale to enjoy a warm beverage, read a book or just sit back and people watch in exciting San Diego where we at the OPI make our home.

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