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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When you come to San Diego to visit OPI this fall it’s the perfect time to hit the water and go sailing. Whether you are a regular visitor to sunny San Diego, or a first-timer, nothing is more cathartic than setting sail in the bay and cruising out into the open ocean. You will see a vast array of boats while you’re out sailing, from mega-yachts parked in the Marriott Marina to aircraft carriers and battleships that make San Diego a military stronghold. The feeling of the cool fall breeze blowing across your face as you glide swiftly through the waters of the Pacific Ocean is the quickest way to leave your worries behind and escape into a state of bliss.

With an average wind speed of 7 mph and an average temperature of 74 degrees the conditions are consistently ideal for a casual sail. San Diego offers waters that are perfect for beginners looking to learn, and easily manageable for sailing veterans who have been on the water for years.  Sit back and relax with a glass of wine and a plate of your favorite local cuisine and sail until the sun goes down over the gorgeous Pacific Ocean. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the infamous green flash just as the sun dips below the horizon. If you’re in need of a vessel to fulfill your sailing desires, check out one of these boat rental spots conveniently located near the Ocean Park Inn:

Seaforth Boat Rentals: 1641 Quivera Rd, San Diego CA 92109

Mission Bay Sports Center: 1010 Santa Clara Place, San Diego, CA 92109

Shelter Island Sailing: 2240 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92106

These great shops allow experienced sailors to rent a boat and hit the water, or captain services for those who want to purely enjoy the ride, and even sailing lessons for interested novices looking to get their sea legs. So the next time you’re visiting us at the OPI we’d recommend you pack a lunch, grab your family and set sail on the deep blue!

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Unique Things to do in San Diego: The Famous Sunny Jim Cave

If you’re in San Diego this fall and looking for something an activity that’s unique and unknown even to most locals, we at the Ocean Park Inn suggest you head out to nearby La Jolla Cove and check out the Sunny Jim cave. The cave’s distinct name was coined by Frank Baum, the creator of the Wizard of Oz, and stems from a cartoon character named “Sunny Jim,” who was a mascot for the British Force Wheat Cereal products in the 1920’s. Baum claimed that the cave’s entrance bore a striking resemblance to this British icon.

The cave was formed by 200,000 years of ocean waves crashing into the rock layers at what is now La Jolla Cove. This dating is determined by the fossilized shell and water level marks on the cave’s interior. The internal walls of the cave feature beautiful colorings caused by mineral deposits from iron oxide, vegetable matter and iodine, which have left their mark over the thousands of years of the cave’s formation.

Visitors are able to tour the cave thanks to the work of Gustav Shultz and his coworkers who–using a pick and shovel–created a tunnel through the rock wall in 1902 & 1903. Years later, 145 steps were installed in the lighted tunnel, making it easy for visitors to climb into the depth of the Sunny Jim Cave. Admission price to explore the cave is only $4 for adults and $3 for children 16 years or younger. The cave store also has snorkeling gear for rent during the sunny months from May to September, which starts at $20 for two-hours of snorkeling. The cave is open from 9-5, 7 days per week, and is located at 1325 Coast Blvd. SO., La Jolla, CA 92037. Bring the whole family and see this natural wonder that had a little help from some early San Diegans.

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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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A day of rest for the USA, A Day of Surf and Sun for San Diego

For most Americans Labor Day is traditionally celebrated as the end of each warm and relaxing summer.  The holiday is therefore often spent of as a day of rest, a chance to take in local parades, and more.

Labor Day was first celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City. In the aftermath of a tragic event during the Pullman Strike of 1894, the President made it a point to reconcile relationships with the labor force.  Labor Day was made a state holiday in all 50 states by the turn of the century.

If Labor Day is the ultimate summer day for most of the United States, it is only right that it be deemed a day of surf and sun in Southern California.  As it directly follows what is often the warmest month of the year for San Diego, Labor Day is the perfect ending to a long and enjoyable summer.

There is no avoiding Labor Day weekend in San Diego.  The scent of barbecue is in the air, the beaches are packed and there is an overall sense of happiness and relaxation that settles over the crowds. San Diego weather, which almost always cooperates with a comfortable average in the 70’s near the coast, can be relied upon to host a picnic, barbecue or backyard party.  Boasting some of the best beaches in the country, including the sand just across the boardwalk form the Ocean Park Inn at Pacific Beach, San Diego makes spending some time in the sun easy.  For those who want to get outside and put a few miles on their shoe leather, San Diego also supplies hiking opportunities at Cowles Mountain, and family fun destinations such as Balboa Park or Sea World.

All in all, if Labor Day is for resting, barbecuing, surfing or catching some rays at the beach you need look no further than San Diego and Ocean Park Inn.

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