San Diego Skyline

San Diego has always been a hot spot for travelers of all shapes and sizes, and this is due in large part to gorgeous scenery, amazing hotels, and a long list of varied, and cost-effective activities to fill up your stay! If you’re vacationing on a budget this year, look no further than the centrally located and affordable Ocean Park Inn to call home during your visit. No matter who you’re traveling with, or what you’re looking to get out of your vacation, San Diego has a fun and free activity for you!

Just ten minutes north of Pacific Beach sit the gorgeous La Jolla Coves, an idyllic location to spend an afternoon during your stay. A sunny stroll through La Jolla will greet you with sparkling blue water, pristine beaches, and the unique experience of watching seals come out to play in their natural habitat.

A few miles in the opposite direction will bring you to scenic Seaport Village, a great place to spend the day window-shopping and watching yachts pass by in the San Diego Bay. Just a stone’s throw away is Mission Bay Park, a great spot for family vacationers looking to enjoy the breezy weather with kite-flying, a game of catch, or a relaxing picnic in the sun. If you’re looking to catch a bit of exercise during your stay, Mission Bay Park also boasts over 20 miles of attractive jogging paths which are sure to make your workout out more enjoyable.

Don’t forget to make a pit stop at Balboa Park, where you can enjoy free live music at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. This venue features one of the largest outdoor pipe organs in the country, and has been a notable landmark since 1914.

Finally, for the history buff in your crew, don’t forget to stop by the celebrated Old Town San Diego district, where you can stroll through town and view notable buildings such as Seeley Stables, the Steward House, and the oldest schoolhouse in San Diego.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive but memorable getaway this spring we at the Ocean Park Inn would love to recommend a journey out to San Diego. With countless free, fun, and picturesque activities available, we’re sure you won’t regret your choice!

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Belmont Park is located only a few minutes from the Ocean Park Inn, and sits just across the street from the beach. The main attractions include the wave machines, arcade, midway games, glow in the dark miniature golf, and the lazar maze. The highlight of these attractions is the wavehouse, which includes the FlowRider® and FlowBarrel®. The FlowRider® attraction is a simulated wave machine that creates a perfect wave, resembling the shape of an average ocean wave. This attraction is perfect for beginners, and houses a large open face which allows riders to move freely. For the more experienced surfer Belmont Park boasts the FlowBarrel®, which is a hollow tube with a nice steep face, and resembles the type of waves that surfers travel the world looking for. And don’t worry if you fall, the surface beneath the water is padded for the protection of beginners.

When it’s time to take a break for food you’ll find that there are many options to choose from. If you are on the go, look into Chipstix, North Shore Café, The Sweet Shoppe, and Beach Treats, to satisfy your hunger. The most popular stop from this list is Chipstix, which serves classic amusement park favorites like corndogs, hotdogs, chicken tenders, and slush puppies. If you are looking to sit down, and relax in the ambiance of Belmont Park, then we would suggest the Wavehouse Bar and Grill. This place is open seven days a week, and is the ultimate family dining stop. The environment this place creates is laid-back, and encourages you to enjoy the San Diego sun and surf. The Wavehouse Bar and Grill includes an exciting array of outdoor Tiki bars, fire pits, hammocks, tropical palms and lounging sand pits. This particular restaurant is sure to please your taste buds, and your affinity for beach living!

When the family is full and ready to continue their exciting trip to Belmont Park, we would suggest a stop at some of the region’s premier retail shops. First, try Sun Diego, where they strive to bring customers the best selection of surf, skate, snow apparel and related equipment, safety gear, and accessories. Next, stop by Wings to peruse a large assortment of high quality clothing, swimwear, shoes, souvenirs, and beach accessories at affordable prices. Then, for a unique and creative experience, check out Henna Heaven, which originated in India. The tattoos here are top quality, and best of all temporary. The last stop is Beach and Resort Wear, where you can stock up on all beach necessities such as sandals, towels, swimsuits, bodyboards and more.

As your adventure comes to an end, all of us at the Ocean Park Inn would like to wish your family an amazing stay in beautiful San Diego.

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Shamu at Sea World San Diego

One of the most popular San Diego attractions for the whole family is the fun, and exciting displays of wildlife at Sea World. Just a few minutes away from the Ocean Park Inn, Sea World boasts great food, great rides, and of course great shows. So when planning your day at Sea World the first destination to look into is the performances. Currently, the most popular show is “Believe”, which showcases the unique behaviors of killer whales. If you’re visiting us in San Diego during the summer, set your sights on “Shamu’s Sky Splash”, which includes a spectacular fireworks display. Beginning May 29th, there is a new show hitting Sea World entitled “Blue Horizons”, which features a wide variety of sea life ranging from dolphins, pilot whales, and birds, all under the talented supervision of animal trainers and live acrobatic performers. The story of this show begins with a young girl by the name of Mariana who explores the secrets of the sky and the sea. Her dreams come alive as she dives into the ocean. This new performance is sure to be a hit with the whole family.

When taking a break for some delicious food, be sure to look into the Shipwreck Reef Café, Coconut Bay Café, and the Rocky Pointe Café. The Shipwreck Reef Café sets a unique dining décor, and excites it’s diners with splashes from the nearby shipwreck rapid rides. If you’re looking for a drier meal, we would suggest the Coconut Bay Café. This restaurant offers great food in a quick-serve setting so you won’t have to miss any of the excitement Sea World has to offer. Family’s looking to find a health alternative to most amusement park food should look into the Rocky Pointe Café for salads, wraps and sandwiches–all under 750 calories.

Once your family is full and filled with energy it’s time to visit some of the exciting rides that Sea World has to offer. The newest addition is the Journey to Atlantis ride, which features dolphin spirits that guide passengers on an ocean voyage. The special effects on this ride will leave you soaked and running back for more. Next we journey to Shipwreck Rapids, where you can spin and splash through the river rapids of an underground tavern. The last, and most popular ride, is the sky tower, which features a spectacular view of the theme park, and most of San Diego! You will even be able to catch a glimpse of the Ocean Park Inn sitting right across the ocean.

Sea World is the ultimate family getaway in San Diego, so don’t miss out on all of the exciting activities Shamu has in store for you while you’re visiting us at the Ocean Park Inn!

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Earth Day Celebration

Earth Day at Balboa Park is the largest free and annual environmental fair in the world. This year’s celebration marks the 20th anniversary of Earth Day, and the event is projected to attract as many as 70,000 visitors. The Earth Day fair is only made possible with the help of 400 volunteers, and 350 exhibitors. The event will boast special theme areas, a Kids Pavilion, Food Pavilion, three entertainment venues, the Earth gallery art show, and Children’s Earth parade.

The exhibits are the main attraction on Earth Day, and they represent government and local programs and services that address environmental quality of life. This event has extremely low exhibitors’ fees so every organization is encouraged to participate. It is impossible to name everything at the Earth Fair, but some of the most popular exhibits present are: traditional conservation organizations, wildlife preservation groups, products made from natural and organically grown crops, organic gardening information groups, alternative energy vehicles, ecotourism opportunities, pet adoption services, and clean air and clean water products. While the movement towards a more environmentally friendly lifestyle is very intriguing for adults, a family might wonder how they’ll entertain the kids?

In the Kids Pavillion you will find crafts, games, face painting, storytelling, and hands on activities for children of all ages. The activities educate, entertain and inspire youth about the world around them, all in the spirit of Earth Day. This year kids will learn how paper is made, find out about recycling, and make gift cards from recycled materials.

The entertainment at the Earth Day fair includes music from the popular folk, and contemporary genres. There will be live performances hosted on two different stages! Even more, you will be able to enjoy a public art gallery which features artists who made creative items from solely recycled material. These amazing works of art will dazzle you, all while maintaining environmentally friendly standards.

Next we arrive at the Food Pavilion, where you will find natural, organic, and vegetarian food. Forget about greasy junk food and sugar, the Earth Fair wants to bring your attention to a whole new style of eating! The food is so good, and healthy, that you’re going to wish it were available all year long.

After a long day in the sun, taking in the sights and useful information that the Earth Fair has to offer, where do you head for a great night’s sleep? If you’re just visiting us in Southern California, we’d suggest a relaxing room at the Ocean Park Inn, located steps away from the sand. Share the San Diego experience with us–we’d love to have you!

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