Are you a music buff? Do you love all genres, from Classic Rock & Roll to Cajun Blues and from Motown to Contemporary Jazz? If you are sitting at your computer nodding “yes,” then you better get down to the beach this summer for La Jolla’s Concerts by the Sea!

These family-friendly–not to mention free–summer concerts are fun for locals and visitors of all ages. The events are held on Sundays in a gorgeous spot overlooking the La Jolla Coves, and offer a wide range of musical styles for everyone’s enjoyment.

Every year, the city of La Jolla hosts these musical performances that run for two straight months under the summer sun. The concerts are held shore-side in Scripps Park at La Jolla Cove every Sunday afternoon from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. This year, “The Heroes” will kick off the season on July 10. This 7-member band is headed by the talents of two amazing female singers. This classic rock & roll band’s extensive song list includes everything from big band, swing and standards from the 30′s and 40′s, to today’s current hits, with oldies, Motown, rock & roll, and even a little funk mixed in.

Food vendors and beverage stands line the park and support the ongoing LaJolla concerts every summer. How does a hot dog and ice-cold soda sound? Or maybe some ice cream and popcorn for the kids? These events have it all! The concerts also bring together local restaurants and business that offer fantastic raffle prizes including gift certificates for local activities each week! So come enjoy a free afternoon concert on the shore and you could leave with a free gift certificate for additional fun activities during your stay in San Diego. Sounds like a pretty good deal to us!

For details and a complete list of performances during the 2011 season, visit www.ljconcertsbythesea.org.

(0 Comments)

Spring is on its way to San Diego, and as the weather warms, San Diegans and visitors alike come together for a month of festivals, parades and celebrations. San Diego doesn’t waste any time relaxing, and instead moves quickly from exciting Mardi Gras events, to a fun-filled St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Be ready to put away your beads and break out the green and gold, because it’s time to celebrate Celtic style!

Saturday, March 12 marks an eventful day in Balboa Park, which will be packed with two stages of live entertainment, Irish cuisine and beverages, and of course the annual St. Patty’s Day Parade. Admission is free to the public, and gates open at 9 a.m. Get there early so you won’t miss the ceremonial flag raising which kick things off at 10 a.m. Just thirty minutes later the crowd will have moved to Fifth Avenue and Juniper Street where the parade takes its first steps. Revel in the sights and sounds of marching bands, floats, police and fire department units, dancing groups, bagpipe contingents, antique cars and more as the parade makes its way through the park.

The festivities will be in full swing by 11 a.m. with two beer gardens serving ice-cold Guinness, along with other beer, wine and spirits. Patrons can satisfy their cravings with a wide variety of authentic Celtic food and enjoy booths filled with traditional Irish crafts. And don’t forget about the little ones who are sure to enjoy the Kid Zone where they can partake in games, rides, face painting and more.

If a little history is what you seek, head over to the Celtic Village for the opportunity to step back into the year 1582! A troupe of renaissance re-enactors will be on hand to portray the daily drama of the soldiers of House McFionn. Relish in authentic fighting demonstrations, Irish dance, song, crafts and story telling.

If you think you’ve seen everything San Diego has to offer on this famed Irish holiday, think again! The following week, on March 17, the historic Gaslamp District hosts ShamROCK: the best St. Patty’s Day block party on the West coast! Pack your bags and head to the beach for a week of celebrations and all the green beer you can drink.

Let the Ocean Park Inn handle your accommodations and put you up in one of our contemporary-style rooms overlooking beautiful Pacific Beach. Take some time to relax and unwind by our ocean front pool as you prepare yourself for one of the biggest celebrations to hit San Diego all year!

(0 Comments)

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!

(0 Comments)

Desperately searching for that last minute gift to wow Mom this Mother’s Day? Look no further than the Ocean Park Inn’s Mother’s Day getaway package!  We would love to have your family stay with us to celebrate this holiday, and our Ultimate Mother’s Day package won’t disappoint. Your mom is sure to feel relaxed, appreciated, and loved when she is able to enjoy discounted facial treatments at one of Pacific Beach’s most popular spas, a breezy ocean view brunch at the Firehouse Restaurant just steps away from our lobby, and the delicious chocolate-covered strawberries that will await her in your recently updated, and spacious room–not to mention the 15% discount on your stay that sweetens the deal for everyone involved!

But the gifts for mom don’t have to stop there! There are several smaller gifts that she would certainly love to receive this year, and we have a few recommendations for you. First, is the Numi flowering teapot, which is a new approach for any avid tea-drinker. The box includes a charming glass teapot, and five flowering tea bundles—three white teas, a green and one black. The hand-picked, premium teas will leave please the taste buds, and leave your mother feeling rejuvenated and excited about her new gift.

If you are looking to offer Mom some relaxation this year, check into Korres new all-natural shower gels. These great-smelling gels come in a variety of sweet, and fruity flavors from Vanilla Plum, to refreshing Basil Lemon. These aromatherapy shower gels will give Mom all the proof she needs of how much you appreciate her, not just on Mother’s Day, but all year long.

Studies have shown that chocolate is the perfect cure to gloomy moods, so this holiday offer your mother a smile with these loving kindness, Dalai Lame designed chocolates! Intentional Chocolates are imbued with “focused good intention by experienced meditators,” some of which studied with the Dalai Lama himself. These sweet treats come from peaceful beginnings, and are perfect for the mom looking to relax and indulge.

Our last gift recommendation is for moms who are passionate about cooking. ‘Bean Appetit: Hip and Healthy Ways to Have Fun with Food’ is a great cook book for mom’s looking to find delicious meal ideas on a time crunch. Make the recipe search easier for that special lady in your life this year with a book full of great food that’s fun to make!

Our gift ideas are limitless, but we want to hear feedback from our fans! What do you think is the ultimate Mother’s Day? Get those creative juices flowing and let us know what you have in mind for your mom this holiday.

(0 Comments)