Elegance, excellence and excitement are what come to mind when we think of the Del Mar National Horse Show! For more than sixty years people from all over the world have been travelling to the Del Mar Fairgrounds to take part in this event, which is one of the oldest and most prestigious equestrian competitions in the Western U.S.

Set in the picturesque beach town of Del Mar, California, the Del Mar National has earned a reputation for being among the toughest, most exciting, and finest horse shows in the Western region. Today, the show boasts over 3,000 horses of varied breed and training. Horses and jockeys alike arrive eager to show off their talent and earn ribbons, trophies, titles and of course… prize money!

The Del Mar National Horse Show is spread out across three separate weeklong events including:

• Western Week: April 21-24
• Dressage Week: April 28- May 1
• Hunter/Jumper Week: May 3-8

With world-class equestrian competitions, an exhilarating crowd that is “dressed to the nines,” and signature Saturday evening performances, the Del Mar National is an event you don’t want to miss out on.

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Rip Tide Warning

As spring approaches, the beaches of Southern California will again begin to fill with visitors looking to catch a few rays and play in the surf.  But as you make your way to the carefree, sandy shores of places like Mission Beach and Pacific Beach in San Diego, remember to recognize the danger posed by rip currents.

Rip currents are powerful currents that pull swimmers out from the beach and into the open ocean.  They do not drag people underwater, but they do carry a swimmer very quickly straight out to sea.  Rip currents are created when strong crashing waves reside next to weaker waves.  The result is a flow of water that moves away from the beach at fairly high speeds and with enormous strength.

Rip Tide Strategies

There are easy strategies to recall if you happen to be caught in a rip current.  First, acknowledge and understand that you are in a rip current and that it will not pull you under, but will take you away from shore.  Attempting to fight the current and swim directly back to shore is never your best option, as it will exhaust you waste energy.  Instead, stay afloat and try to move perpendicular to the shore. The rip current will eventually dissipate, so  if you can manage to stay afloat and you will be able to escape when the rip current ends.  The rip current will not extend incredibly far out into the ocean, averaging around a few hundred yards from shore. Once the current has given way, you will be able to swim in a straight line back to shore–as long as you’ve acted wisely and saved your energy! If you are able, attempt to wave for help when caught in the current to gain the attention of a lifeguard or fellow swimmer.

Strategies for a Rip Tide

If anyone in your group is a poor swimmer, be very careful, and heed lifeguard warnings.  A rip current is dangerous, even for the best swimmer. If someone cannot tread water and stay afloat, surviving a rip current episode can be difficult.  If there is any doubt as to the swimming ability of a member of your party, avoid areas with rip currents, and keep your eyes open for warnings.

Recognizing a rip current area can help avoid the danger.  Rip currents move away from shore and are typically made of choppy water that is a different color from surrounding water.  In general, you may be able to recognize a channel moving away from the shore, cutting through the incoming waves.

Visualizing Rip Tide

Now that you know the dangers of rip currents, how they form and what they look like, here are a few tips to take to the beach for safety, courtesy of Ocean Park Inn located on Pacific Beach in San Diego.

• Swim with Others
• Only swim at Lifeguard protected beaches
• Don’t fight the current
• Float and Tread Water
• Swim parallel to the shore to escape, do not attempt to swim directly back into shore
• Wave for Help if caught in a rip current

The beautiful Pacific Ocean can be a fun and exciting place to spend your vacation in San Diego, and keeping these tips in the back of your mind guarantees that you will enjoy a safe and sunny day at the beach!

Visualizing Rip Tides

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Over 3,400 Collegiate, Junior and Master athletes will return to Mission Bay on April 2-3, 2011 for the 38^th annual San Diego Crew Classic. These athletes hail from more than 100 universities, clubs and high schools across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and they will compete in a total of 90 races over the two-day event.

San Diego Crew Classic

While rowing is often seen as a sport exclusive to the East coast, this event has become the marquee regatta of rowing in the West since its establishment in 1973. Even current and future Olympians travel to San Diego to compete in the Crew Classic each year. The Masters is the fastest growing sector of the sport, but the regatta also provides an opportunity for rowers of all levels and ages, from 14-84, to compete in various divisions.

In this year’s competition contestants will race across seven lanes, starting at Sea World and heading North along the 2,000 meter course through Mission Bay. The race will finish at Crown Point, where spectators can gathered to cheer on family, friends and fellow teammates.

Whether you’re attending as a competitor or a spectator, you won’t want to miss out on this iconic rowing event. Spectators will have a wide variety of amenities available to them as they watch the races from start to finish on a massive Jumbotron located at Crown Point. Tent Row will line the sandy shores of Mission Bay and provide a wide range of food, merchandisers, a beer garden on the beach and entertainment for all ages.

The Crew Classic brings in a large, and spirited crowd every year and guarantees a fun-filled weekend. Book your stay at Ocean Park Inn, located on beautiful Pacific Beach and only minutes from the action. If you are interested in getting involved in the classic sport of rowing just ask your Ocean Park Inn concierge who will be happy to recommend some of San Diego’s best rowing organizations! There are a variety of groups that offer non-competitive rowing for those solely interesting in the tranquility and exercise of the sport.

For more information on the event and a detailed schedule of race times and daily activities, please visit www.crewclassic.org.

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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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