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!

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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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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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Going Green

Most travelers are undoubtedly beginning notice an overwhelming shift towards “Green” initiatives at their hotels.  And it doesn’t take a Ph.D. in Astrophysics to recognize that a hotel saves money on laundry, human resources and energy by taking part in the worldwide “Green” movement. That said, it’s next to impossible for a hotel to show genuine interest in conservation without being labeled as opportunistic to the cause.  It’s even harder for guests to find fault when, in such a competitive industry, these monetary savings are passed onto them in offering the best rates possible.

Sookhan Ho offers an interesting view of this situation in her article for Green Lodging News. She comments on a recent online study conducted by graduate students at Virginia Tech, which shows an unexpected gap between how people who are environmentally conscious at home, aren’t as sensitive on the road.  The study–an online survey of 881 people by Melissa Baker and Eric Davis–showed that nearly 60 percent of respondents recycle paper products at home, but only 30 percent recycle while at a hotel.  Similarly, 60 percent said they conserve water at home, but only 40 percent make such efforts while on vacation.  80 percent of the respondents profess to conserving energy at home, with only 40 percent doing so on the road.  Baker and Davis attribute such behavioral gaps to the idea that “individuals might feel more obligated to behave in an environmentally friendly manner in their local community as opposed to the tourist destination”.  While this survey does not paint travelers very green at all, another statistic found in this study is much more optimistic, as 60 percent of respondents stated that they were either “Likely” or “Extremely Likely” to stay at a hotel that changed sheets only when requested during their stay–effectively conserving water, and energy.

Bringing the “Green” movement to our home, we find ourselves focusing on the continuously dwindling water supply in San Diego.  While we take an environmentally conservative attitude at Ocean Park Inn, we simultaneously aim to allow our guests to feel comfortable, and at home.  We offer daily Sheet and Linen Changing Service as part of our routine benefits, but strongly encourage our guests to opt for Changing Service “only when requested”.  Please let us know at check in if you’d like to take part in conserving San Diego’s water supply.   You might even find that your water conservation translates to a better rate upon your next visit!

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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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