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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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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