Dubbed the most active city in America, by MensFitness.com, San Diego boasts an array of thrilling and out-of-the-box 5K’s and marathons each year. From glow-in-the-dark 5Ks to military-modeled mud runs, this city actively looks for an excuse to exercise!

On June 2^nd, over 20,000 San Diegans will hit the streets to participate in one of the biggest running events of the year: the 16^th annual Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon & ½ Marathon. The 26 live bands that perform at every mile mark set this marathon apart from all others. From reggae to blues, participants will get to rock out while they work out!

Registration for the race includes:

• Scenic course highlighting San Diego’s famous sites, including Balboa Park, the Gaslamp District, Mission Bay Park and Sea World.
• Live, local bands along the course
• Spirited cheer squads lining the course
• Brooks technical participant shirt
• Official finisher certificates
• Finishers medal
• Swag bag
• Plentiful course support
• Free admission to the finish line festival and post race concert
• Free admission to the 2 day Health & Fitness Expo

To top it off, all marathoners who participate are running for a great cause! The Rock ‘n Roll marathon supports the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), a nonprofit that supports blood cancer research in providing treatments for patients in need. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon allows the LLS to create a Team in Training, in which runners raise money and group recognition while training for the event. The Rock n’ Roll Marathon website speaks of the great success these Teams in Training have had:“Since 1988, participants in the Luekemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training have raised over 1.3 billion dollars for treatments that are saving the lives of blood cancer patients today.”

After the run, reward yourself with a long, relaxing day on the beach and a comfortable bed at the Ocean Park Inn! Located just a few steps from the water, Ocean Park Inn is the perfect place to rest those sore muscles. With rooms still available, visit http://www.oceanparkinn.com/ or call the front desk at 800-231-7735 to reserve a spot today!

To register for the Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon, visit: http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/san-diego/register.

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San Diego is home to three well-known California universities, making it not only a college friendly city, but a family friendly city year-round.  May is especially unique, as San Diego quickly fills with proud parents who travel to this beautiful beach town to watch their children walk across the stage and receive their hard-earned college diplomas.

Graduation day is a cherished memory for any parent, and the celebration usually lasts long past the ceremony itself!  With a plethora of restaurants and event spaces to choose from, it can be difficult to narrow down the best place to celebrate your child, family member, or friend’s exciting achievement. Luckily, you have us! We’ve compiled a list of graduation-friendly restaurants that will fill the needs of your pickiest eaters and your most fanatic foodies, allowing you to worry less about the party and more about cherishing the moment. Here are some of our favorite places to celebrate post-graduation festivities:

• The Prado in Balboa Park, 1549 El Prado San Diego, CA 92101

This beautiful restaurant serves up New American cuisine, and rests in the heart of San Diego’s famous Balboa Park.  The Prado is an impressive place to celebrate your loved one’s graduation, boasting elegant spanish decor and a “four star” rating on Yelp.The average price of each dish ranges from $15 to $20 dollars, and the location sits equidistant from all three major universities, making this a great restaurant for a classy evening with family and friends!

• Bluefin Fusion Japanese Restaurant, 4305 La Jolla Village Dr. Suite L-2 San Diego, CA 92122

Located in the beautiful La Jolla village, Bluefin is a wonderful choice for UCSD graduates with a penchant for sushi.  Bluefin is a perfect place for vegetarians, non-fish eaters, and meat eaters alike as they can tailor their menu to fit your party’s needs. Rated three and a half stars on Yelp and with a menu full of under $20 choices, Bluefin Fusion is an affordable place to enjoy a celebratory graduation lunch or dinner.

• Kous Kous, 3940 4th Avenue Suite 110 San Diego, CA 92103

Contrary to popular belief, San Diego isn’t just known for its amazing Mexican food! In fact, there are a large number of excellent Moroccan restaurants available in this Southern Californian paradise, including Kous Kous. Kous Kous is one of the most popular places to go for lamb tagines and pita bread.  Located in diverse and fun Hillcrest, an equal distance from both USD and SDSU, it’s a perfect place for an elegant dinner. Rated four and a half stars on Yelp with all dishes under $20, it is a great pick for a party that wants to explore great new flavors.

• Enoteca Adriano, 4864 Cass Street, San Diego, CA 92109

Located in sunny Pacific Beach, just blocks from the Ocean Park Inn, Enoteca offers authentic Italian food in an intimate setting. Rated with four and a half stars on Yelp and with dishes ranging from an average of $13-$25, it is an ideal place for a party of Italian food lovers and SDSU graduates.

Your graduation party is sure to be a success when it includes a meal from one these four restaurants. But where to rest after a long day of celebration? Pacific Beach’s own Ocean Park Inn is the ideal place to stay for your child’s graduation! Just a short drive to any of San Diego’s famous universities, Ocean Park Inn ensures excellent memories from a wonderful graduation weekend. For booking information visit http://bit.ly/QN1Jod.

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Aside from its famously beautiful beaches and temperate weather, San Diego is also well-known for its delicious Mexican food.  Being the most famous city north of the border for such authentic food is not due to luck, but rather due to the diversity and varied culture San Diego embodies and celebrates.  A subdivision of San Diego known to promote that culture is Old Town. Old Town San Diego transforms this SoCal beach town into another world!

The paved streets of this district are transported into the past with an array of artisan shops offering items such as custom made leather gifts, jewelry, and retro candy. There are also a variety of amazing restaurants to try. The best time of year to visit Old Town in May, when they celebrate Cinco De Mayo like no other city in the United States! On May 4th and 5th Old Town San Diego will be celebrating Cinco De Mayo like only they have since 1983!

This FREE celebration of Cinco De Mayo is a fiesta for the five senses! Live entertainment, beautiful music, and delicious food are all things to look forward to during this huge festival. Cinco De Mayo in Old Town is a great event for singles, couples, and families alike. Specialized kid areas are equipped with interactive activities that will keep kids occupied and having fun.  Singles and couples can dance to the inviting sounds of flamenco music or the rocking of Mariachi beats. Freshly made tortillas are available to tempt you along the restaurant strip, and visitors will be delighted to taste the softest and tastiest tortillas of their lives. The best margaritas and tequilas in town will be offered for sipping during the festivities, and an ever-inviting beer garden will surely entice the taste buds.

The festival will take place on May 4th (11am – 10pm) to May 5th (11am – 5pm) and is free to the public. Get there early and celebrate all day long!

Just a short 10-minute drive from Old Town, Ocean Park Inn is the ideal place to stay during this fun weekend.  Never too far from the beach or the events happening within the city, Ocean Park Inn serves as the perfect home base after all your San Diego fun.  For room rates, please call 858-483-5858 or visit http://www.oceanparkinn.com.

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The California wine culture is not one to be taken lightly, because the state is well-known for its many regions dedicated world-class wine making and innovation.  When that first sip of wine exudes deep beauty and elegance Californian wine enthusiasts rejoice.  If you’re interested in a taste of this regal California wine experience or already consider yourself a wine connoisseur, be sure to mark your calendar for April 6, 2013. On April 6th the annual VinDiego Wine and Food Festival–a premier wine tasting event in Southern California–takes place in San Diego.

VinDiego is a truly unique event which celebrates California’s finest wines and wineries at the beautiful Broadway Pier on the San Diego Bay. There will be hundreds of wines from the best and brightest vintners for attendees to taste and enjoy.  While sipping wine, you can graze on offerings from local culinary masters and artisans, as well as food from most renowned bakers and restaurants in California.

Wine enthusiasts can also enjoy specialized seminars conducted by certified wine experts of Cabernet, Rhone, and Pinot Noir.  These specialized seminars let you sip and swirl the finest offerings in each category as well as learn more about each wine’s popularity and differences in taste and texture.

The VinDiego festival is on Saturday, April 6^th from 3pm to 8pm. Hopeful attendees can buy tickets to to the event at http://www.vindiego.com/tickets/. Tickets are on sale now through April 5^th.  There are different ticket types available, ranging from VIP to Designated Driver. Or get together a group of 10 or more and receive discounted tickets! Located just 14 minutes away from Broadway Pier, Ocean Park Inn is the ideal place to stay to enjoy not only VinDiego, but also all that San Diego has to offer! From the soft ocean breeze of Pacific Beach to the glamorous nightlife of the Gaslamp, Ocean Park Inn is the perfect place to stay during your San Diegan adventure. For booking information visit http://bit.ly/QN1Jod.

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Nothing compares to a nice glass of wine. Except for a glass of Californian wine…on the coast…sipped while watching the sunset! On Saturday, March 9^th and Sunday, March 10^th join the thousands of other wine connoisseurs and experience the perfect combination of wine tasting and gorgeous beach views at the Family Winemakers of California’s 5^th Annual “Tasting 2013” in Del Mar.

With 170+wineries pouring, guests will have a plethora of different of Cabs, Pinots and Zins to taste. The event showcases small, family-owned wineries from some of California’s up-and-coming and widely acclaimed regions. From small label productions, to the rare collectibles, attendees will have the chance to discover some of California’s hidden treasures in the wine industry.

All of the wineries in attendance are small, family-owned establishments, that pour at only a select few events each year. Tasting 2013 gives you the opportunity to meet the vintners and wineries behind the labels, and see first-hand their passion for the craft of exceptional wine making. With over 700 wines to taste at the event, attendees will gain a complete understanding and taste of California wine.

The event is open to trade and consumers. Consumer hours are 3-6pm on March 9th, with tickets available online for $60. Consumers also have the option to participate in a “Reserve” tasting for $85. Purchase online with the promo code “VinVillage15” and receive 20% off your purchase! For more information on tickets, please call 415-705-0646 or email tasting@familywinemakers.org.

Just a short drive from the Tasting 2013 event at the Del Mar Fairgrounds is the Ocean Park Inn, which is the perfect venue to serve as your home base after a long day of indulgence of California’s finest wineries. Ocean Park Inn sits just a few steps from the beach. We can’t think of a better way to enjoy that new bottle of wine then while watching the sunset from one of our ocean front balcony rooms. Sip, sit back, relax, enjoy! For room rates, please call 858-483-5858 or visit http://www.oceanparkinn.com.

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