Our hotel guests often ask, “Where’s the best place to grab a bite in Pacific Beach?” With a multitude of restaurants here worthy of the “Best Food in San Diego” title, it’s often hard to pinpoint the perfect place. However, on Tuesday, May 21st, the Coast of Pacific Beach Restaurant Walk will give our guests the unique ability to sample some of the best plates from an array of dining establishments in the PB area.

For only $20, attendees will sample some of the best grub Pacific Beach has to offer. With 26 participating restaurants, hometown and visiting foodie’s alike will be given the chance to devour a plethora of PB’s coastal cuisine—from fish tacos, to pulled pork sliders, and delicoius surf and turf burritos. Your taste buds will feel like they’re on a joy ride!

Pacificbeach.org claims, “What could be better than a leisurely self-guided restaurant stroll set by the Pacific Ocean?” Our answer: nothing! Add in the gorgeous sunset you’ll enjoy after a delicious day of food and ocean breeze, and this event truly offers you the ideal day in Pacific Beach.

Participating restaurants include Bareback Grill, Big Kahunas, California Kebab, Firehouse Eatery and Lounge, Duck Dive, Fat Sals, PB Alehouse, Ciro’s Pizzeria and Beerhouse, Miller’s Field, Chupacabra, Ra-ka-de-ka, Shore Club, Bub’s, Cabo Cantina, Gelato Bus Stop, Liberty Pizza, Cass St. Bar and Grill, Morays and more.

Event proceeds will go back to the PB community in order to keep the neighborhood and surrounding area clean. And while you’re here for the food, stay for the atmosphere at Pacific Beach’s premier boutique hotel, the Ocean Park Inn. Located right on the boardwalk with gorgeous views of the glittering Pacific Ocean, the Ocean Park Inn is the best place to rest after a long day of sampling delicious local cuisine. Please visit the Ocean Park Inn website to view rates for Tuesday, May 21^st.

Purchase tickets online for $20 at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/346235, or get them at the door for $25.

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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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It’s that time of year again, when San Diegans get the unique opportunity to spot one of the largest and most remarkable mammals in the world, the gray whale, as they migrate along the coast in pursuit of Baja. The whales, mostly female, depart their arctic feeding grounds to give birth in the warm subtropical lagoons of Mexico from the months of January to May. As the season is just picking up, locals and tourists alike are taking advantage of the multitude of whale watching tours available throughout San Diego. Here, we’ll highlight some of our favorite tours, and why visiting San Diego during the temperate months of January and February is the best way to escape the cold!

One of our favorite and more traditional ways to whale watch is from a boat out at sea. We love the Naturalist-Guided Whale Watching Boat Rides, as they feature an expert from the Birch Aquarium at Scripps onboard. With guaranteed whale sightings, guests must reserve a spot ahead of time! To reserve a spot, call (619) 234-4111. Another company we love is Hornblower Cruise and Whale Watching Adventures. With Hornblower, guests are able to combine their admission to the Maritime Museum, the USS Midway, or the San Diego Natural History Museum with a whale watching tour. There’s no better way to enjoy the rest of your day after a spotting whales at sea than a wonderful time expanding your knowledge of the deep ocean blue! To book with Hornblower, visit http://www.hornblower.com/hce/port/category/sd+tours. For those seeking a more adventurous whale watching boat tour, we love the Whale Watching San Diego Sailing Adventure. Sail aboard the America, a classic racing vessel that looks like it was built in the 1800’s! This boat tour guarantees guests entry into the Maritime Museum either before or after their tour paired with a guaranteed whale sighting and no seasickness! Guests are able to bring food on the boat to enjoy as well. To book with Whale Watching San Diego Sailing Adventure, call 800-644-3454.

Speaking of adventure, there’s also an option for those who like to really immerse themselves in the outdoors! Nature lovers can whale watch from a kayak along the La Jolla Shores. As whales are often spotted along the La Jolla cliffs, kayakers get an up close view of these marvelous creatures as they swim beneath their feet. Although whale sightings are not guaranteed, participants are able to take in the beautiful scenery of the La Jolla cliffs in an adventurous kayaking experience they’ll never forget.  To sign up for a small group kayaking tour, you can pay $60 for a single kayak, or $55 a person for a double kayak. To book, please visit http://www.hikebikekayak.com

However you choose to whale watch, let Ocean Park Inn serve as your home base after this breathtaking experience.  Located on the shores of Pacific Beach with great weather conditions and even better views, Ocean Park Inn is the perfect place to escape the cold winter months of January through March. To book one of our oceanfront rooms, visit http://bit.ly/QN1Jod

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This February 16th-17th, celebrate the Chinese New Year at the 31^st annual San Diego Chinese New Year Food and Cultural Fair. Join the thousands of visitors that attend each year for a weekend filled with tasty eats, beautiful art, cultural music and theater productions for all ages.

There is no better way to celebrate Chinese New Year than with this exciting San Diegan celebration. The festival takes place in the Asian Pacific Thematic Historic District of downtown and blocks off 3rd Avenue and J Street. Attendees will have a wonderful view of the beautiful San Diego Harbor while they enjoy sampling different Asian cuisine, and purchasing beautiful Chinese jewelry, art, clothing, and more.

Guests can bring their little ones by the children’s craft area where they will learn how to construct a traditional Chinese lantern. They’ll get the chance to use their lantern when they participate in the lion, dragon and lantern parade later that day. Performers like the Encinitas Ballet Company and the His-Fang Temple folk dancers will make an appearance, as well as other martial art, acrobatic and musical groups. Asian Story Theatre, which dramatizes Chinese folk tales, will be performing as well. Raffle tickets will be available to purchase for a chance to win a prize!

The festival starts each day at 10am and ends around 5pm. The festival is FREE, so bring the whole family! Located just 15 minutes away, Ocean Park Inn is the perfect place to stay for a weekend of cultural fun and relaxation. After the festival, kick up your feet and rest by the waves, enjoy one of the many surrounding restaurants, or take a dip in the hot tub! For booking information, visit http://bit.ly/QN1Jod

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