Hidden Gems!

While visiting San Diego, we at the Ocean Park Inn have a few “secret” places we’d like to recommend.  While these spots may not seem top secret to locals or frequent visitors, we do consider them our own hidden gems that the tourism community at large tends to look over.  While SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo will always be major attractions for vacation fun, we think there are a few of more intimate venues that might add to your San Diego adventure.  From food to drink to film, here’s a list of 10 – in no particular order.

1.)    Hungry for a hamburger?  Local favorite Rocky’s in Pacific Beach, near Ocean Park Inn, will not let you down. At Rocky’s, they figure keeping it simple is the best way to produce delicious food, and great atmosphere. “Do what you do best, and do it the best you can,” is a motto they’ve really taken to heart.

2.)    Looking for a cup of java in a serene atmosphere?  Crown Point Coffee’s got you covered!  A true neighborhood joint, Crown Point offers gourmet coffees, teas and smoothies. This can be a great spot for a light breakfast, or a mid-afternoon pick-me-up to keep you going during those fun-filled vacation days.

3.)    The museums, architecture, and atmosphere of Balboa Park is hardly a secret to most who visit San Diego, but it does boast an unofficial, and little-known attraction that we think you should check out.  The Hummingbird Sanctuary is off the beaten path, and hidden from the general view of visitors.  The local lore is that a security guard from the San Diego Museum of Art named “Wally” created this little pocket by purchasing and hanging dozens of hummingbird feeders, filled with nectar in varying in colors. This is a great place to check out some natural wonder while you’re in San Diego.

4.)    If you’re a foodie, stop by Isabel’s Cantina in Pacific Beach to enjoy upscale cuisine in a casual atmosphere.  The website for this hidden gem boasts that: “At Isabel’s Cantina, Chef Isabel Cruz fuses Latin and Asian cuisine into sensual and creative concoctions that are both remarkably addictive and surprisingly healthy.”  Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

5.)    How about a picnic?  As you might know by now, if you enjoy a nice bottle of wine with your picnic fare, you’re out of luck on the San Diego beaches and most public parks.  However, one of the best parks in the area for picnicking is still within bounds on that front.  Grab some sandwiches, snacks and some vino and mosey on over to Kate Sessions Memorial Park for great views and a small piece of picnicking heaven.

6.)    San Diego is rich in history.   One of the best historical attractions is located right in the center of Old Town.  The Whaley House once housed the only commercial theater, the county courthouse and a general store all in the same location. The Whaley House is preserved as a museum, and opens to the public for a variety of informational tours which meld interesting facts with the structure’s surprising paranormal history.

7.)    Spanish Tapas.  Enough said, right?  Okay, maybe not. Tapas refers to a traditional Spanish style of eating in which all the dishes are appetizer size, and everyone shares a little bit of everything.  Just down the road from Ocean Park Inn is a locally known Tapas bar called Costa Brava. With amazing food, wine and atmosphere, Costa Brava is the perfect place to sit down for a family meal.

8.)    Have you ever seen a garden at a private residence that looked so cool that you wanted to snoop around in it? San Diegans Edna and Alex Harper boast a home garden so gorgeous you’ll be itching to take a closer look.  The good news is that they welcome visitors to wander around at will.  Harper’s Topiary Garden is a site to see and enjoy.

9.)    Speaking of wine, need a fun and relaxing “Grown-ups” evening?  Tucked into a little known social district at the base of Mission Hills, Wine Vault & Bistro’s unassuming location provides intimate prix fixe meals that will definitely fit the bill.  Typically these are 3-5 course meals and often include wine tasting, and range from only $20-30 per person – which is a great value!

10.)  Drive-in theaters are all but extinct, but that doesn’t mean you can’t see a movie under the stars!  Cinema Under the Stars is a unique little spot that features classic movies in a fun, relaxing space underneath the clear San Diegan sky.  If you want dinner and a movie, there are a couple of great neighboring restaurants, including Olivetto Café & Wine Bar which offers special discounts to movie-goers.

With this many hidden gems surrounding the Ocean Park Inn, we’re sure that your next San Diego vacation will be brimming with exciting new places to see, eat, and enjoy one of the greatest cities on earth.

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Relaxing on the Beach

“If life is the pursuit of happiness….the Beach should be the Destination” – Anonymous

According to ancient mythologies from various corners of the globe, everything in nature is comprised of the four basic elements: water, fire, wind and earth. Water is often the most awe-inspiring, and thought provoking. While at times water–be it in the form of Earth’s oceans, lakes, or rivers–can be gentle, it is nonetheless the most powerful of all the elements. Fire, Wind and Earth are not any less important, but this blog is about the beach after all!

People have always been mentally effected by all water forms including rivers, clouds, mist, beaches, waterfalls and rain. The color blue is used to emphasize cooling and relaxing qualities. An expansive blue sky and glistening blue tinted ocean remind us of peace and calm, which readily promotes meditation and thoughtful insight into life’s problems. Blue is uplifting and often associated with the ideas of intuition, inspiration, sincerity and spirituality.

Around the world the color blue symbolizes and represents water, the source of life. The fact that water carries the energy and strength to sustain us speaks for itself. One only needs to take a walk on the beach and listen to the crashing waves to understand what we mean. We don’t know if there is any scientific evidence that says the beach and ocean waves help mental health, but you’d probably be hard-pressed to find someone on the beach who will dispute that claim. So if your intention is to “take a load off” and truly relax, why not stay on the beach? Better yet, why not stay on the right on the boardwalk in Pacific Beach, Southern California? Pacific Beach is the perfect place to roll out of your comfortable bed at Ocean Park Inn, and right onto the sand for some peace of mind. Can you already feel the sand beneath your toes?

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Pacific Beach is known for beautiful sandy beaches, sunshine and surf. If you are a local San Diegan or a traveller coming to SoCal this summer and you have sun and surf on the brain, you most likely have PB as one of your targeted hotspots. What a lot of visitors do not know is that Pacific Beach offers great music throughout the summer.

A few local bars and hotspots specialize in live music.

LongBoard Grill, Cabo Cantina and WaveHouse provide rocking sounds late into the night. WaveHouse has known to provide in the past. This summer they bring you The Wailers July 11.

For an outdoor experience, try Pacific Beach Concerts on the Green sponsored by The Pacific Beach Town Council and The Pacific Beach Community Foundation. Held in beautiful Kate Sessions park, these concerts allow you to feel the vibe of the music and the ocean breeze through your hair.

Concerts are an excellent alternative to the traditional summer hotspots in San Diego such as a San Diego Padres game or Sea World. Not to say that a Padres game or trip to Sea World is not amazing, especially since the Padres are doing so well this year, but there is something unique and magical about the rising sounds of live music in Pacific Beach. And whether you like to enjoy music in a bar atmosphere or outside in the fresh air, Pacific Beach has it covered. For an outdoor experience, try Pacific Beach Concerts on the Green sponsored by The Pacific Beach Town Council and The Pacific Beach Community Foundation.

Visit Pacific Beach this summer and don’t forget to enjoy some live summer tunes along the way!

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Belmont Park is located only a few minutes from the Ocean Park Inn, and sits just across the street from the beach. The main attractions include the wave machines, arcade, midway games, glow in the dark miniature golf, and the lazar maze. The highlight of these attractions is the wavehouse, which includes the FlowRider® and FlowBarrel®. The FlowRider® attraction is a simulated wave machine that creates a perfect wave, resembling the shape of an average ocean wave. This attraction is perfect for beginners, and houses a large open face which allows riders to move freely. For the more experienced surfer Belmont Park boasts the FlowBarrel®, which is a hollow tube with a nice steep face, and resembles the type of waves that surfers travel the world looking for. And don’t worry if you fall, the surface beneath the water is padded for the protection of beginners.

When it’s time to take a break for food you’ll find that there are many options to choose from. If you are on the go, look into Chipstix, North Shore Café, The Sweet Shoppe, and Beach Treats, to satisfy your hunger. The most popular stop from this list is Chipstix, which serves classic amusement park favorites like corndogs, hotdogs, chicken tenders, and slush puppies. If you are looking to sit down, and relax in the ambiance of Belmont Park, then we would suggest the Wavehouse Bar and Grill. This place is open seven days a week, and is the ultimate family dining stop. The environment this place creates is laid-back, and encourages you to enjoy the San Diego sun and surf. The Wavehouse Bar and Grill includes an exciting array of outdoor Tiki bars, fire pits, hammocks, tropical palms and lounging sand pits. This particular restaurant is sure to please your taste buds, and your affinity for beach living!

When the family is full and ready to continue their exciting trip to Belmont Park, we would suggest a stop at some of the region’s premier retail shops. First, try Sun Diego, where they strive to bring customers the best selection of surf, skate, snow apparel and related equipment, safety gear, and accessories. Next, stop by Wings to peruse a large assortment of high quality clothing, swimwear, shoes, souvenirs, and beach accessories at affordable prices. Then, for a unique and creative experience, check out Henna Heaven, which originated in India. The tattoos here are top quality, and best of all temporary. The last stop is Beach and Resort Wear, where you can stock up on all beach necessities such as sandals, towels, swimsuits, bodyboards and more.

As your adventure comes to an end, all of us at the Ocean Park Inn would like to wish your family an amazing stay in beautiful San Diego.

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Want Italian Flavor; try the Taste of Little Italy

Are you a fan of Italy? Well, San Diego has a new venture for you on May 26, 2010 from 5-9 pm. The Taste of Italy will leave you filled and happy. Little Italy consists of the historic buildings, rich culture and passion for life. However, the best thing about Little Italy is the food.

We heard that almost every city in the world has a Little Italy; however San Diego has taken it to the next dimension by dedicating an entire neighborhood to that wonderful country. This makes it similar to the real place without the leaning tower and pick-pocketing children. Now back to the food, because Little Italy is diverse with its authentic collection of restaurants, it is tough to decide where to eat. The Taste of Little Italy will make this decision easy because you will stroll along the district streets to sample appetizers, desserts, entrees, and specialty drinks. There will be food from more than 25 of the top eateries around in the district. With the admission you will receive a culinary passport, which will allow you to get stamps at every restaurant in exchange for a featured item on their menu. Ocean Park Inn believes, this event is filled with fun places to eat and experience, so pack your bags and get ready to eat your heart out travelers. Not only will the food keep you entertained, but the live music is bound to keep you moving.

At the event there will be live performances by Regina Leonard, who has traveled from North Carolina to   Greyhound Bus, through San Francisco, and south to San Diego where she began writing her own songs. She tells her story from struggle to survival. Experience the chord of truth with Regina’s music. Luis Max and Blue Moon will also be performing at the event, and his music comes straight from his heart. The music is influenced by his life growing up in Mexico. The music fuses Latin, Pop, Rock, Jazz and the Blues and it includes Latin rhythms and dynamic percussion.

There is music, food, and culture you do not want to miss at this event. The authenticity will bring you alive and the music will get you moving. Eat and dance the night away with this event in beautiful San Diego.

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