A Bird's Eye View of San Diego

With such diverse terrain (desert, ocean, mountains, etc.), San Diego is home to countless distinct animals, such as our wide variety of birds.  Our fine, feathered friends that populate the sky can be found in the city, in nature, in zoos, and in museums.  Here we highlight our favorite places to observe and enjoy these dazzling creatures.

An urban myth that has floated around San Diego for decades, about a pandemonium (or flock) of wild parrots that escaped a pet store, turns out is mostly true.  Though, we don’t know how San Diego became populated with thousands of parrots (up to 13 different species!), we do know that since they don’t migrate south for the winter, you can catch a glimpse of them or hear their distinct squawk all year round.  There are regular sightings in Pacific Beach, La Jolla, and Ocean Beach.  They are also known to flock to the trees at Lindo Lake Park in Lakeside, about 30 minutes east of Mission Bay.  

To learn about this beautiful creature, you could also volunteer at the Parrot Education and Adoption Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and educating the public about these magnificent and highly intelligent birds.

    

The San Diego Audubon is a helpful resource for those who enjoy competitive or amateur bird watching.  The society has handy digital maps that tell you exactly where to go for bird watching and which birds you might spy.  There are three listed areas close to MissionBay that you can check out.  The rocky shoreline at Ellen Browning Scripps Park in La Jolla is recommended for the upcoming colder months.  The Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve at Crown Point in the heart of Mission Bay, is an excellent place to spot gulls, skimmers, and waterfowl.  At low tide, in the morning, the San Diego River Estuary offers hours of ideal time to spy shorebirds on the mudflats.  Check out the Audubon’s website for stunning shots of birds in flight around San Diego and upcoming events for bird lovers.

Thanks to the San Diego Zoo and their sister property the Safari Park (who we highlighted last week), there have been  amazing feats in animal conservation, especially with birds. 

The California Condor, the largest flying bird, almost faced extinction, when in 1987 they were declared extinct in the wild.  However, thanks to careful care and breeding, especially at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the condor has been reintroduced to the wilds of Arizona, Utah, California and Baja California. The Native Americans referred to it as the thunderbird and regarded them as symbols of power, and after one glance at this magnificent creature,  you’ll be sure to know why.  When you visit the Safari Park, be sure to include the Condor on your list of must-see animals.  

The San Diego Zoo is filled with hundreds of spectacular birds, but our two favorite spots to visit house the world’s smallest birds, and the one of the oldest bird aviaries in the state.  The San Diego Zoo’s Hummingbird House has been described as entering a fairy world with the tiny, brilliantly colored birds zooming past you.  Photo ops abound in this quaint little aviary, complete with waterfalls and exotic plants.  

Owens Aviary is one of the oldest exhibits at the San Diego Zoo - - built in 1937 and remodeled in 1999.  There are over 200 birds and 41 different species that fly around the 82 foot tall aviary and frolic through the trees.  Multilevel walkways allow you to snake through the recreated rainforest, which is home to birds that are native to Southeast Asia.  It’s literally a jungle in there.  

For those who might not want to chase the real thing in nature, there is the ‘Birds of the World’ exhibit at the San Diego Natural History Museum, in Balboa Park.  The exhibit features breathtaking photographs of birds on every continent and runs through September 13th.  Fourteen award-winning wildlife photographers captured these remarkable images of birds in living their everyday -- yet truly beauteous -- lives.  You won’t want to miss it!     

Soaring through the skies of our great city are some of the most impressive birds in the world.  From the dazzling parrots to the majestic cranes, one can spy these birds in their natural habitat or volunteer your time towards helping them.  Mission Bay Vacation Rentals is smack dab in the center of all the avian-themed action, so why not plan a bird-themed vacation.  After all, birds of a feather . . .    

It's a Jungle Out There!

 
 With summer winding down, and students gearing up to head back to the classroom, why not spend some time at an educational facility that the whole family will enjoy?  No, we’re not talking about school, but rather the world renowned San Diego Zoo Safari Park.  With over 2,600 animals and more than 3,500 plant species, this 1,800 acre park has endless opportunities to learn and study flora and fauna from all over the world.  

In 1964 the San Diego Zoological Society began planning the Safari Park with a three-fold mission in mind: to create a conservation farm, a game preserve, and a natural environment zoo.  The gates opened to the public on May 10, 1972 and today serves as a refuge for some animals who previously lived in smaller zoos.  Extremely rare animals, like the white rhino and the California condor, call the Safari Park home.  In fact, they have the most successful breeding program in the United States for the California condor, one of the rarest bird species in the world.

The Safari Park’s terrain mimics the arid African ecosystem, and makes it a perfect fit to house elephants, giraffes, and lions.  They have also built up an area to resemble the Asian Savanna, perfect for the tigers, Arabian oryxes, and Przewalski horses. 

There are the standard ways to see the animals, such as the Caravan, that lets you get up close and personal, as well as the Safari Cart, where you can sit comfortably while your tour guide winds you though the park.  However, did you know you could explore from above or on a tricycle?

"Trike Safari" lets you speed through the different habitats on a motorized tricycle, which means the trike does all the work.  Two guides accompany you on an hour-long tour, which includes photo ops and access to areas that normally cannot be visited on foot.  These tours allow you to see both the African Plains and the Asian Savanna, and you’ll learn more about conservation work taking place all over the world.  That sounds like our kind of classroom.  

When you think about the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, a giant obstacle courses that meanders through enormous trees, probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.  The "Jungle Ropes Safari" is truly for the adventurer, who isn’t afraid of heights.  Navigate a ropes course or balance on suspended beams 35 feet off the ground (wearing a safety harness, of course).  There are three different 90-minute courses to chose from, and you can travel at your own pace.  This is P.E. taken to another level.  

The Park offers six different “Behind-the-Scenes Safaris,” that offer a two-hour tour behind some of their most popular attractions, such as the Tiger Trail or the Lion Camp.  If you chose the “Cheetah & Friends” option, you get to go behind the scenes at the Benbough Amphitheater to meet one of the cheetahs!  There is even a “Veterinary Medical Center” tour where you can see first hand the state-of-the-art facilities used to care for the animals.  These tours are great for those who are hungry for zoological knowledge.  

For those who don’t have to worry about a budget and are passionate about studying animals, the Park offers VIP Packages that range from $599 to $959 a person.  These tours include a professional guide, access to exclusive areas of the park that are not seen by the general public, and a meal.  For those wishing to drop the big bucks, just know, all reservations must be made 72 hours in advance.  

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is a quick 30 minute drive from Mission Bay, and is well worth multiple visits.  It’s one of those rare places that successfully combines learning with fun with adventure.  Whether you are starting the school year for yourself or your kids, or are long done with studying, the Safari Park will have something entertaining (and probably educational) for everyone.   

Summer's Artistic Endeavors

After blogging about the Stuart Collection’s jaw-dropping 18 works of sculpture art at UCSD, and later on the genius of artist and author Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel,  we thought a post just about Art would be the natural next step.  San Diego county has over 200 art galleries and museums, and that doesn’t include artists sprinkled all over the city selling their original pieces (check out This Link for a full list of galleries, art spaces and museums).  This is the perfect weekend to get out and explore all the artistry this town has to offer.

There are 28 galleries and museums in the tiny enclave of La Jolla.  That’s a lot of art for a quaint sea-side village.  Our favorite is the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, or MCASD.  The MCASD has two outposts in the city: La Jolla, and one located downtown. Both are fascinating, but we are partial to the La Jolla location.  The museums have an impressive collection of modern art, photography, sculpture, and installation art from today’s greatest visionaries.  Both locations are closed on Wednesdays and are free on the third Thursday of every month from 5 to 7p.m.  General admission is $10, $5 for seniors and students over 26,  military and their family as well as students under 25 are free with ID.  A perk to admission is that it is valid for 7 days and can be used at both locations.

Part of MCASD La Jolla’s permanent collection is artist Robert Irwin’s “1° 2° 3° 4°,” an austere box of a room with three white walls and glass windows, giving the viewer a true life postcard  view of the sea and palm trees.  The natural beauty of La Jolla, seems to be art enough for this piece, until you closely inspect the windowed walls and see that perfect squares have been cut in the middle of the glass in three places, exposing one to the elements outside.  Irwin is known for manipulating light, space, and perception, and all three come together in this beautiful room.

Balboa Park has 8 museums in a concentrated area, but if you only have time for one and you have art on the mind, then the San Diego Museum of Art is the clear winner.  The edifice took two years to finish, including the sculpture relief that makes up the ornate doorway, which took its inspiration from antique buildings and churches in Spain.  Inside, majestic interiors continue Spanish influence, with tiered stairways and an indoor fountain.  

Their art collection ranges from classic pieces by El Greco and Fransisco de Goya to the masters who started the Modern Art movement like Henri Matisse.  The museum also features works from around the world, like sculptures of Hindu gods from the 6th century and pieces from 18th century Japanese art.  Their Current Exhibits feature four very different presentations that you will not want to miss: Contemporary artist Pan Gongkai has created six new paintings especially for the museum; “Coney Island: Visions of an American Dreamland 1861-2008” explores the fun and fantasy of New York’s famed amusement park; “Art of East Asia” focuses on the history of ancient China, Japan, and Korea; and finally “Romantic Views: Mexico at the Turn of the Century.”

For those who want to not only enjoy art in a museum, but to own an original work of art, then this Saturday and Sunday you won’t want to miss San Diego’s ArtWalk.  Now in it’s 10th year, this event gives patrons the unique opportunity to talk with the artist about their inspiration and ideas behind their work.  ArtWalk takes place at the NTC Liberty Station at Ingram Plaza near Downtown, once used as the Naval Training Center, it now houses art studio, galleries and a performance stage.  In addition to free admission and free parking, there will be live music, food trucks, and KidWalk, an interactive area for kids and adults to create their own art.  The event takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and will feature over 175 talented artists selling their originals.  

Sandwiches between forested mountains and a glimmering ocean, it’s no wonder San Diego has inspired so many artists.  Our picture-perfect setting is also ideal for galleries and museums to display their pieces, as viewers can enjoy masterful works of art and then step outside and enjoy the equally-stunning Mother Nature.  With La Jolla to the north, Balboa Park to the east, and Downtown San Diego to the south, Mission Bay Vacation Rentals just happens to be at the center of it all.   

Dr. Seuss and San Diego

Last week we highlighted some of San Diego's greatest achievements in architecture, including the stunning Geisel Library on UC San Diego's campus, named after Theodor Seuss Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss.  Last week. Dr. Seuss also made the news when one of his lost books, thought to have been written between 1958 and 1962, was published.  It's been 25 years since the last Seuss book was published (the iconic "Oh the Places You'll Go!"in 1990), so you can imagine the excitement when "What Pet Should I Get?" was released.  In honor of one of La Jolla's most famous residents, we're delving into the magical world of Dr. Seuss and San Diego.

For anyone who was charmed by the stories and illustrations of Dr. Seuss, a stop inside the Geisel Library, should be your first stop.  Unlike a lot of universities, non-students are allowed inside the building and there are pieces of his art on display on the second story.  Stop by the main desk when you enter and the helpful staff will point out where his artwork is located and offer some fun facts about Dr.Seuss.  Do not miss a photo op with the larger than life bronze statue of Dr. Seuss and one of his most popular and mischievous characters, the Cat in the Hat.  Sculptor Lark GreyDimond-Cates perfectly captured Geisel as the visionary who would change and shape children's literature all over the world.  

Mark your calendars now for a return visit to UCSD on March 2nd, for the annual celebration of Dr. Seuss' actual birthday.  If you stop by the Geisel Library on that date you'll find an entertaining party honoring his characters, with music, cake, and special exhibits in the library.  Fun fact: Geisel gave the commencement address to the graduating class of UCSD in 1978, and in true Dr.Seuss form, he spoke in rhyming verse.

Geisel and his wife purchased a Mediterranean home on Mount Soledad over looking La Jolla in 1948, and his widow Audrey still lives there today.  It was here, in his studio, that he doodled and painted and scribbled on manuscripts that would become some of his greatest published works.  

It's easy to see how his surroundings influenced his work, as you can see from this 1978 photo of the Geisel's living room and his painting entitled, Lion Stroll.  One of his authorized galleries, Legends Gallery, juxtaposed these two images and the similarities are obvious.  Exotic trees, bathed in a glowing light from a setting set, are a striking image against a golden sky.  It's clear San Diego was one of his muses.  

For a closer look at some of his pieces of art, Legends Gallery of La Jolla is a must-see for any Dr. Seuss fan.  Everyone is familiar with his drawings of the Cat in the Hat or the Lorax, but this gallery offers some never before seen oil paintings that are true testaments to Geisel's genius.  Legends is located in the heart of La Jolla Village, steps from the ocean, and is open seven days a week.   

For even more 'Seussical' fun, check out the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park, for the crowd-pleasing 'Ingenious! the World of Dr. Seuss" exhibit, running through the end of the year.  Rarely seen work, interactive displays, family-friendly activities, are just part of the reason that this traveling exhibition has been so popular.  There are also two newly released Geisel illustrations that haven't been seen before and work of art inspired by locations in San Diego.

Theodor Geisel was a visionary who changed the course of children's literature forever, and he was a San Diego local.  Mission Bay Vacation Rentals has some gorgeous homes close to La Jolla, where all the Seuss magic happened.  You could go close to the bay or maybe the sandy shores is where you'll want to stay?