Lighting Up the Sky

Fireworks and the 4th of July go together like San Diego and sunny skies.  This year you won't be able to look up into the night's sky without seeing a fantastic display of pyrotechnics.  On Monday, July 4th, we've got you covered for where to go and what to see.

For those who might want a little more history in their observance  of America's Independence, head to Historic Old Town for "An 1800s Fourth of July."  From 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM Old Town will be hosting a slew of activities that will date back to the early 19th century, back when Old Town was actually the new part of town.  A brass band will begin the festivities followed by patriotic speeches and a flag raising ceremony.  There will be a parade around the plaza and historical crafts, games, and contests that all date back over 200 years.  Join in the egg toss, cow chip throwing (yes, that kind of cow chip!), cherry pit spitting, and a delicious pie eating contest.  Park staff and volunteers will be dressed in period costumes and will be roaming the grounds to answer any questions or explain more about the history of the area.

San Diego usually has the latest in firework innovation and technology, which is yet another reason why our town is simply the best.  Here are four different destinations you can chose to sit back and take in the electrifying light shows:

For those who want to spend the day in lovely La Jolla, you can hang out at the beach and then make your way to Ellen Browning Scripps Park for the celebration which will begin at 8:00 PM.  This picturesque park will get crowded so we suggest arriving early to enjoy the sunset and then hang out for the fireworks, which begin at 9:00 PM.  

Leave it to unique Ocean Beach to coordinate their firework show with music at a local radio station. There will be free parking through out the neighborhood, like at Main Beach Parking Lot and Ocean Beach Pier.  Bring a picnic and a radio and tune into KyXy 96.5 at 9:00 PM to enjoy music to go along with the firework display, which will be shot off the pier.  Check out their website HERE for more details on the fun.  

The Maritime Museum will also be a great place to spend the afternoon exploring the different exhibits and then staying to watch the fireworks aboard one of their ships.  They are offering a picnic dinner from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM ($35 for adults, $18 for children) and if you want to arrive right before the show starts there are discounted tickets for 8:30 PM entry ($10 for adults, $8 for children), so you can enjoy the fireworks while floating on a historic vessel.    

The grand show stopper will be the "Big Bay Boom!" in downtown San Diego, the largest fireworks show in the county.  This is a free event and to accommodate the crowds the Port of San Diego has set up free parking lots with a shuttle service to Harbor Island and Shelter Island.  Fireworks will be lit simultaneously on barges placed in six different locations in San Diego Bay, creating a horseshoe display of booms and exploding lights.  The show starts at 9:00 PM and will last for 17 minutes.  

Mission Bay will be the perfect place to set up camp during the 4th of July, with convenient vacation rentals scattered all over Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, and Mission Bay.  If going out on Monday evening is too overwhelming you can always catch a glimpse of some of these shows from the comfort of your vacation rental home.  Either way, this is going to be an exciting year to spend by the sea.  

Exploring the Pacific

Summer has officially begun and when you're in San Diego that means planning all activities around the Pacific Ocean.  Right now there are some exciting happenings going on centered around the ocean that will educate, entertain, and fill you with wonder.  Get up close and personal with some underwater behemoths or try to spy the miniature octopuses hidden in tiny shells or set sail on the open water searching for the earth's largest animal.



Situated on the San Diego Bay in the center of the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge is the Living Coast Discovery Center, a non-profit zoo and aquarium.  The Living Coast that allows visitors to learn about the environment while exploring the aquatic and dry mini-ecosystems they have built.  Running through September 5th is "Passport to the Pacific," which offers a small sampling of of the animals and habitats found in and around the Pacific Ocean.  "Passport to the Pacific's" goal is to bring awareness to the intricate and sometimes delicate world of the largest ocean on earth.  The exhibit includes a look at the newly expanded turtle lagoon and exotic animals such as the scarlet macaw and the blue tongue skink from Southeast Asia.  The Discovery Center is also home to an array of birds, rays, crustaceans, and cephalopod mollusks, also know as the octopus.  Adult admission is $14 and $9 for seniors, students and children (children under 3 are free).  Be sure and ask about the discounts for military and first responders (fire, police, EMT) and their families.  





Another exhibit that celebrate the oceans' creatures is "Whales: Giants of the Deep" at the San Diego Natural History Museum (or theNAT).  Also running until September 5th, this interactive exhibit will feature the latest in whale research and technology and mixes scientific discoveries with ancient storytelling and history.  This is literally a massive event, with two full-size sperm whale skeletons (including a 58-foot male) and a life size replica of a blue whale's heart that children can actually climb in and explore.   Works of art, both old and contemporary, will be on display from the people of the South Pacific, who have always had strong ties to these graceful giants.  There will be video portholes to look in and see recorded footage of the whales underwater.  Check out the area dedicated to the haunting songs of the whales, which also includes scientific data explaining how we can identify individual whales on their migration through the Pacific Ocean.  Entry into the museum is $19 for adults; $17 for seniors, students and military; $14 for youth ages 7 to 17; $11 for children ages 3 to 6 (children under 2 are free).





It's only natural that you will want to get out and explore the real thing after these museum visits, and now is actually the perfect time.  The largest group of blue whales (2,000 to 3,000) feed off the California coast during the summer months and Hornblower Cruises offers a special "Summer Whale Watching" tour until September 4th.  The blue whale is the earth's largest creature that has ever existed and having the chance to see one in person is thrilling and unforgettable.  The four-hour cruise will also take you past notable San Diego landmarks and explain some local environmental efforts that are currently underway to protect the Pacific and its creatures.  There is live narration on marine life from a volunteer naturalist from theNAT and if you don't see a whale, you will receive a return pass for another boat ride.  Tours run on Sunday, Monday, Friday, and Saturday and adult pricing starts at $65.  





It's time to dive right in to all the summer fun in San Diego.  Our town is filled with people who are passionate about not only preserving our natural wonders but educating everyone on simple ways we can contribute.  So start with booking a stay at Mission Bay Vacation Rentals and then set out to explore the fascinating world of the Pacific Ocean.    

Father Knows Best

The first Father's Day began on the West Coast (in Spokane, Washington) and this weekend our own West Coast city is going to host some fantastic happenings all over the city that the whole family will love.  The weather forecast is going to be perfect, sunny skies and the timing couldn't be more ideal.     




Baseball has been America's sport since the late 1800s and what better way to celebrate Dad than to take in a ballgame at Petco Park?  Over here at Mission Bay we are definitely fans of the San Diego Padres and all things baseball.  Our home team is playing the Washington Nationals today (June 16th) through Sunday (June 19th).  If you go for Saturday's game, be sure and stick around after the game for a spectacular fireworks show.  Sunday's game is full of multiple promotions  and activities such as KidsFest, Military Appreciation and Father's Day.  Click HERE for tickets and more information.  







The San Diego Wooden Boat Festival has been a Father's Day tradition since 1990 and began as a tribute to one father who had a passion for the art of crafting boats made of wood.  Koehler Kraft Boat Yard has been building mahogany sports fishing boats since 1938 and was run by Clarence Koehler Sr., a wooden boat enthusiast.  Koehler passed in 1986 and his family organized the Wooden Boat Festival four years later as a way to share his love with others.  The Festival will run all day Saturday (from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM) and Sunday (from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM).  Come and take in the beautiful, well-maintained wooden crafts up close, some meticulously restored and others are newly built using the hand-crafted skill.  There will be live music, activities just for kids and a raffle with items donated from local businesses.  Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for kids ages 6 to 12, and children under 6 are free.  Proceeds from the festival will go to benefit local charity, The Harbaugh Charitable Foundation.    







Whether you're in the market to buy a boat or not, you won't want to miss the San Diego International Boat Show.  The show starts today and runs through Father's Day, June 19th, and is going to be a great activity for the whole family.  The Boat Show hours vary depending on the day, click HERE for specifics.  Entry is $15 for adults (kids 12 and under are free), and with entry there are going to be a bevy complimentary activities for visitors of all ages.  The "Try It Cove" will offer guests a chance to test out stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, and sailing lessons.   For those who don't want to get wet, visit the "Sailing Simulator," where you can test out your sea legs on dry land.  A SCUBA diving station will be available for those who want to really take the plunge.  Kids will love the art area and even adults will have DIY clinics on boat maintenance and repair.   Come hungry as there will be gourmet food trucks, a barbecue hosted by the Rotary Club, and craft beers from Anchors & Ales Garden.  





With the sun shining down on us this weekend, San Diego is going to be packed full of entertaining dad-approved activities.  Spend time outdoors enjoying quality family time whether its on the water or dry land.  Set up camp in Mission Bay with Mission Bay Vacation Rentals and then start planning the fun.  

Finding Zen in San Diego

Around the 1880's San Diego became home to an influx in Japanese immigrants.  This new wave of citizens brought with them a new culture, exotic food, and a more effective way to fish, which transformed the existing fishing industry.  Today San Diego is home to a large Japanese community, and their influence can be found in our food, the arts, even landscape design.   

Sushi chefs in Japan train for years before they are allowed to prepare and serve this famous Japanese dish.  The Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park is currently running "Tokyo Fish Story," an insightful portrayal of the unique world of Japanese cuisine, where the chef is the artist.  It's the story of one of the most successful, traditional sushi chef's in Tokyo, and how he is slowly losing customers to flashier restaurants.  This modern-day fable about one's legacy and the art of perfection runs until June 26th, and tickets start at $29.  

"Mingei" is a Japanese folk art movement that started in the 1920s, and is what inspired the creation of the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park.  For the last year and a half the museum has concentrated on folk art from around the Americas, but their latest exhibit, "Mingei of Japan," circles back to the museum's roots.  On display are treasures, both old and new, from the museum's collection, some which have never been seen before.  The exhibit celebrates the art of everyday life in Japan, from exquisitely hand-painted kimonos to one-of-a-kind baskets and pottery.  To follow along the folk art theme, there are also folk paintings depicting the animals, vegetation and people of Japan.  The exhibit closes on October 2nd, and tickets start at $7.  

Balboa Park is also home to a more permanent display of Japanese art, in the Japanese Friendship Garden.  These gardens date back to the 7th century and were found in palaces (meant for aesthetic pleasure) and Buddhist temples (used for mediation).  In Japanese rock gardens, often called "Zen" gardens, the white sand represents water and paths are carefully constructed for visitors to follow composed landscapes.  The Japanese Friendship Garden has been designed to promote serenity, contemplation and meditation.  All plants and trees have been carefully selected to thrive in the San Diego climate, and free tours are available once you enter.  Tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for military, students, and seniors, and children under 6 are free.  There are extended hours for the summer months, but check their website HERE, as the Garden will close early on certain days for events.  

For a taste of Japan, there are plenty of delectable options to chose from.  Here are some of our picks for three very different styles of Japanese food:

Sushi Ota, in Mission Bay, is famous for its authentic and locally sourced sushi and sashimi.  Regular customers can't get enough of the salmon belly and different variations of toro.  Situated in an unassuming strip mall, this small gem of a restaurant is very popular and reservations are highly recommended.  

Those who love the feel of a playful Japanese steakhouse, with entertaining chefs grilling teppanyaki cuisine, will love Fuji Japanese Steahouse & Sushi (911 Camino Del Rio S, San Diego).   Guests will feast on delicious food, enjoy the talented chefs flipping and spinning their cutlery, and rarely have to wait to be seated.  We suggest you visit soon before this local restaurant becomes more well known. 

Ramen is a staple in Japan and almost every region in the country has their own variation of the dish.  In Pacific Beach JINYA Ramen Bar will serve traditional ramen noodles topped with sliced meats, seasoned eggs and a variety of veggies.  The welcoming staff will help you with any questions you might have if you're new to this tasty noodle dish.   

Book a stay with Mission Bay Vacation Rentals and then begin exploring all the Japanese culture in San Diego.  There is plenty to do, see, and of course, eat.