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.  

Dreaming in Chocolate

Maybe it was all the chocolate eggs and bunnies from Easter, but we’ve got chocolate on the brain and considering there’s a chocolate festival this Saturday, the timing could not be more perfect.  San Diego definitely knows how to make good chocolate.  We’ve highlighted two of our town’s most famous chocolatiers (Eclipse Chocolate and The Elegant Truffle), but this city’s got even more cocoa-themed eateries that are worth a visit and all the calories.

Did you know that chocolate dates back to the Americas in 1900 BC?! It’s only fitting that San Diego would have a festival that celebrates the history of this sweet food and how far it has come.  This is the 5^th year that the ChocolateFestival is taking place at the Maritime Museum on Saturday, April 3^rd.  The indulgent and educational fun starts at 11:00 AM and winds down at 4:00 PM, and promises to be fun for the whole family.  Where else can you have an experience that involves touch, taste, smell, and chocolate, no less!  The kids will love the scavenger hunt and games (complete with prizes for both) as well as the crafts, like making your own chocolate pizza (for $5).   The adults will love the wine and chocolate, and beer and chocolate pairings (who knew chocolate and beer would go together?).   There will also be demonstrations of different chocolate creations and kitchen tricks you can do with chocolate.  The Mars Chocolate History Ambassadors will be there to demonstrate the history of the cocoa bean using authentic 18^th century tools, cocoa pods, and cocoa beans. 

If you can’t make the festival, we’ve lined up some other must-see destinations to satisfy any chocolate craving, from ice cream to truffles to chocolate-dipped everything!

First stop is The Chocolate Haus in Pacific Beach.  This adorable shop is known not just for heavenly homemade truffles, but also for killer homemade ice cream and cookies.  The owners are Pacific Beach husband and wife who use local ingredients with no additives or preservatives.  The staff is always warm and welcoming and ready to answer questions about their tempting treats.  It’s hard to chose just one thing, so multiple visits might be in order, especially when it comes to their ice cream sandwiches and also their light and crispy homemade brittles that are dipped in dark chocolate. 

The Aztecs were known for always flavoring their cool chocolate drink (it wasn’t eaten as a food until the Spaniards got ahold of it) with chili powder, sage and even flowers.  Chi Chocolat in Liberty Station pays homage to the Aztecs (perhaps unintentionally) by creating unique truffles with exotic ingredients like curry, chili, lavender and rosewater.  For those feeling decadent, you can order the Jules truffle which is made of dark chocolate ganache and infused with butterscotch and edible gold!  They also serve mocha flavored coffee drinks where the lovely presentation is just as important as the taste.   This charming chocolatier has expanded into a café and also offers tasty sandwiches.

For those who can’t get enough chocolate in any form, then head over to Beach Sweets, a locally owned Ocean Beach retro-candy store.  This place is bright on color and has almost any candy imaginable.  The real star, however, is the homemade chocolate fudge and the hand-dipped chocolates.  In fact, the store’s motto is “Everything is better dipped in chocolate.”  Beach Sweets prides itself on new chocolate dipped concoctions like gummy worms and Rice Crispy Treats.  They own their own chocolate machines so everything is made fresh in-house, and if you stop by you must try the simple perfection of their chocolate covered marshmallow. 

The cacao seeds were once so highly valued that they were used as currency in Mesoamerica.  We might not be able to pay for things using chocolate nowadays, but I think we can all agree on its delicious importance in our society.  Why not center a vacation around chocolate?  Start by booking a stay with Mission BayVacation Rentals, and then spend your time deciding who has the best chocolate in town.  After all, a vacation is the one time you’re allowed to indulge.