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.  

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

San Diego’s most famous destinations are getting into the 'Holiday Spirit' with larger than life celebrations.  From real snow to 40 foot tall trees to acrobatic elves, this year, you will not want to miss out on all the happiness leading up to Christmas Day.   In fact, there will be 'kids jingle belling and everyone telling you, be of good cheer.'

Petco Park has been transformed into a 'Holiday Wonderland' (running now through December 23rd) that will incite plenty of 'oohs' and 'ahhs.'  Maybe you’ve visited the colossal stadium to root for the Padres, but chances are you’ve never seen it like this before.  For its second year in a row, from 4:30 to 9:30 pm, the park will be covered in thousands of glowing lights and in the middle of the field a 40 foot tree will hold center stage creating a spectacular display that will enchant and delight.  Tickets start at $20 for adults, $10 for kids (children under 3 are free), and check out their website for info on military discounts.  For $25 you can get a printed out photo with Santa and a commemorative Padres’ ornament.  There will be a ‘Polar Express’ train circling the field ($5 per ride), allowing you to take in all the wonder.  Concession stands will be open for those who might get a little hungry, and the merchandise stores will also be open to buy last-minute Christmas gifts for the sports fan in their life.



 

LEGOLand Holiday Snow Days & Winter Nights is truly an unbelievable sight!  LEGOLand will have a blanket of snow this year, making it look like its Scandinavian country of origin more than Southern California. There will be so much snow, visitors will be able to build snowmen (accessorized with LEGO parts, of course), throw snow balls at colorful targets, ride snow tubes down the hill, and pretend for a day that it is going to be a white Christmas.  Visitors of all ages will love the Holiday Light Show, which coordinates animated lights with favorite holiday tunes, for a festive  mix of sight and sound.  Families will love posing with the life size Santa and his reindeer or in front of the 30 foot tall Christmas Tree made entirely of brightly colored LEGOs.  In the evening, fireworks will light up the sky from December 26 to the 31st.  Mark this me on your calendar, as the snow will officially melt on January 4th. 


 

In our opinion, you can't visit the San Diego Zoo enough times, and this week's annual  'Jungle Bells' celebration is the perfect excuse to go.  The zoo will be chock full of festive activities until Christmas Day.  Pay Santa a visit at his Igloo set up and bring a camera!   The kids will love Dr. Zoolittle's telling his wacky version of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.  Take a ride on the Holiday Train and zig zag around the park, passing by many of the new animal-shaped light sculptures scattered around the park just for Jungle Bells.  Before you leave, before you check out the elves literally flying through the air, performing stunning acrobatic feats on a trampoline.  Live music and carolers will provide the perfect holiday soundtrack as you wander through this wild Winter Wonderland.  Don’t forget to tag photos your share on social media with the hashtag #sdzjunglebells for a chance to win a behind the scenes look at Polar Bear Plunge.

 

Call us today and book a home in Mission Bay, centrally located to all the Christmas fun!  You'll be able to spend a day at each activity and still have time to unwind with a walk along the bay or on the beach boardwalk.  After a week in Mission Bay you'll have no doubts that 'it's the hap-happiest  season of all.'

Where Form Follows Function . . . and the Sun

San Diego is known for many things: tacos, beaches, perfect weather . . . but did you know that we are also on the map for remarkable architecture?  Just look at the Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge at Petco Park, the longest self-anchored pedestrian bridges in the world, to know that we take architecture seriously.  
 A modern stone path floats over six lanes of traffic suspended by a diagonal monolith that seems to be shooting into the sky, all connected by steel poles that look like they’re curving in midair.  Harbor Drive Bridge is just the tip of the iceberg
 as far as gorgeous buildings and structures go.  Here are some of our favorite places to visit:

First stop is the crown jewel of San Diego, a place we can’t stop writing about or visiting: Balboa Park.  This esplanade has so much beauty and history, it’s impossible to cover everything in just one tour, which is convenient since they offer six different walking tours.  On the first Friday of each month at 10:00am, there is the Architecture Heritage Tour led by the Committee of 100, an organization devoted to preserve the beauty of Balboa Park.  

You can also join the Balboa Park History Stroll, presented by the San Diego History Center (Thursdays 11am and 1pm), for a one-hour tour walking down the park’s El Prado.  The History stroll costs $12 and reservations are recommended.  There are so many diverse edifices, from the Spanish colonial Museum of Man to the 1960s Modern Air & Space Museum, you truly cannot visit Balboa Park enough.

The University of California San Diego might be one of the state’s younger universities but thanks to a stellar medical program, engineering school, and the world famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography, they are one of the top educational facilities in the country.  UCSD is also on the map for having one of the most architecturally daring layouts on the planet.  Their unique buildings offer a history of modernism (from the 1950s to today), and their campus is dotted with larger than life sculptures and installation art pieces.  

The Library that stands in the middle of the school is like its own stunning work of art.  Named after one of La Jolla’s most famous residents, Theodor Geisel, who you might know by his pen name, Dr. Seuss.  The library resembles a futurist tree growing out of the concrete, definitely something you would see in a Dr. Seuss book.  The works of art are part of the Stuart Collection and feature 18 unbelievable pieces from artists all over the globe.  This MAP of the campus will weave you around the distinct buildings and take you by all the works of art; we suggest you do not miss Tim Hawkinson’s ‘Bear,’ a 23 foot tall teddy bear made of stone!

Tour Guide Tim’s ‘Explore San Diego Series’ is an amalgamation of the best tours around San Diego that highlight different neighborhoods and their surrounding buildings.  Their website offers links to specific tours as well as lists of notable stops and locations that architecture and history buffs won’t want to miss.  For example, there’s a link to the Heritage Park Victorian Village tour, which lists the Victorian-style homes and San Diego’s first Synagogue in Old Town San Diego.  

There is also info on the Historical Buildings in Downtown, which offers tours by members of the Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation.  The Gaslamp Quarter saw its fastest growth in 1867, when it was built up to redirect the center of San Diego closer to the bay.  There are more than 90 buildings in and around the Gaslamp Quarter that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and your guide will point out notable facts and famous residents of the area, like Wyatt Earp.  

Spend a few days exploring the different pockets of our city and you'll see buildings frozen from the Victorian era, perfect examples of Mid-century Modern, and futuristic structures that look like they defy gravity.  You could even start in Mission Bay, admiring the charming beach cottages and spacious homes on the sand.  Check out our Website for even more amazing examples of California-cool beach homes.  

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Did you know that the San Diego Padres are only one of two Major League Baseball teams that originated in California?  No imports here.  The Padres season is about to kick-off and to celebrate we’re blogging about the classic American pastime: baseball. 

In our opinion, Petco Park, located in downtown San Diego, is the most beautiful baseball stadium in the world.  A relatively new acquisition to our lovely city (it opened in 2004), the open-air ballpark offers stunning views of the city while you cheer on the Padres.  At game time over 40,000 people make their way to watch their favorite team, do the wave, and wait for the umpire to yell, ‘play ball!’  The food at Petco Park will not disappoint.  Besides the hot dogs, popcorn, and beer, you can enjoy savory steak sandwiches, healthy salads, tacos, and seafood.  Getting there could not be more convenient thanks to the San Diego Coaster and Trolley (the perks of living in an organized city). 

 

Baseball games and snacks go hand in hand, and no game would be complete without a soft, giant pretzel.  Turns out pretzels can be tasty and good for you, if you get them from the San Diego Pretzel Company.  Their all-natural, artisan, hand rolled soft pretzels have been around since 1995, and are low in fat and made with vegan ingredients.  For those who are connoisseurs of the East Coast pretzel (both New York and Philly style), these pretzels are as authentic as it gets, and they’re a high source of protein to boot.  Their factory is located a little bit south of downtown, and is open to the public.

For the quintessential baseball stadium food, the hot dog is king.  If you can’t make it to a Padres game in Petco Park, you can still enjoy some of the best hot dogs in the country at Daddy’s Hot Dogs.  Known not only for fresh, delicious food, Daddy’s is famous for making everyone feeling like family.  

Be sure and say “hello” to Daddy and also, know, you shouldn’t ask for changes to the menu, you just need to trust the chef.  Not a meat-eater?  No problem, they have the tastiest veggie dogs you’ll ever try.  One thing you won’t find anywhere else is the “I don’t see what I want” Dog.  Daddy will cook up a custom dog that he creates on the spot.  

Just because you don’t play for the Padres, doesn’t mean you can’t perfect your swing.  At Brickyard Cages, one of San Diego’s most state-of-the-art in-door training facility,  players of all ages can practice hitting both baseballs and softballs.  Their staff is made up of experienced instructors and the Brickyard offers individual and group lessons and clinics.  Open seven days a week, this is the ideal place for competitive training or just good old-fashioned fun.  And, don’t be intimidated by the most technologically advanced pitching machines around, Brickyard is tailored for people of all abilities. 

The Padres have been part of California since 1969 and their amazing stadium is at the heart of San Diego.  Mission Bay is a hop, skip, and a jump from all the baseball action.  Even if watching a game isn’t your thing, there are plenty of alternatives to having fun and still taking part in America’s favorite past time.