Let's Celebrate the 4th of July!

The 4th of July is one of those holidays where our town can feel like you’re in old-fashioned Main Street, USA.  You can barbecue, talk with locals, catch a small parade and then end the evening with a spectacular fireworks display.  Starting at 9pm, San Diego’s skies light up in all directions with different firework shows along the shore.  Before then, however, here are a few of our highlights for what to do. . .    

Small towns across the US will be having local 4th of July parades, and even though San Diego is a massive city, if you take the short drive to Coronado Island, than you too can participate in this tradition.  Based on how popular this parade is, Coronado suggests you get there early to reserve your spot on Orange Ave, and bike or walk as much as possible (parking is going to be sparse).  This is a military town, so expect precise and exceptional marching bands and poignant floats.  

If you haven’t checked out this year’s San Diego County Fair, than Saturday is a great day to go. Patriotic festivities kick off at 10:30am with the Stars, Stripes, and Stems Floral Design Contest and family-oriented fun like, the pie-eating contest at noon, go until the 9:00pm fireworks.  Comedian and actor Dana Carvey will be performing as the light show winds down at 9:30pm.  And, if you wear your red, white and blues you might win the ‘Most Patriotic Costume’ contest.

What can be more all-American than a barbecue at the beach?    Many of our shores are dotted with fire pits ready to cook hot dogs, s’mores, or veggie shish kabobs.  Fire pits are first come first serve with a few basic rules (fires are permitted from 5am to 12midnight; fires must be extinguished when you leave; you can only burn charcoal, wood, and paper products).  Here is a brief list of some of our favorite beaches and beach-side parks (and, no surprise, most of them are in Mission Bay):

La Jolla Shore is a perfect spot to spend a whole day.  Not only does it have fire pits, but also a grassy park area, picnic tables, a playground, volleyball area, restrooms, and showers. 

Ski Beach in Mission Bay doesn’t allow swimming but it does offer a boat launch, a grassy area with a picnic tables, and of course, fire rings.

Crown Point Shores Park Beach, also in Mission Bay, has picnic tables, barbecue grills, fire rings, and an outdoor rinsing station right next to the water.  

Sunset Point Park (Mission Bay) sits across from Vacation Isle and has a panoramic view of Mission Bay.  Lined with tall palm trees, this beachside park has fire rings, picnic tables and a paved path for bike riding.

Fiesta Island is a man-made island at the heart of Mission Bay with 37 fire rings along the shore line.  The south side of the island is a lease-free dog zone, however we should mention there are no public restrooms on the island.   

The fire pits in Ocean Beach are popular thanks to the beach’s relaxed vibe (as we’ve mentioned before), and their reputation for being very dog friendly.

The beach on Coronado Island has fire pits ready to BBQ on, volleyball courts, a snack bar, and public restrooms.  They are also known for having one of the cleanest shorelines in California.  

San Diego has the gift of being a large city that feels like a sweet, small town.  From Oceanside to San Diego Bay (with Ocean Beach, Mission Bay, Harbor Island, and La Jolla in between!), you can’t miss the fireworks display this year.  So pack a picnic, grab your bike (to avoid traffic) and plan to soak up the sun and then enjoy the fireworks that night.  Here at Mission Bay Vacation Rentals, we can’t wait to celebrate this great country we live in and our great town!

A Fair to Remember

You know it’s summer time when the San Diego County Fair comes to town.  It kicks off this Friday at the Del Mar Fairgrounds with a performance by world famous disco-funk favorite KC and the Sunshine Band.  Most county fairs have the same variety of game booths, rides, and fried foods, but this year, in addition to the classics, San Diego has some completely unique and entertaining options.

Fried foods are a staple to all fairs, but this year we have some new comers that you won’t want to miss.  Did you know the man who invented the deep-fried Oreos is a staple at the San Diego County Fair?  Chicken Charlie has been frying all kinds of food (from Kool Aid to s’mores) for over thirty years.  This year he’ll present the deep-friend slim fast meal bar and the deep-fried peanut butter pickle (a hollowed-out pickle filled with peanut butter then fried).  Talk about decadent but sure-to-be delicious eating!  

If you enjoy TV shows such as, “So You Think You Can Dance,” “America’s Got Talent,” or “America’s Best Dance Crew,” then you won’t want to miss Sunday, June 14th’s dance competition.  From 3:00pm to 7:00pm, you can watch in awe, as San Diego’s best dance crews compete for cash prizes.  The youth division will perform for the first hour, and teens and adults will complete the final hours.  Cheer on your favorite crew as they are judged on their skills, showmanship, creativity, rhythm, and costume.  

Tuesday, June 23 and June 30, kids 12 and younger are free.  Also, on these days, food vendors will offer smaller portions of their grub for only $2.  Perfect for kids with smaller appetites or adults who want to eat more of different types of food.  Check out the Kid’s Page for more details.  If your children have a larger appetite, look for the “Kid’s Meal Deal” signs around the Fair, these vendors will be offering $5.99 meals that include an entree, side dish, drink, and child’s admission to several local attractions. 

Fairs and families go hand-in-hand, and that’s why we’re excited for the specially designated area (in the racetrack infield) dedicated to families and activities that children, as well as adults will enjoy, called, Family Funville (of course).  Here are three of the things we are looking forward to in Funville:

New to this year’s County Fair, is Fiesta Village; Latin-themed fun for the whole family.  In addition to tasting authentic Mexican food, you can also enjoy musical numbers and choreographed dances, and artisans from Mexico and Central America will be demonstrating how they make their crafts.  Bring your camera, so you can Instagram your photo in from of the beautiful 160-foot long mural.  

For history buffs, there will be two displays that are right up your alley.  The Marine Core Air Station Miramar will be displaying military equipment from World War II, the Vietnam War and Desert Storm, highlighting the significance of these conflicts.  The second, is a an authentic 1959 Airstream trailer, complete with camping gear from this era.  You’ll get a kick out of what camping looking like more than 50 years ago.  

Does your family have a competitive streak?  If so, you’ll love the daily family -orientated contests  such as the sack race, three-legged race, and horse shoe toss that take place at 3:00 pm.  Depending on the day, you can see who will win the hula hoop competition or who can blow the biggest piece of bubble gum.  There will also be 3:30 pm contests such as the best animal noise and father/child look-alike contest on the Fiesta Stage.  Check out the schedule HERE.

The Fair winds down on July 5th, so that gives you plenty of time to check out all the food and entertainment.  Stay for a week at Mission Bay Vacation Rentals, and take a few day trips to the County Fair to make sure you hit all the exciting and enjoyable activities.  And, like we said, you should come hungry.