Spook-tacular Times in San Diego

The history of Halloween goes back about 2,000 years to the Celts who lived in Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France and their Samhain celebration on November 1st.  They believed the night before Samhain, the dead returned as ghosts, so the living would leave food and wine on their doorsteps to keep the ghosts at bay.   The Celts would also wear masks when they went outside, so the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits.  The traditional family-friendly Halloween that we know really began in the 1950s.  In honor and the more tame version of All Hallow’s Eve San Diego will be hosting some spine-chilling and spooky activities this weekend.

Ghouls and boys of all ages are going to love a visit to Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and their ‘Haunted Aquarium.’   From 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm this Friday and Saturday (Oct 23rd & 24th), they will transform their halls into an eerie, yet highly entertaining, educational party.  Rarely seen sea creatures such as the Humboldt Squid (renamed ‘Frankensquid,’ of course), glowing sea-deep fish, skeleton shrimp and sea spiders.   

Kids will be able to make and take home their own version of slime from seaweed, as well as other creepy crafts.  Costume prizes for those in the best (family-friendly) costumes will be handed out, and the cafe will be open until 8:30pm in case you feel peckish.  Billy Lee and the Swamp Critters band will also keep the party hopping with live music.  Tickets can be bought online for $17 or $19 at the door.  

 The Maritime Museum will be hosting ‘Haunted Tales of our Seafaring Past’ this Saturday (Oct 24th) and next Saturday (Oct. 31st).  You can decide if the Star of India is haunted as your tour guide leads you through the ship with a lantern.  Tour the Star of India as you hear ghost stories from the ship’s past.  Tours guides will lead you through by lantern and entertain you with tales of ghost sightings and unexplained phenomenons.    The tours begin at 6:00 pm and occur every 15 minutes, with the last one beginning at 9:15 pm.  

 For those who love Jack-O’-Lanterns and all the imaginative designs the carved gourd can take on, then The Rise is the event for you.  Taking place in New York, Los Angeles and San Diego, professional artists have hand carve thousands of pumpkins for display.  The Rise of the Jack-O’-Lantern will be at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park this weekend (Oct. 23-25th) from 6:30 to 10:30 pm.   Over 5,000 illuminated Jack-O’-Lanterns will be displayed on a scenic trail (1/3 mile), including a dragon made up of hundreds of pumpkins that is over 50 feet long!  Advanced tickets are required and prices start at $30.

 This weekend and next weekend Belmont Park in Mission Bay will transform itself into ‘Boomont Park,’ for its third annual Halloween celebration.  On Friday from 6:30 to 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 1:30 to 2:30 pm and 6:30 to 7:30 pm there will be free trick or treating, and a costume contest on Saturday at 5:00 pm.  Speaking of costumes, kids dressed with receive a free kids meal at the WaveHouse with the purchase of an adult meal.  There will be the Booming Manor Haunted House (recommended for kids ages 7 to 12), a pumpkin patch where you can paint your purchased pumpkin for free, and Laser Tag will have a ghoulish makeover with zombies lurking around every corner.   One of the more entertaining events for spectators and participants will be at the Zip Line and Rock Wall, where people dressed as superheroes will get 50% off tickets.  Check out their website for even more events and details.  

Downtown will get a hair-raising spin with the ‘Ghosts of the Gaslamp Walking Tour’ on Friday, Oct. 30th.  The tour happens every Friday at 5:00 pm, but we think the night before Halloween is the perfect  eve  to step out and learn about the horrifying history of Gaslamp Quarter.  Reservations need to be made at the latest the Thursday before at 4:00 pm for the half-mile tour.  A historian will lead you through hotels, funeral parlors, saloons and end at the Willian Heath Davis House (one of the most haunted buildings in San Diego) all the while relating frightening stories from their past.   Adult tickets are $20, kids range from $10 to $8 (7 and under are free), with discounts for seniors and active military, and college students. 

For a bit of culture spooky culture, head over to Copley Symphony Hall to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas and here the San Diego Symphony Orchestra perform Danny Elfman’s score for the film.  The movie will be projected on a big screen with the dialogue and the orchestra will accompany the film’s unforgettable soundtrack.   The film will be shown on Friday (Oct. 30th) at 8:00 pm and Saturday (Oct 31st) at 5:00 pm and tickets start at $20.  On Friday, everyone is encouraged to dress up and arrive early (7:15 pm) for a fun costume contest.  

All things creepy-crawly and trick-or-treating don’t need to be limited to one night of the year.  This year for All Hallow’s Eve, San Diego has something for everyone.  How about a celebrating Halloween by the sea in one of our not-haunted residents at Mission Bay?  You’ll be close to all the chilling, nightmarish, and overall enjoyable action for the next 10 days.

Kids Free San Diego!

Around 30 years ago, the San Diego Zoo started to offer free entry for kids during October to boost sales during a normally slow month.  That tradition has now expanded to over 100 companies over San Diego county for the entire month of October.   “Kids Free San Diego” offers everything from free food to free museum tours and even rides on the Amtrak train for kids with an accompanying paid adult.  

Most companies restrict the deal to two free children for every one adult, except for the San Diego Zoo, which only specifies that the amount of children per paying adult must be within reason.  Either way, it’s an amazing opportunity for friendly family fun that doesn’t break the bank.  

Check out a complete list of participating companies HERE and specifically which museums (there are over 40!) which will have free entry HERE.  Note that some places, like the Birch Aquarium, require you either download or print out the coupon in order to take advantage of the deal.  A lot of places define a child as ’12 and under,’ however some places like the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park limit the age to '11 and under.’  

If you’ve ever wanted to book a week for the family at Mission Bay Vacation Rentals, now is the time.  There are enough fun activities and meals to last beyond a seven-day stay.  Below is a list of our favorite picks:

 Belmont Park

Our favorite amusement park is chock full of deals this month!  Kids will receive an Unlimited Ride wristband with the purchase of one full priced adult Unlimited Ride wristband.  With the purchase of an adult unlimited laser tag wristband, one child will also receive an unlimited laser tag wristband.  Kids will love the free cotton candy they get when an adult buys an ice cream cone at The Sweet Shoppe.   You must print out the Coupon (HERE) to redeem these goodies and more!

Restaurant Deals

If you visit the Patio on Lamont during breakfast, kids will get free pancakes with the purchase of an adult breakfast.

If you’ve ever wanted to try the delicious and upscale Brazilian barbecue, Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse, then this is the month to do it.  Children receive one complimentary  dinner with the purchase of an adult full-priced churrasco dinner, or entree.

For ‘shopaholics,’ Bloomingdales is letting kids eat free at their cafe.  So the whole family will benefit when you need to take a break from a shopping spree for some grub.

Museums & Culture

As we mentioned before, there are over 40 museums taking part in this amazing deal.  Balboa Park will be especially fun for the whole family, as most of their museums will offer up to two free children’s entry for every one paying adult.   You can visit as many museums as you like, just be sure you print out a coupon for the museum you want to visit.  Here are a few that we are especially excited about sharing with the kids:  

The New Children's Museum

USS Midway Museum

Japanese Friendship Garden

San Diego Museum of Art

San Diego Air & Space Museum

Family Entertainment

For every one adult full-priced ‘Adult Hopper’ ticket bought to LEGOLAND, you will get one free ‘Child Hopper’ ticket.  The ‘Hopper’ tickets allow you entry to LEGOLAND, LEGOLAND Water Park, and SEA LIFE Aquarium.  

The San Diego Zoo started it all and the fact that they let more than two children in per one paying adult is pretty awesome.  Just note that the Zoo as well as the San Diego Safari Park define children as 11 and under.  

For educational fun, the lovely Birch Aquarium in La Jolla will engage visitors of all ages.  Just be sure you print out your coupon before you go.  

On the Sea

Two kids can ride free with Flagship Cruises and Events per paid adult for all one and two-hour San Diego Harbor Tours.   

October will be the month that the whole family should learn to surf thanks to Surf Diva La Jolla, where every private surf lesson bought for an adult or child, another child will receive a free private lesson as well. 

Everyday California offers tours and rentals for kayaking and snorkeling, as well as paddle boarding and surfboard rentals.   For every paying adult, one child will be free.    

The whole fam will love taking a gondola cruise through San Diego Bay from the Gondola Company.  Up to four kids ride free for every paying adult couple.   

Take a one or two-hour cruise on Hornblower Cruises and two kids will ride free per adult.   

 By Land & Air

The Amtrak Pacific Surfline train hugs the coast of Southern California for stunning views as it makes its way to San Diego.  This month, one child will receive a free ticket per adult. 

For the truly adventurous,  Corporate Helicopters are offering one free child ride per paying adult for a 30-minute ride over San Diego, but you will need to have a minimum of two adults booked per ride. 

Take a ride on one of San Diego’s charming trolleys through Old Town or La Jolla and Mission Bay on the Old Town Trolley Tours.  For every paying adult, one child will be able to ride for free. 

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.