Checking Off New Year's Resolutions

The year is winding down (that was fast!) and it’s time to contemplate goals for 2016.  According to Nielsen (the global information company, known for the television Nielsen ratings), seven of the top ten most popular New Year’s Resolutions can be checked off the list by booking a vacation at Mission Bay Vacation Rentals.  Hard to believe?  Let’s break it down.   

Traveling More is on the list, and booking a flight to invariably sunny Mission Bay, San Diego, definitely counts.  Even if Mission Bay is somewhere you can drive to, getting out of the house and spending time in a new environment is always invigorating and helps one reset their hectic schedule.  Making picturesque San Diego your first stop in the new year is a no-brainer.  

Staying Fit and Healthy, year after year, is always at the top of the list.  Gyms are usually the winner here, with memberships spiking in January; but how many of us keep going for the rest of the year?  Forget exercising indoors, Mission Bay is packed with fun activities on land and water that will keep your heart rate up.  There’s a reason San Diego is always voted one of the top ‘Fittest’ cities in the U.S.  

Hop on a beach cruiser and ride down the Mission Beach boardwalk or among the calm waters of Mission Bay.  Take in the fresh air as you mountain bike around Torrey Pines or Tecolote Canyon.  Grab your running shoes and you can trace the same biking trails on foot.  Want a little more zen in your physical pursuits?  Head to an outdoor yoga class in Pacific Beach, La Jolla, or Ocean Beach.  

Needless to say, we’ve got plenty of exercise options that involve the deep blue sea.  Snorkeling and SCUBA diving are great ways to burn calories while exploring a new world.  You can rent kayaks and paddle boards for a spin around the bay or the open waters.  Our coastline is a surfer’s paradise for beginners or seasoned riders.   Mission Beach Surfing School offers not just surf lessons, but kite and wake surfing, as well as stand up paddle boarding.   Pacific Surf School will let you book private or group classes, rent paddle boards, or book a yoga class on top of a surf board.  Chances are, at least one of these will qualify as Learning a New Hobby.  

Losing Weight (especially those pesky holiday pounds) is usually at the top of the list of most New Year’s Resolutions.  With all the outdoor fun in Mission Bay, the weight will melt off without even trying.  On top of the exercising, San Diego is one of the best cities in the world for healthy and delicious clean eating.  Our town has its pick of great farmer’s markets and farm-to-table restaurants, where the food is salubrious, fresh, and tasty.  Peace Pies in Ocean Beach, is an uber-casual vegan cafe (blink and you might walk past it) with an amazing menu that even seasoned meat-eaters will love.   True Food Kitchen is a popular national chain at the Fashion Valley Mall, that researches the vendors they use to ensure delicious, healthy and organic menu options.  

It’s easy to Enjoy Life to the Fullest when you are Spending Quality Time with Family and Friends in a gorgeous location with perfect weather.  Spend a day at Belmont Park with your loved ones and you will definitely be living life to its fullest.  From a fast-paced plunging rollercoaster, to scaling rock walls, or navigating a ropes course suspended in mid-air, the adrenaline will be high as will the fun factor.  Make memories while playing miniature golf, or cheering on your loved ones as they attempt to surf the FlowBarrel.  After exploring our beautiful town and charming neighborhoods, you can always repose on a lounge chair or sunbath on the sand while Reading a New Book.  

We told you, Mission Bay Vacation Rentals is going to take care of your resolutions this year!   Call today to book one of our wonderful homes for your first vacation of 2016.  After a busy holiday season your family and New Year’s Resolution list will thank you!

Partying with Planet Earth

Today is Earth Day, and San Diego is the perfect place to celebrate this weekend!  Our town is surrounded by, both rolling mountains and the vast Pacific Ocean, which makes it easy to appreciate this gorgeous planet.  We've compiled a list of diverse ways to honor Earth Day, from learning about gardening to sailing the open waters to roaming the hills and valleys.

For three days this weekend (April 24th to 26th), The San Diego Museum of Art, will hold its 34th annual fundraiser, Art Alive.  The museum's permanent collection is uniquely brought to life by creating over 100 floral interpretations of the art.  There will also be activities, such as an art lecture on Saturday and a floral arranging class on Sunday.  Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 4:00pm, will also have a museum-wide flower hunt, a children's reading area and floral-inspired art projects.

Bring the whole family this Saturday (9:00am to 3:00pm) to Cuyamaca College, as it hosts the 22nd annual Spring Garden Festival.  The free festival will turn the college, which is home to the renowned Ornamental Horticulture program, into a green-haven, where you can learn about sustainability and how to take care of this earth for future generations.  There will be a composting demonstration, a lecture on urban farming, and tips on water conservation in the gardening.  There will also be over 50 artisans and vendors selling their crafts and food.

The Maritime Museum of San Diego will host its first annual Earth Day on the Bay this Sunday from 10:00am to 4:00pm.  The museums wants to ensure everyone is available to participate in an Earth Day celebration, so entry will be free.  The Wyland Foundation will provide a mobile learning experience with a 4D interactive theater called the Wyland Clean Water Learning Experience, which teaches visitors about ways we can keep our oceans clean.  On top of all the fun, the museum will also offer $5 historic, 45-minute bay cruises.

If you want to celebrate Earth Day in its purest form, than look no further than Tecolote Canyon Natural Park, located just five miles from Mission Bay.  Tecolote Park is a narrow coastal valley that offers picnic areas, tall trees to climb and hikes for kids and adults.  There is plenty of open space and it's easy to appreciate this untouched patch of San Diego.  Considering its proximity to downtown, it's a quiet and peaceful retreat.  Stop by the visitor center to get more facts about the flora and fauna and see if a park guide is available to point out edible plants and recent animal tracks.  

Mission Bay is the ideal place to start celebrating.  We've got sandy beaches, grassy fields, tumbling ocean waves and the glassy waters of the bay.  Whether you want to honor Earth Day in a museum or appreciate the planet in the great outdoors, you're bound to find some activity that suits you, all close to Mission Bay Vacation Rentals.