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!

Let's Celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over the French at the battle of Puebla.  It’s not Mexico’s Independence Day (September 16^th), as some might think, but it was an important victory that led to their ultimate freedom.  No matter its origins, it’s gained a reputation as the ultimate party day with nonstop fun here in the States.  Like any celebration, San Diego likes to do it right, and we’ve listed some of our favorite Mexican-themed activities for the next week.

If ever there’s a time to visit historic Old Town San Diego, it’s this weekend for the Fiesta Cinco de Mayo.  The 32^nd annual free festival, a San Diego tradition since 1983, will be three days (May 1^st to the 3^rd) of music, food and guaranteed fun.  There will be three live music stages, a low rider car show and equestrian performances.  This is a family-friendly event and there will be stagecoach rides and interactive games for kids to play.  Authentic Mexican food as well as ice-cold cervezas  and high end tequilas will be available for purchase.

For those wanting to celebrate Cinco de Mayo bright and early and in a healthy way, then the Cinco de Mayo Trail Run in Poway is for you.  This is a completely off road 5K, 10K and kids race and the course will take you along Lake Poway Trail and through the foothills.  There will be live entertainment and Cinco de Mayo-themed fun, as well as food and drinks at the finish line.  Tickets start at $10 for children and $45 for adults and proceeds go towards helping the Valley Elementary Education Foundation.  Registration opens at 6:30am and the first race starts at 7:30am. 

We had to highlight a favorite Mexican restaurant and El Indio was the obvious choice for us.  The world’s first tortilla machine was made in the basement in the mid-1940s, which increased production from 30 dozen tortillas per day to 30 dozen tortillas per hour!  That isn’t the only invention in this restaurant’s claim to fame.  Story goes, the taquito was invented here as well.  It’s no wonder El Indio has been recognized both locally (San Diego Magazine, SanDiego.com) and nationally (USA Today, Coastal Living Magazine).  They are also famous for sending care packages to the armed forces and have even sent food to the White House.  Oh, and we recommend everything on the menu.

To honor Cinco de Mayo with cultural flare, stop by Centro Cultural de la Raza, a cultural arts center focusing on Chicano, Mexican, Indigenous and Latino arts.  Located in beautiful Balboa Park, the museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 4:00pm (closed on Mondays).  Ballet Folklorico dancing classes and educational tours are available for children.  The staff is made of volunteers and a suggested donation is requested, although technically entry is free.  Check their calendar on the website, as they offer diverse classes and special events after hours.

Tickets are still available for the crowd-pleasing band, Mariachi El Bronx, at the Belly Up in Solano Beach.  Mariachi El Bronx is a mix of punk rock (emphasis on rock) and classic mariachi music from Mexico.  Their shows get people moving with their vocal harmonies and classic mariachi style horns.  The Los Angeles-based band dresses in the traditional “charro” (or Mariachi) suit for added flare.  Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with an entertaining mash up of American and Mexican culture.  Tickets start at $25. 

San Diego is the perfect city to really soak up Cinco de Mayo.  Mission Bay Vacation Rentals is the perfect home base for you to celebrate the different Cinco de May events around San Diego.  From charity races, to eating, to rocking out to live music, this Cinco de Mayo will be your best one yet.