Hippity Hop Down to San Diego

Spring is in the air, and with it a rebirth of a new season.  Flowers are blooming, baby chicks are hatching, and the Easter Bunny is coming out of hiding.  This Easter weekend San Diego is brimming with some Egg-cellent (we couldn’t resist) things to do.  Whether you celebrate on land or on the water, it’s going to be a great holiday weekend. 

Belmont Park is hosting an “Easter EGGstravaganza” this Sunday with lots to do for little ones and adults.  Their annual Easter Egg hunt is sold out, but there is a free egg hunt around the amusement park with no registration required.  Search for eggs hidden between the shops starting at noon on Sunday.  From 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM there will be a photo op (bring your camera!) with the Easter Bunny in the Food Court Area.   Save your appetite for the Draft House’s special plated Easter brunch menu (from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM), with no reservations needed. 

La Jolla is having their annual Spring Egg Hunt at the city’s Recreation Center this Saturday, March 26^th.  The hunt begins at 10:00 AM for ages 2 and under and every half hour a new age group will get a chance to comb the area looking for eggs.  Check out the time schedule HERE.  The egg hunt is free, but be sure and bring your own basket.  There is a $5 fee for those wanting to participate in crafts, have a meet and greet with Peter Rabbit, and get a goodie bag. 

For those with kids who won’t be able to make the La Jolla Egg Hunt on Saturday, the Recreation Center also has some fun activities for kids and parents the Monday through Wednesday following Easter.  From March 28^th to the 30^th, there will be many “Spring Break” activities from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM for $5.  Monday and Tuesday will have story time for the first 30 minutes and then different crafts on each day.  For brave animal lovers, Wednesday will feature an hour long reptile show followed by an ice cream social.  Click on the LINK for more information.   

The Pacific Beach Recreation Center will be hosting a free egg hunt tomorrow, March 26^th starting at 10:00 AM.  The egg hunt will be divided into 15 minute blocks depending on ages, starting with ages 3 and under at 10:00 AM (6 and under at 10:15am, and 10 and under at 10:30 am).  Bring your own basket and camera to capture all the fun.  There will also be a 40 foot obstacle course, bounce house, face painting, arts and crafts, and popcorn for $3.  Check out the flyer HERE for more details.  

For a more aquatic spin on Easter, check out the “Spring EGGstravaganza” at Birch Aquarium.  On Sunday, March 27^th, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, the aquarium will host a special scavenger hunt, where eggs will be hidden underwater.  No baskets needed for this hunt!  You will also be able to explore different animal eggs, discover changes in the sea by making your own plankton, and create a shark egg craft.  The fun is free with any paid admission.   

For a more grown-up way to celebrate Easter, you could take a lovely two-hour cruise around San Diego harbor while enjoying a delicious brunch.  There are two options this Sunday, and both still have some spots open for their 11:00 AM cruises. 

The Flagship Cruise’s Easter Brunch Cruise (Adults are $74.50 and children are $44.50), offers a gourmet brunch, a DJ spinning songs that might get you on the dance floor, and a lovely cruise that sails under the Coronado Bridge.  There will be complimentary boarding champagne, as well as free coffee and tea with your meal. 

Or you could choose a relaxing ride on Hornblower’s SanDiego Easter Cruise.  The breakfast buffet is $63 for adults and $38 for children ages 4 to 12 (kids under 3 are free).  Check with them for more information on discounts for seniors and military.  The Easter Bunny will be on board so bring your camera.  Enjoy live music along with the free-flowing champagne and sparkling cider.

There will be no shortage of fun this weekend!  And, with a lot of families on spring break, now is the perfect time to call and book a home with Mission Bay Vacation Rentals.  Just remember to always have your camera ready, you never know when you might catch a glimpse of the Easter Bunny.

Where the Art Is

San Diego has a thriving contemporary art scene, and you can be apart of it.  Spring is upon us and with the gorgeous flowers blooming all around, now is the perfect time to get out and explore all the amazing art exhibits happening right now.  We’ve highlighted a few diverse favorites that you won’t want to miss.  

The Latin American Art Festival is an outdoor art show that celebrates over 70 artists from all over the Latin world.  This is the second year the festival is coming to the Point Loma Liberty Station, after a successful run last year.  The Festival aims to not only introduce talented painters, sculptors, photographers, and printmakers to San Diego, but to also celebrate and educate goers about the diversity of the different Latin American communities.  The free all-day event will feature stunning works of visual arts, performing arts and culinary arts all in one place.  Come hungry, as there will be award-winning chefs serving delectable bites and wine and beer from Mexico.  Attendees of all ages will love the live music and performances throughout the day.  There will be a children’s area where young ones can can learn about the art world and create their own original works of art.  Stop by the on Friday, March 18^th, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM or Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. 

For those seeking a tranquil moment in a quiet, sun-soaked gallery head to the San Diego Watercolor Society, also at the Point Loma Liberty Station.  There you will find works, from abstracts to landscapes, all in the watercolor medium.  Each month a new show is presented to the public and visitors can vote on their favorite piece submitted by members of the Watercolor Society.  This month’s show “March Goes Round,” will be on display until March 26^th.  The San Diego Watercolor Society has been a non-profit organization for over 50 years and has around 700 members.  A visit to the gallery is free, and open from Sunday through Wednesday, usually from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.   Check out their calendar for more specifics HERE.  

One of the most influential pop artist living today is Los Angeles-based Ed Ruscha.  His works are influenced by the landscapes and even vernacular of Southern California.  Ruscha got his start in the first Pop Art exhibits at the Pasadena Art Museum in 1962, where his works were hung next to Lichtenstein’s and Warhol’s.  The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla has an impressive art exhibit going on now entitled “Ed Ruscha Then & Now: Paintings from the 1960s and 2000s.”  MCASD La Jolla has had a long standing relationship with this world-famous artist, including the larger than life mural outside, “Outdoor Mural Brave Men of La Jolla (1995- 1996),” Ruscha created just for the exterior of the La Jolla location.  The museum’s permanent collection includes 30 of his creations, and the exhibit will feature many more works from Ruscha’s long career.  The exhibit runs through April 24^th, and the museum is open six days a week (closed on Wednesdays) from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. General Admission is $10; seniors and students 26 and over (with ID) are $5; students 25 and under and military and family (with ID) are free.

Celebrate the first days of spring surrounded by beautiful blooms and beautiful works of art.  You could easily plan an art-themed vacation, complete with a stay at Mission BayVacation Rentals, and taking in multiple art shows, both indoors and out.  Book with MBVR today and soak in some of San Diego’s rich cultural happenings. 

Sounds of Science

Whether we can explain it or not, science plays apart of every aspect of our lives, from gravity to electricity.  If you’ve ever wanted to play Einstein and actually delve into the mysteries of the scientific world, than this upcoming week is for you.  San Diego is having a massive science take over starting this weekend thanks to the San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering.  And, if you don’t have time to check out all the exhibits, San Diego has plenty of other permanent science-related places to visit.  

This Saturday, March 5th, the San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering will kick off with a free (yes, free!) all-day event at Petco Park.  This is the 8th year that the Festival will be celebrating everything STEM (that is, Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).  The festival will prove captivating for everyone from pre-schoolers to senior citizens.  Hands-on activities are geared towards educational fun; you’ll be learning while enjoying yourself.  The goal of the festival is to show visitors of all ages that science can indeed be fun.  Saturday’s event is from 10 AM to 5 PM, but the learning will continue until March 13th with over 70 different science-related activities spread through out San Diego County.  A detailed list of the all fun can be found HERE.

The San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum must have had the Einstein quote that “Imagination is more important than knowledge,” in mind when designing their space.  The museum’s goal is to expand minds through educational fun and imagination.  At the outdoor garden space kids are encouraged to get outside and get their hands dirty while they learn about ecosystems, nutrition, food, and sustainability.  Kids can get their hands wet at the living water table that teaches about water conservation, pollution prevention, solar energy and the weather.

There are also plenty of indoor activities where kids can learn about STEM while enjoying themselves.  For those who are more artistically minded, there is also an area where young ones can use their imagination to create plays, music, and original pieces of art.  Admission starts at $6, with military and veteran discounts available with a valid military ID.  The museum is open daily from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM (closed on major holidays).

Disguised learning continues at the Reuben H Fleet Science Center at Balboa Park.  Famous for their stunning IMAX movies, the Science Center also has equally stunning exhibits that celebrate science, from water and energy to technology.  There are a bevy of rotating exhibits and 12 permanent exhibitions, many of which will be fun for children (although adults will be equally fascinated).  From learning about the microcosmic happenings in human body at the Cellular Journey exhibit to the ever-expanding cosmos and space exploration in Origins in Space.  Visitors are encouraged to look, listen, touch, and create. 

 Currently there is an exhibit called Taking Shape that is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.  Hundreds of rolls of packing tape are unrolled and bound together to create a translucent landscape complete with tunnels and rooms with plastic floors and walls.  Miles of tape and plastic wrap create a cocoon of mazes as passageways curve, slope and twist.  And, all the plastic will be recycled when the exhibits ends on June 12.  The Science Center is open 365 days a year.  Admission for adults (ages 13 and up) is $20; senior citizens are $18; children (ages 3 to 12) are $17.  Admission includes entry to one of the IMAX films.

For a more grown-up use of STEM, check out Zymology 21 a science-inspired restaurant and bar in Gaslamp Quarter.  Imagine cocktails served in test tubes, beakers, sometimes fizzing as drinks are poured over dry ice.  Zymology 21 has an inventive brunch and dinner menu that is also not to be missed.  Green Eggs and Grilled Lamb might sound a bit scary, but this tasty dish gets the ‘Green’ from the arugula and pesto (not food dye) that is mixed in with the eggs, and is a delectable choice.  One of the most popular (and award winning) entrees is the Chicken and Waffles, a generous portion of an herb cheddar waffle topped with brined chicken breast and habanero agave nectar.  Zymology 21 is also known for their extra-friendly staff, who will let you know when to pull out your camera for those moments when your cocktail is about to fizz and steam.  Truly this is a unique experience that can’t be replicated at home or in a classroom.

You don’t need to be a rocket scientist or have a special degree to enjoy the scientific world.  Book a stay at Mission Bay Vacation Rentals and let the educational fun begin.  San Diego has plenty of opportunities to learn while having a great time, it’s all relative, after all.