Whether you are living in or visiting San Diego, you have the opportunity to become scuba certified. There are few places in the world where this is an option, and being in San Diego I think it is something everyone should take advantage of!

On a recent trip to Thailand, I did a “discover dive” and instantly fell in love with the sport. Upon my arrival back to San Diego, I instantly got a group of friends together and we are all becoming certified. It is an experience you really cannot convey…you just have to do it for yourself. You are immersed into a whole new world, and scuba diving is really the only way to truly experience this sect of the earth’s diversity. It is an extremely calming experience, as you lose all forms of standard communication when you are underwater and all you can hear is the sea life around you.

Ocean Enterprises

If you are interested in becoming certified, check out San Diego Ocean Enterprises. They have every sort of scuba class you could think of, whether you are a beginning and want to just go out for a day, or whether you already have a certification and want to get your advanced certification or take Divemaster courses. Become certified and use your certification to dive all over the world, wherever your travels may lead you!

I have personally never been to Birch Aquarium, but after browsing their website, I think I am going to have to plan a day to visit. Now this is not your average aquarium - there are different events going on all of the time, including snorkeling with sharks, kayaking in La Jolla Shores, and many wonderful exhibits, one in particular called the “Art of Deception” stands out to me…basically it is an entire exhibit on how sea life can hide in plain site and how they will use their own forms of deception for survival. Another exhibit, “Feeling the Heat: The Climate Challenge” is an award-winning exhibit presenting the science of global climate change. The exhibit is hands on and is aimed at ending the confusion of global warming…come check it out and decide for yourself what you think. 

For the kids-

Birch Aquarium has no shortage of activities for kids of all ages. If you have pre-schoolers, check out their “A, B Sea Club” which is an ocean discovery program which includes scavenger hunts, live animal encounters, story times, and crafts. Also, for kids 10 and up, they can take part in the kayaking La Jolla Shores, in which they will learn the basics of ocean kayaking while discovering the wonders of hte La Jola State Marine Conservation Area.

Also, don’t miss “Haunted Birch Aquarium: Where science goes mad!” on October 24-26, 6-9pm. Not exactly the first place you would think to go for a Halloween event, but nonetheless, I am sure it will be very fun for the kids, with the haunted Hall of Fishes and the skeleton shrimp meet-and-greet.

Visit San Diego Birch Aquarium website

View Birch Aquarium’s Calendar of Events

If you are looking to celebrate Oktoberfest in San Diego, you will have plenty of opportunities!  Oktoberfest originated in Germany in the 1800s and is still very much a celebration today, to drink, eat, and be merry.

Here are a couple Oktoberfest events in North County San Diego, close to our vacation rentals

Oktoberfest in Encinitas - September 21, 10am to 5pm.

Oktoberfest in Carlsbad - October 4, 1pm to 10pm

And known as the “granddaddy” of San Diego Oktoberfests…

Oktoberfest in La Mesa - October 3-5 (see times on website)

Oceanside Harbor Days is taking place on September 20th and 21st, 2008 at the Oceanside Harbor.  Bring the entire family along, for a day of food, arts and crafts, exhibits, a Pirate’s Cove area, and activities.  Open from 9am to 6pm.  This event is a chance to experience fun new activities in the area, including the new Pirates Cove exhibition, vintage pirate ships, a children’s area, Military, Police & Fire displays, and more.

This is a free event open to the public!  Held by the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce and Oceanside Harbor District, Cox Communications and Genentech.  Visit the Oceanside Harbor Days website.

We are having another photo contest! As summer is coming to end we know you have some great photos and we would love to see them! Email us your best ones, and the winner will receive a weekend getaway at one of our luxury beachfront rentals, on us!

DETAILS:

Email your BEST photo(s) from your stay at one of OUR vacation rentals. Our properties must be visible in the photograph, or obvious that it was taken at one of our properties. Photos taken on the beach in front of our properties is acceptable as well. Remember to give each of your photos a title and/or description. Send photos in their largest format (do not size down for email, unless larger than 10mb).

We will post the photos to our blog and website where you can post comments and view all entries. If you would like your photo to remain anonymous, please note that in your email.

EMAIL ALL SUBMISSIONS TO: Marketing@beachfrontonly.com

Email your photos by September 30th, 2008. The staff at Beachfront Only will choose a winner on October 3rd. Please read terms and conditions below before submitting photos.

Winner will receive a FREE weekend at 811A South Pacific Street from December 5th to December 8th (3 Nights). This is a luxury, 5 bedroom, 5 bath property on the sand in Oceanside, Ca!

Some entries from our last photo contest:

See All

We are already midway through summer here in San Diego. Yet our best months are still yet to come (to me, mid-August through October are Southern California’s prime time of the year).

Looking for something to do, places to visit, events to attend? The summer lineup of events in San Diego does not fall short, and there is sure to be something for every one. Here are a few that seem worth mentioning…

2008 World San Castle Contest July 11-13

Imperial Beach, San Diego

This two day event takes place THIS WEEKEND down in Imperial Beach. There are over 140 vendors that set up just for the event. Not only will there be amazing sand castle building, but you can also expect non-stop entertainment, food, arts and crafts, and people watching! There is a contest just for kids on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, the actual competition starts. These are not just you average sand castle builders from your local beach. They are world class, professional “sand carvers”, who compete throughout the US. There is a cash prize in the end. Here are some pictures pulled from the official website:

San Diego Wild Animal Park, Park at Dark

June 21-September 1

Come and experience the San Diego Wild Animal Park in the dark. It is truly a remarkable experience. You will be able to see another side of the park, not visible during the day, such as nocturnal creatures. There is also a nighttime Journey into Africa tour, which enables you to literally be eye to eye with the wildlife. Other features of Park at Dark include summer entertainment, outdoor dining, shopping, and plenty of up-close animal encounters!

Del Mar Horse Races “Where the Turf Meets the Surf”

July 16 through September 3

It is that time of year again, when the big hats come out and the betting is turned on. The Del Mar Horse Races attract visitors from all over the world. If you are in town, do not miss out! Races are held every day except for Tuesdays. Every Friday at 4 O’Clock, the weekend starts off with twilight racing, then an outdoor concert located in the Plaza de Mexico. Concerts are free with paid admission.

Concert Line Up for 4 O’Clock Fridays: 7/18: Gavin Rossdale, 7/25: Super Diamond Concert, 7/26: Gnarls Barkely, 8/1: Pinback, 8/8: The Bravery, 8/9: Ziggy Marley and Reggae Festival, 8/15: The Wailers, 8/22: Black Francis, 8/29: Steel Pulse Reggae Concert, 8/30: Devo Concert, 9/3: The English Beat.

Comic-Con 2008, San Diego Convention Center

July 24-27

Hurry! One day passes are running out for Comic-Con 2008 in San Diego, which brought in 125,000 attendees in 2007! What exactly goes on at one of these Comic-con conventions? I myself have never been, but have heard they are pretty crazy. Among the 4 day convention (including preview night on July 23) there will be an exhibit hall with hundreds of booths and exhibitors, a film festival, Anime screenings, autograph areas, portfolio reviews (for aspiring comic artists), gaming events, and much more.

]]> http://beachfrontonly.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/san-diego-summer-events-for-both-visitors-and-locals/feed/ beachfrontonly http://members.cox.net/usopensandcastle/photos/Master-A-2nd-Large.jpg http://members.cox.net/usopensandcastle/photos/Master-A-1st-Large.jpg http://members.cox.net/usopensandcastle/photos/Master-A-3rd-Large.jpg Comic-Con 2008 - What's New http://beachfrontonly.wordpress.com/2008/04/28/affordable-family-vacations-on-the-beach-in-luxury-homes/ http://beachfrontonly.wordpress.com/2008/04/28/affordable-family-vacations-on-the-beach-in-luxury-homes/#comments Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:18:14 +0000 beachfrontonly http://beachfrontonly.wordpress.com/?p=87

Are you looking for an alternative to the typical “family vacation”? Maybe a vacation home rental is the way to go. You may be surprised how affordable it really is. While peak season summer prices seem high, I did some research on hotels in the area, and what the rates would be. Now the difference between these hotels and our vacation rentals is they are not directly on the beach. I looked up what it would be for a week stay in the middle of July. Two resorts, Wyndham Oceanside Pier Resort and Carlsbad Seapointe Resort, both with living space, kitchens, and one bedrooms, would cost between $2200 and $2500, just for one room, or for 4 guests. Say you have 16 people coming, that could be 3, 4, or even 5 different families, a total of 4 rooms would come out to $8800 to $10000 for the week.

Now, take one of our vacation rentals. 809 S. Pacific St., a 5 bedroom, 4 bath, luxury condo, on the beach in Oceanside. In the peak of summer, coming during the same week as above, the rental cost is $8750. Your group can be all together, yet still have their individual space. Walk out your front door to the beach, Barbecue on your balcony at night, cook wonderful gourmet meals in the fully appointed kitchens, spend quality time together in the large living areas….a family vacation can’t get much better!

Now if you really are looking for an affordable vacation, come during our off season, when our prices drop fifty to seventy-five percent! Rent a 5 bedroom, luxury beach front home for as little as $550 per night (thats equivalent to $110/room)!!

For more information on our vacation rentals, and for rates and availability, etc, please visit our website.

The coastal street fairs are approaching fast! These make for a wonderful outing for anyone! I will start with the Encinitas Street Fair…

The annual Encinitas Street Fair, which began in 1983, takes place the last Saturday and Sunday in April, 9:00am to 5:00pm (4/26-4/27). The fair is located right in downtown Old Encinitas, covering six blocks of the Coast Highway 101. There will be over 400 booths featuring everything from arts & crafts, antiques, clothing, ethnic imports, kettle corn, and so much more! The whole family can enjoy the day, as there will be rides for the children, a Karl Strauss Brewery beer garden, and four stages with live performances, and plus, it is only two blocks from the ocean! Website

Carlsbad Village Fair

The Carlsbad Village Fair, taking place on the first Sunday in May, 8:00am to 5:00pm (May 4) is the largest one day street fair in the nation! With over 850 vendors there is something for everyone! Along with all of the usual street fair booths and activities, there are children’s rides, an international food center, and an old-fashioned pancake breakfast! The fair started 34 years ago, and has an expected attendance of over 100,000 this year. Website

Whether you are a local to North County San Diego, or a visitor, you should definitely check out one of these street fairs…Soak in the Southern California sun as you browse hundreds of unique booths, enjoy local bands and performers, eat freshly grilled/fried/baked foods, and sip on ice cold beer, all at your own leisurely pace.

(I suggest NOT driving to either one of these fairs. Parking will not be fun. See websites for shuttle information. If you are staying with us in Encinitas, you can easily walk to the Encinitas Street Fair if you are in the mood for a nice stroll! )

]]> http://beachfrontonly.wordpress.com/2008/04/10/encinitas-street-fair-carlsbad-village-fair-2008/feed/ beachfrontonly http://beachfrontonly.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/red-bull-air-races-2008/ http://beachfrontonly.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/red-bull-air-races-2008/#comments Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:24:26 +0000 beachfrontonly http://beachfrontonly.wordpress.com/?p=85

The Red Bull Air Races take place all around the world, from London, to Budapest, to Abu Dhabi, and yes, to America’s finest city, San Diego! The races will take place on May 3rd and 4th, 2008, over the San Diego Bay, between Embarcadero Park and Coronado Island. You do not want to miss this!!

The idea of the Red Bull Air Race came in 2001. The idea was a race that would focus not just on speed, but also on precision and skill, giving the world’s best pilots an opportunity to challenge each other. The first race took place in 2003, in Austria, and next was Budapest. It was not until 2005 when the first official ‘Red Bull Air Race World Series’ was launched. There were a total of ten pilots competing in seven races around the globe. This year, twelve pilots will compete in ten different cities.

The races feature the world’s best pilots in a motor sports competition based on speed, precision and skill. You are guaranteed to be stunned and amazed at the jaw-dropping action and stunts. The race sort of moves along in a bracket format, with qualifying rounds to begin with, all the way to finals and a winner.

Box office ticket prices range from $20-$35 (the 2-day ticket is the best deal). For ticketing information, click here.

Click here for Official Red Bull Air Race Website

Having trouble finding a vacation rental on the beach that is ADA compliant and wheelchair friendly? We have several beachfront vacation rentals that are wheelchair accessible, and a few in particular that are completely ADA compliant. We want everyone to be able to enjoy their vacation no matter what!

ADA Compliant Property

809 S. Pacific St.

This is a 5 bedroom, 4 bath, luxury condo on the beach in Oceanside, CA