Sure, the kids have returned to school & classes, so for many parents the trips to San Diego must be curbed for weekends only and holidays. But for those with flexibility in their jobs, their retirement and travels, fall season is superb opportunity to book your hotel rooms and have a less crowded vacation at America’s playground of sunshine in San Diego.

What you will notice is prices dropping at nearly every hotel during the fall. One exception is when major conventions and events, or a special heat wave drives exceptional fall traffic to the beach. But overall, you should check out some of the fall pricing on hotel rooms and get booking now for the break you need. One such example of great pricing as of this posting is the Hilton San Diego Resort with rooms starting at $139 in mid-September 2010. You rarely see the hotel offer such savings. This is a spectacular resort and the price is right.

San diego

San Diego is California’s second largest city and one of the top visitor destinations in the United States—a scenic harbor convention center, world-class San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Sea World, Balboa Park, Point Loma Lighthouse, Cabrillo Monument, historic Old Town, the San Diego Padres, miles of beaches, and Coronado Island are all set to the finest weather anywhere on globe, with average temperatures of 70º F.

Ocean Beach “OB”, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Mission Bay, and Coronado Island, and La Jolla beaches all make for a vacation that includes theme parks, fine weather, and beach settings around every bend. The outdoor sports mecca provides great walking, jogging, sailing, swimming, roller blading, kayaking, golf, surfing, and just about any other sport you can imagine.

Getting there: Located 120 miles south of Los Angeles and 20 miles north of Tijuana, Mexico, just drive on the Interstate 5 from L.A. and you’ll arrive in downtown San Diego in just over two hours. Another option is to hop on the Amtrak train at Union Station in Los Angeles and never drive during your stay! It is quite easy to get around San Diego on public transportation and many tourists do it.

San Diego has been the epicenter of hospitality for as long as people have known about the place. It is also infectious, so once you visit, you can count on returning again to explore local favorites such as Hotel del Coronado hotel, Hardrock Hotel, and the Catamaran. There are just so many amazing hotels to enjoy that you’ll never tire of exploring.

San Diego is one of the top options for a surf vacation in California, mainly because of the vareity of waves ranging from beginner to advanced. The stretch of coast between Baja Mexico at Tijuana and Orange County at San Clemente includes some of the most famous surfing spots in the U.S.  Swami’s is one such surfing destination where you can book a hotel room in Encinitas, Del Mar or Solana Beach, and be on your way to one of the most memorable trips of your life.  International tourists visit and check out because of the consistent waves, but also because of the surfers, themselves. San Diego surf culture is like no other and while Californians take it for granted, visitors recognize and see the unique aspects to the people and the lifestyle. Surfboards, surf apparel, and even the surfing road signs all make a statement that you’ve arrived in surf city.

la costa resort

Carlsbad, Calif.–When a neighbor knocked on our door and asked us to watch their family’s house for the weekend, we asked where they were going for the weekend.  “LaCosta Resort,” came back the reply. For those who know San Diego’s north county region, you’ll be fully aware that La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, home to Legoland California. And in short order Legoland has grown, adding two additional attractions –Sea Life Aquarium, which opened last year, and Legoland Water Park, which opened in the summer 2010.  Geared toard toddlers, youngsters and pre-teens, Legoland is a weekend unto itself, and ideal for our neighbors with children no older than six.

La Costa Resort is a place where adults don’t have to compromise their vacations for the needs of the children. In addition to a fantastic swimming pool near the PGA ranked golf course at the resort, La Costa accesses Legoland, Carlsbad beaches, and is only a thirty minute drive from San Diego Wild Animal Park.

It’s likely our neighbors went to Carlsbad to enjoy the resort and Legoland on their three-day trip. La Costa Resort is among the top two places to stay on Legoland vacations. Highly recommended if you don’t mind paying a bit more.

Celebrate Independence Day in San Diego with a boom. 70 miles of picturesque coastline invites visitors to view and participate in festive July 4th celebrations such as the epic 20-minute Big Bay Boom fireworks display over San Diego Bay. Like the holiday boat parade, this is the largest display in the region. fireworks are launched simultaneously from four barges placed around the bay and choreographed to music broadcast on 105.7 FM radio. Back for its 10th year, the Big Bay Boom fireworks display can be seen throughout downtown San Diego, neighboring Coronado, Point Loma and many communities throughout the city. Great viewing spots are all along the bay front and aboard popular harbor cruises. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. on July 4.

Part of the fun in travel is the unexpected. You just never know what you’re going to see in California. But you especially don’t know what you’re going to see in San Diego, either. A cool cat with a smile worked his way through a tune on one of the SD piers (San Diego has a couple piers–Oceanside, Imperial Beach, Ocean Beach, and Crystal Pier) and without even a cup to catch some coins or cash, people started looking for a place to drop their money in approval. You’ll see this sort of thing in practically any city, but in San Diego, the sun glistens on the water and everything seems hotter, including the music.  San Diego has some excellent night clubs where you can catch the music scene.

It’s easy to fall in love with the North County city of Oceanside. It’s warm weather, inviting atmosphere, friendly people, and value for your stay all make it the overlooked, but well worth the trip vacation. Long known as the city that supports Cample Pendleton next door, Oceanside has much more to offer than its old-fashioned values. The feeling of stepping into a time warp is one element of your surprise when you arrive, but another is the array of activities that you can participate in and enjoy, often just by walking once you park your car. Whether you hop on the train passing through and head for the cities of San Diego or Los Angles, or you just spend your time exploring the beach and pier in Oceanside, you have your work cut out for you. Give it a rest by kicking back with a lounge chair at the beach. Oceanside is the place where you truly feel you’ve given yourself tiime to reconnect with the real world–sunshine, sipping cocktails and maybe even surfing.

San Diego is a waterfront city shining in glory with beautiful high rise architecture reflecting on the bay. The best way to get to see this waterfront treasure is on a dining cruise offered by California’s premier and primary water cruise server, Hornblower. We riddent them in about every port and bay, and can only say that San Diego is the warmest cruise, serving up the happiness that makes this city the most popular vacation for tourists seeking sunshine in California. If you have the time when visiting San Diego, book a cruise. It’s really something special. Sometimes during the summer they offer discounted cocktail cruises that are quite affordable. Here’s more info on what they provide>

One of the most fun things to do when visiting San Diego is staying at either of two hotels–Bahia Resort or Catamaran Resort. You can ride the Bahia Belle Sternwheeler in Mission Bay free with your night’s stay at the hotels. The summer schedule kicks in after Memorial Day allowing visitors more times to ride. The hotels are one mile distance from each other with the Catamaran generally costing a bit more for your hotel room. Both have beaches on site and the boat stops each night at both hotels. It is one of the most unique perks we’ve ever seen in booking and staying in hotels in San Diego, but even if you choose to stay elsewhere, you can still purchase a ticket for the affordable ride, which is around $10 (subject to change).

San Diego is one of the great California cities with amazing cultural diversity. One of the most fun (and food) loving cultures in the city are the Sicilians. They provide what we love about San Diego most of all–good times in the many street festivals and fairs that are free. The annual Sicilian Festival held each year in San Diego’s Little Italy. Close to 20 years young, the event attracts thousands each May to the neighborhood near downtown and the San Diego harbor. Music,  culture and cuisine of Sicily come to the streets of San Diego’s Little Italy in the 17th Annual Sicilian Festival celebration on India Street.  In addition to the Sicilian Festival, you’ll find many Hispanic events, Irish, world cultures, Italian, and more.

When you go, check out affordable accommodations  at the Hampton Inn.

Details:

• May 23, 2010  (Sunday)
• Cost: Free to the public
• Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Address: India Street, between Cedar and Date Streets, in the heart of Little Italy San Diego
• Call: 619 469-2206