Luv San Diego Surf

San Diego is one of the premiere destinations for Memorial Day travelers. People from all over the U.S. book flights and hop in their cars, heading to our beautiful city to kick-off the summer season. With so many exciting things to do in San Diego, here at Luv San Diego Surf we pared down the list from the obvious attractions like SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo to five “can’t miss” activities for you and your family. Whether you are visiting for the weekend or are resident here in “America’s Finest City,” this list of activities will ensure that there is something fun, ready and waiting for you this Memorial Day weekend.

1. Go to the beach

Although this would seem obvious to most, the San Diego beaches are sure to entertain on Memorial Day weekend. With bigger than average crowds, there is a lively vibe that stretches from Coronado all the way up to Carlsbad. But what can you do at the beach besides swim and sunbathe? Here in Mission Beach you can take a surf lesson, learn to stand-up paddle board, rent a beach cruiser or plan a night-time beach fire. Although many of the fire-pits that once dotted the San Diego beaches have been removed due to budget cuts, it’s still legal to have a bonfire at the beach as long as you follow their requirements. To make it easy on you though, there are even companies like Beach Fire Guy that will bring you all of the supplies, set it up and then handle the clean up.

Pic by Faz Besharatian

2. San Diego Jazz Fest

If the beach isn’t your thing, head up to north county to the beautiful La Costa Omni Resort for the San Diego Jazz Fest! This is one of the premier music festivals in the country and the line-up for 2015 is amazing. Performing at this year’s festival will be Erykah Badu, Anthony Hamilton, R. Kelly, Maxwell, Toni Braxton and more. Tickets start at $65 and are available for one or all three days of the festival.

3. Coronado Summer Concert Series

Looking for something free that still has great music? Look no further than the first concert of the Coronado Summer Concert Series in Spreckels Park. Coronado is a small island connected to the rest of San Diego by the “silver strand,” a man-made road. It’s known for it’s beautiful beaches, beach-style living and gorgeous homes. Every Sunday throughout the summer, a free concert is hosted for everyone in their large public park. People pack in with their lawn chairs, mini-tables, food, wine and relax for the evening while kids run around and play on a large play structure situated on one end of the park. These concerts are a local favorite, and will give anyone a true taste of San Diego living.

coronadoconcerts.com

4. Meat Men Beer and Salumi Pairing

The Meat Men is an artisan salumi company that specializes in hand-crafted, dry sausages, also known as salumi. These delicious meats are cured and hung in small batches and are sold throughout San Diego county at farmers markets. Thorn Street Brewery, a nano-brewery in the heart of craft beer country, North Park, is hosting a beer and salumi pairing on Saturday, May 23rd, that is not to be missed if you are either a craft beer enthusiast or a “meat man.” Four different sausages will be carefully paired with four, 8 oz. craft beers for an afternoon that will delight your taste buds. For more info, head to Thorn Street Brewery’s website.

5. Amazing Scavenger Hunt

Have you always dreamed of competing on the amazing race? Or maybe you would like a more in-depth understanding of San Diego while embarking on an exciting game with your family. The Amazing Scavenger Hunt is a combination of the Amazing Race and a 3-hour city tour. Using smart phones or a wi-fi enabled tablet, your team will make their way across San Diego solving clues and completing challenges all while learning some of the local San Diego history. It covers a distance of 2.4 miles through Old Town, Little Italy and the San Diego Harbor. The cost is $49 per game so with a big group makes for a fun afternoon at a low cost.

sandiegoliving.com

http://www.mantawatersports.com/

If you have been to Mission Bay or Pacific Beach here in San Diego, you have probably seen the colorful, large kites attached to people on surfboards skating effortlessly across the water. Kiteboarding is an up-and-coming outdoor activity that is taking California coasts by storm! Kiteboarders wear a harness that is attached to an oversized, inflatable kite and hold onto a steel bar that controls that kite. By harnessing the wind’s energy, kiteboarders are able to leap high into the air, riding waves as well as flat surfaces of water strapped to a short, double-ended board.

Whether you are visiting San Diego and staying in one of Luv San Diego Surf’s boutique vacation rentals or you are a native San Diegan looking for a new water sport, here are five things you need to know about kiteboarding before getting started.

1. Cost of equipment

Kiteboarding definitely requires a decent amount of equipment, but the good news is that until you become an avid kiteboarder, you can take lessons and use their gear. Lessons run from $199 for a group lesson to $299 for a private lesson with lessons usually being 2-3 hours. Without getting into the multitude of types of kites you could buy, generally for a beginner’s inflatable kite it will cost between $700-$1200. You will also need a bar with lines to match the kite ($350), a board with straps, fins and pads ($500-$600) and a harness ($150-$170). All of that will set you back $1600-$2500 but if you fall in love with the sport after taking lessons, it’s not a bad investment for such a fun and exciting hobby.

http://sandydan.com/

2. Get a good instructor

This is the most important thing you need to know about kiteboarding. It’s not a do-it-yourself sport because it can be incredibly dangerous to you and people around you if you put a giant kite up in the sky without proper training. In fact, unless you are an expert kiteboarder you need a second person to spot you getting into the water and help get the kite off the ground as well as landing the kite at the end of your session. They say it takes anywhere from 6-9 hours for people to learn to kiteboard, and a lot of that time is spend on land, learning how to control the kite. Luckily, you don’t have to have previous experience surfing and as long as you are an experienced swimmer, you are good to go. 

3. Kiteboarding vs. Kitesurfing vs. Windsurfing

http://xtremesport4u.com/

Windsurfing is definitely the “grandfather” of kiteboarding.  People often say that kiteboarding is easier than windsurfing, but this is deceptive. There tends to be a steeper learning curve with kiteboarding while windsurfers get out in the water faster and are on their own sooner. But you get better at kiteboarding faster after spending more hours on the ground learning how to control the kite in different wind conditions. With kiteboarding jumps are bigger and you can go much faster too. Kitesurfing is a subset of kiteboarding where instead of going on calm, flat waters (bays, lakes, rivers and even snow and sand, with the proper equipment), people take them out to the waves and use the kites to mimic tow-in surfing, allowing them to catch much larger waves.

5. Where to go kiteboarding in San Diego

Kiteboarders are still a burgeoning group of athletes and there has been some discord between traditional surfers and kiteboarders. Surfers are territorial by nature and often wait a long time queuing for the perfect waves. Kiteboarders can come in at much higher speeds and so if they aren’t careful or cognizant of the rules of the surf, it can leave a lot of unhappy surfers. Luckily, most of the time surfers and kiteboarders aren’t out in the water in the same conditions. This is because kiteboarders love the blown-out, stormy winds that most surfers tend to avoid. Here in San Diego, the best places for beginners to kiteboard is Fiesta Island because of the protected waters of the bay. You will often see kiteboarders and kitesurfers off the beaches of Pacific Beach  and the Silver Strand, in Coronado, during the winter months when the beaches are traditionally less busy.

So now that you know all about kiteboarding all you need to do is book your first lessons and get started in this exhilarating sport. Here are couple of companies to contact to get started:

Manta Wind and Water Sports - http://www.mantawatersports.com/

Mission Beach Surfing School - http://www.missionbeachsurfingschool.com/

Many people will tell you that San Diego is a “car city”, meaning you can’t easily get around the area without a car. This may be somewhat true for residents who live and commute here, though San Diego has a huge biking population that may take umbrage with that idea, but what does this mean for the millions of travelers who visit this beautiful city every year? Although renting a car is a viable option, San Diego also has a multitude of other options if you don’t want the hassle or cost of renting a car for your entire trip. From public transportation to ride-share options, San Diego has easy and affordable ways to get around our city, sans rental car.

San Diego Trolley

San Diego’s Trolley is a straightforward and inexpensive way to get around San Diego County. With three lines stretching from the Mexican/American boarder up through the Downtown area to Mission Valley and all the way out to East County, this trolley system not only can get you around, but also connects to all other types of transit to make travling around San Diego easy.  

Cost to Ride:

One way- $2.25

All Day Pass- $5.00

http://www.sdmts.com/Trolley/Trolley.asp

http://commons.wikimedia.org/

City Buses

San Diego also boasts an extensive bus network. Basically, if you can’t get where you need to go by trolley, you can definitely get there by bus. From downtown, to the beaches, to La Jolla and over to SDSU, the bus system is known for being punctual and economical. Buses are scheduled at stops every 12 minutes during peak hours and no more than 30 minutes during off peak hours. The great things about San Diego’s pubic transportation system is that it’s integrated so you can use the same pass that you use for the bus as you do for the trolley. So get the daily pass. It’s the best deal and will allow you to transfer seamlessly between modes of transport.

Cost to Ride:

One Way- $2.25

All Day Pass- $5.00

http://www.sdmts.com/home1.asp

DecoBikes

The newest thing in San Diego public transportation is the bike-sharing program, DecoBike. Decobike is a green and health conscious alternative to driving or taking another form of public transit and it’s also totally fun! San Diego has beautiful weather most of the year and what better way to enjoy it and take in the sights of the city, than to do it on a bike? The great thing about this bike-sharing program is that you don’t need to commit to it beyond the ride. Pick-up and drop-off bikes from any of their hundred-plus stations and pedal your way around San Diego!

Cost to Ride:

1 Hour- $7

1 Day- $15

1 Week- $35

1 Month- $50

http://www.decobike.com/sandiego/

decobike.com

Coaster

One of the most beautiful ways to see San Diego is on the Coaster, a commuter train that runs along the coastline giving breathtaking views of the Pacific ocean. Stretching south/north along San Diego County, this train is an ideal way to take your bike to different biking areas and trails like Torrey Pines State Park, or to just enjoy a glass of wine while taking in the coastal scenery. It’s also the easiest and fastest way to get to North County, so if you want to see all of San Diego while you are here, then you should definitely build a Coaster ride into your travel.

Cost to Ride:

Cost to ride is broken down into 3 zones, but round trip tickets range from $8-$11 for adults, with children under 6 riding for free.

Day Pass: $12 (includes travel on Trolley and Buses)

http://www.gonctd.com/coaster

nycsubway.org

Uber/Lyft

These ride-sharing programs have risen in popularity in most major cities. This is because they are cheap, clean and fast. With the app for each company, you only have to wait 4-5 minutes for pick up, and the cost is less than traditional taxis. In fact, San Diego is a great city for Uber because the cost per trip is nearly half the cost of a cab! If you want to reduce your cost even further, you can UberPool where you share the cost of the ride with someone going along the same route.

Cost to Ride:

It’s tough to say exactly because it depends on where you need to go and what availability of cars there are but here is a table showing the cost of Uber vs. Taxi that gives a general idea. All you really need to know is it’s always going to be cheaper to Uber than cab-it in San Diego.

So for your next visit to San Diego, don’t worry about booking a car rental along with your accommodations. Instead, use Luv San Diego Surf’s handy list of San Diego transportation to get you around our city; fast, easily and affordably!

San Diego is one of the dog friendliest towns around. One reason for this has to be our gorgeous weather, prompting restaurants throughout the city to have outdoor patios where their patrons to enjoy the sunny skies. Since dogs are allowed on patios and in some cases are allowed now inside restaurants, it’s the perfect city for dog lovers to gather and live with their four-legged friends. Whether you are visiting San Diego with your pooch or live here all year round, here is a list of the best dog friendly restaurants in San Diego.

The Patio Restaurant Group

Luv-surf and The Patio are sister companies so we love them for many reasons, however, their spot at the top of this list is not nepotism. The Patio on Goldfinch and The Patio on Lamont are well known for their welcoming nature to dogs of all shapes and sizes. When you walk in they will immediately get your dog a fresh bowl of water and a house-baked dog treat. There is plenty of space on the gorgeous patios which are lined with living walls and plant installations and if you go to the Patio on Lamont, you can get ½ off drinks on the Dog-Tails drink menu when you bring in your dog.

4445 Lamont St, San Diego, CA 92109

thepatioonlamont.com/

OB Noodle House Bar 1502

This spot is the second restaurant for the OB Noodle House, but with its large outdoor patio, it beats the first location as far as dog friendliness goes. They have amazing crispy Asian wings here as well as some darn good pho, so stop by for a taste of Vietnamese and you don’t have to leave your dog at home.

4993 Niagara Ave, San Diego, CA 92107

http://www.bar1502.com/

Thorn Street Brewery

This is a great spot for dog lovers because you can actually bring your dog into the brewery with you. With more than 15 taps daily, you will most certainly find something to fit your tastes and they have a daily line up of food trucks where you can pick up your grub, bring it into the brewery and enjoy it all with a delicious beer. They also run a cutest dog contest and post the winner up in the taproom, so get your pooch picture ready.

3176 Thorn Street, San Diego, CA 92104

www.thornstreetbrew.com

The Dog House Bar and Grill

This restaurant is for true dog lovers. Not only is the restaurant dog-themed throughout, but they have a large patio that is leash-free for you and your doggie to enjoy a meal. Make sure your dog is well behaved if you are going leash-free, though it’s a laid-back vibe no matter what and dog owners rave about the dog-centric nature of this spot.  

3515 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92103

sallyandhenrysdoghouse.com/

Fig Tree Cafe

Although there are a few locations, this shout-out goes to the Point Loma one. They have a great outdoor patio and will bring water for your pooch upon request. If you go, try it out for brunch and get the pancake flight…you’re welcome.

2400 Historic Decatur Rd, San Diego, CA 92106

figtreeeatery.com/

Queenstown Public House

This is another place where you can have your doggie in the restaurant to dine with you. It’s a New Zealand themed pub with lots of craft beer and craft food choices. They meet you with a doggie treat at the door and have fresh dog water upon request. This is a great spot for dog lovers in Little Italy.

1557 Columbia St, San Diego, CA 92101

queenstownpublichouse.com/

No matter if you are a native San Diegan or visiting and staying in one of our pet friendly vacation rentals at Luv-Surf, we hope that this list will help you and your dog eat well here in San Diego!

San Diego is blessed with some of the most fantastic weather in the United States. However, even San Diego gets the blues once in a while and it does, in fact, rain in America’s finest city. The issue here is that whereas people in other cities are well equipped to handle wet days, San Diegans are not quite as rain-ready.  When people think of San Diego, they think of outdoor activities like surfing, hiking, going to the beach, the zoo and the Balboa Park. But what if you have already planned your vacation only to find that the beautiful San Diego weather has forsaken you? Here is a list of five, great, rainy day activities:

1. Birch Aquarium

The Birch Aquarium sits strikingly atop the La Jolla coastline, looking out over the ocean and is the public outreach center for Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UCSD. Wander through giant tanks filled with over 175,000 gallons of water and more than 300 animals that represent 380 different species. There are plenty of hands-on activities for kids and grown-ups with a focus on environmentalism and sustainability.

Don’t Miss This:

Shark Reef is a 13,000 gallon tank that houses reef sharks, brown banded bamboo sharks, Port Jackson sharks and wobbegongs, otherwise known as carpet sharks.  http://aquarium.ucsd.edu/

Photo by Rebeca Anchondo

2. Miramar Speed Circuit

Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean that you can’t race cars. Head on up the I-15 to Miramar Speed Circuit and take a lap or two on their ¼ mile indoor racetrack, considered to be one of the best in-door tracks in the U.S. This course is designed by professional racers, with four hairpin turns and two straightaways, making it a technical course good for all levels.  Their go-karts can reach up to 40 mph and have sophisticated technology that records the laps times down to a 1/1000 of a second.

Don’t Miss This:

They also offer laser tag so as soon as you are sick of the track, you can head on over to their 5,000 sq ft maze, a futuristic labyrinth, and let loose on your family members in a way only allowed in a laser tag arena. http://www.miramarspeedcircuit.com/

Photo by projectperspectivesd.wordpress.com

3. Bowling

Although there are numerous bowling lanes around San Diego that will bring you back to the nostalgia of hot dogs, popcorn and smelly shoes of youth, Tavern + Bowl makes it a whole lot more fun. With 4 locations in San Diego, and the original being downtown in East Village, this bowling establishment has a whole different feel from regular lanes. With a full bar, including many craft beers, delicious restaurant food and a vibe that is great with kids in the afternoon or with just adults on a Friday or Saturday evening, this place is a great way to bowl the rain away.

Don’t Miss This:

Because of its popularity this place gets busy, but they take reservations, so make sure to call ahead and save your spot! http://tavernbowl.com/

4. Alpine Beer Company

Rainy day field trip!! If you are visiting for a vacation and want to kill a day of rain, rent a car and drive about 35 minutes East of San Diego and check out one of the stars of San Diego’s killer craft beer scene. Alpine Beer Company is a tiny brewery that just recently has started brewing some of their beer offsite, at Green Flash Brewery, so that they can bottle and offer their hoptastic brews to a wider audience. But this is where it all began and it’s a great way to spend the afternoon…trying a bunch of delicious beers and eating in their pub (get the fried pickles and the black and tan onion rings…trust us)

Don’t Miss This:

For all of you hop-heads, the “must tries” of their beer list are the Duet and Nelson, two American IPAs and Pure Hoppiness, their famed Double IPA.

http://www.alpinebeerco.com/

5. A day at UTC La Jolla

So why would we recommend going to an outdoor mall on a rainy day? Because whether you are young, or just young at heart, you can make a day of indoor ice-skating and follow it up with a movie at the inspired Arclight cinema. Skating fee and rentals are only $15 together ($10 for kids) and you can skate for 2 hours. When you are nice and tired, head on over to the Arclight Cinema which is known for great seats which you pick out when you buy your tickets and a bar and grill that lets you take food and alcoholic drinks into the theater!

Don’t Miss This:

According to reviews on Yelp, the Arclight has some of the best popcorn around using real butter, not the weird butter/oil that most places use. Yes please! http://utcice.com/  and https://www.arclightcinemas.com/

Late winter is one of the best times of year to visit the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (previously known as the San Diego Wild Animal Park) located up in the San Pasqual Valley near Escondido.  Although the Zoo down in Balboa Park is world renowned, many people still don’t know about this animal utopia up in North County. This time of year is the perfect time to visit the park, not only because it’s less crowded than other times of the year, but also because of the weather! During the summer-fall months this area of San Diego is quite hot. Sure you can sweat your way through throngs of people during the summer, but why do that when you can enjoy the balmy weather of San Diego deserts in the much cooler winter time.

Photo by Dragaroo @ Flickr

What makes the San Diego Zoo Safari Park so amazing? How about more than 2600 animals representing over 300 species, many of which are housed in what are considered to be free-range enclosures. The beauty of this 1,800-acre park, both figuratively and literally, is that so many animals live in acres of free-roaming enclosures. Antelopes, giraffes, buffalo and rhinos can be seen frolicking in these expansive areas and it also offers the opportunity for animals of different species to live together much like they would in the wild. By allowing these animals to live in a more natural environment, the Zoo and Safari Park stands out for its work in animal conservation as well as leading the charge in putting the zoo animal’s welfare above that of the visitors.

Photo by Emily @ Flickr

This means that because of these amazing habitats that have been set up, sometimes visitors don’t see as much of the animals in the same way as one would in a regular zoo. The lush vegetation and spanning enclosures go a long way towards the animal’s wellbeing, but it also affords more places for them to hide from view. Never fear though, workers at the Zoo Safari Park figure out ways to draw animals out whether it’s during feeding time or for special engagements.

Historically, the Zoo and Safari Park was built as a conservation program for the San Diego Zoo as well as other zoos in the area. It opened its doors in May of 1972 and has grown into not only a world class conservation and breeding program but also a must see destination for travelers to San Diego. The California Condor breeding program has been so successful it is credited with saving this critically endangered species. In 1987, there were no California Condors left in the wild after the last 22 were taken in at the Safari Park. Through a careful breeding program, there are now more than 400 California Condors worldwide as well as more than 200 living back in the wild. In fact, both the Balboa Park Zoo and the Safari Park are two of the only places in the world where people can view these majestic animals in captivity.

More recently, the African Elephant breeding program got a boost when the San Diego Zoological Society and Lowry Park Zoo coordinated the capture of 11 wild African Elephants in 2003. The elephants had been scheduled to be killed in order to help with the issue of overpopulation in their herd. Since coming to the Safari Park, they have produced 13 calves as of 2013 with more on the way.

Photo by Paul @ Flickr

But conservation isn’t the only great thing about this Safari Park. With exhibits that include the Asian Savanna and African Plains, the Tiger Trail, the Nairobi Village and Gorilla Forest, the Hidden Jungle, Lion Camp, Condor Ridge, and the African Woods and Outpost, this Safari Park is filled to the brim with amazing animal attractions. Put your walking shoes on though, because unlike the Zoo, there aren’t quite as many guided bus tours around the grounds. They do have one of the coolest zoo trams around that travels through the African Plains exhibit where people can view all of the African animals frolicking in a near-natural environment.

Photo by Nathan Rupert

Tickets for the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park runs $48 for adults and $38 for kids, with a special for 2-day passes that would get you into both this park and the World Famous San Diego Zoo, in Balboa Park. For more information please visit http://sdzsafaripark.org/

Whether you are visiting San Diego and staying at one of our Luv-Surf Vacation rentals, or you live in this great city year round, make sure to visit the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park during these winter/early spring months!

San Diego is truly the ‘Craft Beer Capital’ and one way that it lives up to its name is through the plethora of outdoor beer festivals that pepper its calendar throughout the year. These next few months bring some exciting festivals for all you craft beer lovers so let’s take a look at what’s coming up on the San Diego craft beer scene…

 Winter Brew Fest

The Winter Brew Fest is held at Balboa Park’s Hall of Champions on 2/21 and 2/22. This beer celebration features more than 42 craft breweries, food vendors and live local music. This event benefits Outdoor Outreach and the San Diego Mountain Biking Association. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 the day of the event. The party starts at 7 pm for general admission and 6 pm for VIP ticket holders. For more info and tickets go to http://www.sandiegobrewfest.com/

  Belgian Fest at Stone Brewing – Liberty Station

For all you Belgian beer lovers out there, this festival is for you! Stone Brewing World Bistro and Garden in Liberty Station is hosting this gathering on 2/22 with over 100 Belgian beers, many of which are rarely seen outside of Belgium! Get ready to enjoy Lambics, Dubbles, Tripels, Quads, Gueuzes, and Flanders Red ales. The tickets cost $50 and include fifteen 3-oz tasters and a commemorative glass. Belgian concession food will be on sale too. For a list of featured beers and ticket information please go to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/956576

  Best Coast Beer Fest

This craft beer festival is a doozie, being hosted by non other than the funny man Will Ferrell himself. Taking place on 3/7 on the Embarcadero South on San Diego’s beautiful harbor, this is a festival for the ages. More than 60 breweries are taking part in this festival that benefits Cancer for College a foundation that grants college scholarships to cancer survivors. Tickets to this event at $45 for general admission (and there is a $20 designated driver ticket too!) and $125 for the VIP tickets which includes food and beer pairings, a movie screening, meet the brewers and access to private executive restrooms. For more information please go to http://bestcoastbeerfest.com/

  EC Craft Beer Invitational

San Diego isn’t all about the coastline. Moving inland a bit we have the EC Craft Beer Invitational being held on 3/15 in El Cajon. This festival boasts more than 40 craft breweries, gourmet food trucks, live bands and other entertainment. Tickets are $40 for general admission, $55 for VIP admission and proceeds go to benefit the San Diego Brewer’s Guild and St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center a place that helps educate and empower people with developmental disabilities. For more information and tickets please go to http://www.eccraftbeer.com/

  Mission Valley Craft Beer Fest

Happening at Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley, this is one of the less expensive festivals yet it's one of the few that is all-inclusive. With more than 40 breweries already signed up and more to come and with local San Diego food favorites like Crazee Burther, Florent, Toronado and Urbn Street Breweing Co, this event promises to be a fun filled day. Buy your ticket in advance and only pay $35 which includes unlimited samples from both food and beer vendors. Musical acts for the day include Missy & Heine Anderson, Ass Pocket Whiskey Fellas and The Routine. So mark your calendars for April 4th and get ready for one big party in the parking lot of Qualcomm. For more information please go to http://www.mvcbf.com/

January in San Diego is spectacular for many reasons including the incredible weather and our variety of fun, outdoor events. Whether you are planning your stay at one of our Luvsurf vacation rentals or you live here year round, there are lots of activities to keep you busy during these winter months. One of our favorite things to do in January is to go whale watching off the San Diego coastline.

San Diego is lucky enough to be on the Southern migration route for Gray whales during the months of December through March.  Gray whales generally limit their range to the eastern North Pacific Ocean though evidence suggests that at one time they also thrived in the North Atlantic Ocean. Although Gray whales are not the largest sea mammals out there, they certainly are not considered to be a small whale. In fact, they usually grow to around 50 feet long at maturation and are known to live up to 70 years.  

  http://sandiegowhalewatching.com

The migration of the Gray whale is what brings these majestic animals to the San Diego coastline. During the summer, these whales spend their time in the Chukchi and Bering Seas eating the abundant amphipods and other crustaceans living in the cold seawater. Generally, Gray whales eat most of their food during these months and will often fast when they migrate to the warmer waters during the winter. During late September and early October, Gray whales begin their South-bound migration to the lagoons of Baja California where they go to breed and give birth to their calves. They have the longest migration route of any mammal reaching nearly 12,400 miles round trip.

After spending a few months in these warm and serene waters they begin the trip back North, once again passing by San Diego’s coast with their northern migration going through mid-March. Peak numbers migrate though in early January as the last of the whales make it down there with just enough time to breed before turning around to begin the long trip back.

  What’s really neat is that these Gray whales generally stay within six miles of the coastline, one reason being that their one natural predator (besides humans) resides just a bit farther off the coast in colder waters: Orcas.  What this means for San Diego whale watchers is that we often get to see Orcas too during these whale watching months because they are willing to come into the somewhat warmer waters of the coastline to try and catch their giant prey.

  Pic by Eric Neitzel

There are many different whale watching companies that offer excursions, so it’s easy to find one that fits your schedule and budget. Here are a few companies to check out if you are interested in whale watching while you are here in San Diego:

  Hornblower Cruises

- 3.5 Hour whale watching excursion

- Professional live narration

- Snack bar/full bar

- Guaranteed whale sighting (if no whales are seen they will offer you a complimentary pass for another whale watching cruise or harbor cruise)

- Cost: $39

- Contact: http://sandiegowhalewatching.com

    San Diego Whale Watch

- 3 Hour whale watching cruise

- Narration by a certified marine biologist

- Free parking

- Beer/wine is available onboard

- Guaranteed whale or dolphin sighting

- Cost: $48, but they have a 2 for 1 deal every Tuesday

- Contact: http://www.sdwhalewatch.com

  H&M Landing San Diego

- 3 Hour whale watching cruise

- Live narration

- Hot food and beverages available

- Cost: $45 (Wed-Sun), $20 (Mon/Tues)

- Contact: http://hmlanding.com/Whales/HM3HourMain.html

  Flagship Whale Watching

- 3.5 Hour whale watching cruise

- Live narration

- Food and drinks available on board

- Guaranteed whale sighting

- Additional boating option of booking their High Speed Jet Boat ($49.50)

- Cost: $43 (Sat/Sun), $38 (Mon-Fri)

- Contact: http://www.flagshipsd.com/whale-watching

  Whales can be seen all the way through March but mid-January is considered peak whale watching time so book your excursion today! Still looking for the perfect place to stay while in San Diego? Head to http://luv-surf.com to check out all of our pet friendly vacation rentals. In fact, if you are coming in January, right now Luv San Diego Surf is offering 20% off select properties! For more info please call us at 858-270-9900.

San Diego is one of the best cities to live in during the month of January. When people from colder states are digging their cars our of snow and dealing with ice and sleet, San Diegans are able to still spend their days outdoors in a balmy 60-70 degrees. Sometimes it’s only the shorter days and colder ocean water that reminds us it is, in fact, the winter season.

  If you are visiting San Diego and staying in one of our Luv Surf rental properties or are a native San Diegan and just looking for a fun activity for you and your family, here is a list of “can’t miss” activities to keep you busy this January.

  Museum of Man’s BEERology Exhibit/ San Diego Brew Fest (1/17)

San Diego is already well known for it’s craft beer scene so make a weekend of beer-centered fun by heading to the San Diego Beer Fest on Saturday 1/17 at Liberty Station! Tickets are $50 and cover beers tastings from 57 different breweries. Then on Sunday head on over to the San Diego Museum of Man for their BEERology exhibit. This exhibit takes you through the ancient beginnings of beer and the brewing process and on certain days they offer beer tastings! For more info on both events please go to http://sandiegobeerfest.com and http://www.museumofman.org/beer.

  San Diego Restaurant Week (1/18-1/24)

More than 180 San Diego restaurants take part in this twice-yearly event. By offering two-course lunches for $10, $15 or $20 and three-course dinners for $20, $30, $40 or $50, these restaurants open themselves up to new patrons and old for these low prices on their exciting menus. Use it as an excuse to eat at all of those restaurants you have been dying to try, or that one expensive restaurant that you have been putting off going to. Either way, have fun and eat well, and for more info go to http://www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com .

  Whale Watching

Each year during the San Diego winter more than 20,000 gray whales travel over 10,000 miles from Alaska to Baja California. There, the females birth calves and raise them for the first few months in the warm Baja waters before making the long trip back in the Spring. You can book passage on whale watching boats that will take you out for 2-4 hours trips to catch sight of this amazing migration. For more information on whale watching in San Diego head to http://www.sandiego.org/what-to-do/tours-sightseeing/whale-watching.aspx

  http://www.nextlevelsailing.com

  Cabrillo National Monument

One of the treasures of San Diego, the Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma, is a hot spot for nature enthusiasts as well as history buffs.  Named after the explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo after he became the first European to set foot on America’s West Coast, this location is a wonderful place to spend a day or a weekend. Visit the Old Point Loma Light House, explore the tide pools or hike the miles of trails along the cliffs…just keep an eye out for whales migrating southbound off the coast! For more info go to http://www.nps.gov/cabr/index.htm 

So book your reservations with Luv Surf today to take advantage of these great events here in San Diego this January! For more info on Luvsurf rentals please got to http://luv-surf.com. 

Get your tissues ready because there are some seriously touching stories coming up.

Here at Luvsurf we love our canine friends. In all of our vacation rentals we want not only our human guests, but also our furry, four-legged guests, to be completely comfortable. That’s why we are pet friendly and work to accommodate dogs at all of our rentals and sister companies like The Patio on Goldfinch and Lamont.

Dogs are truly “human’s best friend” and they show it over and over again when they put their lives on the line to save their owners and sometimes even complete strangers. Here are two of our favorite doggie hero stories to tug at your heart strings. 

Shana:

Shana is a part German Shepherd/part wolf that lives with her two owners, Eve and Norman, on a small wild life preserve in New York. In 2006, the couple were both in their 80s when they found themselves stranded outside on a cold, fall night after a huge tree fell, blocking them from any shelter. With temperatures dropping to dangerous levels they huddled in a small alleyway between out-buildings. Unable to get inside out of the storm and getting colder by the minute, they realized they were in trouble when they heard Shana digging on the other side of the tree.  For more than two hours, Shana worked to dig a tunnel underneath the huge tree that stretched all the way to the front door of the house. She began barking to signal the couple to climb through but Norman was hesitant after his experience in foxholes in WWII. Shana realized that they would need more of her help so she grabbed Eve by the sleeve of her jacket and used it to get the elderly woman up on her back and then Norman grabbed onto his wife’s legs. This amazing dog then pulled both of her owners through the tunnel and all the way to the front door step, a journey that took her more than two hours. Shana saved both of her owners’ lives that night and went on to win the Citizens for Humane Animal Treatment’s Hero’s Award, which is traditionally given to humans. 

Eve:

Eve, a Rottweiler companion to a paraplegic woman was a hero in much the same way as Shana. Kathie, Eve’s owner, was driving down a dirt road in a truck she had just purchased that morning. All of a sudden the truck began fishtailing and shutting down and when it came to a stop the cabin began filling with noxious fumes that immediately alerted both Kathie and Eve that something was terribly wrong with the vehicle. Kathy pushed her dog from the truck along with her wheel chair and found herself stranded in the cabin that was rapidly filling with smoke. Feeling like she was going to pass out, Kathie started to panic when she felt herself being tugged by her bottom half. Eve had firmly grabbed Kathie’s leg and managed to drag her ten feet from the burning truck that was now engulfed in flames. Eve’s incredible bravery saved Kathie’s life that day and Eve deservedly was given the prestigious Stillman Award for bravery in 2005. 

San Diego is known for many things. From its gorgeous, near-perfect weather to its family friendly attractions and theme parks like the San Diego Zoo and Legoland, San Diego has something for everyone. What people might forget, though, is that for years before San Diego was the vacation destination that it is today, it was known as an amazing local surf spot. In fact, we have miles of beaches that allow for all different levels of surfers to take advantage of our waves. Here at Luvsurf we wanted to provide a quick overview of our top 5 surf spots in San Diego to help you streamline your visit and allow you to maximize your time on vacation. 

1. Ocean Beach Pier 

Ocean beach is a great surf spot for the beginneing surfer. This is because the older surfers tend to be nice to newbies there and the main break just north of the pier offers decent sized waves with a “Surfer’s Only” beach feel. Lots of people from experienced surfers to first time shredders come to this beach because of the laid back and welcoming vibe. 

2. Tourmaline (Pacific Beach)

This is another great place to surf that has people of all levels taking advantage of the long, slow rides and hazard free coastline. It’s crowded here so some surfers prefer to move north to the point to get out of the group. Being in PB there are great spots to grab a bite and a beer after a long morning of catching waves.

3. La Jolla Shores and Scripps Pier (La Jolla)

La Jolla Shores is a superb surf spot for beginners. Gentle waves with long breaks move along the beach making it a nice introduction for beginning surfers. Most days you will see a few surf school tents set up along the beach with kids practicing getting up and wading into the surf. Scripps Pier is just north of La Jolla Shores and is much more challenging for the intermediate to advanced surfer. No parking means that you will have to park closer to La Jolla Shores, and the large parking lots there, but if you are looking for a challenge, it’s only a short walk up the beach.

4. Mission Beach

This is a great vacationer’s beach. Two miles of beach stretch along the coast just South of Crystal Pier. During the winter, this area is sparsely populated with surfers but during the summer months it gets much busier. The key to the waves at Mission Beach is they are consistent without being too big. This means they are good for beginners and intermediate surfers, but probably not as interesting for advanced shredders.

5. 

Sunset Cliffs (Ocean Beach)

This surf spot is for experienced surfers only. Not only do the waves crash right into coves of rock cliffs, but the local surfers can be prickly. It’s most likely for your own good though and they will tell you to take a hike if you don’t look like you can handle being there in the exciting but dangerous surf. 

For more information about surf lessons visit http://sandiegosurfingschool.com/ or http://www.sandiegosurflesson.com/ 

Autumn is in high gear here in San Diego, which means our weather is as gorgeous as it is every other day of the year! How appropriate then that we are bringing a summer tradition to the fall with this year’s Inaugural Fall Racing Season at the Del Mar Race Track. Whether you are staying at one of our Luvsurf vacation rentals or a native San Diegan, plan a date to make your way to one of the most beautiful race tracks in the country. 

The Del Mar race track is cloaked in historical significance and gorgeous views and with the closing of Hollywood Park this last year, it opened up an opportunity for the California Horse Racing Board to add dates to this great track. The new fall season opens on November 5th and runs through December 7th. Races are held Thursdays through Sundays with weekday post times of 12:30 p.m. and weekend post times of 12:00 p.m. There are even races held on Thanksgiving this year, starting at 11:00 a.m., which could be a nice change from usual Thanksgiving activities--namely eating yourself into a food coma and napping on the couch the rest of the day. 

Like the summer season, Del Mar will hold eight races each day as well as other events like an Opening Day celebration and multiple live music performances. Kicking off the season with a Gatsby-style celebration, people can dress in their best and compete in an Old Hollywood fashion contest as well as a celebrity look-alike contest. In fact, this fall season of racing has been dubbed the “Bing Crosby Season” because it will pay tribute to not only the man, but also the Hollywood glamour of the 1930s and 40s. The Del Mar Race Track opened its gates in 1937 with Bing Crosby standing up at the fron gate greeting people and fans personally. Crosby was not only a founding partner of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, he was also a member of its board of directors. In those early years, he could often be found trackside with fellow Hollywood legends, Fred Astaire and Bob Hope.

Musical entertainment during this fall racing season includes a Reggae Fest on Nov. 15th and a Cake concert on Nov 29th. Furthermore, on Nov 29th, the race track is hosting a craft beer festival and holding the biggest race of the season: the Hollywood Derby. 

Since this fall racing season will run through football season, race organizers are offering football fans Del Mar’s Cabana Football Lounge. This spot is perfect for taking in both the races and the big game with TVs, bars and food. 

Start the holiday season right, with a trip to ‘where the turf meets the surf’: Old Del Mar.

It’s that time of year again: days are shorter, nights are colder and San Diego Beer Week comes back around for its 6th year to the excitement of craft beer lovers all over the county.  These nine hoptastic days feature special events like food and beer pairings, tap takeovers, keep the pint nights and more from breweries, bars and restaurants throughout San Diego. Here at Luv Surf we thought we would make it easier for vacationers from out of town, and locals too, to sort through the myriad of beer fueled fun. This is our top five list of Beer Week events that shouldn’t be missed!

1. Modern Times and Classic Rhymes at Draft in Mission Beach, 11/7

Kick off the week with Modern Times at Draft in Mission Beach situated right on the boardwalk. Modern Times will takeover six taps with live music kicking the party into high gear. Get there early because the first 50 guests to walk through the door get a free Draft glass and free pour of Modern Times’ delicious brew. 

http://www.belmontpark.com/restaurants/draft/sdbeerweek/

2. The Meat Men Charcuterie and Beer Pairing at Thorn Street Brewery, 11/8

The Meat Men are an artisan salumi company known for their dry sausages and fermented meats. For $25, you get to try five hand crafted sausages and five, 5-oz tasters with a pint of your favorite at the end. Albert from The Meat Men and Dan Enjem, brewer from Thorn Street Brewery will be on hand with Louie from Prager Brothers’ Artisan Breads to discuss their crafts and their wares. Tickets are available at http://thornstreetbrew.com/ai1ec_event/meat-men-charcuterie-and-beer-pairing/?instance_id=6457

3. Pig and a Pint at the Patio on Lamont, 11/9

Admittedly we love The Patio over here at Luvsurf, and we are especially excited about their Pig and a Pint neighborhood cook-out being held at The Patio on Lamont. Celebrating both San Diego Beer Week and Lamont's 2nd Anniversary, they are offering a $20 pork lunch which comes with a pint of New English Brewing Company Specialty Beer. Starting at 11 am and finishing up when the food is gone, stop by for some pig and a pint! For more info go to http://thepatioonlamont.com/special-event.php

4. Pups and Pints with Lagunitas and Ironfire at Slater’s 50/50, 11/11

Slater’s 50/50 in Liberty Station is hosting a bring your pooch event where you can enjoy a specialty flight with your furry friend by your side on Slater’s dog friendly patio. The flight includes beers from Lagunitas and Ironfire. 20% of proceeds go to the Barking Lot a non-profit dog rescue organization. For more info go to https://www.sdbw.org/event-info/142-pups-&-pints-with-lagunitas-&-ironfire

5. Craft Beer & Bites at SILO in Makers Quarter, 11/13

SILO is a year round event venue in Maker’s Quarter a newly christened San Diego community east of the ball park, down town. This is the third year they are doing a craft beer and bite pairing with 15 different local breweries along with food from San Diego’s best food trucks. For tickets and more info go to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/891459

So what are you waiting for? Get your Beer Week calendar planned and start enjoying all the craft beer that San Diego has to offer!

October is possibly one of the best months to visit San Diego with your family. Not only is it still beautiful and warm, with an average temperature of 73 degrees, but it also has amazing deals for families. October is Kids Free month in San Diego. This year over 100 attractions, restaurants, museums and parks are participating to offer free admission and more for kids. In fact, there are so many deals, here at LuvSurf, we have distilled down the huge list to the top attractions you shouldn’t miss when visiting our great city. 

Most of these deals require you to print out a coupon to take advantage of them, which you can find and print from here: http://www.sandiego.org/promotions/kids-free.aspx

The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park

One of our favorite attractions here in San Diego, the Zoo and Safari Park are both free for kids for all of October. The cool thing about this is that there is no limit on the number of children you can bring with you and you can already be a member to take advantage of this offer. No coupon required

http://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/

Balboa Park Museums

Another defining attraction in San Diego is our amazing array of museums in Balboa Park. For October, museums such as the Ruben H. Fleet Science Center, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Museum of Photographic Arts and the San Diego Museum of Art are all offering free entrance for kids with one paid adult. There are more than 40 museums taking part in this deal, spanning all over San Diego, so visit http://www.sandiegomuseumcouncil.org/ today to plan out your adventure. 

Legoland and Seaworld

These two huge amusement parks are also participating in the Kids Free San Diego in October. While Seaworld is in Luvsurf’s backyard, Legoland is only a 40 minute drive north and totally worth the drive if you have kids between the ages of 4-10. These places both offer one child free with one paid adult and can be booked online at:

http://california.legoland.com/

http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-sandiego/

Pacific Surfliner 

Take the kids on a train ride on Amtrack’s Pacific Surfliner! This track meanders along Southern California’s gorgeous coastline and travels all the way up to San Luis Obispo. Roomy seats and wi-fi along with a bar-car promises to make this trip comfortable and affordable with kids riding free with a paid adult all through October. 

http://amtrakcalifornia.com/routes/pacific-surfliner

Belmont Park

Belmont Park is one of our favorite family spots in San Diego. Not only is it in our neighborhood, but for the month of October, they are offering a great deal. At Belmont Park, kids ride free (with unlimited wristband), eat free, flow free, and get a free treat all with a paying adult for the same activities. This is one you need to print the coupon out for, so here is the link:

http://www.sandiego.org/members/attractions/belmont-park/offers/kids-play-and-ride-free-at-belmont-park.aspx

There are over 100 deals for kids during October, so make your plans now for a fall, family vacation and rake in the savings and the fun!

Most people vacation here in San Diego to take advantage of our gorgeous beaches, world class parks and attractions and the continually growing downtown/Gaslamp area. San Diego is more than just beaches and amusement parks, however. In fact, just about an hour’s drive East from San Diego is the quaint, mountain hamlet of Julian. 

Julian is a small, picturesque town located in the Cuyamaca Mountain range. With just 1500 residents, the main industries in Julian are tourism and agriculture. The truest blend of these industries peak in the fall with what is known as Julian’s Apple Days. 

From mid-September to mid-October people from all over Southern California visit Julian to pick apples, stroll along the historic main street, hike in the mountains and sample the world-famous Julian apple pies. Also, peppered throughout Julian are numerous, charming bed and breakfasts and historic hotels if you feel like extending your visit. 

Julian is known for its rich history surrounding the Gold Rush here in California. It was founded in 1869 when gold was discovered by prospectors and a race to mine the gold from the Cuyamaca Mountains began. Although many surrounding mining towns became ghost towns as soon as the gold dried up, Julian was different. There was a unique and cohesive sense of community in this small town that kept a core group people from leaving and when a young man named James Madison planted his first crops of apples in the rich and prosperous Julian soil, a new industry was born. After gold mining was halted in the 1890’s most of the residents turned to agriculture, specifically apples. The cool, crisp mountain climate was perfect for apples and the crops continue to flourish today.

The Julian Apple Days Festival has been held for more than 100 years and draws thousands of apple pickers and revelers every year. Although the apple picking season spans a month, the festival is being held this year on the first weekend in October 4th and 5th. Menghini Winery hosts this lively festival which includes music, dancing, wine tasting and food vendors as well as activites for the kids like a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch, hay rides and even the opportunity to pan for gold. Don’t miss out on this historic celebration and take advantage of all that Julian has to offer!

Julian Apple Days Festival:

Menghini Winery

1150 Julian Orchards Road

Julian, CA 92036

For a full list of orchards in Julian please visit http://www.julianca.com/Orchards.html 

Looking for something to do with the kiddos during you stay at LuvSurf? Beat the heat by taking the little ones down to experience the newly built, San Diego Waterfront Park. This is a free park where kids and adults alike can play in huge jet streams of water, relax in a shallow reflecting pool, or play on state-of-the-art playground equipment. 

This waterfront park was over a decade in the making but was actually a plan originally put forth when the San Diego County Administration Center was first built in the 1930s. The 12 acre area which encircles the administration building includes a 830-foot long fountain containing 31 jets shooting water more than 14 feet into the air. This giant wading pool, is great for people of all ages but is especially nice for kids where they can play in the water and keep cool, without having to worry about depth or swim ability. There are three themed gardens as well as an expansive lawn which previously had been two large parking lots. 

http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/parks/Waterfrontpark.html

Another amazing feature of this waterfront park is the giant playground on the South East side. Two large slides cascade down the side of the hill into the modern and forward-thinking playground equipment. In fact, everything is redesigned from the playground equipment that we grew up with. From the safer teeter-totter to the giant carousel, which at any point of the day might have 10 kids sitting on and hanging off of it, there are new delights everywhere. The secret to the carousel’s safety is that it spins on a tilted axis so it can never spin so fast that it’s dangerous. At the same time, part of the carousel is raised higher in the air at any given moment, which adds excitement for the kids. Huge spiderwebbed nets are paired with rock climbing walls and all sorts of other things to test kids’ balance and threshold for fun. 

So come on over to San Diego’s new “front porch”. Bring beach chairs and umbrellas and a cooler of drinks and snacks and stay for the day. Your kids will thank you!

North and South Fountain Jet Hours:

Monday - 12 pm - 10 pm (Excluding Holidays)

Tuesday - Sunday, & Holidays - 10 am - 10 pm Note: Jet operation will begin at 12 pm on any Tuesday following a Monday holiday

North and South Fountain Reflecting Pool Hours:

Monday - 12 pm - 10 pm (Excluding Holidays)

Here at Luv Surf we understand and share the affinity you have for your canine friends. When bringing them on vacation, you want them to experience the fun of digging in the sand and dipping their paws in the salty ocean. Luckily, San Diego has some amazing beaches for you and your pooch where they can get a chance to enjoy the beach experience, just like we do. There are three dog beaches located near Mission Beach.

Fiesta Island

Location: Fiesta Island Road, San Diego, CA 92123

Pros: Calm bay waters lap at the edges of long, sandy stretches on this island. Lots of open space for dogs to run and play. Free parking lots are located on the West end of the island.

Cons: No poop bag stations or running water, though there are porta-potties. Make sure to bring water for your pooch.

Ocean Beach Dog Beach

Location: The end of Voltaire St, Ocean Beach, CA 92107

Pros: People come here for the laid back, free-spirited vibe that is Ocean Beach. Big and small dogs alike frolic in the waves while surfers catch some waves. In fact, you can almost always see dogs surfing too. There is also tons of free public parking.

Cons: Poop bags can be scarce here on weekends so pack some just in case. 

Coronado Dog Beach

Location: 100 Ocean Blvd, Coronado, CA 92118

Pros: People describe the dogs and owners here as “friendly” and “well behaved.” This gorgeous spot at the end of the public beaches here in Coronado is clean, there are plenty of poop bags and there is even a spot to wash off your dogs after they play. 

Cons: Parking is tough here since there is no designated public parking, but you can often find free parking along Ocean Blvd with a small walk to the dog area of the beach. 

Make sure you check out our local dog beach scene the next time you are staying with us at Luv Surf. Your pooch will thank you.