#luvsurf

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!

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.