General | Welcome to San Diego

Living Urban Chic

When you live the urban lifestyle, you’ve got the temperament where concrete ground and the permanent walls of a city’s buildings don’t faze you in the slightest. For a person who lives the urban lifestyle, it’s hard to know what to do without the support of plenty of concrete and steel, and the blood in your veins just wouldn’t flow properly without the buzzing energy of the other people walking around in those streets.

For a truly urban chic person, Armani suits and Apple Bottom Clothes are the living tapestry of a life that’s measured in New York minutes. For a person living the urban chic lifestyle, running feels like walking, and you can get more done in a day than most people can get done in a week or more. You just can’t seem to stop when you’re in the urban state of mind. Of course, the whole idea of stopping seems downright crazy, with so much to do and only one lifetime in which to do it.

After all, you have a wide world to explore. Moreover, you have that same wide world to go and conquer. When you can bang boards with the most active people in the world, you can do almost anything. As the old saying about one of those cities goes, if you can make it there you can make it anywhere. When you’ve got that urban flow, you don’t even need a double frap to get you pulsing like the heart of a city that never sleeps. This is the kind of energy that’s au naturale. So don’t waste it – get out there and make things happen.

Filed Under: General, Travel Tagged With: Armani, Charities & Society, Fashion & Lifestyle, Lifestyle (sociology), New York, Shopping, Travel & Tourism

Where to Ski in France

While thoughts of France may conjure up ideas of the Eiffel Tower, Parisian streets, the beaches of Normandy, or crepes, France is also home to the majestic Alps, one of the premier mountain ranges on earth, and some of the best skiing in the world.

If you are going to Ski France, you will definitely have a memorable and exciting experience. Some of the world-class slopes include; Three Valleys and Portes des Neige. More details on these famous slopes follow.

Three Valleys

In Three Valleys, there are hundreds of kilometers of slopes (600 to be exact) which add up to be a fantastic skiing vacation in the heart of the country. This is the biggest ski spot in the entire world.

Portes des Neige

This spot actually straddles the border between France and neighboring Andorra, so skiers can actually cross the border on the runs, five of which are black diamond routes.

However, there’s so much more you can do on a skiing trip than zoom down the slopes. The Alps provide a great landscape for hiking trips all year round. One vacation option that certainly isn’t considered enough is a canoeing trip in southern France. La Co provides a fantastic ride down the river. Aria, not far from Andorra, lies in a protected natural area surrounded with stunning, beautiful mountains and timber. Another fun option is to fish while in France.

Whether it is skiing or canoeing, ice skating or hiking, France offers a horizon full of serene terrain that is waiting to be enjoyed and explored.

Filed Under: General, Travel Tagged With: Andorra, France, Ski

Warmth Isn’t all in Your Heart

San Diego California is known for a lot of great things. First off, it is known to have some of the best and most consistently pleasant weather in the country, if not in the whole world. But there is more to San Diego than just how warm and lovely the area is. After all, when you are at the stage of your relationship where you are ready to whip out a pair of engagement rings, the warmest place is in your heart. While that may sound overly sappy, if you’re really feeling it, you can’t deny it. There is no better place than San Diego if you want to have a gorgeous backdrop to the most important question you are ever going to ask.

When you propose marriage, you have to combine a plan with a level of spontaneity. You can’t plan the whole thing too rigidly, or either she will not end up having much fun (which might even result in an answer you don’t want), or she will know something is up and it won’t be that much of a surprise. You don’t want this to be a situation where she’s on the verge of saying, “Oh, propose already, will you?” You want this to be something relaxed and fun.

So you have a lot of great options for making this into a relaxed, fun little moment that she can treasure for the rest of her life. For one thing, you can always just take a walk on the beach. What it lacks in originality, it more than makes up for in surprise when you whip out the engagement rings.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Business and Economy, Engagement ring

Honeymoon In San Diego

I was so excited when my fiance and I decided to go to San Diego, California for our honeymoon. Coming from the East Coast, I knew this was going to be a nice change of weather, and that we were going to see famous West Coast luxury.

When we arrived at our hotel, the renowned Hotel Del Coronado, we knew that we were in one of the finest places to stay. We spent lazy days on the beautiful Windansea Beach, we went shopping at the Horton Plaza, had fun at Sea World, and a blast in Old Town San Diego. Aside from the lush tropical landscape, there is a rich history that goes with it.

I made sure to send postcards to all of my friends and family raving about our time in San Diego. I had a blast, and my new husband and I were able to share the whole thing by sending our loved ones fantastic snapshots of our time there.

One of my best memories was going over the bridge to Balboa Island. Being suspended over the water like that is terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. The marinas and port-o-calls were full of unique shopping and fun outdoor experiences.

We decided to venture off into the Gaslamp district and found fantastic restaurants and a more home town feel. We found out that the locals rave about this area, and it is not well known to travelers, especially those of us that came from three thousand miles away.

We had planned a two week stay, and we enjoyed the whole time. I could tell that our families were beginning to miss us because we began to receive phone calls with people checking in on us. I will always think back about that trip, and reflect on it as the beginning of my new life with my husband.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: San Diego, SeaWorld, Windansea Beach

A Trip to Sunny San Diego

If you’ve been trying to save money for a trip to sunny San Diego, your tax refund might be the best way to finance your vacation plans. For many Americans, this is their yearly opportunity to receive a substantial lump sum to put towards a fun goal. So, reward yourself for a full year of hard work by taking the trip of your dreams!

Golfing in San Diego

While it’s not actually sunny every single day in lovely San Diego, the weather is pretty awesome! This is one of the few US cities where it’s actually comfortable to hit the golf courses every single day. Whether you’re just having a friendly game or you’re out for blood, an afternoon or two spent on the manicured greens of the local San Diego championship golf courses is a great activity to include in your vacation plans.

The San Diego Zoo

If you’re taking the entire family to San Diego, don’t miss the San Diego Zoo! This is one of the most popular attractions for both tourists and local residents. Get ready to enjoy the sights no matter what time of the year you choose to visit this zoo. Your family will see a wide variety of traditional zoo animals as well as a few unexpected species. Don’t be surprised if this is the highlight of the trip for your kids! They may continue talking about the San Diego Zoo for years.

Don’t Waste Money on Your Refund

With all of the free online tax filing sites out there today, don’t waste money paying someone to fill out your forms. Not only will you receive your refund faster, but you’ll also have more of your hard-earned money in your pocket when you arrive in exciting San Diego!

Once you experience the fun and adventure of San Diego, you’ll want to return year after year!

Filed Under: Accomodations, General Tagged With: San Diego, San Diego Zoo, United States

The Torrid History of the San Diego Gaslamp District

Today the Gaslamp District is an amazing place to visit. However, it has a torrid past. By 1880, the Gaslamp District boasted numerous gambling halls, prostitutes and saloons. In 1913, a crackdown forced gambling establishments and prostitutes to move elsewhere. Eventually, the Gaslamp district returned to its old ways and in the 1970s, it was filled with peepshows, pawnshops and adult bookstores. It was not a tourist attraction and certainly not a place you would want to live.

There was talk of revitalizing the area in the 1980s but it wan only talk. The late Jim Croce’s wife, Ingrid Croce decided she was going to open a restaurant in the Gaslamp District. From there the story goes, the District experienced a breath of fresh air and a new life. Today, the Gaslamp District covers almost 17 blocks and contains some of San Diego’s best restaurants, theaters, shops, music venues and clubs.

The Gaslamp District is no longer a seedy part of town filled with drifters. It is a wonderful place to enjoy the day or late evening. Many of the restaurants have outdoor seating and you can enjoy a meal while people watching. You can spend hours browsing through many of its unique and eclectic shops. After dinner, you can take in a movie or stop by one of the many music venues or clubs for a late night of dancing.

Much of the architecture from its early days has been preserved. While remnants of the past still exist, the Gaslamp District has left its seedy passed behind. It has developed in to one of San Diego’s favorite places among locals and tourists. When visiting San Diego, you will want to stop by the Gaslamp District to enjoy the unique features of the past while enjoying the comforts of the present.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: San Diego

When the Sun Goes Down the Party Begins

San Diego is just as busy in the evening as it is during the day. The city has a wide range of activities at night. However, last call is at 2:00 am. San Diego is a diverse area and your choice of nightlife will be just as diverse.

You will even find a bit of Florida as San Diego has developed a bit of the South Beach vibe in the areas of fifth and sixth avenues. A wonderful place to visit is Deco’s. This club features a rooftop cabana and is modeled after the Art Deco South Beach style. This club features indoor and outdoor dancing, VIP lounge and great music.

Sports minded individuals will find a large selection of sports bars. One of the local favorites is the Blue Haven. This sports bar features over 15 televisions and has a DJ for added fun on Wednesday through Sunday nights.

If you are in to wine bars, you will be happy to know San Diego has dozens of wine bar choices. One of the most affordable wine bars is Wine Steals located in Hillcrest. The bar is known for its inexpensive wine prices and its amazing European style appetizers. Another local favorite is 57 Degrees located in the East Village. If you are traveling with your dog, you will be happy to know this is a dog-friendly wine bar. This is a great place to relax and enjoy your favorite wine.

For those that want to experience a good laugh you can enjoy one of San Diego’s most popular comedy clubs. For a fun evening with lots of laughs, visit the La Jolla Comedy Store.

Whether you want to dance the night away or enjoy a relaxing evening sipping wine, you will that San Diego’s nightlife has something for everyone.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Party

The San Diego History Center

The San Diego History Center is a fantastic museum to visit with children. The center is located in the center of Balboa Park. The library of the center contains an astonishing 45 million documents and over 2.5 million photographs and pictures of San Diego’s rich history. The center provides lectures, educational and workshops along with many fascinating exhibits.

If you are on a tight family budget, you can visit the center on the second Tuesday of the month for free admission. Otherwise, the admission is $6 for adults and $2 for children ages 6 to 17. Children under 6 years old are admitted for free.

The family programs are fun and interactive. A wonderful program for grandparents and their grandchildren is the Grandparents and Me Theatre Workshop. This is a pleasurable way for grandparents to bond and have fund with their grandchildren.

The center also provides a theatre workshop for the entire family to enjoy. Children love this program. You learn everything there is to know about putting together a theatre production. After the lessons are complete, each family gets to put on their own production. This is a fun way to spend time with your children and the children enjoy the excitement of creating their own production. There are several different programs to choose and most usually take two or three hours to complete.

If you have pre-school children, you will love the History for Half Pints program. Your children get to enjoy playing with other children, participating in crafts and story time. While your children are enjoying the fun activities, you can chat with other parents.

The San Diego History Center is an affordable way to spend quality time with your family. The center has numerous exhibits that the entire family will enjoy. The wonderful interactive programs are fun and educational.