2008 November

One of the biggest and most attractive features to
San Diego is Sea World. Sea World is one of the most
popular amusement parks and also happens to be one of
the main reasons behind tourists. Anyone who visits
San Diego has the intentions to visit Sea World - or
at least they should.

Being famous for Shamu the killer whale, Sea World has
the ability to entertain kids and adults for hours.
There are many different animal shows here as well,
along with other amusement park thrills. While Shamu
is a must see, there are other animals here as well,
that you simply have to see.

Sea World also offers an exciting dolphin interaction
program where you can get in the water and play with
the dolphins. This is a great learning experience,
especially for those who love dolphins. Dolphins are
an integral part of Sea World, as there are literally
hundreds of them here.

Once you visit Sea World, you’ll go below the surface
and see life that you may have never before thought
possible. You can feed the dolphins and other mammals,
even count the teeth that a shark has! When you
consider what Sea World has to offer, you simply can’t
compare it to any other amusement park.

On the entertainment side of things, Sea World offers
a haunted lighthouse and several other rides and shows
for you to see. You can even get an all day pass here,
which is great for anyone who is wanting to enjoy all
that Sea World has to offer.

New to Sea World is Believe. This is a new show that
will show you Shamu like never before. It’s a journey
of wonder and magic that you simply must see to believe
and appreciate.

No matter what season of the year you visit, you’ll be
happy to know that Sea World is open year round. It
does close on major holidays though, which isn’t really
a bad thing. As long as you don’t visit on a holiday
you can pretty much expect Sea World to be open.

On a vacation, Sea World in San Diego will have something
to please everyone. The kids will have plenty to do
here, while you experience things that interest you as
well. The neighboring areas to Sea World have plenty
to offer you as well, from dining to many different
sights to see.

When the time comes for you to go on vacation you
shouldn’t pass up Sea World. It’s in a great location
with plenty of activities and things to see. Sea World
can show you the creatures of the sea like never
before - which is reason enough to go.

When most people think of Buddha statues, they picture the laughing Buddha. After all, anyone who has ever been into a New Age store or a Chinese restaurant has probably seen one of these Buddha statues. You know the ones I’m talking about –The ones with big bellies, huge grins, and dimples everywhere. Although these are some of the most adorable Buddha statues, they are by no means the only ones, nor are they used by all Buddhists. Nonetheless, they make great good luck charms, souvenirs, and gifts for friends and family. They are widely to believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and happiness – who doesn’t want those things?

When you are picking out your own statue of Buddha, you should trust your heart more than any particular set of beliefs. Within Buddhism, there are hundreds of different currents. Is one better than the rest? Who is to say. Basically, the point of Buddha statues is to aid in meditation. To that end, a statue that inspires the appropriate feelings is the right Buddha statue for you. Do you want a happy, smiling Buddha to help you get in touch with the joy of inner peace? Do you want a sober, meditative Buddha statue to help you develop a meditative mind state? Do you want a wrathful Buddhist deity to help you drive away distractions and speed your way along the path to enlightenment? By answering these questions, you can pick out the right statue for you.

You can even for sake Buddha statues altogether in favor of Thangka paintings or other types of mandalas. Some Buddhists I know even like to meditate without any visual aids at all. They simply concentrate on their breath or chants mantras silently to themselves. It is all up to you.

Of course, you don’t have to be a Buddhist to like Buddha statues. You don’t even have to meditate. I know quite a few collectors who simply enjoy the way Buddhist artwork looks. Much like the famous sculpture “The Thinker” by Rodin, the image of the Buddha in his silent contemplation draws us to think about timeless issues of identity, consciousness, and meaning. These statues can also be used to create a feeling of calm and peace in a room. You would be amazed how much the decoration you put up affect the mood of you and your guests. Buddhism statues can be used to great effect to create the proper ambiance.

If science is the language that moves you, and for many of us, it is just that, then you really might want to visit some of the San Francisco museums that focus on science more than art. I find both to be of equal importance but there are those, many in fact, that would disagree with me. Whatever your feelings about it, if you have a child that you want to encourage to pay more attention to science courses in school, it is an excellent idea to take them to a museum such as this in order to fan that flame of curiosity.

Science answers many questions about the past and offers many hints at the future of our world and universe. Without science there is much we wouldn’t know and even more that we would not understand. I think any of use would be hard pressed to identify the single most important scientific discovery throughout history. There are so many things that are all very significant to the very lives we enjoy today and yet each and every scientific discovery happened because someone, somewhere, asked a question.

I find that truly amazing. When you think about it; physics, chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, none of these things would be studied today if someone hadn’t found them curious at some point in history. That is precisely why I believe that museums such as the Exploratorium are so important in developing future scientist. If we spark the curiosity in our children at young ages there is nothing to prevent them from great discoveries later on. The Exploratorium encourages children to explore the world around them, even how science affects other things they enjoy (such as skateboarding). If you can use a skateboard to teach physics, imagine what you can do with a car.

The Morrison Planetarium is a great place to take the family if you are truly interested in seeing the stars. I’m not talking Hollywood starlets but real stars. If you or one of your children has the slightest interest in studying the stars, this will be a treat for you all. I sincerely hope you will at least check it out.

The Natural History Museum offers many exhibits that deal with various aspects of life. Perhaps the neatest thing about the Natural History Museum is the fact that you are allowed a very hands on approach to learning here. From actually handling fossils and skulls to really cool artifacts, very little is off limits. This means that even the most difficult child to amuse might find something of interest here; at least, that is the hope.

Finally, there is the Steinhart Aquarium. This is not the Aquarium at the Bay but a municipal aquarium that holds the distinction of being the oldest operating municipal aquarium in America. Among the awesome exhibits that can be found here are several rare specimens that can no longer be found in the wild. The tide pool is perhaps one of the most anticipated attractions of this aquarium. This is where little hands actually get to touch some of the animals that their little eyes are watching in the tanks. Just be careful that you aren’t going home with a car full of future marine biologists as this experience can ignite a passion for marine life that will last for quite a while.

Science is a great thing to be studied and explored. I can think of few things I would rather see my children pursue than an endless search for truth and the evidence to support those truths. I hope that by introducing them to opportunities such as these I will have contributed to a life long process of seeking answers that will serve them well. And it can all be owed to a trip to San Francisco.

Aside from the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Wild
Animal Park is the best place in San Diego to see
animals. Over the spread of 1,800 acres, the animal
park gives animals the room they need to roam and
play. The animals here play just like they do in
the wild, which almost makes you feel as if you
are in their native of Africa and Asia.

Throughout the 30 year history of the animal park,
the Noah’s Ark symbol of endangered species has grown
to dozens upon dozens of animals. Now, every Arabian
Oryx found in the wild is the descendant stock from the
San Diego Wild Animal Park.

In the park, there are many different paths you can
take to visit the smaller animal exhibits. Although
the smaller animals are a sight to see, the main
thing to see is the hour long trip on the Bush Line
Railway. Along the railway, you’ll see animals that
you’d never get the chance of seeing anywhere else,
such as the white rhino and the rhinoceros.

If you plan to visit the park in the summer, it’s
always a good idea to visit early. On a normal summer
day, ten - fifteen thousand people will visit the
park. During the winter, the ratio is down as
normally 2,000 people will visit. Although it’s much
colder in the winter, the park is less frequent with
people looking to see the animals the park offers.

You can find the animal park 32 miles north of
Escondido in San Diego. The park is in a peaceful
area, which makes things a lot better for the animals
that live there.

When visiting in the summer, it’s a great idea to walk
a while, then take the railway. After you have took
the railway a bit, you can walk some more. It’s also
good to take plenty of sunscreen with you as well, as
summer at the park can get very hot. Water is great
as well, simply because the summer in California can
be a bit of a scorcher.

The San Diego Wild Animal Park is ran by the San Diego
Zoological Society. The society also runs the San
Diego Zoo, which is one of the most popular animal
parks in the entire world. With the park and the zoo,
the society does more than its part to bring the
best of seeing the animals to you.

The next time you are in San Diego or if you are
visiting for the first time, the Wild Animal Park is
a great place to visit. You can check out some truly
endangered species and learn more about the types of
animals that you’ll see in this once in a lifetime
opportunity.

It’s no secret to anyone that the coast of San Diego
is the ideal place to watch the annual migration of
the gray whale. Looked upon as one of nature’s ultimate
spectacles; the migration of gray whales is nothing
short of breathtaking. The coastline of San Diego is
one of their migratory points as they travel from the
waters of the Arctic to the warmer regions of the Baja
(California), where females also give birth.

Every year, roughly 26,000 gray whales will make the
long journey of 10,000+ miles from the Arctic to the Baja
and back. If you look at this journey and compare it to
any other mammal, you’ll notice that the gray whale by
far has the greatest amount of traveling at hand.

If you’ve never experienced whale watching, you’ll be
happy to know that anyone will find it memorable - young
or old. Spotting a gray whale along the coastline is
something that is truly a memorable moment, making you
stop for a second and truly appreciate these awesome
mammals.

If you ask the Birch Aquarium in San Diego, you’ll find
that gray whales are seen most frequently from December
through March. While they travel in dozens normally,
it’s nothing to see pods of them (2 - 3) as they travel
during migration. Throughout the coast of San Diego,
you can easily spot these whales as they are somewhat
slow swimmers.

During their swimming, they will normally dive to a depth
of 100 feet or more for a few minutes, then surface and
blow. Then, they will do a few shallow dives, before
making that deep dive again. When watching whales, figuring
out this pattern makes the success of watching them all
the more fun and exciting.

While there are many common places to watch whales,
nothing seems to compare to the excitement of watching them
from aboard a cruise. There are many cruises that take
place in San Diego, many of which offer unbeatable deals.
From H&M Landing to the Birch Aquarium, cruises are some of
the best ways to see the beauty and tranquility of the
traveling gray whales.

The beauty of the gray whales can also be seen from many
points of the San Diego coast, including the Cabrillo
National Monument on Point Loma or the cliffs of Torrey Pines
State Beach. Along these points, you can see the whales as
they make their travels.

Whether it’s a cruise or just watching from the coast, whale
watching in San Diego is something you truly have to see to
appreciate. You can take your kids, family, or even your
friends. Whale watching can definately be exciting, all you
have to do is plan your day and enjoy everything that the
beauty of the gray whale will provide you with.

As vast as the San Diego harbor is, a simple walk
around it doesn’t do it justice! To partake in the
beauty that is San Diego Harbor, you need to take a
tour of the bay. San Diego Harbor Excursion can
help you do that, as they are the most established
tour company throughout the bay.

As a guest, they will treat you with as one of them,
helping to bring your cruise to life. There are
a few parts to the tour, ensuring that you get the
most out of your time on the cruise.

Tour of the North Bay
On your tour of the North Bay, you’ll see the North
Island Naval Air Station, Shelter Islands, and even
the Naval Sub Base. If you look closely, you’ll
also be able see the Cabrillo National Monument as
well.

The tour of the North Bay is around 12 miles in length
and lasts about an hour. This is a fine tour for
anyone interested in the Navy as well. During your
tour the guides will explain everything to you as
you see it. This way, you’ll always know what’s going
on.

Tour of the South Bay
Your tour of the South Bay consists of the Star of
India, the Naval surface fleet, Coronado Bay Bridge,
and the shipyards. This is a very busy and hectic
area, which makes a tour excellent to see everything
that this area has to offer.

The tour of South Bay is roughly 12 miles in length
and also lasts around an hour. The guides will explain
things here to you as well, ensuring that you know
exactly what you are seeing.

Tour of the Bay
Those of you who are looking to see it all should go
for the deluxe tour of the entire bay. You’ll see
everything covered in the North and South Bay, along
with everything else the bay has to offer. The tour
is around 25 miles in length and lasts around 2 hours.

To get started on your tour, all you need to do is
contact the Harbor Excursion. The price for the tour
is very reasonable, considering everything you’ll be
seeing.

If you happen to live in San Diego, taking the tour is
easier than ever. Those of you who are visiting or on
vacation should give the tour a shot as well. This way
you’ll get to experience everything that San Diego Bay
has to offer you without having to walk around. And
best of all - tour guides will explain the sights to
you - so you’ll never miss a second.

Although San Diego has many things for grown ups to
enjoy, it hasa lot of activities for kids to enjoy
as well. Custom made for families, San Diego has
plenty of public parks, nice weather year round,
several museums, and many things for children of all
ages to amuse themselves with.

For kids who love animals, there’s the well known
San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Animal Park. The zoo
is located in Balboa Park, while the park is located
a bit north of the city. If you have the time, you
should take a full day for your kids to enjoy the park
and the zoo. If the traditional zoo makes your kids
uncomfortable, the park is a great alternative.

Kids of all ages also enjoy the world famous Sea
World, which is home to Shamu the killer whale and
several other marine animals and exhibits. Sea World
has been a great attraction for kids for many years,
showing them the marine life like never before.

When it comes to the winter months, whale watching is
a very popular activity. You can watch them from
the coastline or take a cruise. Watching the gray
whale is very amusing to kids, openening their minds
to new possibilities.

Balboa Park is a great place to visit as well, as it
has a lot more than the San Diego Zoo. There are
places for kids to explore, with the children’s museum,
the Fleet Science Center, and the Natural History
Museum.

Another popular park for kids is Legoland California,
which is located north of San Diego. There are a lot
of things to see in this park, with a majority of
the park being built from the popular Lego blocks.
Overall, this is one of the best and most quiet options
for younger children.

Hitting the beach is great as well, as San Diego has
many different beaches for kids of all ages. On the
beaches, kids can build sandcastles, rent boogie
boards, or just enjoy the swimming that San Diego so
proudly displays.

Older kids will enjoy the true recreation mode for
San Diego - roller skating and rollerblading. Along
Mission Bay there are great spots, along with
playgrounds and parks. You can fly kites here as
well, which is a great break from the ordinary.

Amusement Parks are a great attraction in San Diego,
with Belmont Park being very popular. There are many
rides here, amusing kids for hours on end. The
Giant Dipper and the Plunge are among the best, for
younger or older kids.

If San Diego is on your family vacation list, rest
assured that there will be plenty for your kids to
do on your stay. They will feel right at home with
the many things to do - while you your mate are
occupied with plenty of things for you to do as
well.

When visiting San Francisco, California there are so many things to see and do that it is often difficult to decide which things you should do and see in which order. Perhaps one of the most interesting things to note about San Francisco is the diversity of the many ‘neighborhoods’ throughout the city. Of these many diverse neighborhoods, perhaps the most famous is San Francisco’s Chinatown.

With more than one hundred restaurants, Chinatown owes no small part of its fame to the great delicacies that can rarely be found outside this part of town. There is something about the ambience and atmosphere, the smells, sights, and sounds that make the food that much more appealing to the average diner. If you have tried Chinese food elsewhere, be sure to try it here and compare. I think you will find that there really is no comparison and it’s hard to go back to dime store Chinese food once you’ve tasted ‘the real thing’.

In addition to the great food you will find readily available within the Chinatown area, there is a vast wealth of architectural beauty that will take your breath away. Some of these buildings aside from being stunningly beautiful have a rich history as well. Some of the more traditionally Chinese buildings that can be found in Chinatown are the Bank of Canton, the Sing Chong Building (which was destroyed during the earthquake of 1906 and rebuilt), and the Bank of America building which as 60 dragon medallions on its faade in addition to the many golden dragons that adorn the rest of the buildings exterior.

Chinatown is made up of 8 streets: Clay, Commercial, Grant, Jackson, Pine, Sacramento, Stockton, and Washington; and 11 alleys: Beckett, Hang Ah, Joice, Old Chinatown Lane, Ross, Spofford, Stark, St. Louis Place, Walter U. Lum Place, Waverly, and Wentworth. Tucked in the nooks and crannies of these streets and alleyways, you will find herbal shops, gift shops, restaurants, and all of the many sights and sounds that make the Chinatown area of San Francisco a truly unique travel destination.

Portsmouth Square is literally the heart of Chinatown. Not only does it mark the beginning of this section of town, which has grown and expanded since the beginning of its days, it also remains to this day the area for monuments and celebrations regarding the Oriental Community of San Francisco at large. If you have even the slightest bit of interest in history, this is an area that you will find monumentally appealing. If you are more interested in art, entertainment, and good food, you should find plenty of that here as well.

As I have said before, Chinatown is really a great place to explore while visiting San Francisco. Make sure you have plenty of time to explore the roads and alleys and that you bring a healthy appetite with you. If you have little ones in your life, whether they are making this trip with you or you are going solo, you will find that there are plenty of goodies to buy as souvenirs that will provide both delight and challenge.

While there are newer ‘Chinatown’ areas cropping up within San Francisco, the original still remains the greatest draw for tourists. In fact, Chinatown rivals the Golden Gate Bridge as a tourist attraction and has been rumored to be even more of a draw. The original Chinatown of San Francisco remains an important gateway to the past as it represents an important segment of the history of San Francisco, this country, and immigration to America. I strongly urge you to remember that when during your visit to San Francisco and that you will take a stroll down the streets and alleys of Chinatown to see for yourself how much American history Chinatown really does represent.

Even if you aren’t hungry when you begin walking the streets of Chinatown, I can pretty much guarantee that you will be before too long. The wonderful smells of great cuisine simply cannot be escaped when strolling along these city blocks. It’s both wonderful and torturous at the same time. Be sure to enjoy a dish or two while you are there and have lots of fun. That, after all, is what vacations are all about.

If you are looking for a great place to visit and bring the kids, look no further than San Francisco, California. This city is a wonderful vacation destination not only for grownups for little ones alike. There is so much to see and do that will appeal to young and old alike.

The real beauty of San Francisco to me is the fact that many of the best attractions for kids are also educational as well. Even better is the fact that the educational values are so cleverly disguised as fun, your kids won’t even know what hit them. In fact, mom and dad might find themselves learning a thing or two along the way. You might even find yourselves having just as much fun as your little ones are.

My suggestion though is to be careful not to overdo it. We all want our kids to have fun and enjoy the vacation experience but if you cram too many activities into a small span of time, you will have children who are overloaded, cranky, and tired. This will make your day miserable and will affect their memories of the time they spend here. I will give a brief overview of several great things for kids and families to do in San Francisco, hopefully this will help you choose more selectively the activities you feel are can’t miss activities and those that you can live without. Also remember if you don’t get to do everything this trip, don’t try to force activities in. Consider is a good reason to come back.

The first thing that I want to tell you about is the Exploratorium. This is definitely one of those destinations that disguises education as fun. The great thing about this one is that it will not only appeal to the little ones but also offer education and fun for the grown ups as well. If I were to point out one ‘must do’ thing for your family trip to San Francisco this would be it.

If you’re planning to be around Fisherman’s Wharf (which I highly recommend) you might find Pier 39 to be an excellent destination. The Magic Carpet Ride is sure to please everyone in the family and the little ones will love the San Francisco Carousel. The Pier 39 Marina offers powerboat and sailboat rides that are sure to please the entire family and the Riptide Arcade will delight the little gamers in the family. Perhaps the biggest attraction though, is the Aquarium of the Bay. This is another activity that I highly recommend. There are many more activities available at Pier 39, you’ll just have to check it out and see what you find most appealing to you. I could personally plan a trip to Frisco and never leave the Fisherman’s Wharf.

Fairyland is a great destination if you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive day of fun. With the admission price for everyone over the age of 1 being 6 dollars, it is a really inexpensive way to spend the day. A day at Fairyland will definitely be a highlight of your trip for younger children and will provide parents and other family members with some fond memories as well.

Another fun thing to do for the entire family is to take a Jelly Belly Factory Tour at the Jelly Belly Candy Company. The tour is free and offered daily between the hours of 9 am and 4pm. While it isn’t the height of educational fun, kids will definitely think it’s cool to see how these tasty treats are made.

I saved the best two for last. The San Francisco Zoo and Six Flags Marine World. I cannot say enough about either of these attractions. The magic they hold for children is undeniable and well worth the price of the tickets. The best advice, by far that I can give you about bringing your children to San Francisco, California is to relax and have a good time. Everyone will have a much better vacation experience if you take that advice.

If you like water sports and activities that involve the water, then San Francisco should be at the very top of your must visit list. There are so many water activities in San Francisco your head will spin. In fact, bring your suit and prepare to spend a great deal of time enjoying the water and the great recreation that the water has to offer.

If you like the water but have little real experience at manning the wheel of a boat or navigating narrow straights, you will probably be best served by chartering the services of experts rather than attempting a go of it on your own. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to do this. One of the most common ways is to take a ferry out to Alcatraz or Angel Island. You get the benefit of time on the water with no work involved whatsoever. You also get the added benefit of a tour of some sort on the other end of your trip. Many visitors each year enjoy this means of water travel and it is both an economical way to travel by water and a low stress way to do so.

You can also elect a sunset or sightseeing cruise around the bay on a chartered sailboat or motor sailor that is fully crewed. Some of the charter companies even offer team-building activities if you are traveling to San Francisco on business. Sailing is a great way to build a team and bond them like nothing else on earth. If you’ve never been sailing before, I highly recommend chartering a boat for an outing even if it’s only for a small period of time. It’s a great way to find out if you have sea legs that’s for sure. In addition to finding out if you have sea legs, a short tour will either leave you knowing this isn’t for you or hungry for more-in which case, you might wish to take sailing lessons and consider purchasing a sailboat of your own someday.

Sailing lessons are a great thing to give yourself while on vacation in San Francisco as well. The bay offers a protected, or at least relatively protected area in which to learn the finer aspects of sailing and there are many schools locally that can offer excellent instruction in the finer points of sailing and navigation. Sailing however requires more than an afternoon of lessons in order to have any degree of competency but a few lessons while on vacation is a great place to begin and an even better excuse to return.

If you have some experience with navigation and sailing, there are some companies that will allow you to rent a boat for a day or even a weekend. This allows you to be your own “Master and Commander” and can make for a great family day for the entire family. I firmly believe there are few things on earth that are better than tasting the salt of the sea while feeling the wind in your face, but I’ve always felt more at home on water than on solid ground so I am more than a little biased towards enjoyment of water based activities.

Which brings me to my next suggestion. Some are not content to merely ride the waves but would rather create waves of their own. For those who prefer a more hands on and muscle powered trek through the water, perhaps a rowboat or paddleboat rental would be in order? There are places in Golden Gate Park where this is easily achieved and the lake is an ideal setting for these kinds of boats. And of course there are kayak rentals that seem to abound in the San Francisco area which offer a whole new level of fun for all involved.

No matter how you look at it, there are some great ways to spend a day on the water in San Francisco. Come found out why so many people have left their hearts here and enjoy the peaceful serenity of a day ‘at sea’.