2009 April

Visiting San Diego for the first time can be quite overwhelming,
especially when you consider that there are so many things you
can do. Deciding where to go and what to do can be quite time
consuming, which is where we can help. Below, you’ll find the 8
best spots in San Diego - things you simply must experience.

1. Hitting the beach.
No matter what season you visit, the beach is one area that
personifies the entire San Diego lifestyle. Whether your watching
the tide come in or soaking in the sun, the beach is where the
action is. From Mission Beach to the Belmont Park rollercoaster -
make sure you hit the beaches here.

2. Trying a fish taco.
Although it may sound a bit weird, the fish taco is one
of the best foods in San Diego. Deep fried, battered fish encased
in a corn tortilla is one of the foods that once you try it the
first time - you’ll crave anytime you come back!

3. Going to Mexico.
It’s no secret that San Diego borders Mexico, with Tijuana
being a metropolis in its own right. Visting Tijuana or Baja Mexico
is perfectly safe day or night, no matter what you have heard. Keep
in mind that they have their own laws, bring your passport, then
enjoy everything that this foreign paradise will provide you with.

4. Take a ride on the trolley.
San Diego doesn’t have the best public transit system, yet
they do have the well known trolley. The highways here can be quite
intimidating, making the trolley the ideal way to travel. If you
want to learn more about the city, simply buy an all day trolley
pass - you’ll see more of San Diego this way than you ever thought
possible.

5. Visiting the Pandas.
While Sea World and Legoland has their share of animals, the
San Deigo zoo is no stranger to Pandas. The zoo is a tourist attraction,
with the baby Su Lin, which is quite a feast for the eyes. When you
visit the San Diego Zoo, visit in the morning - when the pandas are
most active.

6. Balboa Park.
After you check out the pandas, take a trip to the jewel of
the city - Balboa Park. The atmosphere is breathtaking here, no matter
when you visit. If you visit on Tuesdays however; you’ll find that
most museums have free admission. After you visit a while, dine at the
Prado Restauraunt and experience great food in a great setting.

7. Gaslamp and the nightlife.
The Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego is the place to be
for dancing, eating, or just people watching. You can experience the
best of life in San Diego here, with food to fit every taste.

8. The Old Town.
While historical San Diego isn’t always apparent, a visit to the
Old Town State Historic Park can bring back the past. There are snippets
of Old San Diego found everywhere you look here. Although there are many
fine restaurants here, make sure you visit the Old Town Mexican Cafe, as
it serves the best Mexican food around San Diego.

When you think of all the ski resorts in the world one
of them stands out inyour mind. Aspen offers a
variety of ski areas for all levels and it covers
4,500 acres or more spread over four mountains.
This resort is known for itsnightlife because of the
downtown area and the quieter Snowmass resort area
has something to offer everyone.

Aspen provides all the restaurants and bars you
could ever want or need You can take a stroll
through this luxurious city and find many boutiques
and much more. There is a lot of history in many of
the buildings that are in the downtown area. One of
these buildings is the Ute bank; this building can be
dated back to the silver area around the 1800s.

With everything that there is to do in Aspen you
shouldnt find yourself getting bored. Aspen is
located in Colorado, and with the various mountain
ranges, you are sure to find slopes that are suitable
for your level. Snowmass is one of the most popular
resorts in the world, so be sure to make reservations
well in advance.

Teens are beautiful and unique creatures. At least this is what we as parents keep telling ourselves. The problem with teens is that their tastes and wants change almost hourly so it is quite difficult to determine at lunch what will appeal to them at dinner. Fortunately, if you are planning a visit to San Francisco, California, there is most likely something that will appeal to them no matter what mood they are in at the moment.

I always recommend allowing older children and teens (even younger children in a limited capacity) to have some voice in deciding what activities to do while on vacation. After all, it is their vacation too and just because we think they will like it doesn’t necessarily mean they are remotely interested in it-this goes back to the beautiful and unique creature statement.

The great thing about San Francisco is that while your teen may swing in vicious cycles between being a child and thinking he or she is grown, there is quite a lot that will appeal to both sides of your teen’s personality. Fisherman’s Wharf is probably my favorite San Francisco destination. Pier 39 offers a great number of attractions for teens. From Frequent Flyers where your teen can experience the feeling of being air born to the Riptide Arcade, with shopping, sea lions, and entertainers in between there is a lot that this area has to offer the teen in your family. You can also rent a kayak and let your teen do the navigating, if you’re really brave that is. Another attraction at Fisherman’s Wharf that your teen might find more enjoyable than anyone else in the family is the Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum.

I think even a teenagers won’t find trolley tours beneath them. In fact, your teenager might have a great deal of fun taking one of these tours as well as accidentally learning some small nugget of information about San Francisco history that will stay with them long after the vacation is over.

If you feel up for a ride, you might consider taking your teen to Paramount’s Great America in San Jose. In fact, this is a trip that the entire family might enjoy. Little kids can enjoy the Nickelodeon characters and the rides that are designed especially with them in mind. Teens and adults can enjoy some of the more thrilling rides created for the adrenaline junkies in your life.

Your teen might get a kick out of a trip to the Wax Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf. This museum offers realistic recreations of people, events, and horrors beyond imagination-well my imagination. This is definitely one of the more interesting destinations in San Francisco. Take a walk through history or onto the set of the latest horror movie. It all seems so real and the characters so life like.

Your teen may really enjoy one of the Alcatraz tours. They offer a day tour and an evening tour. I seriously recommend the evening tour if at all possible as there are more features than on the day tour and it makes a much more ‘thrilling’ experience. You may also wish to combine a tour to Angel Island with your trip to Alcatraz. Angel Island also has a rich history as well as some breathtaking views and great trails for hiking and biking. You could also consider making a day of your trip to Angel Island, especially if your teen enjoys either of these activities.

And then there’s the shopping, a favorite pastime for teen girls and a potential bonding experience for mothers and daughters. Conversely, men can bond with teenaged sons and/or daughters over a nice sports game. The bay area offers many options for sports lovers.

No matter what your teenagers tastes at the moment, I have no doubt that you will find something in this great city that you can all agree on. Be sure to work in attractions that you wish to enjoy between the attractions of your teen. This will make the interests of the other more tolerable for everyone.

When visiting San Francisco, finding a way to unwind at the end of a long day of sight seeing isn’t always the easiest thing in the world to do. After dinner the choices for entertainment often seem limited because you don’t really want to become too wired from your activities to find peaceful sleep later. Perhaps this is why most shows are shown in the evening. San Francisco certainly has quite a few options for shows to see.

If you like old musicals, then 42nd Street Moon is a great place for you to look for your entertainment. They like to take old Broadway musicals that haven’t been over performed and rehash them to the delight of the audience and the cast. By breathing new life into these sometimes lost classics they are doing a service to both the original masters of these musicals and to the audiences they now play for.

If you need something a little less rowdy and rambunctious to see you into your night time routine, then perhaps the Smuin Ballet will have something that is more in line with your needs. This ballet company is bringing new appreciation to the art of dance and delighting audiences in the process. By bridging the gap between traditional ballet and modern dance this company is reaching a much broader audience than many dance troupes that have come before and since. Really and truly if you have the opportunity to see one of their performances I highly recommend that you do so. You just might find that you are their newest fan.

If you have varied or eclectic tastes, then Old First Concerts may be a great place for you to unwind after a long day of shopping, sight seeing, and touring wine country. This interesting venue presents concerts of many colors and voices it would seem. There is no one particular style of music that is allowed or disallowed here, rather the professional quality of the musical style is more important than the actual style of the music. I think that this very fact alone makes it quite unique and worth a listen. You might hear something you’ve never heard before and leave with an appreciation you would have never discovered had you not dropped in.

If you haven’t guessed, I’m a huge fan of trying things that are different and slightly outside the realm of the mundane. I have no problems stepping away from the conventions of normal society and wearing many different hats. Perhaps that is the reason that I find my next suggestion so appealing and fun! Beach Blanket Babylon is the perfect way to mock societal norms. The costumes are outrageous and the hats are bigger than a tall tale and it’s all in the name of good clean fun. I seriously recommend this show to anyone who has ever had even the slightest hint of a sense of humor.

We all know that it is often difficult to unwind in a new city where you only know those that you are traveling with, you aren’t sleeping in your own bed, and you are missing some of the comforts of home (like a work day and a commute to exhaust you). For those of us who have been there and done that, it is much easier to unwind after enjoying a nice show or entertainment along similar lines. It could be something as simple as taking in a movie that you might have wanted to see but never find the time to at home. A vacation is your time to rest and relax, make the most of it.

I grew up watching cowboy movies and tales of the old Wild West on weekend television with my dad. I can’t help but think of those old black and white movies whenever I think of San Francisco or California in general. Whenever I think of visiting San Francisco there is a part of me that visualizes the San Francisco of old, long before the earthquake of 1906, or not so long before actually.

If you share my vision of a Wild West San Francisco or just wonder what it would have been like to walk down the streets of old, then perhaps one of these museums will help give you a taste of the good ole west without the outhouses (the one thing I never really could wrap my mind around). Even if you can handle a world without indoor plumbing, the idea of enjoying the greatest of the past while still experiencing the comforts of modern existence is quite appealing to me.

That being said, the first Museum on my list is an outdoor museum known as The Gold Rush Trail. To walk The Gold Rush Trail is literally to follow in the footsteps of history. Even though it isn’t a museum that is filled with relics of the past, if you close your eyes and listen intently perhaps you can hear the ghosts of yesterday as they tell you the story of how this fair city began and what it has become today.

The next point of interest is The Society of California Pioneers. The society offers not only a museum but a library as well that are both open to the public and feature programs that focus on California. If you need snapshots of the vibrant history of California as well as San Francisco this is a good place to begin your search. If you don’t find what you are looking for in the museum check out the library and see if they have something that will quench your thirst for historical knowledge.

The Museum of the City of San Francisco is next on my list of places that offer a glimpse into the past of this phenomenal city. If you haven’t found what you are looking for on your first two stops, then perhaps this museum will provide the answers, or simply the moment in time, that you are seeking. This is by far my favorite for learning about the history of San Francisco specifically. With exhibits dedicated to events such as the Gold Rush, the earthquake of 1906, and the building of the Golden Gate Bridge, there is no doubt that you are getting the history of this city, not the state, and not the country. I think there is a lot to be said about history and how it always seems to have such a profound effect upon the future. If you are able to visit this museum I would certainly recommend it above most others in the area for an authentically San Francisco ambiance at the very least.

The history of any city is a vital ingredient in what makes that city the success or failure that it has become. Not only do the events in a cities history have a significant impact on the future of a city, but also the people of a city. It is the people of any city that recover, rebuild, and remain or pack up and leave. Isn’t it incredible that we have the opportunity to learn about these great people?

If you have plans of visiting San Francisco you really should consider seeing it from a birds eye view. There are many ways in which you can do this, but few, if any are more romantic than doing so from the basket of a hot air balloon. In fact, if you’ve never been in a balloon before, this is a great place to start.

There are many tours that are offered and each one offers spectacular views and a feeling of weightless wonder that is unrivaled by any other feeling on earth. Imagine watching, as everything on the ground gets smaller and feeling completely at ease with the process. It’s a truly amazing way to travel for those who have never experienced it. Young and old alike will thoroughly enjoy the awe of this particular form of travel.

Some of the tours linger along the coastline while others will take you up into wine country. You can even charter tours that will combine the hot air balloon excursion with ground transportation and accommodations at one of the many area bed and breakfast inns for a nice romantic weekend get away in California’s wine country.

Another great way to enjoy the beautiful views that abound in the bay area is to go hang gliding. There are several places in the area that not only offer lessons but will also take you up with a trained professional after cursory instructions. This allows you to enjoy the sensation and freedom that hang gliding affords without spending days or even weeks taking classes before you ever get to experience the sensation of soaring with the birds.

If that isn’t enough to get your adrenaline going and give you the best possible view of this great city, you can always try skydiving. Like hang gliding, sky diving offers tandem drops that mean that you can actually experience the freefall and enjoy the serene beauty of San Francisco without actually going through a rigorous training regiment. If you want the ride of a lifetime to make your trip more memorable, this is definitely the way to go.

Of course, there are those who prefer flight by mechanical means. There is absolutely no shame in that. The good news is that there are a couple of great ways to take in the scenery with machinery as well. There’s nothing to say that you can’t make your mechanical experience just as daring as any of the other experiences available. You could view the great scenes of Frisco from the cockpit of a biplane. In addition to the awesome scenery, you are perfectly free to book on of the aerobatic biplane rides, which will be best planned before meals rather than after them.

In addition to these exciting ways to tour the San Francisco area, you can always choose one of the many helicopter tours instead. This offers what many consider a more sane, I mean safe, mode of transportation while still providing the birds eye view that simply cannot be rivaled from the ground. There are many tours that are available and each one offers something exciting for the adventurous ones that choose to take them.

Each of these modes of transportation can be found in the San Francisco area and each one offers something valuable to those that will find them interesting. Not only the views but also the experiences in and of themselves will make this trip a memorable trip. Even if it isn’t your cup of tea, remember that someone you are traveling with could find one of them to be the memory of a lifetime and what greater gift can you really give someone?

I hope, more than anything, I’ve planted the seeds in your mind that will open your eyes to seeing this great city from an entirely different perspective. There is nothing quite as magnificent as enjoying the city lights from the sky or seeing endless miles of nature stretching out before you. I truly believe there is no better way to enjoy San Francisco than from the sky.

Located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Ober
Gatlinburg is the only ski resort in the state. It is
more than just a ski resort, however. It is a complete
family vacation spot with an amusement park, indoor
ice skating, a bungee tower, an alpine slide, and
many other activities and attractions there is
something to please everyone.

With an elevation of 3301 feet, and a vertical drop of
600 feet, Ober Gatlinburg features eight trails: two
beginner trails, four intermediate trails, and two
advanced trails. There are three lifts, including two
quad lifts, one double lift, and one surface lift. The
season runs from the middle of December through
early March, and night skiing is allowed on all trails
except the Grizzly trail.

Rentals are available for both ski equipment and
snowboarding equipment. Private and group lessons
for skiing and snowboarding are also available
through the Smokey Mountain Snow Sport School.
You can also easily find food at the many snack
bars, food carts, the caf, the restaurant, or in the
lounge.

You must not miss the longest chair lift ride in the
south! You will see awesome views of the Great
Smoky Mountains. You will also get a birds eye
view of some of the slopes, and you can have your
picture taken on top of the mountain. If you dont
ski, dont worry! You can ride back down the
mountain on the chair lift as well. Dont forget the
Tramway. The tramway departs from downtown
Gatlinburg and takes you to the ski resort and the
amusement park.

Even if you dont ski, you can still explore the thrill
of flying down a mountain at a high speed or a
slow speed if you choose. This is possible with the
Alpine Slide. The slide is approximately 1800 feet
long, and takes you down a winding wooded slope.
You have total control over your speed with the
use of a braking device on each sled. Other
attractions at the amusement park include the
Black Bear Habitat, a bungee jump, a water race,
go karts, indoor ice skating, kiddie land, an arcade,
miniature golf, a Spider Web Velcro Wall Jump,
water rides, and a shooting range.

No matter what type of fun or adventure you are
seeking, there is something to satisfy everyone in
the family at Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort and
Amusement Park. This is definitely a trip worth taking
especially if you have younger kids or senior
citizens traveling with you.

If you are planning a ski vacation and there are
beginners in your group, or you are a beginner
yourself, you should definitely consider Tahoe
Donner in Truckee, California for your ski vacation.
Since 1971, when construction first began at Tahoe
Donner, the area has come to be known as a world
class cross country ski center, but beginners are
still welcome, and this is one of the better places to
learn how to ski.

Located near Tahoe and Truckee, Tahoe Donner
provides a family atmosphere, and is very affordable.
It features a 601 foot vertical drop, and the highest
elevation is 7353 feet. There are approximately 120
acres for skiers to enjoy, with over 13 trails for
beginners, intermediate skiers, and expert skiers.
The resort features four lifts, with two of the list
being surface lifts, and two being chair lifts.

Snowboarders are also welcome at Tahoe Donner.
The resort has reasonable lift ticket rates, and there
are rentals available. Here, you will also find a variety
of ski programs and a ski school. After a full day of
skiing, be sure to visit the Lodge Restaurant for a
wonderful and relaxing dining experience.