Staycations California

Pacific Beach  known by the locals as PB is a town that is just south of La Jolla and north of Mission Beach, California.    PB has always been known by many as a party town because it was largely populated by a younger crowd including students and surfers.  The low rents and proximately to the Pacific Ocean appealed to the young crowd and still does.

However, more and more professionals are moving to the area because of rising costs in rents and property.   Still appealing to this youthful crowd,  PB is known as one of the best areas for its nightlife because of its variety of bars and restaurants.

With 3 miles of boardwalk and its lively atmosphere, PB is a great place to hang at the beach, eat, drink, or just people watch.  Along with the funky beach bars and restaurants, PB also has sophisticated and modern hotels and fine dining establishments.

The main surfing beach is at Tourmaline Surfing Park.  Tourmaline Street features a medium sized parking lot, bathrooms, and a small picnic area nearby.  While mostly a surfing beach, on any windy day the kite boarders and windsurfers come out to play.

In the summer  PB is hopping and as mentioned a popular place to be.  There are paid parking lots along the way but I am told parking can be challenging if you don’t get there early enough.

As in most beach cities you can find rental places for bikes, bodyboards, surf boards, surreys, etc. Surfing and swimming is segregated in some areas and North PB is lifeguard protected and a great place for the family.

A big draw for me in PB is the Crystal Pier cottages. Always looking for a place to stay and report as a California staycation, the cottages sit right on top of the pier. Your patio situates you right on the edge of the pier with a a great view of Mission Beach to your south , La Jolla to your north and of course the beautiful Pacific Ocean to the west.  Depending on the tides you will be right over the water or right over the beach. Either way, it looks like a fantastic place to stay.

There are one bedroom suites, two bedroom, as well as studios. All Cottages and Suites come with fully equipped kitchenettes, separate bedroom and living room, private decks  and room to park one car. Crystal Pier also provides a gated key entry and night security.

A little pricey, the cottages range from $175.00 to $525.00 per night but that is to be expected as it is a unique place to stay and I feel worth the price. The $525 price is for the two bedrooms so cram in a few people to share the cost.

You can walk to the restaurants and nightlife that PB is famous for, you can enjoy the beach below, fish off of the pier, or journey to close by San Diego for all of its attractions.

– See more at: http://www.sandiego.com/hotels/crystal-pier-hotel-cottages#sthash.SfIka4yh.dpuf

Also, visit Mt. Soledad that is close by. A great memorial for our soldiers plus great views that are featured in these photos.

Photos: Debbie Colwell

Santee Lakes
We had heard about Santee Lakes in a recent article about their new floating cabins so we had to see for ourselves as a possible new California staycation.

I was very impressed with Santee Lakes and the surrounding park like area.   When we first drove by one small lake,  I thought to myself, “That can’t be it? Where are the cabins?”   So we pulled up to the entrance and were informed that there were actually seven individual lakes and the floating cabins were on the seventh lake.  You had to pay $5.00 to get into the facility for the day and to view all the lakes, so we gladly paid the fee and proceeded on to explore the area.

The seven scenic  lakes are stocked with fish year round and not surprisingly there were plenty of poles lining the shore.  With amazement we saw a few anglers that were finished for the day with a few sizable fish on their string.   Fishing there requires no state license but you must acquire a permit at the general store which cost $8.00 for the day.

Don’t feel like fishing? No problem, there is plenty more to do. There are 6 playgrounds for kids, a boulder island adventure course, pedal boat , canoe, or rowboat rentals,  bike and surrey rentals, or  hike along the trails aligning the lakes.     For bird watchers Santee Lakes is home to over  170 different species of birds, so bring your cameras and binoculars.

Santee Lakes is located in the east county just outside of San Diego, in the city of Santee.  Along with the 190 acres of park and lakes, there is also a 300 site campground accommodating RV’s with full hook ups. A clubhouse sits nearby with two swimming pools(one heated) and a Jacuzzi. The pools are perfect as there is no swimming allowed in any of the lakes.

The park opens at 6:00am Friday through Sunday.  It hosts a variety of events throughout the year including summer movies, trout openers, 5k’s, etc.  Food and drinks are sold at the general store and restrooms are always nearby.  Dogs on leashes are also welcome.

So on to what we were most interested about, the floating cabins.   Resembling houseboats, the cabins sit on a private dock floating just offshore.   There are three cabins and each can be rented for $100-$145 a night depending on the date.  Occupancy begins on April 1^st., so check them out early of you are interested. We were thinking of getting a group of people so we could take over the whole dock.  I can imagine myself watching the sunset from my floating patio with a cocktail in one hand and a fishing pole in the other. Each of the floating cabins sleeps four.

There are also 7 cabins on the shore and each cabin includes shared pedal boats for exploring the lake. Adirondack chairs line the porches and there are also barbecue and fire pits.

We peaked inside one of the waterfront cabins and it wasn’t extravagant but cozy enough. Not really roughing it when you have air conditioning, two flat screen TV’s, and a DVD player.   The kitchens are stocked with cooking utensils but you bring your own linen, toiletries, firewood, etc.   The waterfront cabins sleep 6 if you include the bunk beds.

Seems like a great weekend getaway to me with a relaxed and serene setting.  Not too far from the city, you still feel like you are getting away. It’s a place you can watch the stars, hear the silence, and just relax.

Santeelakes.com

Sci Fi meets the gambling masses:

On your last few miles on I-15 heading out of California into Nevada you can’t help but miss three huge towers that look like something out of a Star Wars movie.

Instead of cranking my neck out the window like everyone else, I decided to actually pull over and snap a few shots.

Standing tall against the back drop of the desert you can only imagine how high they actually are. They give out an ominous look with the haze around the bright light source and the steam bellowing from the top.

So what are they?

They are the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (ISEGS) in California’s Mojave Desert. Opened in 2013 the generating towers are delivering power to PG&E and Southern California Edison. The project is currently the largest solar thermal power plant in the world uses mirrors to focus the power of the sun atop receivers on the towers.

The electricity generated by all three plants is enough to serve more than 140,000 homes in California during the peak hours of the day. The Ivanpah site enjoys sunshine most of the time and is near power lines that transport the power.

This 2.2 Billion complex consists of three generating units and is located in Ivanpah which is about five miles from the California-Nevada border.

How it works is the computer generated mirrors reflect sunshine to boilers atop a 459 foot tower. The sun’s power is used to heat water in the boiler tubes and then make steam which drives the turbines to create electricity.

More projects are on the way as the government pushes for cleaner power.

So if you are taking a trip that way on I-15 near Vegas be sure and be on the lookout for them.   I really don’t think you will miss them.

Imperial Beach

Looking south along the sandy beaches of Imperial Beach, California you can see the outlines of the Coronado Islands nestled offshore about 14 miles.  While gazing out at the four islands it brings to mind a tropical getaway in a foreign land.  In this case, that foreign land is not too far away as Imperial Beach sits about 3 miles from Mexico and the coast is only separated by the Tijuana river.

In fact, Imperial Beach is the most southwesterly city in the continental United States and for vacationers as well as staycationers, it is not too far from the attractions in San Diego, Coronado, and of course Mexico to its south.

Nestled next to the Pacific Ocean, its expansive beaches offer swimming, surfing , bodyboarding. and of course sun bathing.  Most of the activity is situated near the 1,400 foot long fishing pier and the Portwood Pier Plaza. There you can swim and enjoy the beach with the safety of a lifeguard on duty, at least during the summer months. 

At the plaza you will find grassy and picnic areas, a tot-lot, entertainment stage, and access to the pier and beach. There are parking lots scattered about but it can get crowded in the summer and residential streets will be the only available parking.  Stay clear from the beaches right next to the river mouth as the surf can get dangerous with no lifeguard on duty as well as potential contamination.   It is best to stay closer to the pier where the water is cleaner.

A known fact about Imperial Beach is that it is host to the U.S. Open Sand Castle Building Contest. This event attracts hundreds of thousands around the country as well as some of the best sand building competitors.  The weekend long celebration features a street fair, various other activities, and its main draw the expertly designed sand castles.   If you miss the event, you can still view the sculptures for a few days until Mother Nature decides to sweep the creations back out to sea.

On the flip side, an unknown fact to most people is that Imperial Beach is home to some 300 species of birds and considered one of the best birding areas in Southern California.  The world-renowned Tijuana Estuary and wetlands are part of a National Wildlife Refuge nearby.  Visit the Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center for maps of public trail systems and guided tours of the area.

There is also a bike path that runs from Imperial Beach to Coronado and provides beautiful views of southern San Diego bay and Silver Strand State Beach.

Imperial Beach gets a bad rap for a coastal town because it doesn’t have the uniqueness of a Laguna Beach, the charm of Carmel, the richness of Newport, or the newness of Huntington Beach.  It is mostly untouched and feels like old California.   Even on the city’s website they call it ‘Classic Southern California’.

At Staycationscalifornia, we love all coastal towns and will always find the positive.

As mentioned Imperial Beach is no Huntington but it doesn’t try to be. It has its own feel.

If  even for a day or weekend visit IB and enjoy the beach, fishing, hiking, biking, or just sit back and watch the sunset.  Also remember, even though that foreign land is not so far away, you are still safe and sound in the good ole USA.

• Throughout the month of October, the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park celebrates Kids Free presented by Mission Federal Credit Union by offering children 11 years and younger free admission.

During Kids Free, the Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the Safari Park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Children               under the age of 15 must be accompanied by a paid adult during their visit.

• Every weekend throughout the month of October, Zoo and Safari Park guests can experience kid-friendly activities such as crafts and coloring and animal encounters.

• Guests can watch as special items such as pumpkins or gourds are given to some animals as tasty enrichment treats. These special treats are offered on Saturdays and Sundays during Kids Free at both the Zoo and Safari Park