The Ultimate Beach Experience

What are you going to do while your on vacation in San Diego. Of course you are going to spend a day or two or all of them at the beach. But what do you do when the sun goes down? We vote to spend more time at the beach!  We at Nancy’s Vacation Rentals always love to educate you about what the locals do here in San Diego for fun. Well a beach bonfire is something you owe yourself if you really want to experience a day and night at the beach.  And… the best part is that we are going to bring the party to you. We have partnered with a company (Beach Fire Guy) that will bring you everything you need to have a great night at the beach.

Beach Fire Guy will bring everything from a fire ring and wood for the fire to smores, chairs, ice chests, and more. You might even be able to talk one of their employees into bringing a guitar to sing songs around the fire.   You bring your choice of beverages (no adult beverages allowed on San Diego beaches by the way) and any food you may want.   The people at Beach Fire Guy will setup and clean up everything. There isn’t a better way, in our opinion, to have a beach bonfire!

Beach Fire Guys have several packages and you can build your own if you have special needs. Please check out their website for more information. 

And better yet… print out the coupon below and we’ll save you 10% off their rates. Just bring the coupon with you to the bonfire!

 

Great Music at a Unique Venue

We at Pacific Coast Vacation Properties LOVE live music. Better yet, we love music where we can be outside AND on the water so we can enjoy all that San Diego has to offer.

Welcome to Humphrey’s by the Bay!

Humphrey’ s is truly a magical place in its own right. It is surrounded on 3 sides by a hotel and one side by the bay with a concert venue stuck in the middle.  Add an incredible restaurant and another indoor live music venue space (Humphrey’s Backstage Live) and you can’t beat this venue for a night of world class entertainment and dining.

One thing we like so much about this venue is that it is intimate with only a little over 1,000 seats but it gets some of the biggest names in the world.  During their summer concert series, acts like Willie Nelson, The Doobie Brothers, Boston, Ringo Star, Steely Dan, Lynard Skynard, Chris Isaak, The Beach Boys, grace the stage!  You can check out the full concert calendar here!

If you do see a show you like, we recommend you book as soon as possible as they usually sell out fast.  If a show is sold out though, we have a very cost effective alternative to see the show.

There is a tradition of people that takes their boats to the edge of the bay where they can see the entire show for the huge price of …nothing!

How can you see one of these shows for that great price of nothing?  We have partnered with several companies where you can rent a captained boat and take out 6-10 of your closest friends on your own private boat.  I love this option as you can take all the food and drink you can carry on the boat, don’t have to deal with crowds, and get a tour of San Diego Bay before and after the show! Average price per person to see a show this way is extremely reasonable as well.  We see many shows at Humphrey’s this way and really encourage it.

If you would like more information about how to see a show from a privately chartered boat, please contact us.

 

 The ‘Humphrey’s Backstage Live’ club opens immediately after the big show and also has entertainment almost any day of the week whether or not a headliner is playing at the main concert venue. Great variety bands play here. Anything including  60’s,70’s, and 80’s dance bands play here. This club, in itself, is worth visiting.

So… if you are live music lover, you owe it to your self to see a show at Humphrey’s. You won’t be disappointed!

Experience our Dive-In Theater: San Diego’s Coolest Movie Experience

One of the coolest and possibly hippest places in San Diego is located minutes away from any of our rentals. In the heart of Point Loma, The Pearl hotel is famous for their outdoor movies.  Combine this with an outdoor pool, a restaurant with a renowned chef, and great cocktails and craft beers on tap, and you can’t help but have a great time.

The Pearl is usually playing old movies on the screen but has featured films each week. Check here for a complete calendar of movies.

The hotel is a vintage style boutique hotel. You’ll think you stepped back into the 60’s but with a modern restaurant and amenities. It has been featured in many magazines and write-ups about how special this place is!

What I find so unique is that you a have a great dinner at the restaurant, (Click here to see the amazing menu) and drink some innovative cocktails and some of the best beers from the local craft breweries, all while sitting poolside while watching movies in the great San Diego weather.  You can even take a dip in the pool if you feel the urge.

I did want to take a minute to mention the restaurant again. This is NOT a typical restaurant you would expect at a hotel that shows movies on an outdoor screen….  or maybe it is?!  None the less,  we were VERY impressed the menu at this place. The food is top notch and has won several awards. The service is incredible as well.  The actual restaurant is very quaint but opens up to the outdoor patio and pool area.  You also can order and eat anywhere poolside which is a nice touch.

You want to have a great date night, this is a must do while in San Diego!

The Pearl is located at:

1410 Rosecrans Street
San Diego, CA 92106
619.226.6100

Please call ahead for reservations.

Meet Slomo

Meet Slomo…. also know as Dr. John Kitchin. Slomo is a fixture you can usually find roller blading up and down the boardwalk in Mission Beach.  Slomo is a unique person in that he used to be a prominent neurologist.  He gave up his medical career so that he could pursue his dream of spending time on the boardwalk in our gorgeous city.

 

Josh Izenberg recently created a film about Slomo and his life.  You can check out more about Slomo and the movie here.

 

He is an incredible smart and friendly person and I highly encourage you to talk with him if you see him on the boardwalk while in Mission Beach.

Slomo is just one example of the many things that make San Diego such a unique and fun city. We hope you have as much fun getting to know our city as we have!

 

‘December Nights’ at Balboa Park

Balboa Park December Nights, the nation’s premier holiday festival, will take place for the 35th consecutive year on Friday, Dec. 6, 3-11pm, and Saturday, Dec. 7, noon-11pm. As always, the event brings families and friends together to spread holiday joy, learn more about the cultural value of Balboa Park and kick-off the “most wonderful time of the year.”

There is so much to do during the festival. Museums in the park open their doors free of charge from 5-9 pm both evenings. More than 350,000 visitors are expected to experience the joy of San Diego’s largest free community festival. Those who attend will experience a truly multicultural experience, enjoying food, music and entertainment from around the world.

Revelers can watch top-notch musical and dance performances, enjoy delicious and diverse food choices and help spread a heavy dose of holiday cheer. Some of the more well-known traditions include food from around the globe at the International Christmas Festival at the House of Pacific Relations Cottages; the annual Santa Lucia Procession at the Plaza de California; unique gift shopping at the museum stores and with the artisans of Spanish Village; and musical and dance presentations from the San Diego Junior Theatre, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, Del Cerro Baptist’s Christmas Story Tree, and more.

One thing to note is that getting to the event and parking are VERY difficult.  Expect heavy traffic and long walks to get to the Balboa Park. The Park does have public transport with pick up and drop off at certain spots downtown. Unless you arrive very early for the event, these shuttles are your best bet.

I have traveled the world and have never experienced anything quite like this festival. Pacific Coast Vacation Properties will be sponsor for the event so if you are staying at one of our  vacation homes during the weekend of December 6 and 7th, you owe it to yourself to visit this festival and visit us!

Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the Old Globe Theater

The holidays are my favorite time of the year and The Old Globes’ production of ‘Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas‘ is an annual favorite for my family.  For those of you visiting San Diego during the holidays, this is a must see.  The production is to two hours of fantasy with colorful sets, wonderful costumes, and great actors.  The Grinch, in its 16th year, recreates Whoville down to the last can of Who Hash. You can even get a tour of the backstage area at the Old Globe and see where they make all the costumes for the show if you get to the show early.

Make a night of it and grab a cup of hot chocolate or an adult beverage and take a walk around the beautifully decorated Balboa Park. 

See the show the weekend of December 6 and 7th and experience ‘December Nights‘ at the park.

The show runs from November 16 – December 28, 2013. Click here for a performance calender.  

Take a ‘Comfortable Cruise’ on San Diego Bay

We love telling our guests about unique things to do in San Diego and this is a great one.  I had the luxury of being invited to experience this excursion personally and I gotta tell you that I LOVED it!

San Diego Comfort Cruises is a wonderful company that offers tours in their Duffy (all electric) boats.  The boats can fit up to six comfortably. They have roll up windows so you can rest assured you will be comfortable anytime of the year. You are welcome to bring your own drinks and/or spirits and food on boat ride as well. The best thing about the Duffy boat is that it is completely silent. No loud motor or obnoxious fumes that you experience on other boats.  

San Diego Comfort Cruises offer specialty cruises such as seal tours and tours in the afternoon and evenings to see the sunset.   You can also charter special trips to see concerts at Humphrey’s by the Bay or anything else you may think of!  Many people have chartered special events for birthdays and weddings on the boat. Imagine you and and all the people you are vacationing with while in San Diego taking a cruise in an intimate boat on San Diego Bay!  

Being in the vacation rental industry, I am privy to almost every attraction in San Diego. I have to tell all of you that this is probably the most intimate and relaxing way to see San Diego Bay.  Plus the hospitality of the captain and crew is second to none.  They have extensive knowledge of the area and are happy to educate you on anything in and around San Diego Bay.

Call San Diego Comfort Cruises today to book a cruise today. Make sure to mention Pacific Coast Vacation Properties and you will receive a discount on any cruise you happen to book.  This is truly a unique, wonderful experience that you will remember for a long time. I think it is one of the ‘MUST DO’ things you must DO while in San Diego!

Be a Superhero – Rent a JetPack

I’ll never forget the first time I saw a man fly a jetpack at the very first superbowl decades ago. There have been thousands of flights since then but people are still amazed each time they see  someone fly one of these. For years, people thought that the technology was going to get to a point where we could all have our own jetpacks and we would fly everywhere. Unfortunately, the 60 second flight time, cost to operate, and huge learning curve, made these jetpacks to impractical to reach the masses.

That was then…Now you strap on a Jetpack and be flying in less time than your average movie!

JetPack America offers a new and unique experience in San Diego. Unlike the original Jetpacks where the ride only lasted 60 seconds, your time now is only limited by you wallet. You can pick packages that start at 15 minutes and go on up close to a full hour of flight time. Jet America also give you hands on training before your solo flight as well so you can spend your flight time flying.You spend one and one time with a certified instructor and learn all the nuances of this amazing device. They can even control your pack remotely so you are never in danger.

The jetpacks propel you up to 30 feet high and up to 30 miles per hour.  The jetpack will take you anywhere where there is water.

If you are an adrenaline junkie, it just doesn’t get better than this. You owe it to yourself to do this while in San Diego.

Watch this video of my good friend and star of A&E’s ‘Flippin San Diego’ as he takes a ride on a jetpack.

 

Pacific Coast Vacation Properties has partnered with JetPack America to offer deep discounts to our guests. Please inquire within to find out rates and availability.

Food Rock Star, Guy Fieri Savors San Diego Cuisine

Triple D in the house!  For Guy, there is nothing better than traveling, soaking up the sunshine, and enjoying great food.  San Diego has always been one of Guy’s favorite hotspots.  As a dining destination, San Diego has limitless options and is a culinary dream come true.  There’s always something for everyone. If you’re a true fan of this rockin’ chef,  and Food Network Star, you can spend your entire stay going out to enjoy the dishes featured on Guy’s show “Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives.”  There’s nothing more exciting than to see that fire engine red ’68 Camaro pull up to your restaurant for a tasty bite!

Here are just a few of the restaurants featured on his show:

San Diego Triple D Hotspots – Guy Fieri

Click here for Triple D Hotspots

El Indio

An authentic, family-owned Mexican food restaurant and tortilla factory where father and daughter work together.

3695 India St.

San Diego, CA 92103

Tioli’s Crazee Burger

They dish out 30 kinds of burgers including ostrich, alligator and Angus beef.

4201 30th Street

San Diego, CA 92104

Hob Nob Hill 

Famous for their mouthwatering chicken n’ dumplings

2271 First Ave

San Diego, CA 92101

Studio Diner

Open 24/7 this restaurant dishes out awesome American classics.

4701 Ruffin Rd.

San Diego, CA 92123

Pizzeria Luigi

An Italian pizza place dishing out authentic thin crust pies and slices.

1137 25th St

San Diego, CA 92102

Blue Water Seafood Market & Grill 

This restaurant, located in a fish market, and is run by two brothers.

3667 India St

San Diego, CA 92103

Hodad’s

Open 24 hrs.  This awesome burger place is run by a former surfer, whose motto is, “No shirt, no shoes, no problem.”

5010 Newport Ave.

Ocean Beach, CA 92107

 

OB Noodle House

This place is to “die for!” They serve delicious Vietnamese and Asian Fusion that keeps you coming back for more.

2218 Cable St

San Diego, CA 92107 ‎

 

 

 

 

Environmentally Responsible San Diego

 

You can spoil yourself in San Diego without overindulging. In fact, the Pacific Coast is a great place to spend the summer if you’re interested in sustainability and eco-friendly traveling. Here are some hot tips for the more environmentally conscious travelers among you.

 

JSix Restaurant is the winner of the 2011 Diner’s Choice Award from OpenTable, known for its sustainable local produce and responsible recycling programs. Christian Graves is the chef responsible for making JSix both vegan friendly and delicious. Share a delectable plate of Artisan Breads & Spreads, or hook in to the Duo of All-Natural Petamula Chicken, served with fava bean puree, smoked bacon, corn relish, and grilled chillies. Don’t forget to check the organic wine list!

 

Richard Fredrick is the founder of Mythology, an eco-boutique specializing in organic clothing, cruelty-free accessories, and all sorts of very special gifts and bath products for men, women, and babies. T-shirt prints are designed locally, prices are reasonable, and the service is friendly and helpful.

 

Grab a bike and get pedalling, to experience the best of San Diego on a beautiful summer day. San Diego Bike and Kayak Tours offer all sorts of interesting tours with experienced guides in La Jolla, Coronado, and of course, downtown San Diego. If you’d rather see San Diego from the water, their kayak tours are unforgettable.

 

About the Author: Pacific Coast Vacation Properties features a wide range of deluxe San Diego vacation homes in Coronado, La Jolla, Mission Beach, and downtown San Diego. Talk to Pacific Coast Vacation Properties about renting a vacation property in San Diego for a truly unique accommodation experience.