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Picture Perfect Paradise - San DiegoBY: Ryan Hopkins | Category: Travel | Submitted: 2010-04-05 16:39:27
San Diego is an oasis of wonderful weather, beautiful beaches, and too many attractions to fit into one vacation. By Ryan Hopkins My daddy, my sister Jackie and I sit on a rocky cliff surrounded by hundreds of earth- colored oysters with the salty spray of the Pacific Ocean lightly misting us for a quick photo op. We hold our smiles for a three count, blink from the flash, and run to the camera to decide if our picture is perfect. We look into the tiny viewing screen and realize that in paradise, every picture is perfect. The oyster-covered cliff stands strong against the mass of crystal blue crashing waves with three slightly sunburned visitors smiling from ear to ear to strike a pose on our little friends' home. This is definitely not the only beautiful scene you will encounter in magical San Diego, Calif. If you consider a 100,000-square- foot naval battleship floating in a sea of blue-green waves a beautiful scene, then a trip to the USS Midway is in order. If not, it's still a pretty cool sight to see. When we first walked on board I gave my mom a skeptical "navy ships are boring" look, but three hours later I was being pried away from the floating museum. Midway houses more than 60 exhibits with 25 planes on the top deck and interactive displays to guide your way through the historical vessel. The USS Midway launched in the early 1940s and saw service off Vietnam and in the Persian Gulf among many other places. She served her country for more than 47 years and housed more than 200,000 veterans. Midway was decommissioned in 1992, stricken from the Navy list in 1997, and finally towed to San Diego in 2005 to become a floating museum. History isn't the only thing San Diego has to offer. There are many sandy beaches where you can soak up the sun, start up a game of beach volleyball, or dive into the chilly waves of the Pacific Ocean. Cross the bridge over San Diego Bay to Coronado Island and discover the Hotel del Coronado built in 1888. This hotel has seen 11 presidents, King Edward VIII, and Marilyn Monroe. Rooms start at $315 a night and range to $765. The Del is more than just a hotel though; it's like stepping into a real life fairy tale with its crystal chandelier, white gables, and oak-paneled lobby greeting you. It offers amenities such as a luxurious spa and salon for the overworked mother, surf lessons for the adventurous children, and the Del restaurant for the food-loving father. Even if your travel budget doesn't allow for a stay at the Del, it's still an amazing sight to see! For an even more amazing dining experience, travel 90 minutes up the coast to the magical Las Brisas for an unforgettable champagne Sunday brunch. The $33-per-person meal is completely worth it when you see your amazing four-course meal starting with the Frutas Frescas, an array of fresh fruit. Next is your choice of "sopa o ensalada" soup or salad (the lobster bisque is to die for). Then comes your entrée which is your choice of omelet, crepes, pasta, chicken, fish or steak, all cooked to perfection. Finally, finish your meal with dessert, chef's choice. My dessert was a beautiful fruit tart with drizzled mango and raspberry sauce that was as yummy as it was beautiful. Of course, as it is a champagne brunch, endless champagne is served to those of age, with alcohol-free drinks for non-drinkers. The restaurant overlooks beautiful Laguna Beach, and if you're lucky you'll get a window seat with a breath-taking view. This restaurant is usually busy, so schedule a reservation a couple weeks ahead to ensure your spot at perhaps the best dining experience California has to offer. These are only a few of the amazing things I was able to experience while visiting San Diego. Many other attractions like Sea World and the famous San Diego Zoo are worth your time while vacationing. Sea World is a renowned park that includes shows, rides, exhibits, tours, restaurants, and even adventure camps. Two friends that receive a lot of attention are the whales and the dolphins, both of which have animal interaction programs you can participate in and get up close and personal with the fascinating creatures. Everything can be booked online at seaworld.com. The site also contains an interactive park map and descriptions and pictures of everything the enchanting park has to offer. Another place for all you animal lovers to visit is the world renowned San Diego Zoo. This zoo houses animals such as giraffes, rhinoceroses, lions, elephants, and so many more. It offers safaris where you can meet the animals up close and even feed the giraffes and rhinos from your truck. Another unique attraction at this zoo is a 470-foot-long Flightline that carries you over the exotic animals and exhibits 160 feet above the ground for a picturesque view of San Pasqual Valley. This costs $70 per person and requires a couple hours of training sessions but is definitely worth it for a completely different view of the zoo. Make sure while you're there you take in the beautiful ocean scenery, the salty smell and taste of the sea air, and the perfect weather because you will definitely miss it as soon as you leave a paradise of exotic animals, champagne brunches, and a historic Naval city and reenter reality. *** For more information about Sea World call (619) 226-3900 or visit their Web site www.seaworld.com. The park is located at 500 Sea World Dr., San Diego, Calif. 92109. To contact the San Diego Zoo call (619) 231-1515 or visit www.sandiegozoo.org. The zoo is located at 2920 Zoo Dr. in Balboa Park, San Diego, Calif. 92112. For general visitor information, where to stay, and what to do, visit www.sandiego.org/nav/Visitors. *** Article Source: http://www.writearticles.org/ About Author / Additional Info: An amateur writer from Middle Tennessee State University looking to expand skills and knowledge. Comments on this article: (0 comments so far)
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