The La Jolla Christmas Parade Dec. 5th!

Tis the season! And La Jolla knows how to start it off right!

Come join us at the La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival this Sunday December 5th 2010!

With traditions such as caroling and Santa Claus - even special guests the cast of The Grinch!

The parade starts at 2 pm at Girard Avenue (at Prospect Street) in the heart of La Jolla and ends at La Jolla Recreation Center with a holiday fastival featuring music and fun for the whole family!

November 5 K of the Month!

Here in San Diego we are uber proud of 2 things: the outstanding weather and our active lifestyles! So every month we wanted to make sure that we highlighted a 5k that Southern California Vacation Rentals guests may want to take part in!

November is all about the Turkey Trot! As a Thanksgiving tradition most San Diegans find a fun run where they can burn a few calories, support charity and get a little sun!

This year, and every year for the past 5 years, I did the Father Joe's Village 5k to support our local homeless shelter and soup kitchen Saint Vincent De Paul's.

Catch that Turkey!

This is a really great 5k around beautiful Balboa Park in Downtown San Diego. Dogs, babies and runners of all ages race through the park dressed in their race shirts (and race scarves if they are a dog) or in Thanksgiving themed costumes. Live music and food follow at the historical Organ Pavilion when the racers cross the finish line. Pumpkin and other holiday pies are sold to benefit charity along with humorous Father Joe bobble head dolls.

This year 10,000 plus walkers and runners took part! I had a great time with my family as we sped walked our way through the park... although I did forget to put on extra sunscreen and got a little burnt. Its November and I still have to remember to put on sunscreen!

The home stretch over the bridge!

If you are interested in participating in this 5k or any upcoming San Diego races please visit http://www.active.com/ for a list of races and activities. Otherwise you can contact Southern California Vacation Rentals at 858- 454- 2451 and we will find you an upcoming event!

Q'ero

Q'ero Restaurant es muy bueno!

My mom took me to Q'ero in Encinitas for some pre-birthday dinner last week. I really have to say that it is the little details that make a dining experience spectacular. Peruvian food is something that I am not that new to, but I love being surprised by the playful combinations that Q'ero has to offer.

When I arrived for my reservation they had put the cutest place holder on the beautifully set table.

The service was wonderful and the food was even better. I won't waste too much of your precious reading time on the specific details of everything I consumed, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. I just have 4 suggestions:

1. MAKE A RESERVATION!
2. Be adventurous when you order
3. Order wine
4. Save room for dessert... seriously.

Q'ero House Salad

Spinach, Pomegranate seeds, pepitos, Goat cheese!

Pan Seared Ahi with a Creamy white sauce, Chard and roasted fingerling potatoes

Braised beef with sauteed chard and caramelized onions

Leonid Meteor Shower November 18 2010

November Leonid Meteor Shower!

Ok all of you star-gazers, tonight is your night! The November Leonid Meteor Shower is expected to peak this evening between November 17 and November 18. Now I am no meteorologist but traditionally the Leonid Meteor shower has produced dazzling shows with thousands of meteors per hour. Experts have told me that it is best viewed after the moon has set or approximately 4 a.m.. Luck for us San Diego County offers several great viewing sights for this annual event. And Guest what? Mt. Soledad in La Jolla is one of the best places to watch the shower!

Mt. Soledad

Located at 6905 La Jolla Scenic Drive South, in beautiful La Jolla, Mt. Soledad is a premiere location to view the night sky 365 days a year. This provides optimal viewing of the annual Leonid Meteor shower for those who do not wish to drive a great distance from the city of San Diego. There is a really nice grassy area at the top of the mountain perfect for laying out a blanket. Mt. Soledad's website offers great driving directions from every direction in San Diego County.

Tips for best viewing experience

• Position yourself to where the horizon is in your field of view. This will provide the stars and showers to grab your attention.
•  Look for the Little Dipper; this will insure it is dark enough for your viewing.
• Lay back and enjoy the annual show.
• A telescope or binoculars are not necessary. Just the human eye.
• Make sure you bundle up! It is cold at 4 am - even in sunny San Diego!

Here is a picture showing how you should position yourself in order to see the shower

Make sure that you check out the Top 10 Cool Facts about the Leonid Meteor Shower


source article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20101115/tr_ac/7193410_locations_in_san_diego_to_watch_the_2010_leonid_meteor_shower

Happy Veterans Day! Happy Birthday San Diego Marines!

Okay, Okay, I know that it is a day late but HAPPY BIRTHDAY United States Marine Corps!

I am very proud to know so many marines who are not only valuable members of the San Diego community, but also unbelievably wonderful human beings!

HAPPY 235 BIRTHDAY!

As today happens to be Veterans Day, I decided to drive up to Mt. Soledad and pay my respects at the Memorial Cross and park. Here is what I found when I got to the top:

Memorial Cross

a view of the park and monument

View of La Jolla Shores Beach from Mt. Soledad

240 local school kids walked to the cross and left flowers, flags and paper chains that they had made.

Abe H. Fennik, local vet. who let me take his picture by his plack at the monument.

Thank You American Veterans for everything you do for us!

Berkley and Keane Families Stay

We love to hear about past guests who loved their stay at our house!

We just got a glowing review from Stacy Berkley about her stay at the Heritage Place in La Jolla. She stayed with her friend Megan and their friends from Cal State Chico the Keane family. They loved the Windansea Beach, especially baby Tyler who played all day in the sand with the beach toys provided at the house. When they got back from the beach they all enjoyed a BBQ dinner followed by some board games that are provided at the home. Later the adults all jumped into the hot tub Jacuzzi!

The Keane and Berkley Families sitting in the Dining Room playing Janga!

Stacy and Tyler playing with the wagon on the Patio.

The view of the back patio at the Heritage Place, jacuzzi ready for a quick dip!

Have you stayed at one of our homes and want to have your guest stay on our blog?! Send us your pictures and story. E-mail them to jackie@socalvacationrentals.com, with Guest Stay in the subject.

For more information on the Heritage Place, please call 858-454-2451 or visit www.socalvacationrentals.com.

Fall? In Southern California?

Dispite the 90 degree heat wave we have been having this November, my small friends Alia and Lilah still know how to celebrate like the rest of the country. They found maybe the only fall leaves in all of San Diego County. Check it out!

Cruise Ship Stranded at Sea

I think that this is every vacationers' nightmare... Setting sail on a luxury cruise line only to be stranded in the middle of the ocean after a fire started in the engine room. These poor people will be "rescued" today. I use the quotation marks because after they are towed to shore by tug boat. They will be driven from Ensenada Mexico back to San Diego on buses. This sounds like THE WORST experience ever! Everyone here at Southern California Vacation Rentals felt so bad for these people, we decided anyone who was on this ship can finish their vacation here in sunny San Diego in any of our available homes for a 25% discount off the total rent.

I had no idea?! Kashi Addition

Ok maybe I am fulfilling the stereo type that people in California are all bare footed, long haired, granola eating hippies... but I was just sitting bare footed and cross legged on my couch about to consume a bowl of my favorite Kashi granola when I happened to brush the long hair out of my eyes and read that Kashi is founded and still based out of La Jolla, California! Could this be? I have been eating a bowl of Kashi GO Lean Crunch and plain greek yogurt every single day for the majority of my adult life - HOW COULD I HAVE MISSED THIS?!

I began to do a little research and it seems that the Kashi Company has a history just as full of fiber and substance as their kick ass cereal. Kashi was founded in 1983 by Phil and Gayle Tauber, on the simple passion for whole grains and healthy living. Kashi even had a brief exposure at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. After a few years and some additions in flavor and texture, plus a push from the Kellogg Company, Kashi is the National cereal phenomena it is today.

I am really proud that there is a local company that could achieve such great success and also stay true to its personal mission of healthy living and sustainability. If I wasn't already a Kashi devotee, I just found another reason. New goal in life: visit the Kashi head quarters, which are still in La Jolla!

Next time you visit La Jolla be sure to pick up a box of Kashi!

In fact every guest who mentions "KASHI" this week when they book their vacation rental home with Southern California Vacation Rentals will get a free box of Kashi Cereal and milk in their home upon their arrival! This offer is good 11/8/10 - 11/15/10!

Ghosts of Birthdays Past!

I am getting really excited for my birthday next Saturday. I started looking at a few pictures of past birthdays, and I was so excited when I saw a few from when I turned 21 in 2007 and went to Mister A's. Normally this would not be the kind of place that I would pick to go, as Mister A's is more popular for the swanky restaurant Bertrand which is connected to the bar. But back in the day, my mom had been living and working in San Diego after she had gotten her B.A. and M.A. from San Diego State (Go Aztecs!) and she had gone to Mr. A's for her very first drink as a 21 year old. So when I turned 21 there was only one place she would take me.

When you visit Mister A's, make sure that you get there before sunset! The rooftop patio is perfect for watching the sun set over the San Diego Bay. 

Thanksgiving Special!

Still looking for a home to spend Thanksgiving in? Spend Thanksgiving at the beach! Enjoy a gorgeous sunny beach setting with your family this year. Select homes are offering a very "thankful" lodging offer for you and your group. Get a 4th night FREE with 3 paid nights! Use discount code TURKEY10 when making your reservation to secure take advantage of this discount. You can make reservations on-line or over the phone!

(858) 454 - 2451

http://www.socalvacationrentals.com/

Does Thanksgiving dinner get any better than The Heritage Place? After you finish your meal you can walk straight out to the hot tub for a post turkey dip!

My Family loves to eat outside during the holidays and being spoiled by the weather we can. Your family can too if you stay at The Sand Patch !

Eat, Prey, Love: Enoteca Adriano

I hope my Grandma never ever reads this post, because I have found the best Italian food in San Diego and it is at Enoteca Adriano. My birthday is coming up and there is only one place that I want to go to celebrate and that is Enoteca Adriano. Nestled on Cass Street in Pacific Beach, you might dismiss this diamond in the rough without even getting the pleasure of trying the devastatingly superior cuisine that they have to offer. This food is the kind of dining experience that makes you want to sell your worldly possessions, move to Italy and learn to cook. I beg you, PLEASE if there is only one place in San Diego that you go for Italian food make it Enoteca Adriano. There is great outside seating and with the romantic atmosphere and relaxed vibe of the clientele you will not regret eating there. But I can't just tell you about the food, I need to show you!

The minute you sit down they offer you the most exquisite rustic grilled bread with basil and spice infused extra virgin olive oil. I could (and probably would) bathe in this olive oil!

Eating the Burrata at Enoteca Adriano is an experience that I can only liken with the first time you ride a bike or the first time you make love. It is an experience that you may not realize what has taken place until it has long passed but ultimately you are left with a feeling of accomplishment and deep satisfaction.

In true Italian style once you have finished a successful meal at Enoteca Adriano, everyone at the table must order the Cafe Mocha and reflect. You will never want Starbucks again.

This was the lightest piece of Tiramisu that I have ever eaten... I dream about it. Often.

Just to make you drool a little bit more:
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VACATION RENTALS GUESTS RECEIVE A FREE TIRAMISU WHEN THEY VISIT ENOTECA ADRIANO!!!
When guests arrive at their home they will find a coupon for this offer in their Welcome Package! There will also be other great coupons in the Welcome Package as well.

Make sure that you make reservations when you come to Enoteca Adriano, they have a very healthy client population and I would hate for anyone to miss this opportunity because they didn't call for a reservation.

(858) 490 - 0085

4864 Cass Street, San Diego, CA 92109

www.enotecaadriano.com


Open:
Monday - Sunday
5 pm - 10 pm

You don't have to be a good photographer in San Diego

OK, I hate to brag but when you live in San Diego you really don't have to be a good photographer. I am being totally serious. We are so spoiled here. If I want to impress any of my friends I just head down to the nearest beach and start snapping pictures. Don't believe me? Well then feast your eyes on these little gems. Perfect examples of how to make your friends jealous.  

Here is a perfect example, this beautiful La Jolla Sunset was taken with an iPhone!

Here is another perfect picture of Mission Bay, Mission Beach, and Pacific Beach taken while driving down Mt. Soledad

And the weather doesn't even have to be good to take a great picture. Case in point: this picture of Law Street in Pacific Beach right after some rain.

If you are planning a trip to La Jolla the only photography mistake that you can possibly make is to forget to pack your camera!