San Diego : Sea Side Rendezvous
San Diego Seaside - Courtesy farm2.static.flickr.com
It sure sounded good to me. A family get together away from the family home. We siblings have been living in different parts of the country and could not remember when the four of us had last met up with. Busy in our own lives, the net for years had been the life line that held us together. San Diego would be the perfect destination for a good old family reunion sans work or chores! We had decided our only calling was going to be living it up. In the typically hot climes of San Diego even with the onset of an early autumn, we were bent on having a wonderful time to enjoy a long deserved heart to heart.
San Diego located in South California would be ideal with virtually no snow or ice in sight. The climate though dramatic could vary with the city’s topography that consists of the bay, the hills, mountains and the canyons. For us it was the beach that was the main attraction. San Diego’s coast stretches for miles of beaches for swimming and surfing. You have here some fine beaches like Imperial Beach south of San Diego, Coronado, the beach towns of Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, and up the coast of Northern San Diego County. Each beach is unique, ranging from popular white sand beaches to harsh surf spots to be found at Black’s Beach in La Jolla.
Having been raised besides the sea all of us share an affinity with the great waters, that goes back a long way. The whole idea was to go in for a complete turn around from our sedentary life styles and ride the waves in San Diego. Recollecting our passion for physicality it was time we relived the good old days when experiencing our physical limits of endurance would set us on a competitive edge with each other. Oh brother, here were going to be some great matches and terrific times again.
Looking up the net it appeared that San Diego had a wide range of accommodations to offer. Of course we did not mind splurging and seeing the number of luxury high rise hotels in Downtown as also numerous beach side hotels we decided to go for the best. A few clicks on San Diego Downtown Hotel site got the decision and the reservations made in a jiffy. The sea side activities that were coming to mind had us riding the crest of memories that only brothers know of. All the splashing and ribbing would soon follow in San Diego.
It turned out even better than we expected. The surfing was excellent with San Diego’s miles of beaches providing excellent opportunities. Conditions of course varied by beaches and we were pleased with having the seasoned instructor from the surf school around us. Both Mission Bay and San Diego Bay offer ample opportunities for sailing, windsurfing, boating, and jet skiing. The best fun we had was with hangliding. At the edge of cliffs towering above the Pacific Ocean, the Torrey Pines Glider Port in La Jolla allowed us to soar over one of the most pristine sections of coastline in southern California. It took us some time to train and since expert help was close at hand it was a great way to spend an entire day.
Our scuba diving stint although did not turn out so good. Diving in San Diego waters we realized the water was pretty cold and even the visibility was not the greatest. But of course we did see kelp beds and much more. In addition our dive boat operator provided us with a run to the Coronados Islands off the Mexican coast where we again did some more diving. And this time with sea lions! We were told that San Diego has some great dives at the Yukon, Ruby E and other places in Wreck Alley. But a days scuba diving was good enough for us.
Out of the water activities for us had some great moments playing golf at a public golf course. There are many, both public and private golf courses scattered throughout San Diego and we were quite happy with the arrangement made by the organizers for our golfing sessions. In fact it felt great to be out on the greens and feel so bloody active. Simply breathing the air and walking felt good in ages. With some great weather thrown in for good measure San Diego turned out to be the ideal spot to get out and do some of the most prized outdoor activity. Getting energetic and feeling so peppy had never felt so good.
What added more fun to the different excursions was the fact that San Diego County lying north of the Mexican border, shares borders with Tijuana besides being in the southern vicinity of Orange County. Consequently its home to miles of beaches sharing a typically mild Mediterranean climate. What more could we have asked for. Tourism we discovered is a major industry owing to the city’s climate. Major tourist destinations include Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, Seaworld, nearby Wild Animal Park and Legoland, the city’s beaches and golf tournaments like the Buick Invitational.
Downtown San Diego has experienced an urban renewal. The Horton Plaza, the Gaslamp Quarter and the San Diego Convention Center are the landmark tourist destinations. We did it all. San Diego’s downtown is a glittering showcase of waterfront skyscrapers, expensive developments, five-star hotels, and dotted with cafes and restaurants. Walking about in late hours, fancy free and footloose, had been a cathartic experience. Especially in familial fraternal company the place appeared an excellent escape from the work weary world of jobs and duties.
San Diego is a truly beautiful city with great weather, miles of beaches, and its Mexican border. With its rich heritage built around sailing alongside being the home base of the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy, it is also well known for its part in the wildlife conservation movement. It houses the SeaWorld theme park and the world-famous San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park. You would not believe this we even did the zoo! The place turned out to be amazing. None of had been to a zoo in the last so many years and the San Deigo zoo gave us some pretty serious joy even at this point in life! I think it had all to do with our mood and the way we wanted to wrap up this exclusive rendezvous!