3/12/2014

What I did on my vacation...

Remember in elementary school upon starting a new year, your teacher may have asked the class to write about this..."What I did on my summer vacation"? Well I am here to tell you all about what I learned on our vacation to San Diego, California!


We stayed at Loews Resort on Coronado Bay. It's an island off the coast of San Diego...And it's beautiful and luxurious. This is the view upon entering the Hotel.

It is made up of 5 buildings that consist of the hotel portion. We were upgraded since it was during their low season in March, to building 5 (quite a walk) that faces the ocean view. This is what I saw outside our balcony...


See the low mountains/hills off in the distance? Here is the view at night...
Those lights you see off in the distance are actually in Mexico! Our waiter is from there and said it only takes him 15 minutes to get to the border from our hotel. He is allowed to come and work here everyday, then go back home to his family in Mexico every night. We did see a border patrol vehicle while we were there.
The five buildings that house the hotel rooms are divided by walkways. In the first walkway there is this Huge and Beautiful birdcage...
Yes, it's full of the sweetest sounding little birds. It made me smile every time I passed it. Loews also has a private beach that you can walk to or ride a golf cart.
I learned that the Pacific Ocean is cold because the waters are fed from Alaska! See the shadow from the flying bird?
I couldn't believe that I could get such good pictures from my iphone!
This map shows you the Silver Strand Blvd. on the lower edge. We stayed just past this. You can see the Naval Air Station where we drove passed everyday and they train Navy Seals there. We were lucky to see some out on the Ocean. One day, we took a taxi to the Ferry, and the fun Ferry ride took us across the bay...


To the USS Midway!
This floating city at sea is now a museum that we toured. It's an Air Craft Carrier that was commissioned just after WWII in 1945 and decommissioned in 1992. It's the longest-serving carrier of the 20th century. We toured the whole ship and on top of the flight deck were many planes to view and even get into. The tour takes at least 3 to 4 hours and is just fascinating.

There were two other Air Craft Carriers docked within view.

The one on the left is the ship that buried Osama bin Laden at sea! On a lighter note, Another thing for all you bicyclist, apparently the thing to do is to ride a bike from San Diego to the Ferry, then take a long bike ride on Coronado before returning. We saw lots of bikers do this.

Another day, we were shuttled into Coronado shopping district. I came across the obvious touristy shops and yummy eateries, but two stores were a welcome surprise. They were called The Attic. They are quaint shops filled with antiques, jewelry, purses, cool vintage finds and transformations. We also walked several blocks over just to view the homes and architecture there. I found out the the average temps are 75 degrees...year-round! I want to live HERE!

And finally, though our trip was all too short, we found our dream place to stay the next time we come to Coronado to visit! 
It's called the Hotel de Coronado! It was built by three Midwestern financiers that came to Coronado in the late 1800's to Jack Rabbit hunt. They decided to buy Coronado, build this hotel and "they will come". Well, it is the oldest hotel on the West Coast. And we walked around it all!

The feeling I had while there reminded me of the movie, "Somewhere In Time". It has beach front access and right across the street are the blocks of shops that I was telling you about. The Loews Resort is very nice, but I felt held captive and wanted to be where it's easier to get walk around.

So I will leave you with what is going to stay with me from this trip and draw me back!


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These parties I love to link up to or check out my Blog Parties tab
Monday
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On The Porch
Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping It Simple  
Make it Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage
Making The World Cuter @ Making The World Cuter 
Sunday's Best @ My 1929 Charmer
DIY'ERS @ Home Coming 
Sunday Showcase Party @ By Stephanie Lynn
Creative Link Inspire @ The Crafty Blog Stalker
Tuesday
Project Inspired Linky Party @ Cupcakes and Crinoline
Show Me What You Got @ Our Delightful Home
Knick of Time Tuesday @ Knick of Time
The Inspiration Board Link Party @ Homework
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday @ Coastal Charm
From Dream to Reality @ The DIY Dreamer
Tweak It Tuesday @ Cozy Little House
The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life 
Tuesdays at Our Home @ Our Home Away From Home 
Wednesday 
Be Inspired Party @ Elizabeth & Co.
Before & After Wednesday @ The Dedicated House
Power Of Paint @ Domestically Speaking
Swing Into Spring Wednesday @ DIY by Design 
What We Accomplished Wednesday @ Green Willow Pond
Adorned From Above Party @ Adorned From Above
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
Work It Wednesday's @ The Happy Housie
What's It Wednesday @ Ivy and Elephants
Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters 
Wow Me Wednesday @ Ginger Snap Crafts
Party On The Porch @ The Shady Porch
Thursday
Under $100 Link Party @ Beyond The Picket Fence
Link Party Thursday @ Bloom Designs Online
Treasure Hunt Thursday @ From My Front Porch To Yours 
Throwback Thrusday @ Glitter Glue and Paint
Create It Thursday @ Lamberts Lately 
Show Me Extraordinary Thursday Party @ The 36th Avenue
Link'N Blogs @ Delineate Your Dwelling 
Wildly Original Wednesday @ I Gotta Create!
Thrifty Life Thursday @ Revisionary Life
Foodies & Crafties Soiree @ KiddieFoodies
Friday
What To Do Weekends @ Crafts A La Mode
Fabulously Creative Linky Party @ Jennifer Rizzo
Show And Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed
Frugal Friday @ Shabby Nest
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground
Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home
Design It Friday @ Finding Fabulous
TGIF Linky Party @ A Peek Into My Paradise 
Flaunt It Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
Creativity Unleashed Link Party @ One Project Closer/The Better Half
Inspire Me Please @ Liz Marie Blog
Freedom Fridays @ My Turn For US 
Shabbilicious Friday Link Party @ Shabby Art Boutique
Junkin Joe @ The Cottage Market
Catch as Catch Can @ My Repurposed Life
Saturday
Any Link Goes Party @ Bacon Time With The Hungry Hungry Hypo 
Weekend WrapUp Party @ Tatertots and Jello 
Serenity Saturday @ Serenity You
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal
Sunday
Get Schooled Saturday @ Too Much Time On My Hands
Share It One More Time @ One More Time Events
Sundae Scoop Weekend Wrap Up Party @ I love Nap Time 
That DIY Party @ DIY Show Off
So Darn Crafty Party @ Sew Many Ways
Think Pink Party @ Flamingo Toes
Sunday Show Off Linky Party @ Twigg Studios
DIY Sunday Showcase Linky Party @ VMG206
Seasonal Sunday @ The Tablescaper
Monthly
Every Room In The House @ A Joyful Cottage
Get Your DIY On @ The Hankful House

10 comments:

  1. It sounds like you had a wonderful time on your vacation, and you did get some great photos from it. Love the video of the ocean and sounds! The hotel you stayed at is beautiful, wow wouldn't you love to have walked down that staircase on your wedding day! Being a fellow IL don't you wish Spring would come soon, Did you get hit with snow last night like us!

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  2. Yes, San Diego is a wonderful city. I lived there for about three years when I was married and my son was little. I've stayed at The Del Coronado hotel and it is so elegant Your right about feeling like that movie.
    Your pictures are stunning and you really did a wonderful job. Many thanks for bringing back some wonderful memories. So sorry that you had to come back to bad weather.
    Mary

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  3. Hi Terry! What a pleasant surprise to see our shop featured on your blog during a recent visit. We love that you found our shops to be a little different than most. :) I hope you can make a return visit someday!
    -nancy

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  4. I enjoyed seeing your pictures. I love Hotel de Coronado! It's the coolest hotel I've ever stayed in the states. San Diego has the best weather!

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  5. I enjoyed seeing your great vacation and the ships especially, can never get enough history! That birdcage is amazing, too. Thanks so much for visiting me and letting me know about this great article! Take care - Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com
    History & Home link party, Tue-Fri, weekly

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  6. I enjoyed seeing your great vacation and the ships especially, can never get enough history! That birdcage is amazing, too. Thanks so much for visiting me and letting me know about this great article! Take care - Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com
    History & Home link party, Tue-Fri, weekly

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  7. I'm jealous your iphone takes such beautiful pics :) Looks like you had an amazing trip with lots of decorating ideas. I'm sure you'll be back. I think I'm going to head on over to the Hotel del Coronado website to check out their rates for me and my hubby now...

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  8. I enjoyed your post very much. Beautiful scenery and hotels!! Wow!

    My husband would have really enjoyed touring the air craft carrier and it sounds like I would to.

    Your pics are great. I am considering not hauling my big camera ANY MORE on trips. It is heavy. The new phones are awesome.

    Glad you had a fabulous trip and that you shared with all of us.

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  9. I think I could buy a lot of stuff at The Attic. We stayed on Coronado Island a few years ago at the Spreckels Mansion across the street from "the Del". I remember walking through and being captivated by it but couldn't remember the details, so thanks so much for the photos from the inside. Yes, San Diego is a very nice place to visit.

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It makes me smile to hear from you!

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