TrippinTwins: San Diego: Adventures of Day 1

September 7, 2016September 8, 2016 trippintwins15 Comments

San Diego had long been on our wish lists, so we were beyond excited to get the chance to visit this past Memorial Day weekend. Initially, we had dreamed of a relaxing beach vacation spending our days sunning on the beach, drinking cocktails & soaking up those rays of sunshine California is so famous for.

However, when we began packing for the trip, we ruled out beach time when we learned the temperatures were only going reach the low 70’s. If you are thinking that’s a bit strange, you’re probably not from the Deep South where it’s not considered the perfect beach day unless the temperatures are at least in the mid-80’s! So, we revamped our itinerary and packing list.

Upon arriving in San Diego, it was nearly midnight. We wearily grabbed our bags from baggage claim and found our way to the exit where we took a taxi to our downtown hotel. We commented to our driver about the chill in the air and were promptly told that the forecasted temperatures and overcast skies were completely normal for the May/June time frame. We even learned the weather pattern had names – “May Gray and June Gloom”.

Where We Stayed:

While many people choose to stay in the Gaslamp district, we decided to stay in the downtown area also known as the “Centre City” at the Westin San Diego. It was the perfect location because it put us within easy walking distance to Little Italy, the Gaslamp district, Broadway Pier and public transportation.

Day 1: Shopping, Food and a Ferry Ride!

We began our first full day a little late as we had a late arrival the night before. When we were ready to leave the hotel, we headed to a nearby coffee shop to grab a cup of coffee and a quick snack. We figured this would hold us over until our lunch we had planned for later. We needed to make a stop in a nearby CVS in Westfield Horton Plaza to pick up a few things we had forgotten to bring. As we arrived, the bold colors and architecture of the indoor/outdoor mall, amazed us. We had not planned to spend much time there, but once we realized there were over 100 stores on various levels set up like a maze, we spent a few hours window shopping and taking in the scenery.

When we decided our bank accounts were done with the mall. Since we were already in the trendy Gaslamp Quarter, we set off to find the 94 restored Victorian era buildings the area is famous for. When it was founded in the 1850’s, it was well known for gambling halls and brothels before cleaning up its act during the 1980’s. It is now a thriving district offering eclectic dining and shopping options. After spending some time window shopping, the smells coming from the surrounding restaurants had made it impossible to ignore our hunger. We headed to Little Italy, where we found the restaurant that had been recommended to us, Filippi’s Pizza.

We were advised to check out this location because it is the original and operates as both a grocery and a restaurant. Even if you aren’t hungry, it is worth stopping by to check out the ceiling covered with wine bottles. Our waitress told us we should not miss their famous homemade meatballs, so we choose to put her recommendation to the test. We agree, it was delicious!

Wine Bottles that adorn the ceiling at Filippi’s Pizza

After we finished lunch, we headed to Broadway Pier. We bought ferry passes for $4.75 , and took the 15 minute Coronado Ferry to Coronado Island. We choose to take the ferry because it gave us time to take water pictures of the picturesque area and was the first US ferry we had the chance to take since we were children.

Processed with Snapseed. — Broadway Pier waiting on Ferry to Coronado Island

Once we landed on Coronado Island, we walked to the Coronado Ferry Landing. This is the view you will see when you land and walk towards the island. We were tired after a long day of shopping and walking, so we decided to hang around this area to browse the shops, grab a bite to eat and watch the sunset.

We enjoyed some time relaxing on the beach. It was too cold to get in, but the views were great.

After enjoying the views, we decided to check out the restaurant options. We settled on Candelas on the Bay for a quick bite to eat. We enjoyed the views and the food. The service could have been better, but it didn’t bother us because the scenery was great.

It had been really cloudy for most of the day, so we did not have high hopes for a good sunset. However, we got lucky because the sun made an appearance as it got later and cleared the fog to reveal a stunning sunset. This was a great way to end our evening on Coronado Island.

After the sunset, we took the return ferry back to Broadway Pier where we walked the few blocks back to our hotel. We had an early activity planned for day 2 -a Whale and Dolphin tour that we were really looking forward to and decided called it a night.

Adventure · Beach Towns · California · Day Trips · dolphins · favorites · RIB · San Diego · sealife · Tours · Trip Ideas · Water Adventures · whales

TrippinTwins: San Diego RIB Dolphin & Whale Tour

August 10, 2016August 10, 2016 trippintwins6 Comments

Everyone has that one thing they must do when they get the chance to visit a certain place. For us, in San Diego, we knew it would finally be our chance to, just maybe, see a whale in the open water. We have experienced many dolphin cruises over the years in the Gulf of Mexico and were looking for something that would be a bit different for this experience. After briefly looking over a few tour options, we registered for a dolphin and whale tour with Adventure RIB Rides. This would be a switch from the usual boat rides in that we would be taking this dolphin and whale excursion in a small rigid-inflatable boat. Erica thought this was a totally crazy idea, but I convinced her that it would be a blast.

When is the best time to see whales in San Diego?

Thousands migrate from Alaska every year to give birth and give their young time to gain the strength necessary for the journey home. It is said the best times to view whales are between mid-June through December. However, we saw a grey whale on our tour at the end of May and we were told several were spotted the day before. If you’re going in the off peak season, just ask around, people will tell you if they have been seen recently.

Meeting Point – Dolphin and Whale Tour

We arrived at the meeting point (Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina) dock around 8:45 am to meet our tour guide. After initial introductions with our small group of 6 which included us, we were escorted into a small office by the dock where we had to sign a liability release. At this time, we were also each given a pair of waterproof coveralls that although were not mandatory, were highly recommended. No one was exactly thrilled to dress in such heavy, ill-fitting attire, but everyone agreed it was best to heed the guide’s advice. And yes, they were totally worth wearing because they kept us warm.

Where to sit on the RIB Boat

Erica and I were placed up front because we were the last in line and the smallest, which meant for an overall more rocky experience. Therefore, if you can, sit in the back. The views are fantastic from any seat and you will also be able to move around when stopped looking at wildlife.

U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program (NMMP)

The ride started off initially as just a normal leisurely boat ride. We slowly drifted past the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program (NMMP) where we got passing views of the trainers at work. NMMP is based in San Diego and is where dolphins and sea lions are trained for things such as mine detection, equipment recovery and harbor and ship protection. We were aware of the program’s existence, so were fascinated by the glimpses we got as we slowly drifted by.

We also got a glimpse of other Navy boats.

It’s a rough ride!

After we made our way further out into the Pacific Ocean, our guide picked up speed. This is where the ride started to get rough. It literally felt like riding a mechanical bull! It is when you will either feel exhilaration or want nothing more than for it to be over. Both of us felt as though we might fall out at any moment, but of course we managed to stay in.

Wildlife sightings

After only a few minutes out on the water, we sighted a few sea lions sunning themselves on a buoy. We were excited because this was the first time we had ever seen them in their natural habitat. The guide stopped the boat to give us a chance to snap some pictures before continuing the tour in search of dolphins and whales.

Another thirty minutes went by speeding through the open ocean at a high speeds, bouncing our seats in the boat before a fellow passenger alerted our guide of a possible dolphin sighting. The guide stopped the boat to give everyone a chance to see what turned out to be a megapod of dolphins and a few nursing pods. Everyone was encouraged to get up and walk to the very front of the boat for the best possible viewing opportunities. The ones that did, got an amazing show. It was a truly a magical sight to experience! See that here or down below.

After spending about an hour watching the dolphins, we left to head back in in our final opportunity for a whale sighting. Our guide explained to us that even though whale season was technically over, chances were good we would spot a few because the water had been warmer than usual. We spotted a grey whale after few minutes in an area of an earlier sighting . However, we had already been out in the water over two hours, so we watched it from a distance for about ten minutes before heading back in for the day. When we were safely back to our docking point, Erica was more than ready to get off the boat while I felt like I could have continued the trip all day.

Things to know before you go:

If you have any type of back/neck issue, think twice before booking. Erica has a slipped disk and had trouble walking the next day.
Consider taking Dramamine beforehand. Even if the ocean looks calm at first glance, the swells are bigger than you might think. In addition, the ride is rough at times and there are a few long stops where the boat rocks along with the swell of the water which made some sick.
Do not leave your camera at home because you’ll want theses memories to last a long time.
Tip money. The guide will be instrumental to your tour and you will want to reward them for their hard work.

California

Los Angeles-Day Trip

February 26, 2015June 21, 2015 trippintwinsLeave a comment

This was an unexpected day trip, but one worth mentioning because of the great experience we had. We had always wanted to visit southern California, but those plans of “some day” suddenly turned into “right now” when we got the call that a dear friend’s cancer journey had taken a turn for the worse and were invited to join her family and close friends for a quick trip to Disneyland California. We flew into Anaheim a day early and decided to take a day tour of Los Angeles.

We booked a last minute tour with Starline Tours and decided on the 7 hour “Deluxe City Tour of Hollywood and Los Angeles” that we thought would give us the best city overview in the timeframe we had. Our tour guide picked us up from our hotel at 10:30am and we were immediately at ease with him. He was friendly, engaging and kept everyone chatting and laughing while picking up the remaining passengers and on the drive into Los Angeles. He gave everyone the opportunity to discuss the itinerary and encouraged everyone to speak up if there were additional sights they wanted to see that could possibly be worked in.

The tour started in Downtown LA, making stops at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Staples Center where we were given 15 minutes to get out at each place to take pictures.

Then we moved on to the the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites where we hopped on a series of elevators to reach the top floor for a distant view of the Hollywood sign. The view as quick, but everyone had a good time trying to see it.

Afterwards, we met back at the bus and drove to the Hollywood/LA area to the LA Farmers Market/Grove where we were given 45 minutes to eat lunch. This turned into 90 minutes break when our bus had mechanical difficulties and we had to wait for a replacement. We immediately decided to seek out some of the famous California Mexican food we have heard so much about. We found a stand that had a large crowd that we figured would be a good place to eat.

After finishing our delicious lunch, we went to explore the Grove area. It is a fun area to do some shopping & people watch.

Once we got a replacement bus, we were off to the La Brea Tar Pits for a quick photo op. They are considered to be a National Natural Landmark. We did not have the opportunity to tour the Page Museum, so it’s on our list for our next visit.

Next, we drove to Beverly Hills, where we were given 30 minutes to explore Rodeo Drive where I happened to walk right into a photo shoot taking place on this amazing street.

The next stop was one that everyone was excited about-Hollywood Bowl overlook.The outlook is close to the interstate, making it easy to reach. The drive is pretty with views of celebrity homes. The parking lot is very small, but street parking is available. We arrived right at dusk on a clear night, which made for great city skyline views. Unfortunately, I only had a cell phone camera, so my shots did not come close to capturing the stunning view.

LA Skyline from the Hollywood Bowl Overlook

Hollywood Sign from the Hollywood Bowl Overlook

No one was ready to leave the Lookout, but we had to in order to go see Hollywood Blvd where the Chinese Theatre & the Walk of Fame are located. We were both tired at this point, so after snapping a few pics, we found a coffee shop near the Chinese Theatre and got a drink until it was time to head back to Anaheim.

As last minute travel decisions go, this one was a much needed surprise. Would sign up and do it all again, if given the chance. Next time just hope to have a few days vs. a few hours to spend exploring LA.