Soaring on a Sunday

From Dec 3, 2012         KA-CHOW!!! It's December and time for lots of great activities for the family to do this month.  My family was invited up to California Adventure and Disneyland to check out the Holiday decorations.  We headed over to the new Cars Land and were not disappointed! The decorations were amazing! As you can see in the above collage, there were "Cars" themed Christmas trees throughout Cars Land, and also some wonderful holiday decorations throughout California Adventure and Disneyland. We rode the "Radiator Springs" ride and had the best time.   I just have to share a few pics from the day, then I'll share some great events and activities going on this month.     

From Collages Cars Land was a blast, but so was the rest of California Adventure. My husband rode Screaming California, the whole family enjoyed our never-to-be-missed ride on Soaring Over San Diego, uh, I mean Soaring over California and we even took a picture with Mickey and Minnie! Fun Times.   

From 12-1-12 California Adventure

From 12-1-12 California Adventure Time to check out some of what's going on this week in San Diego.   Upcoming Holiday/Christmas events:   Wednesday, Dec. 5th, 2-4pm.  Meet Santa at Birch Aquarium. As part of Make-A-Wish, Santa will be stopping by Birch Aquarium to read a classic holiday story, greet children, and spend the afternoon. Included in admission.   Friday, Dec. 7th, 3-8pm. Snow Mountain, open house and Parade in Coronado.   Friday, Dec. 7th & 14th, 5:30-9:30pm, $10.  Holiday of Lights and Holiday Hayride at Del Mar Fairgrounds. Cookies, cider, carolers and a hayride.   Friday and Saturdays, starting Dec 7th thru Dec. 22nd. Santa Train North Pole Limited. Santa boards the train and share stories with the kids.   Saturday, Dec 8th, 11am-3pm. Free crafts for kids at the Lakeshore Learning Store, Hazard Center, San Diego. Snowy Days Sled. Free.   Sunday, Dec 9th, 11am-4pm. Santa at the Lakes. Sledding, s'mores, carnivals crafts and more at Santee Lakes Recreation Park.   Saturday, Dec 15th & Sunday, Dec 16th.  The Nutcracker Ballet by the West Coast Ballet Theatre.   Saturday, December 8th, 2-4pm.  A Holiday English High Tea at the Keys Creek Lavender Farm. Reservations required, $35 per person, followed by a free event from 3-7pm with food, hot drinks, lights, music and Santa.   Holiday Snow Days at Legoland, daily through Dec 31st. Snow Play, live music, carolers, fireworks.   "Let it Snow" at the Reuben H Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park, through Jan 6th. Music and digital show of music from Frank Sinatra and Burl Ives.   Dr Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas performance at the Old Globe Theatre, through Dec. 29th.   Also, lots of great places to ice skate: Viejas, Alpine Horton Plaza, San Diego Hotel del Coronado, Coronado     Other great activities this week and upcoming:   Begins Dec 26th thru April 14th, Whale Watching on twice daily cruises.    I'll be listing more here and on our Facebook page during the week and as they come up. Feel free to share some of your favorite Holiday activities and "not to miss" Holiday places to go with us here in the comments or on our Facebook page.  

Enjoy the Holiday Season and all that it brings, and....

Keep Soaring and Landing Safely,

In Beautiful, Sunny

San Diego!

Your Soaring Mama,

Mandy

Soaring on a Sunday

How's your weekend going? Been a bit drizzly here in San Diego, but that doesn't stop the fun! This photo was taken at a Disney event during the holidays. Disneyland, just 1-2 hours north of San Diego, in Anaheim is a lot of fun during this time of year. During "Holidays at Disneyland", the park is lit up with beautiful holiday decorations, a beautiful Main Street Christmas tree, thousands of Christmas lights and a special holiday fireworks show. Something you don't want to miss!

If you're not up to the drive, there's still lots of great holiday activities right here in San Diego county! Here's just a few of them. Be sure to also check out our facebook for frequently updated posts!

Monday, December 19 | 12pm–3pm, Holiday Celebration, Free with paid admission at
The New Children's Museum, San Diego
Join us for a special entertainment, workshops, and holiday activities. Toddlers can learn hip-hop moves in a dance class with Culture Shock Dance Center at 12:30pm. Camp Glee Club goes on at 1:30pm, followed by the Monarch Steel Drum Band at 2:30pm

Wednesday, December 21, 6:00pm - 7:00pm. GingerBread House Decorating, Mission Valley Branch Library.
Come and decorate a gingerbread house! The house and frosting will be supplied - all you need to bring is a bag of candy to decorate and share with the other decorators. Space is limited; sign up early. Reservations will be taken at the Checkout Desk. Mission Valley Branch Library, 2123 Fenton Parkway, San Diego. 858-573-5007.

Wednesdays, 11 am. Crafts at Playtown, El Cajon. Kids and parents make a themed craft every week using the child’s handprints. $4 plus admission. $8 per child; adults and kids under 9 mos. free. Play Town, 858 Jackman St., El Cajon.

Through the first week of January. Fri.-Wed., 10 am-4 pm; closed on holidays. Poinsettia Display at Balboa Park. The 25th Annual Poinsettia Display turn the historic Botanical Building into a glowing tribute to the holidays. Free. Botanical Bldg., Balboa Park.

Santa vs the Snowman, Ruben H Fleet Science Museum, IMAX theater. See Calendar of Events for movie times.

Through December 26th. Gingerbread Mountain Village. A must-see attraction made of more than 300 pounds of gingerbread dough, 400 pounds of sugar icing and 18 pounds of chocolate! Free. Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, 7100 Aviara Resort Dr., Carlsbad.

Poinsettia Bowl Gaslamp March. The marching bands from each of the competing schools in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl face off in a musical showdown on Fifth Avenue just two days prior to the big game at Qualcomm Stadium. This thrilling battle of the bands will have you riveted, so be sure to snag a spot on a fabulous Gaslamp patio and watch the commotion - the March is scheduled to begin promptly at 6 pm, so plan ahead and get to the Gaslamp Quarter early! Free event.

Enjoy the season and....

Keep Soaring and landing safely

in Beautiful (mostly) Sunny

San Diego!

Your Soaring Mama,

Mandy

Friday's "Soar and Explore!"

From SDFS Day at the Zoo, 2011-11-29

This adorable little Fennec Fox is an animal ambassador at the zoo.

This week we went to the San Diego Zoo with a group of friends. We saw many of the exhibits we hadn't seen in the past. They will also be having "Jungle Bells" at the zoo, which is a holiday celebration with lights starting December 9th and going through January 1st.

Here's just a couple of photos that I took while there.

From SDFS Day at the Zoo, 2011-11-29

The meerkats are one of my favorites and this little guy didn't mind posing for me.

From SDFS Day at the Zoo, 2011-11-29

From SDFS Day at the Zoo, 2011-11-29

From SDFS Day at the Zoo, 2011-11-29

The skyfari aerial tram allows for some beautiful views from above, you can even see incoming planes flying over the California Tower on the Museum of Man building. This weekend the zoo is allowing round trip tram rides for $4 during the Balboa Park December Nights Celebration on Dec 2nd & 3rd starting at 5pm. It'll be a wonderful experience to be able to view all the lovely lights in Balboa Park from above. They'll also offer Santa's Express Miniature Railroad, by the zoo's exit with rides for $3, which is a 3 minute holiday ride.

There's always so much to see while there, you can't possibly see it all in one day so it's nice to buy their annual passes so you can come back as frequently as you choose during the year. The passes are also good for the Safari Park in Escondido, which our family loves to go to frequently!

We saw some colorful birds and flowers as well, while there.

From SDFS Day at the Zoo, 2011-11-29

From SDFS Day at the Zoo, 2011-11-29

Try not to miss the Jungle Bells this season. There's lots of great activities going on at the zoo and also at Balboa Park.

Here's a little video from the zoo's website about the upcoming "Jungle Bells".

Enjoy the holidays and....
.

May you all continue to soar and explore....

in beautiful, sunny San Diego!

Your Soaring Mama

Mandy

Soaring on a Sunday

"Sunbathing Santa" taken at Legoland in 2010.

(Well, why wouldn't he be sunbathing? He's in San Diego!)

Our family was travelling this Thanksgiving Holiday week. We went to beautiful Sedona, AZ. Have you been there? Definitely, should be on your "go to" list! We traveled on the Kumeyaay highway 8 east through San Diego and Imperial counties, driving over the Laguna Summit at 4000 ft elevation, through the Anza Borrego desert where we saw the sand dunes and beautiful ocotillo and other cactus lovelies, over the Colorado river in Yuma, through some small but interestingly named towns like Coyote Wash and Gila Bend, and then through some beautiful desert in AZ, through Phoenix, then upwards to Sedona. And, wow! When you get to Oak Creek and start seeing those beautiful red rocks, it just takes your breath away. I'll be posting more about our trip over at "2nd to the right", my personal blog (since it's not technically "San Diego") but will share a link here this week.

So, where did your family spend Thanksgiving? Did you go anywhere special, or stay home and enjoy the consistently enjoyable weather here in San Diego! I hope it was great!

Now, on to what's happening here in San Diego this week. Lots of great things to do with the family with the holidays quickly approaching.

Through January 2nd, Holiday Snow Days at Legoland! The Park has everything that’s merry, including twinkling lights and bright decorations. A life-sized LEGO brick Santa and Reindeer make the perfect family photo. Search for miniature Santas and reindeer delivering toys throughout Miniland USA.

Weekends Nov. 19-Dec. 11, and daily Dec. 17-Jan 1st, SnowWorld at SeaWorld. Shamu's special Christmas Show and play in the snow at SeaWorld!

Friday, December 9th,k 4-8 pm, Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo.

Friday, Dec. 2, 5-10pm, and Saturday, Dec. 3, noon-10pm. Balboa Park December Nights. Participating Balboa Park museums open their doors free of charge from 5-9 pm both evenings and more than 300,000 visitors are expected to experience the joy of San Diego’s largest free community festival. Those who attend will participate in a truly multicultural experience, enjoying food, music and entertainment from around the world. Revelers can watch top-notch musical and dance performances, enjoy delicious and diverse food choices and help spread a heavy dose of holiday cheer. Some of the more well-known traditions include food from around the globe at the International Christmas Festival at the House of Pacific Relations Cottages; the annual Santa Lucia Procession at the Plaza de California; unique gift shopping at the museum stores and with the artisans of Spanish Village; and musical and dance presentations from the San Diego Junior Theatre, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, Del Cerro Baptist’s Christmas Story Tree, and more.

December 2, 12-7pm, Coronado Holiday Open House and Parade. 3:00-8:00pm Recreation Department's Snow Mountain at the Ferry Landing. 3:20pm Santa arrives at the Ferry Landing Marketplace. 5:30-9pm Merchants Open House on Orange Avenue. 6:00-7pm Chamber of Commerce's Christmas Parade down Orange Avenue. 7:00pm Lighting of the Rotary Park Christmas Tree. 7:15pm Coronado Community Band Concert in Rotary Park. 7:15pm Concert at 9th & Orange - Live Band

December 3rd, Encinitas Holiday Parade.Thousands of people will be on floats and in bands with tens of thousands more cheering them on as the 2011 Encinitas Holiday Parade rolls along Coast Highway 101 on Saturday, December 3rd. The 5:30 pm parade is preceded by a 5:00 pm treelighting ceremony at the Lumberyard (near Starbucks).

December 3rd, 9-4pm, Summer's Past Farm's Antique and Craft Fair.Over 60 fine craftsman and expert artisans can be found at this event. Crafts, collectibles, antiques, and a garden sale all on our spacious lawn area. Enjoy your day shopping for the holidays at this great outdoor event.The coffee bar will have drinks and snacks.

November 25th through December 23rd, Oma's Christmas Trees Patch. Tuesday-Friday 2pm-8pm; Saturdays 10am-7pm, CLOSED Sunday & Monday. Pay to Play is $5.00 per child 1 yr. and older. Includes water bottle, candy cane and all the fun activities that the pumpkin patch offers. All adults are free.

Through January 1st, Holiday of Lights, Del Mar Fairground. The Holiday of Lights at the Del Mar Fairgrounds
is the largest animated drive-through light show on the West Coast. More than 400 twinkling, lively displays located around the Del Mar Racetrack will delight your family. Make it your holiday tradition. Holiday hay rides on Friday, Nov. 25, Dec. 2, 9 and 16.

Sunday, December 11th and 18th, San Diego Bay Parade of Lights. Fireworks and Light parade.

December 4th, 2-5pm. Holiday Wonderland in Del Mar Village. Free. Photos With Santa • Holiday Arts & Crafts • Music Performances • Dance Performances • Snow • Fun Zone • Cake Walk • Horse & Carriage Rides • Face Painting & Henna Tattoos • Restaurant Tastes & Much More!

December 4th , 2pm. La Jolla Christmas Parade and Festival.

So many great things to choose from to get you in the holiday spirit!

Anything going on in your area of San Diego that you'd like to share about, holiday or non-holiday related. Feel free to share in the comments or on our facebook page here.

Enjoy the Season and continue to....

Keep Soaring and landing safely,

in beautiful, sunny

San Diego!

Your Soaring Mama,

Mandy

Soaring on a Sunday

Lots of tree lighting ceremonies this week and next as well as some Holiday crafts fairs, holiday themed plays and musicals. So many fun events to chose from. What will you be doing? Feel free to share your favorite holiday events to go to in San Diego with us here in the comments or on our facebook page.

November 29th-December 31st, 11am, 2pm & 5pm. Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego Balboa Park.

November 25th-27th. Santa's Coming Arts and Crafts Fair at Bates Nut Farm, Valley Center.

November 24th 7am. O'Side Turkey Trot at Oceanside Pier. 5K and 5 Mile run/walks. 1 mi for kids.
November 23rd-January 1, 2012 2-5pm and 6-9pm. Ice Skating by the Sea, The Del, Hotel del Coronado.

Starting December 1st - 24th, Nightly Tree Lighting at Legoland. Also, enjoy Holiday Snow Days at Legoland through January 2nd.

Weekends through Dec 11th, daily 17th-Jan 1st. Christmas Celebrations. Snow World and Polar Express 4D at Seaworld.

Starting December 11th. Jungle Bells at San Diego Zoo. Nightly tree-lighting ceremony, bell ringers filling the air with music, and lighted animal figures dotting the grounds. Dr. Zoolittle has an interactive "Night before Christmas" show, and you can make some new friends during "Animal Magic for the Holidays" critter presentations. Munch holiday specialties, take a "Candy Cane Lane Magical Journey," and experience even more seasonal cheer—Zoo style

Sunday, December 4th, Tree Lighting Escondido Center for the Arts

Sunday, December 4th, 2pm. Center for the Arts Annual Concert Meals on Wheels

Saturday, December 3rd, 4-730pm, Little Italy tree lighting, San Diego.

Saturday, December 3rd, 3-8pm, Gourmet Trucks and San Elijo tree lighting in Santa's Magical Village in San Marcos.

December 5th, 9-12pm, Pups on Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony
Spend a weekend in Carlsbad this holiday season with a puppy christmas parade and tree lighting ceremony. There will be fun and games for the kids, shopping, food and drinks and of course the puppy parade.

Enjoy your holidays and...

Keep Soaring and landing safely,

in Beautiful, Sunny

San Diego!

Your Soaring Mama,

Mandy

Soaring on a Sunday

We're coming up on the holiday season and many local San Diego towns are having their Holiday Lighting Ceremonies in the next two coming weeks, along with fun activities for the family. Here are just a few as well as some other fun family activities going on in your area.

Tuesday, November 15th, 7-9pm. Lecture on Luiseno Indians at Mission San Luis Rey, Oceanside. Free.

Tuesday, November 15th. Open Tower Day at Cabrillo National Monument, Point Loma. One of only two days each year where the tower to the lighthouse is open to the public.

Friday, November 18th 530-830pm. Santee Holiday Lighting Celebration. Live entertainment, carriage rides, Santa Claus, kids crafts, cookie decorating, ice skating and more.

Saturday, November 19th, 10am-4pm. San Elijo Holiday Boutique, San Marcos. Arts and crafts, vendors, food, entertainment, free children's craft area.

Saturday, November 19th, 6pm. Santa Parade and Tree Lighting at Otay Ranch Town Center, Chula Vista. Parade, entertainment, bands.

Sunday, November 20th, 6pm. Old Globe Christmas Tree Lighting at Copley Plaza. Free, but limited amount of tickets, visit their facebook for details .

Sunday, November 20th, 10am. Mother Goose Parade, El Cajon. Family friendly parade.

Sunday, November 20th, 9am-4pm. Street Faire and Fall Festival in Encinitas. Vendors, arts & crafts, antiques, clothing, entertainment.

Sunday, November 20th 12-5pm. Free Family Day & Festival at SD Museum of Art in Balboa Park.

Have a great week!

And, don't forget to:

Keep Soaring and Landing Safely

in Beautiful, Sunny

San Diego!

Your Soaring Mama,

Mandy

Happy Halloween

Have a Happy & Safe Halloween!

Your soaring mama,

Mandy

Soaring on a Sunday

From San Diego Safari Park

With Halloween almost behind us there's lots more Fall/Winter activities coming up over the next 2 months. Holiday Craft Fairs, Holiday Open Houses, Fall Festivals. Now, go out there and have some fun!

Coming up in November we have:

November 10th, 5-8pm, Holiday Open House at Summer's Past Farms. Beautifully decorated in an old-fashioned Christmas theme there will be special holdiay soaps and other gifts available for purchase. Bring your favorite homemade cookies to share and there will be Christmas music and hot wassail to enjoy. See website for more details.

Sunday, November 6th, 8am-4pm, Carlsbad Village Street Faire. Exhibitors, international food, live entertainment, and children's rides.

Sunday, November 6th, 11am-4pm, Gaslamp Quarters "Fall Back, The Children's Historic Street Faire". Free admission, some fees for some activities. Old Fashioned festivities such as ice cream and pie eating contests, pony and wagon rides, historical recreations and demos with 19th century blacksmith, prospectors teaching kids to pan for gold, butter churning and candle dipping and a Wild West Shoot out. Sounds like so much fun!!! See website for more details.

Saturday & Sunday, November 5th & 6th, 9-430 & 9-330pm, Christmas on the Farm, 2011 Arts 'n Craft Fair at Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center.

Saturday, November 5th, 9am-4pm, Taste the Coast, Oceanside Pier. Eat and Browse at Taste the Coast. Great local food, sports and service booths and music. Will be the finish line for Bike the Coast bike tour. Event is free.

Thursday, November 3rd, 430-730pm. Reach the Peak, run or walk at Black Mountain Open Space Park in San Diego. Different races to pick from including trail races, endurance race, adventure race, king or queen of the hill or JUST for fun! Register day of and recieve lots of great SWAG!

Friday & Saturday, November 4-5th, Mira Costa's Stargazing Party, Mira Costa College. See hundreds of stars through telescopes at the baseball fields at Mira Costa College. 8pm-10pm.

Saturday, November 5th, 12pm, Heritage Park Fall Festival, Oceanside Heritage Park. Children's games, chili cook-off, live music. 12-3pm.

Have a great week and....

Keep Soaring and landing safely

in beautiful, sunny San Diego!

Your Soaring Mama,

Mandy

Legoland during the Holidays

Legoland is always a lot of fun, but during the Holidays it is especially fun to see all the Holiday Lego creations around the park. We spent a good hour or more playing "Where's Santa" in the Lego miniland finding the Lego Santa in places all over the US. See if you can find him too, below:

For more fun looking for Santa go to my "Where's Lego Santa?" flickr set. How many can you find?

We hope your Christmas Holiday Season was magical and we'd like to wish you and your family a Wonderful New Year!!!

Mandy & Dawn