Soaring on a Sunday

Moonlight Beach, Encinitas

How's your summer going? We hope you're out there enjoying the sunshine, the warm beach days, swimming at the local pool, BBQs & bonfires with friends and families, concerts at the park. We're so fortunate here in San Diego to have such an abundance of wonderful family activities to choose from, many of them free. Here's a few for you to check out this week!

Wednesday, July 20th, 1130-3pm, Opening Day at Del Mar Racetrack. Truly Fabulous Hat Contest. Races through 9/7 Wed-Sun.

Through August 21, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Summer Safari: An African Extravaganza, Escondido. Entertainment, activities, and animals that embrace the spirit of Africa. Also, you can enjoy Roar & Snore, camping in the park.

Through August 10th, Geppetto's Make it & Take it, $5 activities ages 5 and up at a Geppetto's near you.

Mondays through Aug 29th, Summer Intn'l Organ Festival, Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park, free.

July 20th-24th, 11am, 1 & 230pm, $3-$5, Pirate Paul's Pirate Party, Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theatre, Balboa Park.

Through June, 2012, Geometry Playground, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, Balboa Park. Traveling exhibition from San Francisco. An engaging exhibit of more than 20 "do touch" math-based investigations.

Through Aug 31st, 9am-5pm, Boundless Energy, Birch Aquarium at Scripps, La Jolla. Discover renewable energy sources through hands-on activities such as powering a mechanical fish with solar energy, creating green energy at wave tanks and water tables and more.

Through Aug 31st, 10am-430pm, Modern Day Mummy-The Art & Science of Mummification, SD Museum of Man, Balboa Park.

July 18th, 10am, WFamily Days: In Living Color, Westfield Plaza N. County, Escondido & on July 20th at 4pm at Westifield Plaza Bonita, National City. Stories about famous artists and works of art, and art-themed crafts for kids and families. Free.

Saturday, July 23rd-24th, U.S. Sandcastle Open Band Lineup, Imperial Beach. Vendors, entertainment, fireworkds, food. Reggae, beach music, rock, Tae Kwon Do demo, and more!

Through Sept. 1st, SD Botanic Garden, Encinitas, Thursday Family Fun Nights. Music in the Lawn Garden. Free with admission to the Garden.

Tuesday, July 19th 620pm, Tango on the Beach, Learn to tango for free, Oceanside Pier Amphitheater.

Sunday, July 24th, Oceanside Open Slalom Skateboard Race, Oceanside.

What exciting things have you done this summer? Any plans you'd like to share? Feel free to leave them in the comments.

Keep Soaring (& landing safely)

in beautiful, sunny San Diego!

Your Soaring Mamas,

Mandy & Dawn

Soaring on a Sunday

Happy 4th of July! Time for picnics, parades, BBQs, swimming and fireworks! There's so many great places to go on the 4th to celebrate our nation's birthday. Be it an old fashioned 4th or enjoying fireworks over the shorelines of San Diego, there's sure to be something going on that your family can enjoy. Here are just a few of them.....

July 4th Fireworks, games booths, music and food in Ramona held behind Olive Pierce Middle School at 1521 Hanson Lane. Fireworks show is free!

4th of July Parade at 10am, 11-1 activities in Hoyt Park, free ice cream social hosted by Baskin Robbins in Scripps Ranch.


Celebrate July 4th in Julian. Parade, old fashioned, small town celebrations. Antique tractors, a carosel, Buffalo Bill, vintage aircraft flyovers, and bands!

Old Town San Diego 1800s July 4th celebration with food, fun & prizes 11am-4pm. Parade, pie-eating contest, sack races, cake walk, 1800s music and dancing and more!

32nd Annual Ocean Beach Fireworks off the Pier. Set your radio to Sophie 103.7 for live simulcast.

Poway Old-Fashioned 4th of July at Old Poway Park. Arts and crafts for kids, old-fashioned games, picnic, ice cream social and more! Model Trains, blacksmith demonstrations, quilters.

Santee Salutes July 4th. 330-930pm. Town Center Community Park West, Santee. Carnival rides, food, cotton candy, kettle corn, fireworks and music!

Universal City 4th of July Celebration at Standley Park, San Diego. 5K walk, pancake breakfast, parade, scavenger hunt makes for a fun day!

Spirit of the Fourth Patriotic Music concert in Rancho Bernardo, parade and festivities.

Check out and join our facebook page for up to date information on July 4th activities going on in San Diego.

Have a safe, fun 4th of July!

And as always,

Keep soaring (& landing safely)

in beautiful, sunny San Diego!

Your soaring mamas,

Mandy & Dawn

Mission Trails Regional Park - San Diego

Several of our young unschooler friends have taken an interest in edible herbs recently, so Dawn set up the walk for us all one afternoon.We went on an edible herbs walk at Mission Trails Regional Park in San Diego with herbalist Anne Salazar Dunbar of Pharmaca. It really is amazing the amount of edibles that grow wild here in San Diego. Anne pointed out many as we walked the trail by the dam at this beautiful county park. We had unusually mild weather which made for a nice, comfortable stroll. We saw much sage scrub, chapparal, mustard, primrose, buckwheat and beautiful coast oaks. The area is also known for the Kumayaay Indians that once lived and flourished in the area. There are several archaeological sites that can be found where acorns were ground and tools made.

Not everything was edible, but there were many varieties of plants and flowers in bloom that made for a visually appetizing afternoon!

There's a Visitor & Interpretive Center at the other end of the trail located at
One Fr. Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego. It's a beautiful, nicely designed center that provides educational exhibits, films and a library. There's a nice amphitheater area that the girls have really enjoyed playing with their friends at on prior visits.

There's a campground there as well, but I recommend waiting for cooler weather as it gets quite warm in the area this time of year.
It is one of San Diego's treasures and I hope you have the opportunity to check it out sometime!

Keep Soaring and landing safely

in Beautiful San Diego!

Your Soaring Mamas,

Mandy & Dawn

Soaring on a Sunday

What are your plans this summer? Stay home and stay cool? Visit some amusement and water parks? Take a tropical vacation? Well, one thing for sure, there's plenty to do in sunny San Diego! Here's just a few you might want to check out this summer:


Summer time Camp at the NAT, SD Natural History Museum, Balboa Park

May 14th-April 15th, 2012, Ends of the Earth: Polar Bears to Penguins, SD Natural History Museum, Balboa Park

June 25th – September 5th, 2pm-9pm, Nighttime Zoo-China Celebration, San Diego Zoo, San Diego

Sunday, June 26th, San Diego Pirate Faire, Four Points Sheraton in Kearny Mesa

June 26th 8pm, Honk!, Plays in the Park, Kit Carson Park, Escondido

June 26th (2nd day), San Diego Scottish Highland Games & Gathering of the Clans, Vista

July 2nd- August 21st, 9am-7pm, Summer Safari African Extravaganza, SD Zoo Safari Park, Escondido

July 4th, 3pm-6pm, 12th Annual Independence Day Celebration & Fireworks, picnic, art activities, games, & fireworks! California Center for the Arts, Escondido, Grape Park. FREE

Balboa Park: Screen on the Green, Twilight in the Park, & Summer Camps, Organ Festival, & Shakespeare Festival. All going on this summer!




Places to splash and cool off this summer!


Knott's Soak City, San Diego, all summer long!

Legoland Waterpark, Carlsbad

Santee Lakes Regional Park, Water Spray Park

Viejas Interactive Fountain at the Viejas Outlet Center, Alpine

Hilton Head County Park, El Cajon

Sesame Street Bay of Play, SeaWorld, San Diego

Feel free to share your favorite place to cool off this summer in the comments!


Keep Soaring and landing safely

in Beautiful San Diego!

Your Soaring Mamas,

Mandy & Dawn

Soaring on a Sunday

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! Hope you have a fun-filled day with your family! If you're still looking for something to do today for Father's Day, check out last week's post here.

Here's what's going on this week in San Diego:

June 20th-August 29th, 730pm, 2011 Summer International Organ Festival, Balboa Park.

Friday, June 24th-Sunday, June 26th, Temecula Street Painting Festival, Temecula.

June 25th-September 5th, Nighttime Zoo China Celebration at the San Diego Zoo.

Sundays at 6(pm), Summer Concert series in La Mesa.

Sunday, June 26th (and monthly), 1pm-330pm, Making a Difference in the Lagoon, San Dieguito Lagoon.

Open Air Markets/Farmer's Markets:

Every Sunday, 9am-1pm, La Jolla open air market, Girard & Center.

Tuesdays on Grand, Escondido Certified Farmer's Market, 330pm-7pm May-Sept, Grand & Juniper.

Friday 10am-2pm, Fallbrook Certified Farmers Market. Main and Alvarado.

Sundays 11am-4pm, Julian Certified Farmer's Market, Hwy 78.

Sundays 10am-2pm, Leucadia/Encinitas Farmer's Market and Art Fair, 185 Union St.

More can be found here.

Check out our Facebook Page for frequent updates of fun activities for the family in San Diego!

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Enjoy your Father's Day and.....

Keep Soaring and landing safely

in Beautiful San Diego!

Your Soaring Mamas,

Mandy & Dawn

Soaring on a Sunday

The 2011 San Diego County Fair opened this weekend and is open through Monday, July 4th. This year's theme is "Race to the Fair" and the Fair is celebrating with many displays of amazing automobiles. There's some great entertainment going on including; Flock of Seagulls, Bill Engvall, Weird Al, Randy Travis, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Switchfoot, Melissa Etheridge, Doobie Brothers, Neon Trees, The Beach Boys, Joan Jett. Wow!!! So many great line-ups! Theres a special $3 Tuesday on June 14th, such a great deal and it's available at Albertsons, check website for details. I love the variety of food and the exhibits. What's your favorite part of the Fair? Please share in the comments.

Here's what else is going on next week:

Sunday June 12th:

This Sunday and every Sunday 12-4 Free Concerts at Seaport Village.

Saturday June 18th:

Saturday, June 18th 10am-1:30pm, Fairy Festival, San Diego Botanic Garden, Encinitas.

Saturday, June 18th 10am-4pm, Summer Herb Festival and Plant Sale, Diane's Herbs, Fallbrook.

Saturday, June 18th 9am-430pm, Vista Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum Spring Tractor Show. Demonstrations, wagon rides, craft booths, weaving, blacksmithing.

Saturday, June 18th 1030am-12pm, Art in Action, A Taste of Ireland, California Center for the Arts, Escondido. Learn about Irish food traditions, sample treats and prepare Irish soda Bread to back at home.

Upcoming Father's Day events & more:

Sunday, June 19th 10am-4pm, Julian's Gold Rush Days Father's Day Old-Fashioned Picnic at Frank Lane Park, Farmer Rd next to the fire station. Egg toss, watermelon eating contest, 3-legged race, sack race, cake walk & more!

Sunday, June 19th, 29th Annual Hubbell Open House and Studio Tours, Santa Ysabel. Enjoy beautiful landscaping, historic art sites, sculptures.

Friday, June 17th 4pm-9am, Father's Day Sleepover at the Zoo.

Sunday, June 19th 11am, Father's Day Buffet at the Zoo.

Sunday, June 19th 9am-11:15am, Father's Day Pancake Breakfast, Paddock Green, San Diego Fairgrounds, $13 includes Fair Admission!

Keep Soaring (& landing safely) in

Sunny San Diego!

Your Soaring Mamas,

Mandy & Dawn

Soaring on a Sunday

Dawn and I are both just getting back from road trips. Mine to the Pacific Northwest (Picture above of Columbia River between Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR) for an unschooling conference and Dawn's to the midwest to see family. It's taken several days to recuperate, but I'm looking forward to getting back into our rhythm of everyday life in San Diego. So many great things going on today and coming up. Hope you're able to enjoy some of them.

Sunday, June 5th (today)

Today, Encinitas is having a Environment Day and giving away a bicycle and other great prizes! Go check it out!

Ms Frizzle at the SD Natural History Museum.

Rock & Roll Marathon, San Diego, today.

Strings in the Garden, San Diego Botanic Garden, 4-7pm. String Serenades by children of all ages.

City of Encinitas Pet Health Expo, Encinitas, 9-1pm.

Fiesta del Sol, Solana Beach, free.

Oceanside Museum of Art, FREE DAY today 1-4pm.

Next weekend:

Sunday June 12th 9am & 3pm, Antique and Collectible Show, Escondido Center for the Arts, Conference Center.

Saturday June 11th 530pm, Body Rock Dance Competition, Escondido Center for the Arts, Concert Hall, presale tickets.

Keep Soaring (& landing safely) in

Sunny San Diego!

Your Soaring Mamas,

Mandy & Dawn