15 Commandments of Vacation Travel

Soooo I stole this from Bedandbreakfast.com, but I thought it was a good article. I should definitely keep some of these tips in mind!

Fifteen Commandments of Vacation Travel

We all know people who come back from a vacation feeling on top of the world, and others who seem vaguely disappointed. Here's how to put yourself in the first category, not the second.

Know yourself. A successful vacation is one that works for the person you are, not the person you think you should be. Confirmed couch potatoes who resent having to walk from the far end of the parking lot will not find true fulfillment on a trek through the Himalayas. If privacy is a top priority, a group tour or communal lodge will turn fantasy into frustration. Acknowledge your own comfort levels. Are independence and flexibility top concerns? Or being structured and secure? How essential are the creature comforts when it comes to sleeping, eating, and bathing? Would you rather have one week of luxury travel or two weeks of budget food and accommodation? And remember that while your personality doesn't change, your needs do. The type of vacation you plan for a romantic getaway is totally different from a family reunion.

Know your travel companions. Adjust your plans to accommodate your travel partners. Whether you are traveling with friends, spouse, children, and/or parents, you'll need to take their age, attention span, agility, and interests into account. If you're traveling with the kids, balance a morning at an art museum with an afternoon at the zoo; if you're spending time with elderly parents, make sure that they can stroll a country lane while you go rock-climbing; if your group includes skiers and non-skiers, pick a resort that has appealing shops and off-slopeactivities.

Plan ahead: anticipation is half the fun. Enjoy the planning process. The more you know about an area you're going to visit, the more fun you'll have. Check out destination websites; skim a guidebook; read a novel or watch a movie set in the region; talk to friends who have been there recently.

Don't bite off more than you can chew. Keep your itinerary in line with the amount of time and money available. Focus on seeing a smaller area well, rather than trying to cover too much ground and seeing nothing but interstate highways. Don't over-program; allow yourself the luxury of doing nothing.
Avoid one-night stands. Plan to stay a minimum of two nights everywhere you go. A vacation made up of one-nighters is a prescription for exhaustion. You will sleep poorly, spend most of your time packing/unpacking and in transit, and will get only the smallest glimpse of the place you're visiting.

Travel off-season. Unless your vacation dates are dictated by the school calendar, off-season travel offers many advantages: fewer crowds, greater flexibility, reduced costs, and a more relaxed atmosphere. Learn to pick the best dates for off-season travel; typically these are the weeks just before and after seasonal rates change.
Book well ahead for peak season travel. If you must travel during peak periods to popular destinations, make reservations well in advance for the key sites to avoid aggravation, extra phone calls, and additional driving time.

Take the road less traveled. Get off the beaten path and leave the crowds behind. Instead of booking a room in the heart of the action, find a quiet getaway tucked in the hills or in a neighboring village.

Ditch the car. You’ll need a car to get most destinations, but once you're there, get out and walk. You'll see more, learn more, experience more at every level, while avoiding crowds at even the most popular destinations.

Hang loose. The unexpected is inevitable. When your plans go astray (and they will), relax and let serendipity surprise you. And keep your sense of humor in good working order. If possible, travel without reservations or a set itinerary.

Carpe diem--seize the day. Don't be afraid to follow your impulses. If a special souvenir catches your eye, buy it; don't wait to see if you'll find it again later. If a hiking trail looks too inviting to pass up, don't; that museum or outlet mall will wait for a rainy day.

Don't suffer in silence. When things go wrong--an incompetent guide, car troubles, a noisy room--speak up. Politely but firmly express your concern then and there; get your room changed, ask for a refund or discount, whatever. Most people in the travel business would rather have you go away happy than to leave grumbling.

Remember--being there is more than seeing there. People travel to see the sights--museums and mountains, shops and scenery--but it is making new friends that can make a trip memorable. Leave a door open to the people-to-people experiences that enrich travel immeasurably.

Don't leave home to find home. The quickest way to take the wind out of the sails of your trip is to compare things to the way they are at home. Enjoy different styles and cultures for what they are and avoid comparisons and snap judgments.

Give yourself permission to disregard all of the above. Nothing is immutable. If you find a pattern that works for you, enjoy it!


Read the article here.



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DK Publishing

Our hotel has been named as one of the Top 10 Bed & Breakfasts the DK Eyewitness Travel Top 10 San Diego guidebook!

Since 1974, Dorling Kindersley has published a wide range of internationally acclaimed books including the award-winning Eyewitness Travel Guides. This flagship series covers more than 100 cities, regions, and countries and has been published in over 30 languages worldwide.

Wanna check out the book? Check out this link.



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Some All Time Summer Music Hits

In a random burst of inspiration, I decided to look up some of the top hit summer songs in the past couple of decades. Here's what I found from about.com. I'll admit that there are a couple of these I don't know (is this a testament to my age or my ignorance?) so I best be getting my listen on!


Here's a look at some of the rock songs that best depict the (mostly) bright side of the warm weather days of misspent youth.


"Summer In the City" - Lovin' Spoonful

"Hot town, summer in the city ..." was the anthem for hot July nights in the summer of 1966 when it was a #1 single from the album Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful. It makes the back of my neck feel dirty and gritty just thinking about it.


"Summertime" - Billy Stewart

"Fish are jumping and the cotton is high ..." suggests a "summer in the country" counterpoint to the Lovin' Spoonful's homage to hot weather. Billy Stewart's rendition -- the album version with more scat and a hot sax not heard on the radio single -- is the best. Nothing says summer quite like "Brrrrrrrrrrrr-up-ch-chuck-chuck-chooka-chuck-chuck...hooh!"


"In the Summertime" - Mungo Jerry

Billy Stewart didn't have anything on these guys when it came to making vocal sound effects. Their first #1 single was imminently sing-alongable with lyrics like "Da da da dee da doo dee da dee da dee da da." They also had a solid list of great ways to waste your time "when the weather is fine ... " like swimming in the sea, driving fast, drinking, and having "women on your mind."

"Summertime Blues" - Blue Cheer

Quick. Name a band or artist who hasn't covered this classic that originated with Eddie Cochran in 1958. Blue Cheer's hard rock version is one of the best (with T Rex and The Who in a tie for second).


"Hot Fun in the Summertime" - Sly and the Family Stone

The best version of this often-covered summer song about a "county fair in the country sun" is the one recorded by Sly and the Family Stone shortly after their performance at Woodstock in 1969. The fact that "them summer days" caused English teachers to cringe just made it that much more popular with a generation of rebellious youngsters.

"All Summer Long" - Beach Boys

No self-respecting list of songs about summer would be complete without at least one song by the Beach Boys, for whom summer provided the basis for a musical genre unto itself. It's summer summarized: "T-shirts, cut-offs, and a pair of thongs ... we've been having fun all summer long."

"Summer (Can't Last Too Long)" - Asia

Remember how we couldn't wait for summer, and how quickly it zipped by once it finally arrived? "I'll be making the most of summertime, crazy nights and lazy days ..." sums it up pretty well.

"The Boys of Summer" - Don Henley

The theme is a little bit melancholy, but the summertime imagery is quite vivid, as in "Your brown skin shinin' in the sun, you got that top pulled down and that radio on ...". An electronic sound like a sea gull completes the imagery.

"Summer of '69" - Bryan Adams

"That summer seemed to last forever ... those were the best days of my life." Evenings at the drive-in and hours spent in a high school rock band give "Summer of '69" its charm.

"Daisy Summer Piper" - Joni Mitchell

This is easily the best song about summer that you've never heard. Joni Mitchell wrote, but never recorded it, nor, as far as I can tell, has anyone else. It may be obscure, but the imagery is memorable:
Daisy summer pipers come to town
Piping people out of doors
To see the magic all around
Listen now you'll hear his sound
Stare into a mirror pool
And laugh so princely vain
The skies become kaleidoscopes
With no two turns the same


Read the rest of the article here.




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Proposal on the Rooftop

Just one more reason why Cardiff-by-the-Sea Lodge is so special:

"Brian popped the question the night before my birthday at a bed and breakfast in Cardiff by the Sea. We walked up to the B&B's roof deck to watch the sunset and Brian cracked open a bottle of our favorite wine for a so-called birthday toast. Just after the sun disappeared into the ocean, Brian dropped to one knee and proposed."

Read the rest of Elizabeth and Brian's story here.

Pictures courtesy of www.jenniferdery.com


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Another FYI

Two more Street Fairs:

Escondido Street Faire: Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009

San Marcos: Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009

Cardiff-by-the-Sea Lodge

Just an FYI

Pencil it in: The Fall Festival will be back this year November 22, 2009, from 9am to 4 am.

"EVERY NOVEMBER, for nearly two decades, downtown Encinitas has played host to a premier street fair – The Fall Festival. This festival, previously known as the Poinsettia Festival, is a readymade bazaar for holiday shoppers and weekend fun seekers. This year, on Sunday, November 22, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., fair-goers will enjoy a day where coastal breezes meet people gathering to shop, eat, be entertained and enjoy the community’s Historical district. The festival will feature over 450 vendor booths showcasing various arts, crafts, gifts, food and more. The 200 shops and 40 restaurants and eateries along the Coast Highway from D to J Streets will be open and ready for business. Live music will be playing at two venues; The Lumberyard Courtyard Stage, located at the Lumberyard Center, Community Stage, close to F Street, which will feature the best in local entertainment."

Read the rest of the article here.

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Tour of Cardiff!

Many guests ask about things to do in the area, good restaurants at which to eat, and which beaches to visit. To help answer some of those questions, we've put together a little slide show of Cardiff-by-the-Sea and the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Lodge and all the great things in the area. Enjoy!

Cardiff-by-the-Sea Lodge

The New York Times likes Cardiff :)

Check it out -- straight from the New York Times:

"Cardiff-by-the-Sea is north of San Elijo Lagoon, one of the few remaining coastal wetlands in the county. If you’re looking for sustenance, the colorfully decorated (and moderately priced) Las Olas has delicious Mexican fare and refreshing margaritas.

It’s no surprise that all along this gorgeous coast magnificent private homes sit on some of the best spots. But at San Elijo State Beach in Cardiff, campers can enjoy prime real estate too. Tents, vans and recreational vehicles sit just a few feet away from the edge of the coastal bluffs. A snack bar that opens at 8 a.m. serves coffee and a mean breakfast burrito."

We might be a tiny town, but apparently we're getting noticed. If you want to check out the rest of the article -- all about the tiny coastal towns down here -- click here.


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Ten Things to do Before Summer is Over!

Where has this summer gone? It's so hard to believe it's already August - I feel as though summer has just begun...but school is starting again soon for many people and vacation time is running low. BIG SIGH. Soooo....with these last few weeks of summer fun in mind, here are my top favorite things to do in the area during the summer.

1. BEACH!! What is the point of being or living in San Diego if you don't take advantage of the beautiful sand and uber warm water (it's about 72 degrees right now!) Get a good book, some sunscreen, and a big old towel and head out to Cardiff Beach!

2. Surfing. Okay, okay, so I only stood up like twice. But still, it's REALLY fun if you actually know how to do it.

3. Boogieboarding. Far less complicated than surfing...and just as fun in my opinion. Once you get the hang of it, you can start trying tricks. (I'm trying to master the 360 spin...no luck yet)

4. Hiking/walking (when it's cool enough outside). San Elijo Lagoon has tons of trails all around it that are great for running or walking. Del Mar also has some neat trails along the bluffs overlooking the ocean.

5. Eating ice cream. 'Nuff said.

6. Camping. Okay so I haven't exactly gone yet, but I want to. Luckily, there's a campground right across the street from us...right on the beach. Sleeping bags and hot dogs and marshmallows...ahh...

7. Bike riding. I just love bikes. Who doesn't love bikes? Whether it's beach cruisers or mountain bikes or road bikes or whatever, roaming around on bikes brings thoughts of carefree youth and watermelon slices.

8. Watermelon slices. Also, nuff said.

9. Picnics. A few days ago my parents came to visit and we all feasted on chicken and cheese and bread and wine in Balboa Park...it couldn't have been more perfect. Bring your family and friends -- it's a great way to connect.

10. Bbqing. Yum. So I like food. Don't hate me! But burgers on the grill just can't be beat. And playing frisbee and almost hitting the burgers on the ground! Ahhhhh I mean what?

Anyway, those are my top ten for the rest of the summer. Anybody else have any other summer must-dos?

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