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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Goings-on this summer!

It's hard to believe that July is only two days away...what has happened to this year?? It's flying by! The San Diego Fair has only a week left -- make sure you stop by! Beginning July 22, the Del Mar Races will commence. Opening day is a big deal -- don't miss it!! Fourth of July is on it's way as well - here is a list of all the fireworks locations: Fireworks!! Dog Days of Summer is coming up in August, so keep your calendars open!


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Happy Father's Day!

A big thank you and a big hug to all of the amazing dads out there. Thank you!


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Haunted Bed & Breakfast Stories

I don't actually think I believe in ghosts...but some of these stories certainly make even the most skeptical of skeptics think twice.

Check out these stories of haunted Bed and Breakfasts throughout the United States.

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Blessed by Rain

Yesterday was one of those Mondays when it really feels like a Monday. Cranky people, neverending phone calls, and a lot of loose ends I had no motivation to tie up. As I was making the final rounds and closing everything up, it began to sprinkle. Once I got up to the rooftop to turn out the firepit, though, it began to pour! I was drenched! Racing around trying to put away the cushions and hide anything that shouldn't be getting wet, I paused for a moment to glance over the edge of the roof. What I saw made me stop in my tracks, because Cardiff had never looked so beautiful. A soft gray mist of rain and fog blurred all the streetlights, creating a hazy glow as far as I could see. The smell of fresh waterdrops cleared out all the dust and pollen from the air, and the whistle of the train punctuated the growing chorus of silence and rain. All I could think was how lucky and blessed I was...and am...what a beautiful gift on a now-perfect Monday.


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History of Encinitas

While Cardiff does have its very own postoffice and zip code!, did you know that it is actually a part of the bigger city of Encinitas?

Shamelessly stole from the Encinitas's website, here is a brief history and explanation of our beautiful coastal community.

"This place called Encinitas sits on the coastline of the Pacific Ocean and is embraced by the Batiquitos Lagoon to the north and the San Elijo Lagoon to the south. The first inhabitants were Indians called the San Dieguitos, the La Jollans, and the Dieguenos. It was the Diegueno's group who were mission converts and helped to build the Spanish Missions. In 1669, the Governor of Baja California, Gaspar de Portola, led an expedition throughout the San Diego and Monterey areas. His mission was to build several "presidios," establishing a teaching base for schools and religion. When the expedition made its way through Encinitas on the El Camino Real, he named the area for the small oak trees on the surrounding hills. He named this area "Encina Canada," Spanish for "Hills of Live Oaks." The area changed governmental hands from Spain to Mexico and in the 1800-s the Mexican government issued land grants to ranchers who would establish settlements in the San Diego area and who were willing to be under Mexico's rule.


In 1881, Jabez Pitcher settled in Encinitas and is considered to be the father of the town. Pitcher came to San Diego and filed a claim for 160 acres on a mesa near the railroad tracks where the Encinitas Civic Center is now located. In 1870, a few miles north of the railroad tracks, English spiritualists named their settlement Leucadia after one of the Greek Isles. The name means "Isle of Paradise" or "Place of Shelter." The five-acre tracts were named after Greek gods and mythical figures.


The modern history of "Cardiff" began in 1875 when the McKinnon family homesteaded on the north shore of the San Elijo Lagoon. In 1909, J. Frank Cullen bought a large tract in San Elijo, had it surveyed, and established streets and lots. He named his town in 1914, calling it "Cardiff-by-the-Sea," after Cardiff, Wales. The "Olivenhain" portion of Encinitas was established as a community in 1884 by a small group of German immigrants. The old Olivenhain Meeting Hall is still used today for social events and meetings.

The City of Encinitas was founded over 100 years ago and is now made up of five communities that take pride in their own distinct personalities. "Historic Encinitas" fills the Highway 101 Corridor that parallels the beautiful beaches and ocean. "New Encinitas" centers on El Camino Real ("The Kings Highway" founded by the early missionaries from Spain). "Cardiff-by-the-Sea" is made up of quaint homes dotting the hillsides overlooking the sea. "Leucadia" is famous for its giant eucalyptus trees that line the main thoroughfare on the Coast Highway. "Olivenhain" (which means "olive grove" in German) boasts plenty of open horse country, pastures, and a rural way of life."

- taken from this website: http://www.ci.encinitas.ca.us/Visitor/AboutE/EncinitasHP/


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Seaside Hotel

“The pleasures of afternoon tea run like a trickle of honey through English literature from Rupert Brooke's wistful lines on the Old Vicarage at Grantchester to Miss Marple, calmly dissecting a case over tea cakes at a seaside hotel.”

-Stan Hey




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San Diego Quick Trips

I just ran across this today -- and it's a great little breakdown of some of the great things to do, places to go, things to see, and places to eat in San Diego and the surrounding areas.

Check it out: San Diego Slices




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San Diego:Dialed In

Wow -- this site has A TON of ideas for places to go.

Here's what's on the list for tomorrow, May 29:


Transfer, Stripes and Lines, Helen Earth Band @ Belly Up
Che Underground presents The Answers,The Gay Dennys (featuring members of the Tell-Tale Hearts and the Crawdaddys),Manual Scan,Everybody Violet, DJ Tony the Tyger @ Casbah
The Spits, Personal & The Pizzas, The Points @ Ken Club
The Spits, Atoms, Personal and the Pizzas, The Points, Braaiins!, Francis Bacon @ Che Cafe
A Scribe Amidst the lions, Bella Novela(longbeach), Vinyl Film, Someday Assassin @ Radio Room
Jamuel Saxon, Sex Mannequin, Wallpaper, DJ Groundfloor @ Beauty Bar
Trashcan Fires, Primitive Noyes, SunInWinter @ Tin Can Ale House
Bartenders Bible @ Whistle Stop
The Drowning Men, Cat Party @ Hensley's Flying Elephant
Happy Hour with Atomic Groove @ Belly Up (5:30p)
Critical Mass Footdown, Fatlip @ Ruby Room
Feel The Noise: DJs Gabe Vega & Saul Q, Sparrow Love Crew, Roy G. and the Biv. @ U-31
The New Fidelity, Wooden Bird, The New Trust @ Bar Pink
Inmost, Disaster Magnet, IDS @ O'Connell's
Heads Down For Takeoff (CD Release), Society Setback, All Star, Dress To Kill, The Spill @ Epicentre
L.A.O.S. (Finland), Whizard b2b Circuit (LA), Rebellion b2b Shawnliu, DJ Intrigued, MC Dino @ Brick By Brick
C Money & The Players Inc. @ Winston's
Blackbone Child, Ralphene, Gran Sasso @ Soda Bar
West of Memphis @ House of Blues (Voodoo Stage)
Ryan Calhoun, Kim Divine (CD Release), Kim Garrison @ Lestat's
Tragedy and Triumph, Casino Madrid, Hello Marquee, Imperil, Eighth Round, Forever Ends Now @ Soma
Official, Black Bone Child, Sutton from The Wagon, Jesse Johnson, Joe Tran @ Dream Street
Shooter Jennings @ Viejas Dreamcatcher
Arm The Angels, Flight To Athena, Goodnight Caulfield @ 710 Beach Club
Hot August Night (Neil Diamond Tribute), Jumping Jack Flash (Rolling Stones Tribute) @ Canes
Dennis Jones @ Humphrey's Backstage Lounge
Panterad, Diary of Ozz @ 4th & B
EvoPro Underground with DJ Professor CC & DJ Brother Darkness @ Stout House
The Flatlanders @ Anthology (Early Show 7:30pm)
Of Mice and Them, The Elephant Project, The Somatree, The Phantom Tollbooth, Unknown Motive @ Channel Twelve 25
Plow, Grand Canyone Sundown @ Portugalia
Faded Chroniclez @ Surf n Saddle
Bunny (Rabbit In The Moon) @ Spin
Dane Cook @ San Diego Sports Arena
DJ Ramsey @ True North
FilmOut San Diego 11th LGBT Film Festival @ Birch North Park Theatre


Check out the site here.


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Memorial Day in San Diego

The beloved three day weekend is coming up, and I've found a list of some things to do in the area that are a bit off the beaten (i.e. Seaworld, Legoland, Beach, etc) path.

Explore Memorial Day Weekend in San Diego. There is stuff to do all over San Diego and in North County as well.

Oops! Just found another link for More Things to Do on Memorial Day.

Of course, if you're looking for a quiet getaway, we still have some rooms open at the amazing Cardiff by the Sea Lodge! We are 800 feet from the beach, and we have a rooftop garden with a fire ring and jacuzzi!! You can't beat a getaway like that!!


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10% Discount for Military

Being as we are so close to several military bases, we would like to make a special notice of everyone in the services. We really appreciate all the hard work and sacrifices they've made for us and our country, and we'd like to say thank you by offering a 10% discount off any stay (with valid military ID).

Thank you from the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Lodge


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Cardiff Has a Great New Restaurant(s)

NOW SERVING: Zenbu and Rimel's give new meaning to fresh and local

"Grabbing a bite to eat in Cardiff has been limited to breakfast burritos, doughnuts and market sandwiches for years. But the dining scene in this sleepy beach town just elevated a few notches, thanks to the opening of Zenbu and Rimel's Rotisserie in February."



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Mother's Day Special!

Treat your mother to a relaxing getaway at the quaint coastal Cardiff-by-the-Sea Lodge, and we’ll treat her to dinner and breakfast!

With seventeen uniquely decorated rooms, each with their own charming theme and décor, we have a peaceful escape for moms of every style and persuasion. A private guests-only rooftop garden, complete with Jacuzzi and fire ring, is the perfect flower-filled place for her to enjoy our golden sunsets or read a book in the warm afternoons.

In the morning, she will enjoy a delicious extended Continental breakfast served in our stone-laid courtyard; and at night she will receive a voucher for dinner at Cicciotti’s, a local Italian restaurant known for its great dishes.

Let us help you thank the mothers of this world by booking a stay at the Cardiff Lodge. Gift certificates available. Not valid with any other offers. Valid through 5/31/09. Mention MOTHER'S DAY BLOG when making the reservation.

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Goings-on (AND 31 CENT ICE CREAM!!!)

What a change it is down here! I've just returned home from a mini visit home to norcal to visit family and friends, and boy is it different! Lots of trees and mountains and rivers...but no beach! I was very happy to see the ocean today from the airplane.

I arrived back at the lodge today to find some interesting goings-on in the area. If you get a change, check em out!

Arts Alive Banner Project
Live Art Auction on May 31


Wine Tasting
Wine Steals Cardiff offers wines from Argentina, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, at 1953 San Elijo Ave., Cardiff. $5. (760) 230-2657


31 Cent Scoop Night!
"Baskin-Robbins hosts its third annual 31 Cent Scoop Night to thank customers, 5 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, at all locations. During the event, 2.5-ounce ice cream scoops will be 31 cents. As part of the event, Baskin-Robbins will make a $100,000 donation to the National Volunteer Fire Council's National Junior Firefighter Program. Visit baskinrobbins.com"

101 Coast Highway Begins in Cardiff -- Some Interesting Socal Coast History
"Come take a look at one of the scenic stetches of the 101 Coast Highway where it enters Cardiff by the Sea in Encinitas. Historic Highway 101."

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Calling All Art Lovers!

This weekend, April 25 & 26, our very own James Statser (owner, designer, and builder extraordinare!) will have a booth at the Encinitas Street Fair! He will be showcasing many of the photos he has taken here at the lodge, in Cardiff, and all around the world. James has an amazing eye for beauty and detail, so make sure you stop by and check them out. Photos will be available for sale as well.

We would love to have you stop by and visit!


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This Day in History

If you've got a minute (literally), check out this video. It gives a brief synopsis of the major events that happened on April 21 throughout history:

"Rome is founded by Romulus and Remus, Sam Houston shouts "Remember the Alamo" during the Texas Revolution, German flying ace, the Red Baron is shot down, and Annie the play debuts."

This Day in History: April 21

One of the most interesting things that happened...about 2,762 years ago...was the founding of Rome:

"According to tradition, on April 21, 753 B.C., Romulus and his twin brother, Remus, found Rome on the site where they were suckled by a she-wolf as orphaned infants. Actually, the Romulus and Remus myth originated sometime in the fourth century B.C., and the exact date of Rome's founding was set by the Roman scholar Marcus Terentius Varro in the first century B.C.

According to the legend, Romulus and Remus were the sons of Rhea Silvia, the daughter of King Numitor of Alba Longa. Alba Longa was a mythical city located in the Alban Hills southeast of what would become Rome. Before the birth of the twins, Numitor was deposed by his younger brother Amulius, who forced Rhea to become a vestal virgin so that she would not give birth to rival claimants to his title. However, Rhea was impregnated by the war god Mars and gave birth to Romulus and Remus. Amulius ordered the infants drowned in the Tiber, but they survived and washed ashore at the foot of the Palatine hill, where they were suckled by a she-wolf until they were found by the shepherd Faustulus.

Reared by Faustulus and his wife, the twins later became leaders of a band of young shepherd warriors. After learning their true identity, they attacked Alba Longa, killed the wicked Amulius, and restored their grandfather to the throne. The twins then decided to found a town on the site where they had been saved as infants. They soon became involved in a petty quarrel, however, and Remus was slain by his brother. Romulus then became ruler of the settlement, which was named "Rome" after him.

To populate his town, Romulus offered asylum to fugitives and exiles. Rome lacked women, however, so Romulus invited the neighboring Sabines to a festival and abducted their women. A war then ensued, but the Sabine women intervened to prevent the Sabine men from seizing Rome. A peace treaty was drawn up, and the communities merged under the joint rule of Romulus and the Sabine king, Titus Tatius. Tatius' early death, perhaps perpetrated by Romulus, left the Roman as the sole king again. After a long and successful rule, Romulus died under obscure circumstances. Many Romans believed he was changed into a god and worshipped him as the deity Quirinus. After Romulus, there were six more kings of Rome, the last three believed to be Etruscans. Around 509 B.C., the Roman republic was established.

Another Roman foundation legend, which has its origins in ancient Greece, tells of how the mythical Trojan Aeneas founded Lavinium and started a dynasty that would lead to the birth of Romulus and Remus several centuries later. In the Iliad, an epic Greek poem probably composed by Homer in the eighth century B.C., Aeneas was the only major Trojan hero to survive the Greek destruction of Troy. A passage told of how he and his descendants would rule the Trojans, but since there was no record of any such dynasty in Troy, Greek scholars proposed that Aeneas and his followers relocated.

In the fifth century B.C., a few Greek historians speculated that Aeneas settled at Rome, which was then still a small city-state. In the fourth century B.C., Rome began to expand within the Italian peninsula, and Romans, coming into greater contact with the Greeks, embraced the suggestion that Aeneas had a role in the foundation of their great city. In the first century B.C., the Roman poet Virgil developed the Aeneas myth in his epic poem the Aeneid, which told of Aeneas' journey to Rome. Augustus, the first Roman emperor and emperor during Virgil's time, and Julius Caesar, his great-uncle and predecessor as Roman ruler, were said to be descended from Aeneas."

-- as excerpted from history.com

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Cardiff Chamber of Commerce

For you history buffs and lovers of random trivia bits, check out the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce page. It has some interesting facts and figures about Cardiff and the goings-on of its residents and tourists. It also has good recommendations for places to surf, camp, and places to help out.

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San Diego for Families

For those of you traveling with children, this link might be a good one to check out:

San Diego for Families

Cardiff Lodge

American Diabetes Association's San Diego Tour de Cure to begin in Cardiff!

This Saturday, cyclists from all over San Diego county will meet in Cardiff for the American Diabetes Association's San Diego Tour de Cure bike ride and fundraiser.

The ride, held in over 40 states nationwide over the course of the year, is put on every year to raise money for researching a cure for diabetes.

Over 33,000 cyclists will ride between 10 and 100 miles each on one of four courses, and last year over $16 million dollars was raised from these participants.

Read some stories about locals suffering from diabetes who are riding to join the cause:
Their Stories

To see race times and more information on the Cardiff location, go here: Tour de Cure San Diego

For more information on the Tour de Cure, check out their homepage: Tour de Cure

And of course, you can always stay here at the Cardiff Lodge the night before or after if you'd like to come see the action up close and personal!

Encinitas Street Fair 2009

The 26th Annual Encinitas Street Fair is coming soon! On April 25th and 26th, over 450 arts and crafts booths will hit the streets, complemented by four live stages, kids rides, and a Beer Garden hosted by Stone Brewery.
Encinitas Street Fair 2009

Over 100,000 people are expected for this two day event, so make sure to get there early! Hey! You could even go both days and stay Saturday night here: Cardiff-by-the-Sea Lodge Located a mere two miles from the Fair location, we're the perfect place to unwind after a day of festivities!