We're getting noticed! Tanks for Traveling!

On bedandbreakfast.com, we are doing a really great promotion: Tanks for Traveling!

Check it out:
Need a break but don't have much time or moolah? Come visit us at the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Lodge, your ultimate getaway that's not too far away! Not only are we easy to get to and lovely to find, but we are paying for you to get here, too! For every stay made between now and April 31, 2009, we'll take $30 off your reservation so you can fill up your tank (and maybe even grab a burger somewhere if you drive a Smart car!). Just mention the TANKS FOR TRAVELING special when booking and we'll be sure to help you fill 'er up!

Even better? Other people are noticing!

http://healthcaretraveler.modernmedicine.com/healthcaretraveler/Online+Only/Bed-and-breakfast-inns-offer-spring-savings/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/590985?ref=25

Get 'er filled before we're all filled up!

With April Showers...

....come May flowers? Hmm. I think the saying may be a bit late for us! All over the lodge flowers are blooming - out of pots, up the sides of buildings, from behind rocks - in wild pinks, exotic reds and yellows, and springy whites. Hibiscuis and daisies and azaleas are all abloom!

At the beginning of each new month I like to research what interesting facts and figures I can discover. As it turns out, April is just chock-full of surprises. It is home to almost 60 monthly observances, about 50 weekly observances, and about 100 daily observances (Did you know today is April Fools, Boomer Bonus, St. Stupid, Sorry Charlie, National Day of Hope, National Fun Day, National Fun Day at Work, Paraprofessional Appreciation, Poetry & the Creative Mind, and US Air Force Academy Day?) Thanks to Brownielocks & the 3 Bears for this unique information! http://www.brownielocks.com/april.html

On a more local basis, I'll be adding a blog every week or so with some fun things to do in San Diego for the week. Here are your 5 Best Bets for the Week of April 2-9:
http://sandiego.about.com/od/familyfun/tp/weekof_april02.htm

Happy April!
-Laurie

Things to Do in San Diego

I just stumbled across this site tonight as I was looking for interesting things to do in San Diego: http://www.randomsandiego.com/

This blog has all kinds of interesting information about things going on in San Diego and the surrounding areas, including movie releases, auditions, the Flower Fields, and other "random" things to do. Might just be worth a look if you're wanting something a bit different to do!

The Grunions are Coming!

Beginning this Saturday at 10:30pm, the La Jolla Birch Aquarium at Scripps (http://aquarium.ucsd.edu/)in La Jolla will host its first grunion-run of the year. Every spring, the silver fish come to the SoCal beaches for their annual spawning ritual.

According to Grunion.org, "California grunion are a species of marine fish found only along the coast of southern California and northern Baja California. They are justifiably famous for their unique spawning behavior. Grunion spawn completely out of the water and lay their eggs on many sandy beaches in California. Shortly after high tide, on specific nights, sections of these beaches sometimes are covered with thousands of grunion dancing about on the sand. The eggs remain buried in the sand throughout incubation, fully out of water for approximately 2 weeks. The larvae hatch when the eggs wash out by high waves during tides before the new and full moons. Grunion spawn at the age of 1 year, and live for 2 to 4 years."

The dates of the grunion runs vary each year depending on the lunar calendar. The Birch Aquarium offers five different grunion runs throughout the season. For $12, participants will be educated about the fish ritual, shown the hatching process, and then led to optimal spawning-viewing beach areas. Call for reservations as the groups are limited to 90.

Of course, adventurous grunion-lovers can always grab their own flashlight and hunt out the silvery fishes by themselves! Happy hunting!

Happy First Day of Spring

The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. ~Henry Van Dyke

This morning, I woke up to gray clouds and a warm breeze. Two hours later, I was rushing around my backyard scooping up radios and couches while the rain soaked through everything in sight, and by the time I got here to the lodge it was blue skies and sunshine everywhere. Looking out the window now we have a mini tornado going on and I think I just saw a person flying down the street. Just kidding! The first day of spring has certainly not disappointed its reputation, and would we really have it any other way?

March 22, 2009 has also ushered in many other new beginnings as well. Kite surfers are beginning to take full advantage of the windy season out on Cardiff Beach, and the Flower Fields in Carlsbad are beginning to bloom in full force. http://www.theflowerfields.com/

Our own rooftop garden is beginning to flower in earnest as well. It's the perfect time to enjoy a warm spring weekend at Cardiff by the Sea Lodge and all the great attractions nearby!

Foggy Day in March

I got a random urge to stir my legs tonight, so I grabbed my camera and snapped a few pictures around the lodge. It's been a strangely foggy day in Cardiff, but it adds a bit of mystery to the air.

We also got a comment today about the super size of our Calla lilies by the fountain, so I thought I'd post a picture of those too!

Meet the Owners!

James & Jeanette Statser
Owners, builders, designers, and dreamers!

Opened in May of 1991, the Cardiff-by-the-Sea Lodge is the creative beauty of James and Jeanette Statser. When the couple first bought the property near the corner of San Elijo and Chesterfield, they had some ideas for a small hotel. Before commencing the building, however, they took a twenty-fifth anniversary trip to Great Britain and stayed at various bed and breakfasts throughout their travels. By the time they returned to Cardiff-by-the-Sea, they had decided that they would turn the property into a lodge based on their wonderful bed and breakfast experiences.

With their combined effort and skills, they created the beautiful lodge that exists today. An award-winning designer and builder, James crafted a unique layout for the lodge, rooms, and rooftop. Jeanette fashioned each room with its own unique theme, ranging from Victorian to Paradise to Southwest.