Get to Know San Diego

Windansea Beach is not your typical sandy beach. It’s also not one of those uncomfortable beaches with nothing but small rocks to walk on. The rocks here are big. Really big.

Don’t get me wrong. There’s sand on this beach. Plenty of it. But the sandstone rocks give it a truly unique appearance, unlike what you probably think of when you think of a sandy beach. And it’s beautiful.

Be prepared when you go to Windansea. There’s a distinct lack of restrooms. There are lifeguards in summer and sometimes on spring and fall weekends, as well as separate swimming and surfing areas. (more…)

So far, the Poway Community Swim Center is one of my favorite swimming pools. It’s huge - 50 meters by 25 yards (don’t ask me why they mix these up in their measurements, it’s what their site says). There’s lots of room.The main pool goes from a nice, big shallow end to a huge deep end, which gets as much as 13 feet deep. There is also a separate toddler pool, which is just 1 foot deep, but plenty big for a crowd of little ones.

My daughter took swimming lessons at this pool, which gave me a great feeling for how much flexibility the size of the pool allows. They had a variety of swimming lessons, beginning water polo lessons and still enough room for quite a few lanes for adults to swim laps. It wasn’t crowded in the least.

You can make reservations to have parties at the pool. The pool also plays host to events, such as swim-in movies. Overall it’s a lot of fun.

I found the swimming classes to be excellent. My daughter had quite a bit of fun in them and improved her skills as well. This being in southern California, the weather is good enough for swimming lessons for much of the year.

Located at the Northwest end of San Diego, within the city limits, Torrey Pines offers you over 2000 wild and natural acres. Along with the trees of Torrey Pines, there’s a visitor center, miles and miles of trails, miles of beaches, and a lagoon that’s a vital area for seabirds.

The State Preserve of Torrey Pines not only preserves the trees but the salt marshes and waterfowl refuges as well. The Torrey Pines State Beach here stretches nearly four miles, from Del Mar to the sandstone cliffs of Torrey Pines Mesa.

Also found here is Blacks Beach, located at the base of the 300 foot cliffs. The cliffs here offer paragliding, remote control gliding, and even hang gliding. At the north end of Blacks Beach, clothing is optional. To be on the safe side, always read the signs and follow the rules of the beach.

With plenty to offer, Torrey Pines State Preserve is a great addition to the already vast area of San Diego. You can visit here from San Diego, as it’s a short drive away. Torrey Pines has great beaches and plenty of trails for you to see. As a family trip, Torrey Pines is a great place to spend the afternoon on your once in a lifetime vacation.

Located in San Diego California, the Cabrillo National Monument provides a historic lighthouse with plenty of activities. There are great views here as well, with tidepools, flora and fauna, whales to watch, and even military history.

The Monument offers hiking along designated trails, bicycling on paved roadways, and swimming within the park boundaries. Fishing is permitted here as well, with hook and line - although only one fish may be taken. When walking the trails and exploring, make sure to be on the lookout for cliff areas, as they can be very unstable. (more…)