According to the San Diego Convention and Visitor’s Bureau,
The Fall Back festival brings the history and culture of the Gaslamp Quarter and Old San Diego alive for children and families. Features entertainment, demonstrations and food. Taking place Sunday, October 29, 2006 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., on Island Avenue between 4th & 5th Avenues, downtown San Diego.
Tickets are $5. Children under 2 are free.
For more information: http://www.gaslampquarter.org/events/fallback.php
Join us at our San Diego RV Resort for free hamburgers, hot dogs, refreshments and side dishes a plenty! Come celebrate the Labor Day Holiday weekend with us Sunday, September 3, 2006 from Noon to 4 p.m. by the pool.
We just wrapped up our fifth issue of The Sunland Adventurer which is going to be mailed within the next couple of weeks. If you have stayed at any of our resorts, be sure to check your mailbox for your copy. This issue covers the great things to do in San Diego and in Hemet. We also have a full-page dedicated to golfing in the San Jacinto Valley. In addition, there are a couple of great offers for people who want to check out our resorts. If you haven’t stayed at one of our resorts, and want to get a copy of The Adventurer, stop by any of our Southern California resorts in mid-September.
Sunland RV Resorts recently announced an agreement with TengoInternet Services to provide wireless Internet access to all of its Southern California Resorts. TengoInternet, the oldest and largest wireless Internet service provider for the outdoor hospitality industry, has a reputation for providing superior service and connectivity that often exceeds the expectations of its customers.
TengoInternet has a variety of pricing plans that will fit any budget. For instance their “Location Only Pricing Plan” offers daily rates for $4.00 per day; weekly rates for $15.00 per week; and monthly rates for $29.95 per month. For those who move from resort to resort, take advantage of TengoInternet’s “Seasonal and Roaming Plans” which are available at any TengoZone (any resort with the TengoInternet Service). There are four different packages available ranging from $34.95 per month for their monthly service to $239.95 for their annual plan. They also offer three and six month plans for $89.95 and $149.95 respectively.
The new Wi-Fi service at Sunland RV Resorts further illustrates their commitment to quality service.
By Sandra Galm
Columnist
Sunland RV Resorts’ “jewel” in the North County is the Escondido RV Resort. Perched on a lushly landscaped hillside on the north side of Escondido, the park is the ideal location for those who prefer convenient access to San Diego County’s world famous tourist attractions, shopping, golf and fine dining.
This resort truly is a jewel, offering the most spacious, luxurious RV sites in the North County. There are 119 full hook-up spaces with large 48- to 72-foot-long concrete pads, providing the ultimate flexibility for today’s longest, slide- equipped RVs.
Amenities include a comfortable, newly remodeled resort office and clubhouse; heated pool and spa; a modern laundry room; clean, secure tiled shower and bathroom facilities; high-speed Internet/wireless access; fax and photocopy service; cable TV; and 20, 30 and 50 amp electrical service. The resort has a large park area for guests to walk their pets, and features a botanical, garden-like setting, with seasonally growing, flowering plants and trees.
With its centralized North County location, Escondido RV Resort guests can find plenty to do. Del Mar, to the west along the coast, is home to the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and its premier horse-racing track. From late July to early September, visitors gather to wager on their favorite horses, or to just people-watch. Del Mar is also the home of the San Diego County Fair, occurring from mid-June through early July each year, and is one of San Diego’s oldest events and one of the largest fairs in the United States. Top-named musical and comedy acts, thrilling carnival rides, animals, and a wide variety of exhibits and concessions, all blend to place the San Diego County Fair at the top of most people’s “must see” list. Bring your walking shoes!
Guests of the Escondido RV Resort might want to experience the thrill of an African safari in their own back yard. The San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park is a short drive south on the I-15 (exit east on highway 78), and features a 2,200-acre preserve with wild animals free to roam as they would in their native habitats of Asia and Africa. To best see the more than 3000 animals, including elephants, giraffes, lions and many other species, take the guide-narrated monorail, which traverses the park, and don’t forget to stop by the “Nairobi Village” when you exit.
Another of North County’s premier destinations is LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, a 128-acre theme park geared toward children ages 2-12 (and the “kids-at-heart” who bring them). Families love the 50 interactive rides, shows and attractions using those all-familiar building blocks, LEGOs. Several tot-friendly roller coasters, fun shows, and healthy food make this attraction a real treat for the family.
During the spring from mid-March through late April, The Flower Fields at Carlsbad, California are in bloom with more than 50-acres of colorful ranunculus plants. Visitors are invited to walk on designated paths through the fields containing a veritable rainbow-colored sea of this beautiful plant, whose flowers and bulbs are harvested and sold all over the world. It’s truly a spectacular sight.
If you’re interested in astronomy, Escondido is a good base for travel to the Palomar Observatory in the Palomar Mountains, a scenic drive northeast of the city. The observatory houses one of the largest telescopes in the country and is one of America’s most well-known observatories and astrological research facilities. It is open daily, year-round (except during heavy snows) from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week. Night tours are not available due to on-going research.
For avid golfers, North County has several challenging golf courses open to the public, which are close by the Escondido RV Resort. These include:
Twin Oaks, a par 72, Ted Robinson-designed championship course located within a tranquil valley in San Marcos; The Vineyard Country Club, an 18-hole course in Escondido featuring fairways that meander through grape vineyards, lakes and a wildlife preserve; and Maderas Golf Club, located in Poway and ranked the # 1 public golf course in San Diego according to the 2003, 2004, and 2005 Zagat Survey.
Other interesting things to do in the area may also include a trip to Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center featuring a photogenic farm setting, an engrossing country store with fruits, nuts, candies, and homemade jams and jellies to purchase, occasional arts and crafts fairs, and a giant pumpkin patch in October; or a trip north to Temecula to visit the local wineries to sample their vino. Visitors can drive to Temecula themselves or take one of several tours to the vineyards, which shuttle guests to the impressive sights throughout the vicinity.
In all, North County has much to see and do, and the friendly Escondido RV Resort staff can offer guests ideas and directions for any kind of diversion imaginable. Just ask them.
As mentioned in a previous article, San Diego’s transit system and the San Diego Trolley make it easy to explore the city. The links provided below are destinations or activities you can reach by riding on the San Diego Trolley. If you’re staying at our San Diego RV Resort, you’re right on the trolley line, able to conveniently explore the great city of San Diego.
San Diego Chargers • www.chargers.com
San Diego Padres • www.padres.com
Old Town State Historic Park • www.parks.ca.gov
Old Town Trolley Tours • www.oldtowntrolley.com
Gaslamp Quarter • www.gaslamp.com
La Mesa Oktoberfest • www.eastcountychamber.org
USS Midway/San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum • www.midway.org
Seaport Village • www.spvillage.com
Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) • www.sdcommute.com
Horton Plaza • www.westfield.com/hortonplaza
Little Italy • www.littleitalysd.com
The San Diego Railroad Museum La Mesa Depot • www.sdrm.org
By Sandra Galm
Columnist
Centrally located to all of the area’s major attractions, Sunland Resorts’ San Diego RV Resort is the place to stay if you like accessibility. This spacious 178-site park is convenient to almost anywhere you’d want to go in San Diego, and is a short two blocks to the San Diego Trolley (Green Line) from the resort’s office.
Amenities include large sites with concrete pads, shady palm trees, and a recently remodeled front office with a large sparkling pool, which has been newly-heated to accommodate year-round swimmers. There is a fitness room and a clubhouse with a TV lounge and billiard table available for guests, as well as recently renovated, clean tile restrooms and shower facilities, and two well-placed laundry rooms. All sites have full hook-ups, Internet/wireless access, and select spaces have cable TV. The resort is family and pet-friendly. Taxi service, as well as rental cars can be obtained from this location. The management is happy to provide detailed maps to most locations for shopping and services, and the resort offers discount tickets to popular area attractions.
San Diego RV Resort’s premier placement makes it the ideal location to serve as a base for exploring surrounding events and attractions, and the trolley can make this a pleasant, carefree experience if you are in a rig without a car. Three connected trolley lines, the Orange, Blue and Green Lines can deliver you conveniently, within minutes, to many popular attractions around town. Some destinations and events which are “trolley-friendly” include:
The city of La Mesa’s annual Oktoberfest, the first full weekend in October, is one of the most popular annual fall events, attracting crowds numbering in excess of 150,000. This weekend-long celebration of all things German transforms downtown La Mesa into one big, raucous block-party featuring hundreds of street vendors, music, dancing, authentic food and a beer garden. In December, La Mesa revs up again with their annual Old-Fashioned Christmas Village featuring an outdoor market, carolers, marching bands, street entertainers, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a special appearance by Santa Claus. During the rest of the year, downtown La Mesa is a treasure hunter’s delight. The four-block-long “village” area is a trove of eclectic antique stores, specialty shops and interesting places to eat. There’s even an old railway depot to explore next to the trolley stop (The San Diego Railroad Museum’s La Mesa Depot). La Mesa is definitely worth a look.
For sports fans, what could be easier than a trolley commute to downtown PETCO Park to watch the Padres play baseball or to Qualcomm Stadium to catch the football action with the San Diego Chargers? The trolley drops you practically at the entrance to both stadiums. The Padres’ season runs from March to October; and the Chargers play at home from September to the end of December. Check their Web sites for scheduled dates and times.
Old Town State Historic Park, at the end of the Green Trolley Line, is the perfect getaway for history buffs and people who want to learn more about the story of San Diego. The park represents San Diego’s Hispanic legacy from 1821 to 1872, and marks the site of the first Spanish settlement established in California. Most structures are wooden buildings or adobe brick throughout the 12-acre, six-block park featuring Mexican heritage in the décor, food, and ambiance. Living history docents, in costume, are out and about in the park to answer questions or point the way to historical structures such as a one-room schoolhouse; a stable with antique carriages; an authentic hacienda (La Casa de Estudillo) built around a courtyard; a blacksmith shop; and San Diego’s first newspaper office, and more.
From Old Town State Historic Park, visitors can hop on an Old Town Trolley Tour at 4010 Twiggs Street for a two-hour fully narrated excursion covering more than 100 points of interest throughout the city. Riders have convenient “on and off” privileges from any stop on the line, to do their own exploring.
The historic heart of the city, located in downtown San Diego, is the Gaslamp Quarter, a 16½ -block area containing buildings that are outstanding examples of Victorian architecture, many with historic status. Founded in 1867, it houses a plethora of trendy restaurants, clubs and shops. Walk two blocks south from the trolley stop (Orange Line) at Fifth Avenue and C Street, and you’re there. It’s THE place to be after 5 p.m. if you like lively nightlife.
The USS Midway/San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum is located at Navy Pier on San Diego Bay at the downtown waterfront. Opened in June of 2004, the museum salutes the many members of the military who served aboard her, and highlights San Diego’s rich Navy heritage. The USS Midway was part of the US Naval fleet for 47 years from 1945 to 1991, and housed more than 200,000 sailors during her service, longer than any other aircraft carrier in the fleet. The museum has more than 40 exhibits and displays and is a great way to spend a relaxing day.
One of the most popular attractions in downtown San Diego is Seaport Village, a collection of shops and restaurants situated next to San Diego Bay. Plans are progressing to renovate the seven acres adjoining it, the former home of the San Diego Police Headquarters, to make it into a bazaar-type, market-place similar to Bazaar del Mundo in Old Town. The estimated opening is late 2006.
Finally, two more fascinating San Diego destinations that are easily accessible by trolley are Little Italy, an Italian enclave, and Horton Plaza, San Diego’s premier shopping and entertainment center which opened in 1985. Horton Plaza is well-known for its eclectic, colorful, multi-level design.
As you can see, you need not be a slave to snarled traffic, crowded freeways, and parking meters when you can ride the San Diego Trolley to many of the main tourist destinations in the city. The friendly staff at San Diego RV Resort will be happy to instruct you on how to get around on the system, or visit the Metropolitan Transit System Web site for directions.
By Sandra Galm
Columnist
The Sunland Resorts’ Vacationer RV Resort is a nicely situated park with 160 spaces on the east side of the City of El Cajon, a short, 22-miles from downtown San Diego.
Vacationer is a full-service resort and offers the largest pull-through sites in the area, as well as RV long-term storage. Amenities include a clubhouse with billiard table and a full kitchen, a fenced pool and spa area, with ample laundry facilities and clean, secure restroom and showers throughout the park. The resort is just down the street from a large market and a selection of dining venues, and it is across the street from the Metro Bus Stop (MTS), which will get you anywhere you want to go in the city. However, El Cajon and its surrounding communities offer so many interesting things to do; visitors really don’t need to leave the vicinity to find a good time.
If a hot-off-the-grill bratwurst sausage accompanied by sauerkraut and German potato salad is your idea of fine dining, the El Cajon Oktoberfest is for you. The German-American Society of San Diego holds Oktoberfest each year for two weekends in October at the club’s “beer garden” and clubhouse, 1017 South Mollison Avenue in El Cajon. (Check Web site for exact dates.) They serve a wide variety of German favorites like ox on the spit, potato pancakes, delicious pastries, warm pretzels, and a varied selection of German and domestic beers and soft drinks; and they offer a full bar. Activities include: dancing, arts and craft booths, contests and games.
Music lovers, rejoice! The Trolley Square in Santee provides music fans with a popular variety of free concerts featuring blues; zydeco; rock & roll; country or folk, etc., at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings from early June through late August. Come early for a good seat.
Railroad buffs can take a 40-minute, scenic drive east up Interstate 8 to the mountain community of Campo to ride a restored historic train at the San Diego Railroad Museum. This museum is a facility of the Pacific Southwest Railway Line and showcases more than 80 pieces of antique railway equipment ranging from locomotives, passenger cars, freight cars and cabooses. Rides are offered from the historic Campo Depot on Sundays, or Tecate Rail excursions to Mexico every Saturday; however Homeland Security rules require advance reservations and good Identification (picture ID/passport) for the Mexico trip. The museum also has special railroad events themed around Halloween or Christmas: spooky night trains, Santa and his elves, and special storytelling experiences.
For those in the mood for recreation such as hiking, biking or rock climbing, Mission Trails Regional Park, California’s largest urban park with more than 5,800 acres provides outdoor enthusiasts with 40 miles of trails that meander along the San Diego River. The park’s Cowles Mountain (1591 feet) provides a stimulating workout to reach the top, but the 360-degree vista from there is worth the strenuous climb. The network of trails from one-half to over four miles offers varying challenges, depending upon distance and difficulty, for hikers and bikers. A visitor and interpretive center nestled amid the coastal sage scrub and chaparral offers visitors film screenings in its 94-seat theater, relating information about the region and history of the park. Nearby, the region’s Mission Gorge area is popular with rock climbers.
The town of Ramona, a short drive north on Highway 67, is an antique-lovers delight. Dozens of little shops with kitschy knick-knacks, “good” junk, and antique furniture line the main street in Ramona. It’s a fun place to hunt for treasures or soak up the small-town ambience. Up the road, Santa Ysabel is good, too, for exploring. Although small, the town (more like a junction, actually) boasts Dudley’s Bakery – well-known for its wide variety of delicious breads, several antique/curio shops and a couple of busy, thriving restaurants featuring Julian apple pies. If you can’t make a trip to Julian, Ramona and Santa Ysabel are the next best things.
We recommend that you visit other East County mountain communities such as Alpine, Descanso, or Pine Valley, all providing unique scenery, activities, and events for your vacation enjoyment.
Vacationer RV Resort is one of four Sunland RV resorts located in the East County. All of our East County resorts are minutes away from golf courses, fishing lakes, gaming casinos, hiking, biking, and shopping areas; and the friendly Vacationer staff can offer suggestions and tips to give you one of the best vacation experiences you’ve ever had.
By Sandra Galm
Columnist
A year-round moderate climate and warm sunny days await the fortunate visitors who choose to stay at the Sunland Resorts’ Circle RV Resort, conveniently located just off U.S. Interstate 8 in El Cajon, 22-miles inland from America’s Finest City, San Diego.
Extensively remodeled in 2006, Circle RV features a clubhouse with full kitchen facilities; wireless Internet access; a plush game room with two pool tables; a well-stocked reading and video library; a year-round heated pool and spa; a big-screen TV lounge; and a fully outfitted fitness center with a wide array of new top-of-the-line exercise equipment. Each site features full hook-ups, with 30/50 amp service, and the resort has both back-in and pull-through capabilities available. The pull-through sites can accommodate rigs of up to 75-feet long. Large tiled showers and restrooms are available for the convenience of guests, as well as a newly remodeled laundry room, with new washers and dryers. The resort is family and pet-friendly.
Management appreciates their guests, so they host monthly social events to encourage camaraderie, such as poolside barbecues, ice-cream socials, pot lucks, luaus, and holiday celebrations. Their guest-friendly staff strives for your stay to be a memorable one, and they try to anticipate their guests’ every need. The resort proudly offers discounted admission tickets to many of the area’s most popular attractions, and they provide an extensive array of “what to do” brochures in the resort lobby. Good Sam Club and the American Automobile Association (AAA) discounts are honored.
Circle RV has one of the premier locations in the East County and is near shopping, banking and dining establishments, some within a leisurely stroll. There is nearby access to the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), which feeds into the San Diego Trolley at the transit center in El Cajon. Visitors can take the trolley to Mission Valley, Old Town San Diego, downtown and the Mexican border, a short walking distance from Tijuana.
East County has many enjoyable activities convenient to resort guests, appealing to just about every taste and interest. The largest weekly classic car show in Southern California, the Cajon Cruise Classic, takes place every Wednesday night on Main Street in downtown El Cajon from mid-April through August. Visitors can stroll the boulevard and enjoy the extensive variety of classic cars and custom street rods, purchase ethnic foods, watch live entertainment, and shop with street vendors.
In the summer, the art crowd flocks to the top of Mt. Helix to watch the thespians of Christian Community Theatre perform Broadway-style musicals under the stars in the 5000-seat amphitheater. The view from the top is spectacular and offers 360-degree views of the city. Year-round, the East County Performing Arts Center in El Cajon, books a wide-array of appealing performers, musical and comedy acts, many well-known.
If you enjoy the enticing aroma of cinnamon and apples wafting in the air, fall is the time to visit one of the most popular events in San Diego County: the Julian Fall Apple Harvest. This festival, held each fall since1909 in the rustic little town of Julian in the Laguna Mountains, runs from mid-September through mid-November. The town offers charming Victorian architecture, handicraft and antique shops, and fruit stands selling fruit and juice from local orchards, coupled with some of the tastiest apple pies (sold all over town) you’ve ever tasted. The crisp autumn air and the tree leaves dusted with fall orange and gold colors add to the ambiance. A day-trip to Julian at this time of the year is a must for visitors; however the town is enjoyable at any time.
Each November, El Cajon is home to one of the largest parades on the West Coast, the Mother Goose Parade, a holiday celebration featuring floats, marching bands, clowns and equestrians.
For the cowboys-at-heart, neighboring Lakeside is popular for the annual Lakeside Rodeo each April, drawing thousands of spectators for the three-day event. Competitive bareback and saddle bronco riding, bull riding, calf and team-roping, steer wrestling, and a Miss Rodeo Lakeside is chosen to rule over the festivities.
In addition, Circle RV Resort is close to major gaming casinos, golf courses, parks and outdoor recreational facilities, making it the ideal place to stay to experience the most that East County has to offer, as well as offering a comfortable driving distance to the major attractions in San Diego. The museums of Balboa Park, attractions like SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park outside of Escondido, and the delightful shopping areas of downtown and La Jolla (and others) are well within the range of a daily excursion from the resort. The resort staff will be delighted to offer recommendations or suggestions to help highlight your stay.
Nestled in the high desert of Hemet, California lies Sunland RV Resorts’ premier resort, Golden Village Palms. Golden Village is California’s Largest and most luxurious RV resort featuring picturesque mountain views in a gated resort community.
The resort is motor coach friendly in terms of amenities and service. Lush landscaping; wireless internet access; 50/30 AMP electric service; pull through sites; concrete paved patios; and full hook-ups add to the value and convenience that Golden Village Palms extends to its visitors.
Located minutes from Palm Springs, Golden Village Palms has activities that appeal to the discriminating RV owner. Some of the nearby activities include golf, wine tasting, hot air ballooning, dancing, shuffleboard, volleyball, crafts, and more! In addition, the resort is within driving distance to major attractions including Disneyland, the San Diego Zoo, Legoland California, and the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park. Furthermore, Golden Village Palms has a full-time events coordinator to help guests plan activities and excursions.
Featuring a multi-million dollar recreational complex as its centerpiece, Golden Village Palms has amenities that are second to none. These amenities include three sparkling pools that are temperature controlled year-round. In addition, the resort has three hot spas; a state-of-the-art fitness center with TV monitors and luxurious shower facilities; club and rally rooms; grand ballroom; tv lounge with a wide screen TV; craft and hobby rooms; horseshoes; putting green; modern laundry facilities and more!
Golden Village Palms is available for short-term or long-term stays. If you’re an RV owner looking for the best resort living in Southern California, look no further than Golden Village Palms RV Resort to experience the luxury of the high desert.
