Hotels

Surprise Your Valentine with a Stay at One of These Romantic San Diego Hotels

Break out the conversation hearts with your favorite ‘Be Mine’ messages, because it’s almost Valentine’s Day! If you want to show your love in truly spectacular style this year, get ready to make a reservation at one of these top San Diego Hotels offering romantic Valentine’s packages that do it up right.

Hard Rock Hotel – Gaslamp Quarter

Hard Rock is pulling out all the stops making the entire month of February a celebration of love. You can reserve their Mad Love hotel package any night in February. But let’s be real, Valentine’s Day is the best choice if you really want to impress your lover.

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego is located in the historic Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego. This sleek and modern hotel delivers all the intensity of Las Vegas with the laidback beach ambiance that only a coastal SoCal city can provide. Each guestroom or suite has its own unique take on the distinctive Hard Rock style. Enjoy Halo-illuminated beds decked out in customized “Sleep Like a Rock” bedding for the ultimate comfort.

Your Valentine’s Day package includes luxurious accommodations, the Mad Love Amenity with a bottle of champagne and a chocolate guitar case dessert filled with champagne custard, berries, and edible flowers. It also comes with a curated playlist of love songs put together by the Vibe Manager, and a $40 credit for in-room breakfast in bed.

You can upgrade your Valentine’s Day experience to the Searching for Love package that includes all of the above plus a curated scavenger hunt inside the 12-story hotel, and your personalized love note illuminated on the side of the exterior hotel wall for all to see from 5^th Avenue.

1906 Lodge – Coronado

Maybe a high energy, swanky hotel just isn’t your vibe. If you’re looking for something a little more intimate and sophisticated, book your Valentine’s Day Package at 1906 Lodge. This luxury boutique hotel is located in the heart of Coronado Island, a block off the Orange Street entertainment and dining hub. This is the perfect choice for a quiet romantic getaway.

Your stay starts with a 400-square-foot Garden King Spa Room with a courtyard garden view from either your patio or balcony. The room features a king bed, gas fireplace, sitting area, wet bar with minifridge, iPod docking station, HDTV, complimentary Wi-Fi, luxurious spa tub with spray jets, and fluffy bathrobes for two.

Your Valentine’s Day package includes a bottle of chilled sparkling wine, chocolate truffles, a Valentine’s keepsake memento, and a romantic set-up of rose petals and tea light candles. You’ll also enjoy a special Valentine’s Day breakfast, bottomless mimosas, Happy Hour wine and hors d’oeuvres, coffee, tea, and water, cookies, secure undergound parking, beach chairs, towels, bags, bicycles and umbrellas to borrow for the beach, and activity and restaurant recommendations at the desk – all completely complimentary.

Hotel del Coronado

When it’s beachfront luxury you’re looking for, the iconic Hotel del Coronado is everyone’s favorite choice from celebrities to statesmen. This extravagant 1888 Victorian hotel is what dreams are made of – especially for those in the mood for romance. Situated right on San Diego’s only white sand beach, Hotel Del is where new lovers start their journeys and lifelong couples reignite them.

At Hotel Del, combine your chosen accommodation with one of three romantic options. Valentine’s night you can celebrate with a romantic dinner for two at Sheerwater where you’ll enjoy a three-course pre fixe menu and live entertainment.

Another option is a special pre fixe Valentine’s dinner at serea where you’ll indulge in coastal cuisine prepared by Chef Jojo Ruiz. It starts with a delicate amuse bouche and ends with a luscious dessert chosen by the chef.

Skip dinner altogether in favor of a Romantic Roast for Two right on the beach. Staff will prepare a private beach bonfire for two where you can snuggle together and enjoy an à la carte menu of chocolate dipped strawberries, s’mores, and champagne.

All Valentine’s Day packages at Hotel Del are in addition to your room or suite selection. It’s best to reserve your Valentine’s experience at the time of booking to be safe.

SANDiego’s 6th Annual Sand Sculpting Competition is Labor Day Weekend

It’s that time of year again.

The annual sand sculpting extravaganza where world renowned master sand sculptors go head to head is Labor Day weekend.

Make your way Downtown to watch entrants compete with unique and lavish sand sculpture designs.

This year’s event is so extraordinary that America’s Finest City is changing its name for the four-day event to SANDiego, as well as bringing a whopping 300 tons of sand to San Diego’s Broadway Pier. The beautiful Big Bay provides the backdrop to the event in what many consider the most creative atmosphere in the world.

The United States vs. the World

This event was designed with the whole family in mind, and continues to bring San Diego locals and visitors alike together for a weekend of friendly competition. World Master Sand Sculptors from all over come to the city to challenge the best Sand Sculptors in the United States. Countries such as Russia, Latvia, the Netherlands, Italy, Canada, South Korea, and Ireland are represented in the competition, all itching to take home the crown. There are a total of 11 master sculptors who will be carving over the four-day period, all vying for over $60,000 in prize money. The winners will be announced on Sunday, day three.

A Little Something for Everyone

In addition to the sand sculpting competition there will be more than 1,000 3D art pieces available for purchase by talented metal, wood, and glass sculptors. You’ll also find acrylic, ceramic, jewelry, and clothing artists. One thing you will not be taking home is a competitive sand sculpture. They each weigh a whopping ten tons, or more.

Each day brings new, unique and fun activities such as the Arts-for-learning Kid Zone, which is overseen by professional sculptors who watch and teach youngsters how to build their own castles in a giant sand box. There are also fun rides and games for the kiddies such as Bubble Fun that allows them to walk on water (well, sort of), Springy Thingy, and much more.

For adults at the event, you’ll get your own brand of fun with live singers, bands, and dancers throughout all four days. There will be tribute bands who pay homage to greats like the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Journey, Elvis, and Bob Dylan. Copious numbers of food trucks will also be on hand serving delicious eats from all over the world (more than 100 menu items), plus coffee and select beverages. Wine and beer gardens will be set up throughout the space for a little afternoon break, or a pre-dinner drink.

Visitors will make their voices heard in the Peoples’ Choice Award for the World Masters Class competition. Voting is 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

And the Winners Are……

After an action-packed Friday and Saturday, the awards ceremony takes place on Sunday at 5 p.m. The all-star panel is met by City of San Diego and Unified Port of San Diego officials to present the awards. The first awards go to the third, second, and first place winners of the World Masters Sand Sculpture competition. Next up are the first, second, and third place winners of the Dimensional Art Exposition; these are the non-sand sculptors and artists. Following these announcements, the second and third place Grand Prize awards are given out for the People’s Choice and Sculptors’ Choice winners. Lastly, the Grand Prize winner in the World Master class is announced, and we find out once and for all who will be taking the trophy and bragging rights home.

Spoiler Alert: As of right now it’s 4 to 1 in favor of the away team, based on the results of the last five years.

Need a Place to Stay?

For those who are visiting San Diego specifically for the four-day Labor Day event, or locals who simply want to stay in the Downtown area while the event is going on, there are numerous hotel options to choose from. The Sofia Hotel, located on Broadway and Front Street in the Gaslamp District is ideal for those who want an upscale urban experience. The historic hotel features stylish rooms, suites, VIP suites, a hotel spa, yoga studio, and health center. The Wyndham San Diego Bayside, the U.S. Grant Hotel, and the The Keating Hotel are also excellent choices for a luxurious stay in the city. DoubleTree San Diego Little Italy is perfect for those on a budget. There are also various additional family-friendly and great-value hotels just outside the downtown area in Mission Valley, Pacific Beach, and Mission Beach.

Where: Broadway Pier and Pavilion, 1000 North Harbor Drive

Date: September 1^st-4^th

Time: 9AM-5PM/Saturday until 9PM

Price: $6-$35

Love and Romance in San Diego

Warm sunny days, cool evenings, ocean breezes, and swaying palm trees; when life is this easy what’s not to love? Even in paradise it’s possible for romance to end up playing second fiddle to a busy lifestyle, which makes it all the more important to make the time to reconnect. Sometimes all it takes is some alone time on a great escape to flame the fire. We’ve chosen two of the most romantic hotel stays, restaurants, and couple’s activities in San Diego to help you plan your perfect romantic getaway, be it a vacation or staycation.

Two San Diego Hotel Stays That Say ‘I love you’

It’s difficult to narrow down the romantic hotel options in San Diego to two, because it’s highly subjective when you have so many options. We chose an island bed and breakfast-style hotel on Coronado Island and a swanky urban hotel in East Village for two distinctly different choices. San Diego, however, is a mecca of romantic boutique, resort, luxury, and independent hotels, each with its own style and passionate vibe.

1906 Lodge is a luxury boutique hotel tucked away on San Diego’s Coronado Island. Rooms and suites transport lovers to a bygone era with original craftsman-style detail and nautical décor. Ground level suites have patios overlooking a courtyard garden of fragrant flowers; second-story suites have balconies. All suites include rain showers, fireplaces, and cozy seating areas. Indulge in a gourmet breakfast, linger over afternoon refreshments on the veranda, or venture off together with the complimentary use of beach cruisers and beach gear; it’s all included in the price of your room and suite. Recently recognized as the top boutique hotel in America, this island getaway is the perfect place for romance.

1906 Lodge

Andaz is a swanky hotel in San Diego’s trendy East Village. Couture decorated rooms and suites are ultra-modern and amenity laden, catering to the sophisticated couple with an appreciation for high style. You can check in on an iPad while you enjoy welcome beverages; get your VIP bracelet, then settle into your accommodations. Share a poolside massage on the hotel rooftop, or work out together with a personal trainer. When the sun goes down, relax at Andaz Wine Bar on the sidewalk level before going out for dinner or entertainment in the Gaslamp Quarter or East Village. Rooftop600 atop Andaz offers a romantic view of the nighttime cityscape, or a place to share mojitos in front of a fire at the end of a relaxing day.

Two Romantic San Diego Restaurants with Taste

The Greek philosopher Epicurus advised, “We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink.” Eating has always been a social experience where families, colleagues, lovers, and others deepen relationships over plates of food. Among these culinary bonds, none is more anticipated than the dinner date. When you and your special someone are ready to break bread together, these two San Diego restaurants provide both sumptuous fare and a romantic ambiance.

The Prado at Balboa Park is a gracious hacienda-style restaurant in the heart of San Diego’s Balboa Park. The meticulously restored National Historic Landmark is centrally located in the House of Hospitality, making it an easy walk to the Globe Theater, Japanese Friendship Garden, Organ Pavilion, and several museums. The restaurant serves a New American menu, and was a recipient of an America’s Best Restaurant award from Gourmet Magazine. It’s the perfect setting for a romantic dinner before or after the theater or an exhibition. Turn up the romance on the outdoor multi-tiered terrace surrounded by lush gardens with strings of twinkly lights crisscrossing above.

Prado at Balboa Park-4

Bertrand at Mr. A’s is a San Diego culinary icon representing the crème de la crème of fine dining experiences since 1965. The classic restaurant that sits atop the former Fifth Avenue Financial Center in the Bankers Hill neighborhood is listed among the Top 100 Romantic Restaurants in the U.S. You’ll savor French-American cuisine prepared by premier Chef Stephane, a Chef of the Year Gold Medallion award winner, and served either indoors over white linens, or outdoors on the wraparound rooftop terrace. Indulge in a prix fixe performance or tasting menu at sundown, and watch the planes descend onto Lindbergh Field as the sun dips into the Pacific. Share a romantic dinner after dark above the sparkling city lights, or come in after a show for dessert and a nightcap.

Two Places in San Diego to Find Fun and Romance

The Gondola Company takes lovers into a world of their own weaving slow-paced gondolas among the serene waterways of the Coronado cays. Couples can choose either the Pasaporto Cruise for two or Sunset Cruise for two, both of which include blankets, an ice bucket, and wine glasses. You’re encouraged to bring your own bottle of bubbly or other beverage on your enchanted journey. You can even up the romance factor on your gondola cruise by hiring a professional mandolin or violin musician. These romantic cruises are 50 minutes and run to midnight.

VIP Paints offers couples a memorable date night experience in North Park’s emerging arts district. Is there a more natural expression of love than bringing a creation into the world together – a painting anyway? Whether you’re amateur artists or a free-spirited couple who’ll try anything once, VIP Paints will help you manifest your shared artistic expression. Check their calendar for couples’ classes where you share space but not a canvas, or partnered painting classes where you create a diptych – a single painting on two panels. You can also schedule a private class for just the two of you, and BYOB! Before or after your session, take advantage of VIP Paint’s urban location on the 30^th Street Corridor, home to North Park’s vibrant craft brew scene.

Even if you can only steal away an hour to spend together, San Diego has plenty of options for romance. Watch the sun set into the ocean at Sunset Cliffs, stargaze into the night sky from atop Mount Soledad, or catch an outdoor movie from his and hers recliners in Mission Hills. Share a cocktail at Prohibition, one of San Diego’s hidden speakeasies where finding the entrance is part of the allure. Ride around Mission Bay on a tandem bike, or catch SeaWorld’s fireworks night kayaking the bay. Find your pleasure together in San Diego.