San Diego in Spring 2007

April 11th, 2007
We flew American Airlines to Palm Springs bouncing off of Dallas. We scooped up my Mom at the airport, rented a Taurus from Hertz and drove west to San Diego. We were amazed at the windmill farms. We rented two rooms at the TravelLodge in the Hotel Circle and had lunch at the Mission Valley Diner. We drove to the Old Town Market to buy tickets for the Old Town Trolley. There was a detailed display of the history of San Diego. We jumped onto the trolley. The driver Larry took us on a trip to the
San Diego Harbor, home of the Midway Aircraft Carrier, Seaport Village, Marriott Hotel & Marina, Horton Plaza Shopping Center, Gaslamp Quarter, Coronado, San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park / El Prado. The view from the bridge that crosses over to Coranado is great. We returned to the Old Town Market and had a Mexican dinner at Fred's.
April 12th, 2007
We had breakfast at the Mission Valley Diner then went to Sea World. Following are the photos from Sea World: Anheuser-Busch 50 state flags. Jean, Clydesdale, Mom, Jean and myself, Dolphin, Polar Bear, Walrus, Penguins, Beluga whale. They had huge tanks with manatees and a glass tunnel that went through the shark tank. Jean in shark jaws, panarama looking out over the bay, Ducks, Flamingos (Slideshow). "Believe", featuring Shamu (SlideShow). Loggerhead, Tropical Fish and Jellyfish. "Dolphin Discovery", featuring Dolly (SlideShow). "Clyde & Seamore's Risky Rescue" (SlideShow). Cabrillo Monument and the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. The monument contains 160 acres at the tip of the Point Loma peninsula, which reaches an elevation of 422 feet. It has a breathtaking view of San Diego and the Pacific Ocean. Jean & I, San Diego & Coranado, Mom, Jean & I, The Monument, Lighthouse Lens, Lens color, Coast Guard Ship (SlideShow). In the evening we drove to Coranado Island and had an exquisite dinner at Ocean 1500 inside the Hotel Del Coranado. Pictures from walking around the Hotel. Nathan, Jean's nephew, and Courtney (SlideShow). We missed seeing the Ghost of Kate Morgan.
April 13th, 2007
Breakfast at Mimi's Cafe. Nathan and Courtney's place with many tropical plants and trees. Balboa Park (SlideShow), Museum of Man (SlideShow), Museum of Art and Photography, The Fountain (SlideShow), Rose Garden (SlideShow) and Museum of Air and Space. Coranado City Beach and then went to dinner at Il Fornaio.
April 14th, 2007
We got off to an early start heading east. We stopped at The Morongo Casino and had breakfast. Next we dropped in on Kitty and Bill, friends of my Mom, in Yucca Valley. They have two houses with beautiful views. The larger, more outstanding house is just being completed and they are moving from one to the other. We drove to 29 Palms and stopped at the Oasis of Mara, the north entrance of the Joshua Tree National Park, we drove to the Jumbo Rocks, Sheep Pass, Ryan Mountain and stopped at Keys View (SlideShow). Keys View is 5185ft and overlooks the Little San Bernardino Mountains, Desert Hot Springs, Indio Hills, Palm Springs, Catherdral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert and Indio known as the Coachella Valley. We had a late lunch at Applebee's. Our next stop was at Judy's home, a friend of my Mom, to retrieve her car. We went onto the Comfort Inn in Palm Desert. Mom came back and took us to an awesome show (SlideShow) called The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies. After the show Mom took us on a tour of landmarks and cool places in the cities of the Coachella Valley.
April 15th, 2007
We toured El Paseo Drive. There was an attempt to go to The Living Desert, but it would have taken all day. We met Mom and went to the Street Market at The College of the Desert. We had lunch at Foster's Deli, then went to a huge second hand shop in Catherdral City. Then we went to a Friendship Dinner at the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage. There we had a parting dinner with my Mom and her friends (SlideShow).
April 16th, 2007
Early flight to Dallas, and then onto Raleigh.