Tag Archives: things to do

Santee Drive In Theater for Movies with Kids

Posted on July 14, 2012 by | 1 comment

I rarely watch movie at a theater just because I have kids and leaving them with a sitter is not my idea. So I am glad that I found Santee Drive In Theater, where I can come and watch the latest movies together with the kids.

santee drive in theater booth ticketI believe there are only 2 drive-in theaters in San Diego, one is South Bay and the other one is the Santee Drive-in in San Diego’s East County. It now shows movies in digital format on its two screens. Movies are shown daily, year-round, and only cash is accepted. $8 per adult (13+) $4 for kids age 5-13 and free for  under 5.

The line was not bad when we came on Friday night. We arrived around 8 pm and waited for 5 minutes to buy the tickets. Then we went in to Theater 1 because  that’s where they had the kids’ movies (Ice Age : Continental Drift and Brave). They have 2 movies per theater and you can watch up to 2 movies if you can stay late, for just $8.

Theater 2 at the time we came, had Amazing Spiderman and Men in Black 3.  It’s in the opposite direction from Theater 1.  If you face forward you can see Theater 1, if you face backward you can see Theater 2. So actually you can watch 2 movies at the same time, depends on which direction you face.

santee drive in theater lining up cars

 

santee drive in theater one

Here are what you need to bring so you can enjoy the movie: FM radio, chairs, pillows, blanket, snacks, backup batteries for radio, and water. Movies are broadcast on FM radio only so you must bring a working radio to hear the movies. If you have a minivan or suv, you have to park in the Yellow Lines only. The employee there will direct you.

One more thing you need to know from their website: Customers are allowed to sit outside their vehicle in chairs only. Sitting or laying on the ground or on the roof of any vehicle is not allowed.

santee drive in theatre screen movie

Before the movie starts, remember to have the kids go potty first. Ladies room’s line can be long so it’s even better to do your business before leaving the house.

santee drive in theatre in the backseatWatching movie at Santee Drive In Theater is like having a camp under the star. There are a lot of peoples around you in their cars lining up and doors opened up, sitting or walking. There are many kids roaming around, some are crying some are giggling. But don’t worry, when the movie starts the chit-chat stops and all of a sudden all you can hear is just the sound of the movie amplified through all those radios. Feels like it’s inside a theater.

Actually, I was quite hesitant to come for the first time. My experience watching movie in a theater with kids equals to difficulty in keeping them quite or sit. Also I was not sure how it worked and what should I do. Luckily it turned out to be an enjoyable time I had with the kids, especially because it was a nice and warm evening as well. As soon as we finished Ice Age, it was already 10.30 pm. Since it was very late for the kids, we decided to head home.

I love it. So I would recommend Santee Drive In Theater if you’d like to come with all family or friends. Visit Santee Drive In Theater website for information about the movies schedule, price, policy and address.

Have you ever been to Santee theater? What was your favorite moment there? Share with us.

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U Pick Blueberries in Temecula

Posted on July 7, 2012 by | 1 comment



What one activity you can do in summer?  U Pick Blueberries! That’s what we did on one afternoon at Temecula Berry Co.  The blueberries farm is located in Temecula, about 48 minutes up north from Rancho Bernardo, San Diego, CA.

u pick blueberries in bushes

To avoid the hot weather, we arrived around 4.30, late afternoon. The farm closes at 6pm everyday.  There were plenty of parking spaces and not too many people.  It was easy to spot the u-pick blueberries farm with its 2 red barns.

u pick blueberries near San Diego

Each kid had a small bucket for picking. After you pick the blueberries, they will be put in a pint-size plastic container, just like the cherry tomatoes clam container you usually find in a grocery store. Each pint is $5. One full small bucket can fill about 2 pints.

ready to pick blueberries

After getting the buckets at the front desk, we headed to the farm and walked to the farthest rows of bushes since these were less picked and had more blueberries. To get good blueberries, lift the branches, get down, pick the dark blue ones (the red and green are sour and not ripe yet).  Also avoid blueberries with shriveled or cracked skins.

u pick blueberries in a bucket

We got 2 pints in total. After paying and washing the blueberries, we ate almost all of them. They were very good, plump and sweet. The kids loved picking and eating the blueberries. They ate like they were in a race..:-)..

Temecula Berry Co also sells Honey and no-preservative Blueberry Jam for $5 per small glass container. You can visit their website at www.temeculaberryco.com.

So have you tried blueberries picking yet? Share your story with us.

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San Pasqual Battlefield Historic Park

Posted on June 29, 2012 by | 1 comment

san pasqual battlefield historic parkSan Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park was set aside to honor the soldiers who fought in the battle between the U.S. and Californio forces on December 6, 1846 in the midst of the Mexican-American War. The park is due for closure on July 2012; that’s what motivated me to explore this park one Saturday morning.

The park is located just east of the San Diego Wild Animal Park, at San Pasqual Valley Road, 8 miles east of Escondido on Highway 78. It overlooks the historic site of the bloodiest battle fought in California during the U.S.-Mexican War. Driving along highway 78 is nice because there are many beautiful sceneries of farms, vineyard and some ostrich farms. Along the way, you can find a farmer stall that sells local fruit, vegetables and ostrich eggs.

san pasqual park museum

san pasqual historic park monument at trailhead

There weren’t many people when we came to the visitor center/museum.

The man who worked there was very nice and told us in details about the history of the battle.

Entering the museum you can read the history since the time when the native Indian still lived there until the battle of San Pasqual took placed.

Outside the museum, a big monument honoring Kit Carson and Edward F. Beale was standing high up, marking the start of the Nature Trail.

This 0.25-mile trail loop takes about 20 minutes round trip, which was easy for my kids. I suggest to wear long pants and closed shoes as the bushes can be prickly.

In the middle of the loop, near the top of the hill, you can see the beautiful scenery of lush and green san pasqual valley, surrounded by the hills. It was the place of San Pasqual  battlefield.

The other trail, Battlefield Monument Trail, was closed because it wasn’t maintained and the bushes had grown and closed parts of the trail. People often got lost because of that.

san pasqual battlefield park

san diego archaeological centerNext to the visitor center, the San Diego Archaeological Center is dedicated to the curation of historic artifacts found in San Diego area. The building is next to  the parking lot of the visitor center. You can walk to get there.

In the center, you can find some artifacts dated from hundreds to 10,000 years ago exhibited in the museum.  Beside looking at the old artifacts, kids can also do some hands-on activites in the museum such as classification with beads and broken china, looking at stones with microscope and making your own bracelet and brooch.

san diego archaeological old artifacts

san diego archaeological old toothpaste

san pasqual old indian cemeteryNext to the center is the San Pasqual Old Indian Cemetery.

According to the park ranger, the biggest cross marked the place where Felicita was buried.

Felicita was the daughter of a Kumeyaay Chief named Pontho. She and her clan lived in the nearby San Pasqual Valley. Her Kumeyaay name was Hal-ah-wee. When she was 12, a priest from Mission San Diego de Alcala baptized her with the name Felicita, which in Spanish means “happy little one.” She and several of her family were in a San Pasqual village when the Californios and Americans fought the Battle of San Pasqual in December 1846 during the Mexican War. Felicita and her father assisted the American soldiers after the battle.

san pasqual historic park monument burial

 

Leaving the park, we stopped for a few minutes at the Big Stone Monument, located in the park property.

To reach the monument, just drive west until you can see a big stone wall with a placate on it.

This monument was erected to remembering the 18 US soldiers that dies during the battle. These soldiers were actually buried on this site.

Don’t forget to stop at the local product stall to see this amazing Ostrich eggs. This stall sells fresh ostrich eggs and empty ones as well as fruits and vegetables that are grown locally in San Pasqual.

san pasqual ostrich eggs

 

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Kids Bowl Free at Your Local Bowling Center

Posted on June 27, 2012 by | 1 comment


Can the kids bowl for free? Yes you can all summer long, thanks to Kids Bowl Free program.

kids bowling for free summer

What Is Kids Bowl Free

Select bowling centers and schools around the country are participating in the first ever Kids Bowl Free program. This program gives a registered kid, 2 free games per day all summer, courtesy of the participating bowling centers along with the schools and organizations.

How To Get Free Bowling Games

Signing up is very easy. It takes only a few minutes.

  1. Visit www.kidsbowlfree.com and choose your state to start registering. Click on the map on the right side of the homepage.
  2. Choose your local bowling center and click the link.
  3. Start registering for your kids by entering Parents and Kids information. Click join button.
  4. After signing up, you’ll get confirmation email and email to the coupons. The coupons are sent out weekly each Sunday morning. Click the link in the email and print.
  5. Take the coupon to your bowling center and play for free. You need to pay the rental shoe fee. In this case with Poway Bowl, I paid $4 per kid.

How To Get The Coupons

There are 2 easy ways to get the coupons:
1. Click on the link in the email sent to you, or

2. Visit www.KidsBowlFree.com and log into your account, print the coupons and redeem.

When can I go to Redeem the Coupons?

Each bowling center has their dates and times posted in the right column on their registration page. These are the times when you can come for the free games. Limit 2 games per kid per day. For Poway Fun Bowl, the dates are June 8th – August 19th from 11 am to 3.30 pm.

Free Kids Bowling Summer

The Family Pass

The Family Pass was created to allow for adult family members to enjoy bowling along with the kids throughout the summer as well. The Family Pass starts from $24.95 and includes 2 games per person per day.

The Family Pass covers up to 4 adult family members. You may have 1, 2, 3, or 4 adults on the family pass. The price of the pass covers all 4 members.   You may purchase the family pass at later time or anytime during the program.

Here’s the Deal: Enter code summerfun20 to save an extra 20% off the already great price of $24.95  This code will expire on June 29th at 11:59pm ET.

Review

When we went there on Tuesday, there was no line and there were many empty lanes. We redeemed the coupon and got the shoes on the front desk. Paid $4 for one kid. The lane was automatically closed after we finished the second game. My son was happy and so was I. And I’ve already planned for the next visit.

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Del Mar Fair 2012

Posted on June 16, 2012 by | 1 comment

San Diego County Fair or a.k.a Del Mar Fair 2012 has been open since June 8, 2012. It’s located on Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, CA 92014. Open every day from June 8 to July 4 2012, except Mondays (except July 2nd).

del mar fair from top view

Del Mar Fair Tickets

Before going there, I asked my kid to finish reading 10 books so he could earn a free admission ticket. Normally this ticket is $7 for ages 6-12 and free for 5 and younger.

Just download a reading certificate to keep track the books your kids read,  have a librarian signed it and bring the certificate to the admission gate. That’s all you have to do.

For adult tickets, I went to Albertson to get them at $11 each (instead of $13 at the gate).

Parking

Free parking offered at the nearby Horsepark. There will be free shuttle buses that carry people to or from Del Mar Fair to Horsepark. I highly recommend people to use this free parking facility. When we came we only waited for a few minutes for a bus to come. And no long line. There is often long line on weekends or holidays.

waiting shuttle bus at horsepark to Del Mar Fair

When going home, just go to the same bus stop for Horsepark and wait for the bus.

Safety First

When arriving, we just went straight to the admission gates. Have your bags ready for checking at the metal detector gates.

Also it’s a good idea to get the kids band at the information booth right after the entrance once you get in. On the band you may write your name and cellphone number in case the kids get lost. Wrap it around your kids’ wrists.

del mar fair kids safety wristband

Another thing suggested by the drive, take the photos of your kids on your smartphone or camera, just in case something happens.

Time

We went at a perfect time on Wednesday almost noon time. It was cloudy and there weren’t many lines and crowds. We got in and out  pretty fast. There were more people in late afternoon.

Another reason we chose Wednesday is on that day they have Pepsi Pay-one-price Ride day. It means you can buy a $30 wristband at the fair or online that allows you unlimited access to all rides in Fun Zone and Kiddieland, except the arcades. This really offers good value especially for the kids and the accompanying adult because usually we end up spend many tickets.

Wristband can be purchased online and redeemed at special booths at the fair.

Rides

All rides are divided into 2 areas, the Fun Zone for adults and the Kiddieland for kids. Most rides require certain height (sometimes age) to be able to ride on alone or with an adult. So mom and dad you have to get some tickets too or get your wristband.

All rides need coupons with different amount. The Giant Ferris Wheel needs 6 while the small one only 4 coupons (maybe, sorry I don’t remember). Compare to buying coupons, I find that purchasing a wristband saves more money. The coupon adds up quickly. Each is 75 cents.

Tips: there are many ticket booths scattered around in the Fun Zone or Kiddieland. So if one booth in front of you have a long line you can go and find another one that’s empty.

Grand Ferris Wheel always at Del Mar Fairgiant slide ride for kids


canoe ride small for kids at Del Mar Fair 2012photo with alien

Foods

Del Mar Fair is widely know as the home for the wackiest foods you have to try. From  chocolate covered bacon to totally fried frog legs are available for you to choose. There are so many fried and grilled foods.But my dear husband decided to cook for us that day to eat there so we can save some money.

There are also many mouth-watering sweet treats such as potato donuts,  funnel cake (just knew they have red velvet funnel cake there, which I really wanted to try),  whipped cream puff, ice cream and many more.

Concert

Del Mar Fair has tonnes of shows and concerts, which we didn’t care to go last time because we thought we went there just for the rides. We would come back later for the show.

One show I was happy to be able to see is Bandaloni, the One Man Band. There was this one man with a bunch of instruments attached or wired to him so he could play a full music alone. This man was so amazing and talented that I simply couldn’t imagine how he could do it.

bandaloni performing at Del Mar Fair 2012

We spend our whole afternoon there just for the rides. To visit all booths, shows and rides, we need at least 2 days. Usually on July 4th, there are a lot more going on plus they have Fireworks (for about 30 minutes the last time we went). So on that day you can spend your whole day there until evening. But beware, the parking can be chaotic too.

So have you been to Del Mar Fair? What is your favorite food, ride or show? Do share your story.

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