Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Lake Elsinore, Kearny Mesa, Coronado & Alpine - the greater San Diego area

I planned to spend this labor day weekend in a different way from before. Usually, I visited either famous areas or friends whenever had San Diego vacation but it was always repeated schedule which makes my wife and myself tired of traveling all the places. First of all, I made reservation on a resort hotel located isolated area of Coronado island. Nowadays, Coronado is not an island anymore since it's connected to mainland by its long and narrow beaches. I've found a nice family hotel named Loews in the middle of this long peninsula which seems like a perfect cast-away from the land which is still close to the downtown.


Loews coronado bay resort

But this vacation wasn't even easy from the beginning. Stella started being sick on Friday night and her temperature rapidly went up to 103 degree. I brought her to hospital on Saturday morning and relieved to hear the doctor's saying there's nothing wrong but she might be infected by flu virus from day care since she's been attending daycare from last month. It's very common every kids got flu or cold when one of them sick in a day care.


Stella is sick and tired.

Next challenge was traffic.
Just like last time, we're departing at the most busy Sarurday - the beginning of long weekend and about to go through the busiest freeway 5 toward San Diego.
I saw there's slow traffic around San Clemente and decided to detour using Ortega highway. The way was far to go to freeway 15 but there's a little reward at the end which is the beautiful Lake Elsinore.


Lake Elsinore

It's already evening when we arrived at San Diego since I've left Valencia late (2pm), detoured to Ortega highway and stopped by few places for break. We decided to have dinner in Kearny Mesa. First, we've checked out Mitsuwa japanese market but their food court already closed and I found the famous Chopstix two just opened up in the same mall.


Mitsuwa japanese market in Kearny Mesa

Stella recovered magically when we arrived at the hotel in Coronado island. She seems enjoying to stay in the hotel. She didn't even need to take any more ibuprofen to lower her fever and woke up with low temperature next morning.
The room wasn't that big but amenities were nice. The best part of the room is gorgeous view of both of the Pacific ocean and San Diego bay! Humidity was okay since it's in the middle of the sea, technically. Not too dry, not too humid.


Hotel room. The view was nice but I didn't take any picture during day time.

We had breakfast buffet which was so so in hotel and went to KUPCSD located near downtown for Sunday service. On the way back to hotel, my wife took a nice picture of San Diego bay when I've driven over the Coronado bridge.


Having breakfast buffet at hotel. Stella didn't have much appetite since she's still sleepy and hasn't fully recovered from cold, yet.


Hotel cafe for breakfast.


Gorgeous View of San Diego bay from the top of Coronado bridge


Patio on the other side of cafe. We can see the Coronado bridge over the sea.

Xin's family & Jaehyuk's couple visited hotel at Sunday night. We had dinner on a sushi bar at downtown Coronado and returned to hotel to have some drink. Xin's daughter, Isabella, and Stella got along with each other very well.


Stella & Isabella

On last day, we checked out from hotel and had nice Dim Sum lunch at Jasmin chinese restaurant in Convoy st. After lunch, we move to the east county of San Diego where Viejas casino/outlet and Cuyamaca state park are. There's little stream called Green Valley fall in Cuyamaca campground. The water was cold and clear which blows away all the tiredness of my family and we returned to Valencia at midnight.



Green Valley fall in Cuyamaca state park

Before leaving San Diego county, we've shopping pants and sandals on Viejas factory outlet. Stella likes to pick up items and to try them. She's definitely a girl. :)


Stella picked up a cap in Levi's store at Viejas factory outlet