Sweetwater Reservoir: The Hidden Treasure of San Diego – Guest Post by Maria Palma

I feel very blessed to have this view during a full moon right before sunset. Caption: Studio747

I’ve lived in San Diego for 17 years and thought that I had seen it all.  When my boyfriend told me he had found a place in Spring Valley by a lake, I thought he must have made a mistake.

Spring Valley has a lake?

When I first moved to the San Diego area I lived in Spring Valley and had never heard of this lake.  Come to find out, it’s the Sweetwater Reservoir that has been here for hundreds of years.  If you’re driving along the newer part of Highway 125, you’ll see it right at the foot of Mt. Miguel.

The Sweetwater Reservoir is considered to be one of San Diego County’s hidden treasures.  There are a few houses that overlook this lake and I’m fortunate to have one of those views.  On the other side of the lake is the Sweetwater Regional Park with campsites available to the public.  If you need a mini-getaway and love the outdoors, I would recommend staying at the park.

The view of the lake is gorgeous at sunset. Caption: Studio747

On most days I love to sit outside and watch the various birds and ducks hanging around the lake.  Even in the middle of November it’s warm with a nice cool breeze.  When there’s a full moon, the light from the moon glistens on the lake.  It’s breathtaking.

About the Author:
Maria Palma is a freelance writer and founder of Studio 747 who loves everything about San Diego.  Her favorite places in San Diego are the Gaslamp Quarter and Balboa Park.  Oh, and of course, the beaches too.

Message from Jennifer:
I have had the privilege in meeting the sweetest, most talented people on Twitter. Maria Palma (@studio747) is no exception. I am grateful for passionate people who share my love of San Diego as much as I do. Please enjoy and comment. Thank you Maria for contributing to Secret San Diego.

XOXO, Jennifer

San Diego Backdrops

photograph by Suzanne Hansen Photography- Outside of New Children's Museum

Holidays are just around the corner. Are you ready? My favorite photos are behind bright colors and public murals around San Diego. Here are a few of my favorite places:

*Pacific Beach – Around the corner of Garnet and Cass there is a John Lennon Mural with a painted two-dimensional black and white ladder.  The black and white Ladder makes a backdrop.

*Balboa Park, Spanish Village – Colorful backdrops, distressed wood doors and unique adornments give this area a great place to take pics. Also, adventure around the rest of Balboa Park where there are mosaics, sculptures, gardens for your backdrop pleasure.

*Goldfinch St. in Mission Hills – Head towards downtown, you will see a painted mural of flowers and butterflies, very whimsical.

*Downtown – so many colorful backdrops to choose from, I adore East Village with the multi-colored doors and walls. Also near/at the new Children’s Museum.

*Little Italy- Italian influenced wall paintings throughout the area make great pictures and is also a fun stroll and great little restaurants.

Other places:

*Newport Ave. in OB – lots of murals around the areas.

*Inside Restaurants (ask permission first or they might kick you out)

*Artist Painted electric boxes around the city.

photo by Suzanne Hansen Photography- Inside Lucho Libre Taco Shop

Lakes in San Diego

San Diego isn’t known for its lakes, it is known for their beaches and great weather. I am fortunate to live by one of the numerous lakes, so at least once a week I jog or walk Lake Murray. There are a bunch of lakes (The City of San Diego calls them reservoirs) Also, there is also a lake in Santee (nearby town) and a handful in the unincorporated parts of San Diego County.  Here are some pics I took on one of my runs.

Another food post- Secret Restaurant bargains

My quest for a bargain is endless, always looking for a coupon or a deal on the web. Because of the economic times, restaurants are more inclined to offer discounts on their food in-order to turn you into a loyal customer. Lately, I have encountered many buy one get one free entrees and more recently a 50% off coupon at Boston Market on their Family meal (a labor day special). This made feeding a family of 4 for only 12.50. This meal included a whole chicken and a quarter, 4 sides (green beans, mac and cheese, 2 orders of mashed potatoes) & 4 cornbreads.

This Tuesday- 9/8/09, The Burger Lounge (a local green-certified restaurant) is offering a free burger with proof that you are a twitter follower of theirs, I am already a fan of their burgers but this creates buzz in the local twitter community and also gives me reinforcement that the Burger Lounge is awesome.

Also, coming up in San Diego is San Diego Restaurant week (September 13-18). This comes around a couple times a year, where participating local fine dining restaurants are offering a three-course meal for $20, $30, $40. My dining options are wider these few times a year, this year I will plan at least one excursion to a new restaurant. In past restaurant weeks, I have tried fancier places that would be considered a “special occasion” place. I dined at Bertrands at Mr. A’s for $50 out the door- I didn’t have any wine so it would of been more if I ordered a drink (normal cost for my meal would of been well over $80).

Pick-up Stix has had a buy one entree get one free coupon on their site for a while now, this has saved me time and money for getting dinner done.

Lastly, restaurant.com offers discounts at a small cost for the discount. Cost depends if you have a coupon code or not. I have gotten a $25 off of a $35 meal for $3, I know there are $2 codes out there as well. I recently went to the Turf Club in Golden Hill and had a great meal for two $36 including tip + $3 certificate, this would of been a $51 meal otherwise. I have a handful of these certificates to different restaurants, I just need to be aware to use them and to try new restaurants out- so if you buy these certificates be mindful to use them.

If you can search the web or look on the restaurant’s website before you go to that establishment, you will never know if you will find a coupon or encounter any specials they may have.  Happy eating!

Other places to get discounts

• Soupplantation- join Club Veg and get emailed coupons in your inbox, I got a buy-one-get-one free coupon this weekend and also for my birthday!
• Pat and Oscars- join Club Breadstick and get offers in your mailbox and when you join you get a coupon for a free bag of their delicious breadsticks.
• Look in local community magazines, The Reader, City Beat. I have seen some great deals in these resources.
• If you eat out a lot invest in an Entertainment Book, these can be purchased usually through fundraisers or Costco. There are discount movie coupons and other things as well in these thick books. I keep this book in my car just in-case.

If you know any secret restaurants bargains or even secret restaurants themselves let me know by commenting!

Secret Menus

I have always knew about the secret menu at In-n-Out Burger but who would of knew Jamba Juice, Chipotle, McDonalds, and my favorite Starbucks had secret items for your ordering pleasure. When I think of Jamba Juice I think healthy smoothies…with secret menu items like Gummy Bear and Now and Later, a person with a sweet tooth would be in heaven. I am not so sure about ordering  the secret Jamba Juice drinks Hello Jesus or Penis Shooter (what in the world is in these things?). It would be cool to try one of these concoctions just on a whim but again I think I will stay with the classic Razzmatazz. To experience the details of all the Secret Menus in depth go to this article on examiner.com

Link is for In-n-out, scroll down on the page for all the other restaurants. Leave a comment if you know any San Diego restaurant secret menu items or want to let us know about your experience with any of the secret menu items.

It’s no secret anymore

There are places that are relevant to visit in San Diego such as the World Famous San Diego Zoo, Seaworld, Balboa Park, San Diego Harbor Cruises… but did you know that…..

 

• The San Diego Zoo offers secret behind the scenes tours. This 2 hr. tour (maximum of 7 people) allows you to actually handle specified animals and get insight that no other zoo goer would experience. There is also a special behind the scenes safari tour for the Wild Animal Park as well (very costly but cheaper than going to Africa).
• Seaworld offers VIP tours as well as well as a cool Dolphin interaction program that allows you to swim with the dolphins or Wild Arctic program where you can interact with a beluga whale
• Balboa Park offers local residents and military members free admission on Tuesdays to selected museums (rotate every week except for 5th Tuesday).  
• That leashed dogs can board Hornblower San Diego Harbor Cruises twice a yr. once in May for free with exchange for towels and blankets donated to the Helen Woodward Animal Center and once in September for the Bow Wow Brunch Champagne Cruise (paid event) some proceeds also benefitting the Helen Woodward Animal Center. Details for the upcoming Bow Wow Brunch are here which is on Sunday, September 20

If you know of any cool secrets about tourist spots in San Diego chime in and comment.

Whaley House

The Whaley House is a historical house located in the Old Town San Diego. This house was not only a residence but a general store, execution site, courthouse, theatre- you can read up on the extensive history from their official website. About 35% of their visitors are non-locals visiting San Diego to go to many of the main tourist attractions. Many local San Diegoans go there as children on school field trips or with their day camp groups, so at least all the locals go there at one time in their lives. According to their site, the Whaley House is the number one haunted house according to the Travel Channel. This leads me to believe that there are strange paranormal happenings that do exist in that house. Talking with the docent patiently waiting for a question by a brave soul that would ask one- apparently, most things happen to children there. According to the docent,  “Children are most affected by the energy of the house and notice strange things more than adults while in the house.” Also, he noted that strange things have occurred first hand for him, he smelled perfume (not modern scented, but rose scented) and footsteps clacking upstairs before the house opened (no one else inside). This is contrary to the belief that the spirits come out at night, all of his occurrences happened before 10 am. He also has found puzzle pieces on the opposite side of the room from the night previous, like the puzzle was thrown during the night.  There are even pictures in the gallery there with blurs and lines to prove some cameras have captured spirits (pre-digital). The house is loaded with old style pictures, I would describe some as still-life, traditional paintings. Personally, I did feel a strangeness in the air while walking around but I do gather that maybe from my preconceived notion that this was a spirited house.

Staircase leading up to rooms and theatre

Courtroom

Children's bedroom

Still Life photo in dining room

Topiary Garden Mission Hills

This Secret San Diego find is on the Topiary Garden in Mission Hills. I had seen these crazy topiaries featured on a Travel Channel show a few years ago, knew it existed in San Diego but never bothered to see it in person. I wasn’t expecting to see huge crazy shapes and animals cut and manicured so beautifully, yes, I am picturing a real life Edward Scissorhands.  I have to say if you have time for a car ride to drive through San Diego, this is one of the places I recommend.  This is a private residence so I did not bother to get out of the car, I parked across the street and got a grand view of all the work that this woman has done to make her front yard whimsical masterpiece.

Midget Houses of La Jolla

View from Hillside Dr.

I heard from a friend a long time ago about these midget houses up in La Jolla. I have always wondered about the location and where these houses were, but never looked into it, but since I have this blog now I have a reason to look into it. I googled “La Jolla Midget Houses” and found a few articles that were written, details and pics but I wanted to see for myself. I went on a field trip to La Jolla, mapped out the directions 7475 Hillside Dr.- 28 min. from my house the directions said. I was semi-familiar with the area. Only have gone to a house on Mt. Soledad once before for a “donor” party from a previous-previous-previous non-profit job I had once-upon-a-time ago. I remember views to Catalina Island, retractable outdoor roofs, endless pools and a elevator in the house. I know that if you need a elevator in your house, you have a serious house.

Upon a few windy roads, I find gorgeous houses and gorgeous views. Sort of what I expected, looking at my map over and over for the address, I finally get to the house and to what I didn’t want to expect was I didn’t find anything too exciting. But my curiousity is now answered, didn’t find any cool doors or gnome-sized openings.  Not sure if the writing on the house was really the midget-themed font that I wanted to believe, really nice facade on the side and great landscaping but no sign of the yellow brick road or otherwise. Didn’t get the courage to peek through the shutters over the Keep off Grass Sign but did manage to get a few of my own photos. Overall, it was a nice leisurely drive, but I will stick to La Jolla Cove. Read up on the interesting history behind this myth..

Secret Staircases in La Mesa

A view to Downtown San Diego

Here is a secret tip when it comes to fitness in San Diego. Find a walking path that is challenging and fun. Called the Secret Stairs as mentioned on the official La Mesa Website (link will give you details and location),  4 stairwells with 549 steps in total make this walk challenging, fun and beautiful all-in-one.  Originally used to facilitate foot traffic, these public stairwells are a hidden walking treasure in San Diego County. Every house in this “jewel” of a neighborhood is different, no two are alike, there are many different sizes of houses ranging from cottage style to mini-mansion, a few of these houses even have historical status. This hike is perfect exercise to get your endorphins going in the morning (as I experienced) or before sunset to see the beautiful views of the city (on a clear day you can see Downtown San Diego, the Coronado Bridge and beyond). Highly recommended for the healthy, willing and able. Give it a try and let me know how it goes.