Mama's Visit: Old Town San Diego

On Saturday, my uncle was able to join us for a day of fun!  We began the day at the San Diego Farmer's Market, which put even the Alvarado Street Market to shame!  I came home with a great new butter dish, fabulous sea salt chocolate, and lavender-infused caramel sauce (and I easily could have purchased more!).

After the market, we drove to Old Town San Diego and toured the Cosmopolitan Hotel before devouring fabulous fish tacos and margaritas at Miguel's!  We shopped in the Mexican market, then made our way back to Coronado to relax with a tasty glass of wine in front of the fire pit!

Sunday morning, Mama, Bunkey, and I sadly said goodbye to Southern California and made the trek back to Monterey, stopping at In-N-Out Burger for lunch on the way!

Mama's Visit: Coronado & the San Diego Zoo

On Thursday, we packed up early and hit the open road once more, though this time for a significantly longer trip!  We were heading South eight hours, to Coronado for a visit with my aunt and uncle.  The trip was uneventful, and we made great time due to the fact that we packed a lunch and pulled off at a rest stop to eat and make a potty break!  After we arrived, we went for a walk along the ocean with my aunt to wander the grounds of the amazing Hotel del Coronado.

Friday Mama, Bunkey, and I ventured off alone to the world famous San Diego Zoo!  I went when I was a little girl, twenty-five years ago, and once again, the zoo did not disappoint (even though many of the animals were sleeping/hiding when we arrived right at opening).  That said, the wonderful surprise was that we were able to spend the morning at the zoo for only $15!  Turns out active duty and reserve military are granted free admission.  Military dependents are offered a discount ($35 vice the full $42 admission).  That said, the evening before a friend of my aunt's came over to the house and offered us some of the coupons she'd received as a member of the zoo, one of which was a $15 adult admission!  We were thrilled that what we thought would be an $84 adventure was not even 20% that price!  I should also mention that my aunt's friend also gave us coupons for the gift shop and food stands, so we were able to score on snacks and souvenires as well!

My aunt had estimated the exact amount of time we'd need at the zoo and made us lunch reservations at The Prado in Balboa Park.  We met her in the courtyard and enjoyed a fabulous lunch capped off with a birthday dessert she had sent to the table in my honor!  After lunch we went shopping (large quality malls with upscale shops are harder to come by than you'd think in Monterey) where I found shoes and jewelry to compliment my ball gown later this month!


When we returned to my aunt and uncle's house, my uncle took us to the I-Bar, where many of the pilots stationed on Coronado wet their whistle after a long day flying, for a drink.  This is also the setting from one of the scenes in Top Gun, when they are graduating and receiving their follow-on orders (ya know, in the courtyard with the arched walk-way?)!