We are loving this weather and scenery!
After breakfast we meandered around the outside area of the hotel near the breakfast area. This was a HUGE outdoor patio type of area that had a large chess set, lounge chairs as well as a ping-pong table. The front desk gave us a ping-pong ball and the kids were on cloud nine. They competed against each other and then against "The Master" as he likes to call himself, Chris. This became a morning tradition as the week progressed.
The hotel offered PLENTY of outdoor seating as well!
I loved this little area of the patio!
The large chess set and loungers!
More of the patio and seating areas!
Hello Ping-Pong... the kids LOVED this!
We then gathered our items for the day and made our way to Mission Bay for our Whale Watching Tour with Legacy Tours. This was located right on Mission Bay near the Hyatt-Mission Bay. We arrived at 8:55AM; plenty of time for our 10AM tour. TIP- This was a 3-hour tour we found this tour on Groupon and it only cost $94 for all four of us. Always check Groupon for the city you are traveling for random attraction or restaurant deals. We have had great luck with that in the past. Legacy Tours also offer a "Half-Off Wednesdays" where all DAYTIME tours on Wednesdays are only $28 per person!
This was stationed near the ramp to get to the boat.
The bay area near the Hyatt Mission Bay!
One of my favorite pictures from the trip!
They were so ready to see some whales!
We got checked in and then waited for the tour to start boarding. Around 9:25AM I noticed some people standing near the boat ramp and thought "I wondering if they are starting a line" so I moved from our bench and stood behind them. Within minutes the other 50+ people were behind me. TIP- Always trust your gut in these situations. It usually never fails. The naturalist gave a couple of tips and we were on our way towards the boat.
Let's do this... they are ready!
Spring Break 2022
Even in California... There's a "Let's Go Brandon" flag!
I LOVE IT!
We boarded the boat and got the very top seat on the back of the boat as we knew this would not only give the best view for whale watching but also would be less motion. As I mentioned in the previous post about the wind at the SD Zoo, the wind was still high in San Diego and the sea was VERY choppy... more on that later.
This was a 20+ foot wave crashing on this pier.
We got settled and pulled off the dock. We were all four so excited to see whales and I was just excitedly anticipating the peaceful boat ride. Chris and I had HUGE success with whale spotting during our 2016 Alaska cruise and we were anxious to see these same type of whales in the south during this time of year.
As we left the basin, we went past a small dock area in the bay with several (about 10) sea lions and some ducks. Everyone on the boat got excited as this was our first wildlife spotting. The whole boat (Of about 100) stood up and went and took pictures and videos. Little did we know...
Well hello there Mr. Sea Lion!
This was already more than we saw in 2021 at Pier 39 in San Francisco... I was feeling lucky!
We continued out from the bay and towards open waters. We sailed right between Ocean Beach and Mission Beach in San Diego via the Quivira Basin. This was such a neat sailing as we were able to see the Ocean Beach Pier (the longest in California) as well as Mission Beach and Belmont Park from the boat. Even as we left the basin into the entrance channel and then into the open ocean, the waves were incredibly fierce. We were rocking all over the place. The kids were enjoying it and trying to "call out" the big waves before they made it to the boat.
Mission Beach, the Plunge (white building) and the Giant Dipper (Rollercoaster) from Belmont Park looking North on the coast.
Looking south, you can see Ocean Beach, OB Pier and way in the distance... MEXICO!
As the tour progressed we got further and further away from the beach and the waves got worse and worse. So bad, in fact, that practically everyone around us was standing up and getting sick over the side of the boat. I had never seen anything like this. Even many of the adults were getting sick just trying to make it to the lower deck or the front of the ship. The sounds, noises and looks from everyone on the ship was just awful and SO GROSS!
The definition of "Chill" throughout the entire cruise was my 7th grade Middle School daughter!
It was so awesome!
We sailed out about 15-16 miles from the shoreline before the naturalist said they had not seen or heard anything from other boats about wildlife spotting so we were returning to the dock. We were all so very disappointed, especially Chris as this was the thing he was looking forward to the most.
It was a bumpy ride back to the shore and both kids spent time lying on Chris and I to try and calm their stomachs as well. The four Davises never got sick... despite thinking all of us would. Even the kids said it was "touch and go" for a while. While I was not happy with the overall outcome, I was thrilled nobody got sick in route. Legacy Tours asked us to give them a good review despite not seeing any wildlife and then gave us 4 return tickets.
As we made our way back to the dock we saw a cute little mallard duck and we all laughed "There's our wildlife". Ha, it was a bust but we still made the best out of it.
Here's is our wildlife of the day!
If this doesn't tell you about Hodad's.
It is at the corner of Newport Rd and BACON Street!
Umm... YES PLEASE!
This was my favorite license plate tag!
The outside of this small restaurant.
We LOVED this place so much! The food, atmosphere and service were TOP NOTCH!
Shortly after that conversation the waitress comes over with a mountain of onion rings, literally, about 12"-15" tall. This was a on top of a huge mound of steak fries. We looked at her and she said "This is the Fring. Enjoy!" These were some of the best onion rings I have ever had and the fries were great too.
Seriously, this was SO MUCH FOOD!
We all ordered the "small cheeseburgers" and I am so glad we did. On DDD, Guy Fieri ordered the Original Bacon Cheeseburger so that is what Chris and I ordered, just small and only 1 patty. The Original Bacon Cheeseburger featured 2 meat patties and a 3rd patty made completely of bacon! This burger was HUGE and ties with Holstein's in the Cosmo in Las Vegas for the best burger I have ever had. It only ties since Holsteins was made with "wagyu" beef. This thing was HUMUNGOUS but so packed with flavor. That bacon patty really brought it all together!
Y'all... this was the SMALL cheeseburger!
We tried but we could not finish our appetizer and Chris and I barely ate all our burgers. TIP- Hodad's prices are very steep (highest cost meal of the trip) but so very much worth it. There is no need to get the "basket" option if you get ANY appetizer. The "Fring" was a $20 appetizer but I would order it again... it was THAT good. Hodad's also has a location in downtown San Diego as well as inside Petco Park (Although the line was SUPER LONG every time we passed). Do yourself a favor and check this place out when you are in San Diego. It is about a block from the ocean and the food and service are INCREIBLE! This is easily my favorite DDD I can remember!
Best Diner's, Drive-in's and Dives EVER!
After lunch we found a new parking location a few blocks away and changed into our beach apparel. TIP- Parking in Ocean Beach is a little tricky but there are lots that are for "beach/ shopping/ street" nearby. Most of the restaurants only have 2 hour parking and you must be a customer. We found a location just a few blocks from the Newport Road that offered $10 for 2 hours of parking.
We walked from our car to the Ocean Beach pier and then made our way down to the beach. The kids had "touched" the Pacific the night before but it was time to SWIM in the ocean. Now keep in mind, we are used to the much warmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico in Galveston and Florida. These waters are not near as pretty but much warmer! Their initial walk into the ocean video is absolutely PRICELESS and something I will never forget! Chris- "I've taken ice bathes that were warmer than that!"
This was absolutely HILARIOUS!
*Be sure to MUTE it as I am laughing hysterically throughout... SORRY!
The water was so cold and choppy!
We loved this beach!
April 2022
Chris and the kids played in the FRIGID waters for over an hour before they got too cold and decided to get out. (I had read that Ocean Beach was a great place but nowhere to leave belongings so I decided to get in the water but not change into a swimsuit so I could hold the rental car keys and etc. I really wish I would have had a swimsuit and really enjoyed it all. I mean, you only live once... right. Next time, I'm just gonna do it and figure out a way to keep the keys dry and etc. They were having SO MUCH fun!)
Hello Pacific!
The beach is my happy place!
Let's go Luke...
Eventually Luke got so comfortable, he did some push ups!
It turns out... This is a our water baby!
Lord help me... please!
They both loved this beach so much!
After our swimming adventure we had planned to go straight to Belmont Park in Mission Beach but had a "wardrobe malfunction" (Luke forgot underwear) so we went back to the hotel to change.
When we got to the hotel we went to the pool area and I told Luke to go to the shower to rinse off... I turn around and he had jumped in the pool! (Y'all this kid is crazy)
We got to Belmont Park around 4PM and it was not near as crowded as I was thinking it would be. We went to the main ticket booth to get our all-day ride pass that was included with our Go City Pass. TIP- I mentioned it in the previous blog but the Go City San Diego Pass is worth EVERY penny. The all-day ride pass at the Belmont Ticket Office is $52/ per person but is included in both the All-Inclusive and Explorer Go City passes. If your family likes amusement parks, this is a GREAT option for you.
Belmont Park on Mission Beach
This was a nice little area towards the entrance to the beach with lots of little photo stops! Be sure to check it out!
Another Photo Prop at the back of Belmont Park!
Once we had our passes, it was a divide and conquer type day as Natalie and I like the adventure rides and Luke does not. Natalie and I immediately got in line for the Giant Dipper- The Wooden Beach Roller-coaster, while Chris and Luke went to play laser tag.
Natalie and I in line for the Giant Dipper!
Chris and Luke had way too much fun on the bumper cars!
Natalie and Luke were able to find a ride that they BOTH enjoyed together... The Tiltawhirl!
Chris and Luke had a GREAT time on the bumper cars!
She looks almost too comfortable!
This look will be here before I know it! (just 3 more years)
That was pretty much the whole day at Belmont Park!
For the next few hours Natalie and I rode all the adventure rides available and Chris and Luke did laser tag, bumper cars, mini-golf and the arcade games. Natalie and Luke did fine ONE ride that they could enjoy together... The Tiltawhirl! And they both LOVED it! I think they rode that one together about 5-6 times!
Natalie and Luke enjoying the Tiltawhirl at Belmont Park!
We grabbed the kids some snacks and the adults some coffee before continuing to get "our money's worth" at Belmont Park.
This sunset was GORGEOUS!
This was seriously one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever witnessed!
God sure does paint a pretty picture!
We rode one last ride before we called it a night... The Go Karts!
We had rode all the rides, got our "money's worth" and were getting hungry so we opted to leave Belmont Park just before closing at 9PM and head towards another DDD Pizzeria Luigi in Ocean Beach. This turned out to be literally across the street from Hodad's. There was a Farmer's Market going that evening so parking was scarce but we located a spot and walked to Pizzeria Luigi. This was a tiny place with hot and ready slices of various specialty pizzas and the option to get a large made to order pizza. On DDD Guy Fieri ordered the Capone Meat Specialty pizza so we got that. The kids were "STARVING" as they told me to they got hot and ready slices. Of course, they ate some of the big pizza too. In fact, we had to go back and order more, they ate so much! (I'm sure this is just the start of our teen-ager eating days)
The pizza by the slice area at Pizzeria Luigi
The Capone Meat Specialty Pizza- This was DELICIOUS!
We loved this place!
(Ignore Luke. He was fussy since it was "cold")
TIP- Pizzeria Luigi has fairly cheap prices for a large pizza so if you are willing to wait, it would a lot fresher if hand made for you. However, if you are wanting to try new and weird pizzas, the slice option is a great way to try new things. Our total bill, with multiple slices and a large specialty, was only $52 total WITH TIP! And it was OUTSTANDING pizza! Also, this is a LOCAL favorite and I have never seen so many surfers or people who were high.
We finished our dinner and made our way back to Homewood Suites for the night. By this time it was pushing 11PM and we were all tired, especially Luke. We learned during this trip that he reaches a certain time and he is just DONE. There is no "5 more minutes" or "Just one more thing" with him when he is like this. He is just done. He is also a kid who usually gets 10-11 hours of sleep per night and vacations "rarely" get that amount (except for our love of cruises, which I mentioned before... but I digress).
While it started off with a BUST... It ended with a BANG and overall was a GREAT day! We loved Hodad's, Pizzeria Luigi and Belmont Park!
Up Next... Midway Magic aboard the USS Midway and "pup season" in La Jolla.
Did you miss Day 1 or Day2? Check them out:
Day 1- Yep... I Still Hate Flying
Thanks for following along! We appreciate your support!
God is good... ALL THE TIME!
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