Tag: San Diego

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San Diego Zoo

We spent the better part of a day at the San Diego Zoo recently.

Starting with the bus trip, which was included in our ticket price, this was a great to get oriented. With an overall view of the entire zoo, this helped us decide the areas where we definitely wanted to spend more time.

Our driver explained the individual areas and the animals that would normally live in either that continent or country. She stopped often along the way to show us an animal if they were visible. If they were not, she gave us some hints on the best time to see them.

She also told us about a “kangaroo bus” which is a hop on, hop off bus. This bus stops at four different spots throughout the entire zoo. We used this bus at the end of the day when we wanted to get to one more place.

Well laid out, the San Diego Zoo let us go from Africa to Asia and everywhere in between. We saw animals of that specific area. Signage by each animal helped us  learn as it would explain the animal, their habitat, and pertinent facts about their life in the wild.

Volunteers are readily available to answer questions, give directions, and help with navigating the map. We stopped and asked questions several times.

Since we had reservation at Albert’s Restaurant, a sit-down restaurant at the San Diego Zoo, we headed there to eat lunch. Albert’s, located in the Lost Forest Zone, is a full-service restaurant. Both inside and  outside offer a terrific view of the private waterfall. With a tasty lunch we enjoyed a glass of wine. Not a bad way to enjoy the zoo.

Albert’s was named for the most famous resident ever at the San Diego Zoo. He was a handsome silverback western lowland gorilla. Born in Africa, Albert arrived at the zoo in 1949 when  he was four months old. He and two baby female lowland gorillas were hand raised at the nursery at the zoo. When he reached maturity, he lived in an open-air grotto, located where the restaurant is now located.

In 1965 Albert fathered the first western lowland gorilla at the San Diego  Zoo. This was only  the seventh gorilla born in any zoo. He died peacefully in 1978. His grandchildren  and great-grandchildren are still living at the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego  Zoo  Safari Park.

The rest of the day we wandered past lions, tigers, and bears. Oh my…what a great way to spend a day.

For more San Diego fun, check out https://travelsandescapes.net/?s=san+diego

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I’m Sharing A Secret

French Oven and Bakery

Some secrets are worth sharing. When we discovered this little slice of France right here in our own backyard…we decided we had to share.

delicious sandwich…turkey, avacado, tomato, baguette

The owner and chef, Yves Fournier, and his wife, Susie, grew up in a small village at the base of the French Alps. His love of baking is evident as you eat his pastries and listen to him talk about what he’s making. He told us he learned the ins and outs of pastry making from his father, who learned it from his father and grandfather. No wonder everything tastes so authentic.

A little background…Chef Yves came to San Diego as a pastry chef for the Le Meridien Hotel in 1992, worked for several 5-star hotels, and was the Executive Baking and Pastry Chef instructor for the San Diego Culinary Institute.

When he started a small pop-up out of his home, neighbors and friends encouraged him to open a bakery.

We are glad he did.

Everything looks so good. Better than than…it all tastes better than it looks.

One bite of an almond croissant, with just the right among of toasted almond slices and powdered sugar, beg to be devoured. Beignets practically melt in your mouth. Savory quiches are light, yet filling. And, the lemon tarts just have to be sampled.

Trust us when we say this secret spot needs to be checked out. You’ll thank us.

If You Go: French Oven is located at 10299 Scripps Ranch Trail, Suite E, San Diego.

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Cabrillo National Monument…San Diego

 

First…a little history.

As the park’s namesake, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo led the first European expedition to explore what is now the west coast of the United States. Cabrillo departed from the port of Navidad, Mexico, on June 27, 1542. Three months later he arrived at “a very good enclosed port,” which is known today as San Diego Bay. Historians believe he anchored his flagship, the San Salvador, on Point Loma’s east shore near Cabrillo National Monument. Cabrillo later died during the expedition, but his crew pushed on, possibly as far north as Oregon, before thrashing winter storms forced them to back to Mexico.

Cabrillo National Monument, established in 1913, commemorates Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s voyage of discovery. A heroic statue of Cabrillo looks out over the bay that he first sailed into on September 28, 1542. At the Visitor Center, the film “In Search of Cabrillo” and an exhibit hall present Cabrillo’s life and times. Ranger-led programs about Cabrillo are usually available on weekends and on many weekdays during summer months.

Visiting…

Stop at the Visitor Center. Information about the park, tidepools, and trails, exhibits showcasing Cabrillo and the native people, films documenting the park and its history, and commanding panoramic views make the Visitor Center here an ideal place to start your visit.

Bring your shoes if hiking is on your agenda. The Bayside Trail is about 2.5 miles roundtrip. You’ll descend about 300 feet as you walk past native coastal sage, prickly pear, and chaparral. Leftover military control stations, bunkers, and other remnants of the defense system which protected the harbor during WWI and WWII can be seen on your way through this coastal Mediterranean ecotype.

Wear waterproof, sturdy shoes if you want to explore the tidepools. Keep in mind the rocks get slippery. Remember to explore by looking. These are protected to maintain the marine life in their natural habitat. Don’t take anything home with you.

The Old Point Loma Lighthouse is a reminder of sailing ships and oil lamps. When in operation, a dedicated keeper was on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No vacations. No time off. An oil lamp was lit in 1855 to reflect the light off the newly installed Fresnel lens. This was reported to be seen 32 miles away, protecting ships from the rocks and coast. Being the highest lighthouse along the coast, it seemed like an ideal spot. It wasn’t. Fog and low clouds often obstructed the light. In 1891 the lamp was extinguished for the final time. It was shut down and a new one was constructed at a lower elevation.

Definitely worth a trip, the Cabrillo National Monument offers an insight into San Diego and California history. With so much to do here, plan on spending the day.

If You Go: Cabrillo National Monument is located at 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive
San Diego, CA 92106. The entire park is open from 9am until 5pm. The only exception are the tidepools which close at 4:30pm. Park passes are available at the Entrance Station until 4:20pm. For more information, https://www.nps.gov/cabr/index.htm.