Special Episode on California Beaches (Part 1)
Welcome to Dr. Mary Travelbest’s Show Notes
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Answer: The best travel spots and tips come from you, the listener to this podcast. You are the inspiration and the joyful traveler, who share your ideas, your travel questions, your favorites and your tips with me and with your friends. So keep thinking of others and how you can help them become better travelers.
I have a best book called, The 10 Best of Everything, An ultimate Guide for Travelers, by Nathaniel and Andrew Lande, published by National Geographic. One section is about the best cheeses in England. Another section is about New Zealand’s South Island. If you are a fan of this podcast, take peek at the show notes and add your comments about your “best” and become a travel hero for us.
https://www.amazon.com/Best-Everything-Third-Travelers-Geographic/dp/1426208677
Today’s Episode special edition is on California Beaches (part 1)
From the south near the border, especially Coronado we head north all the
way to the Oregon Border and beaches in between.
They are all “free” to visit, but are some still closed? Check before you travel.
Let’s start all the way in the south part of California. I’ll tell you my favorite places to visit, and you can share yours in the Dr Mary Travelbest social media channels. This is part 1, since there’s so much beach to cover.
I like to go kayaking in Chula Vista at J Street. I have a few friends who own kayak rental companies and you meet at the J Street Marina launching ramp.
Ask for Harry 619 422-3600
Imperial Beach is questionable. Never swim after it rains here.
If you can, swim at Coronado, instead. That’s right. Go swim by the Hotel
Del Coronado.
We are skipping over the downtown area, because there are no nearby swimming beaches. You may find a rooftop pool or a dozen.
Moving north of downtown, we may be missing a few, but some of my favorite beaches include the following:
Sunset Cliffs, although you should not swim here unless it’s permitted. It’s more a place to look at the beach, not swim.
Ocean Beach is a hangout for the young and fun-loving. Dog beach is where
you can bring your canine and hang out with hundred of other dogs.
South Mission Beach, especially at the courts where it’s hard to find a
parking spot. By the roller coaster is nice, but often crowded. Try to head
south along the boardwalk and then find a spot.
North Mission Beach and Pacific Beach are some of my favorite swim spots for decades. I will be staying on Crystal Pier this winter and sleep in a room over the beach.
Bird Rock is a great waves and windy place to swim, snorkel and surf, but get a local to explain where to go in so you will be safe.
La Jolla Cove is a great swim spot, but watch the rocks. Ask if you’re not a good swimmer.
La Jolla Shores is a good place to learn to surf, as the waves are often smaller. I’ve gone kayaking and scuba diving here, as well as snorkeling.
Black’s Beach is a nudist hangout.
https://www.sandiego.org/explore/things-to-do/beaches-bays/blacks-beach.aspx
Torrey Pines State Beach is right along the coast and during Covid, the state
park is closed, but you can still walk to the beach.
https://www.sandiego.org/explore/things-to-do/beaches-bays/torrey-pines.aspx
Del Mar, especially at 17th Street, or 25th Street.
If you have a dog, check out the rules on our shownotes for when you can bring
fido here. It’s patrolled, so follow these rules please.
https://www.delmar.ca.us/206/Dog-Friendly-Beaches
Solana Beach has a downtown area near the beach entrance, so you can usually find some parking nearby. I sometimes part at the train station. Check out Fletcher Cove, SeaScape Park and Del Mar Shores.
https://www.ci.solana-beach.ca.us/?SEC=7EAF816C-8241-41B6-B6E8-B3FC045CFE0C
Moonlight Beach, located in Encinitas at E street is a favorite beach and
has volleyball courts, kids play area, and lots of parking. In the early 1900’s
locals used to come here for midnight picnics. Now it’s open from dawn to dusk.
See the show notes for the links and parking.
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=659
Going further north, you may explore some of these locations, and we will
in a future episode.
South Ponto Beach, South Carlsbad State Beach, Carlsbad State Beach,
Tamarack Surf Beach and all the way to Oceanside.
https://visitcarlsbad.com/beaches
Today’s Mistake-Parking tickets and how to pay them.
I got a parking ticket in December 2019 in San Diego, and I paid it, but because
I mailed it in, they did not get this, fast, so I got a warning to pay a higher
amount.
I called. They did not see my payment, so I paid a second time. I asked
for the penalty to be removed.
They were very confused and it was an open case for several months. I was finally reimbursed, but what an ordeal.
Paying a parking ticket should not be so hard.
And about the ticket……I clearly remember that paid parking across the street was about $40 for that night and that seemed high, so I chose to keep looking. In the long run, I should have just paid it.
Today’s Travel Advice- Free travel through travel rewards
Keep track of your travel rewards and points. How many of us pay
attention to those valued points? How many travel reward companies do I belong
to?
I’m sure it’s more than 100 of them. Is it possible to stay on top of these? Consider that I have probably used less than 5% of them ever. So what is the reason to keep track? Each point is worth about a penny, and the pennies do add up if you travel.
However, it’s hard to keep track of the points. What do you do to keep
track?
I once paid a company to subscribe to someone who offered to keep track of my points. That service ended. It was too hard to track that system.
Now during Covid is a good time to use your points. Take advantage of them and use them up, because they may not be there forever. In a future episode, we will discuss travel rewards. Please ask your questions about them.
What’s on your bucket list?
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