The San Diego Family Expo- FREE!

Join in the Fun at the 2011 San Diego Family Expo

San Diego Bargain Mama |

This blog post is a messge from the San Diego Family Expo (SDFE), a FREE event that showcases products, activities, events, and services that promote family, community, and literacy.
The SDFE is an opportunity for families to find the things that support and accommodate families and will provide fun activities for both parents and kids to participate.
We believe that today, true family relationships are a thing of the past and family members spend more time than ever working, getting an education, building businesses, and whisking their children off to a plethora of activities (i.e. sports practice, music lessons). The San Diego Family Expo will give attendees the opportunity to find products, activities, and services that encourage families to do things together, promote family values, or are family-friendly in nature.


When is the San Diego Family Expo?
October 22, 2011 from 10am to 6pm
Where is the San Diego Family Expo being held?
San Diego Concourse- 202 C Street,  San Diego, CA 92101

FREE guided tour of John Wayne Airport.

Guided tours of the Thomas F. Riley Terminal are offered, free of charge, as part of the John Wayne Airport Public Affairs Program. Volunteer tour guides, including private pilots, teachers, executives and Airport employees, donate their time to familiarize the public with the Terminal.

Tour Features - Tours begin at the John Wayne statue on the Arrival (lower) Level (bring your camera!). Groups view and receive explanations of how planes fly, the Wright Brothers flight, terminal architecture, historical photo displays, rental car areas, baggage carousels, airline ticket counter areas, security checkpoints, flight display monitors, paging, and skycap activity. The last stop on the tour is an area where the participants can view the airfield and planes taking off and landing. Due to heightened security, tour groups are currently NOT permitted entry to the secured side of the Terminal. (The FAA does not permit tours of the Control Tower. The Fire Station does not allow tours.) 

Scheduling a Tour - Tours are scheduled in advance (usually two or more weeks). To arrange a tour, please call the John Wayne Airport tour coordinator. Tours are offered at non-peak traffic hours, usually 10:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (call regarding other start times). Saturday tours can also be arranged. The tour lasts between 1 to 1-1/2 hours. There is no charge for the tour. An "Activity Book," with representative pictures of stops on the tour and educational pages, is available free of charge to youngsters.

Group Size - Tour groups can be as small as two or three participants, and are limited to a maximum of 25, including chaperones. Larger groups (a maximum of 50 people on a given day) can be accommodated, but will be divided into two groups who will tour simultaneously. Children must be at least five years old and/or in first grade and must be accompanied by an appropriate number of adult chaperones. High School and college tours may be arranged with aviation career speakers provided.

Parking - For private cars, convenient short-term parking is available in all the lots at a cost of $2 per hour. This is the only cost involved for the tour. Due to heightened security, all vehicles may be searched when entering the parking structures.

To learn more go here

Orange County Great Park Balloon Rides and carousel are FREE!!

Orange County Great Park Balloon Rides

The helium (not hot-air) balloon, which is located in the 27.5-acre Preview Park, provides a great view of Orange County from 400 feet in the air. There is a charge for parking, but each balloon ride is free.

Free Flights, Day & Night, Year Round!

The Great Park Balloon is the Orange County Great Park’s first major attraction. With the ability to hold up to 25 to 30 visitors and soar up to 400 feet above the surrounding landscape, passengers can watch the Great Park’s development unfold as construction activity increases.

The Balloon envelope was upgraded in December 2009 and now features a UV protected envelope and internal illumination.

General Balloon Hours Thursday–Friday 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. Saturday–Sunday 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. Map & Directions

Flight Tip: Availability to fly is on a first-come, first-serve basis. All flights are dependent on winds and weather conditions. Conditions are generally best before 12 Noon or after sunset. Holidays: The Balloon will follow its general schedule, including days that fall on holidays, unless noted otherwise in the list of closure dates (to the left). Special Events: Balloon hours may change during special events. Be sure to check ocgp.org/events for updates on a per-event basis. Questions, Comments, or Concerns? Please email us or call the Visitors Centers at 1-(866) 829-3829 (toll-free)

Before You Fly

Parking & Registration. Parking opens 30 minutes before regular operating hours (see above). Registration for day flights begin at 9:45 a.m. on weekdays and 8:45 a.m. on weekends; registration for night flights begin at 6:00 p.m. All flights are on a first-come, first-serve basis and there is limited availability to fly on a daily basis.

Registration. Every potential passenger must sign a waiver at the registration desk in the Visitors Center prior to getting a boarding pass. Waivers for Children under the age of 18 must be signed by a parent or guardian. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

General Restrictions & Passengers with Disabilities. There are no age, height, or health restrictions to fly on the Great Park Balloon. 

Did You Know?

The Great Park Balloon is one of the largest tethered helium balloons (not hot air) and the first of its kind in the United States. It is environmentally safe, non-polluting, and virtually silent. The Balloon is always tethered to the ground with a steel cable and is never in a state of free flight, making it both a safe and fun experience for everyone.

Fun Facts. The balloon stands 118 ft high with a volume of 210,000 ft³. The gondola weighs 1,810 lbs and can hold up to 30 passengers at a time. Flying up to 400 ft in the air, the tether holding the balloon to the ground has the strength of 99,000 lbs!

Great Park Carousel ^Free!
Thursday–Friday: 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: 9:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
Check-in is required at the Visitors Center. Riders under 42″ must be accompanied by an adult. Rides are approximately two minutes long. Rides are Free.

For more info. GO HERE

POINT LOMA'S TIDE POOLS- Only 5.00 for carload!!

POINT LOMA'S TIDE POOLS-  Whether you came to relax and enjoy some remarkable views of San Diego, to learn about the fascinating story of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, or to discover the remnant Coastal Mediterranean habitat that exists on the Point Loma Peninsula, Visit the Pt. Loma light house, Cabrillo National Monument has exciting activities for everyone.

At Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma, the ocean comes to life with extensive tide pools. View the thriving ecosystem during low tide, but make sure to handle the sensitive creatures with care. From various sea anemones to octopuses, these tide pools offer a glimpse into a lively underwater world. Kids can even earn a badge given by a real park ranger.

To access the tide pools, drive south on Rosecrans Street and turn left on Canon Street. Follow uphill and turn left onto Catalina Boulevard, and enter through the Navy base. Parking costs $5.  9-5 daily  800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive, Point Loma  619-557-5450, ext. 0

Centennial Farm- FREE and great for the kids any day of the week!

recently the kids and I went to the Centennial Farm at the OC fair grounds and had a blast. We got to see all types of animals, plants, and watch a couple of cows give milk (did you know that one cow can give 3-5 gallons of milk in one sitting...they do it twice per day!...no wonder it was a HUGE thing back in the day to OWN a cow).  We were there for a couple hours, learned a bunch, and had fun.  The kids LOVED the baby piggies. They were so cute! It's very open and has places to eat a bag lunch if you want to pack a picnic. We got there right at 1pm, it was a perfect time and wasn't crowded at all. Here's a little more info off their site.

"Centennial Farm is a three-acre working farm at the OC Fair & Event Center created to educate youth about agriculture and its importance to daily life. The Farm is home to fruit and vegetable gardens, livestock, and the Millennium Barn. Children and adults can view pigs, chickens, cattle, goats and more while strolling though gardens of lush vegetation. We do ask that you please do not pick our crops as they are used for educational purposes. Centennial Farm offers tours as well as general public hours."

Award winning kids museum in Temecula.

Fun Kids museum in Temecula.

Professor Phineas Pennypickle   

From the time Phineas was a child, he was fascinated with imagination and invention. He envisioned ways to improve and revolutionize everything from electricity to communication to transportation. As his knowledge of the world, history, science, music, and art increased (from books, of course!), his house became filled with gizmos, gadgets, stuff, stuff, and more stuff. His entire home became his workshop and laboratory.

His experiments in time travel are the most interesting. From the time machine in his Library, Phineas has been able to travel throughout history to meet other famous inventors and scientists. His hand was in nearly every historic invention that mankind has known, and his friendships with Marconi, Edison, Houdini, and others are legendary. He is the author of several books on time travel (as seen in his Library at Pennypickle's Workshop) and his inventions like the "Illusionator", the "Philharmonicamatic" and the "Electrolight-o-later" are worth making a special trip to see.

And oh, yes, almost forgot...the Professor has a fabulous sense of humor. His "Recycler-er" stomps on empty cans with an old boot and a bag of cement, he has transformed his toilet into a hydroelectric generator, the fireplace in the Library is actually a secret passage into the mysterious Maze Room, and his Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich-Making-Machine has to be seen to be believed.

Lost in his world of imagination, Phineas is somewhat reclusive...not that he intends to be. He loves to think that he may be the inspiration for a new generation of thinkers and inventors.

FREE-San Clemente Seafest

Come to beautiful San Clemente and enjoy a day at the beach and the cool waters of the exquisite Pacific Ocean at our Annual San Clemente Seafest held on the Sunday, following the first Wednesday in October. 10/9/11 this year.

The Seafest features a Chowder Cook-off, Fisherman’s Lobster, T. Patterson Surf Shop, Business Exposition, Arts & Craft Show, Entertainment provided by the Gemtones and a U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demo Operation all taking place at the historic San Clemente Pier area.

Free Shuttle Parking is available at the San Clemente High School, 700 Ave. Pico.

For information regarding the event, tickets, surfing, vending and sponsorship opportunities call the Chamber office at (949) 492-1131. or click here