Vacation in Your Own Backyard

What are the two most expensive aspects of travel? Transportation and lodging. Solve the problem by taking a vacation at home. I did this a few years ago for three days and thoroughly enjoyed it. Here's what to do. Plan three days and nights of activities just as if you were in a foreign city. When you think of San Diego you usually don't think past the zoo and Sea World. But there is so much more to do. A few suggestions include the following

Historical tour of Coronado, museum hopping in Balboa Park, day trip to Orange County, including South Coast Plaza, Irvine Museum, and Rogers Gardens, touring wineries in Temecula, touring a Cheese Factory in Temecula, visit the Self Realization Temple gardens in Encinitas, play golf at a course you've never been to before, go to one of the many day spas for a massage, visit the Seaport Village area for shopping and beautiful outdoor sculptures, tour the UCSD campus (must be arranged), take a walking tour of La Jolla.

Evening entertainment, depending on time of year, could be taking in a Padre game, trying a new restaurant in a new part of town, preferably one with entertainment, getting tickets for the opera, symphony, or theatre, depending on what's available, or checking out the entertainment at the Center for the Performing Arts in Escondido, and trying one of the several fine restaurants in that area.

Eat all your meals out. This will give you an opportunity to try some new restaurants in some new areas. And the best part is coming home each night to your own bed. You really can splurge on meals and theatre. You're saving a fortune on hotel and travel. One last thing, no housework allowed. Call a cleaning service when you finish your three day vacation. That way you'll finish your vacation with a clean house, something that doesn't happen when you go away.