Hotel Near San Diego

Around town in San Diego

CityFest : noon to 8 p.m. Aug. 14 at the Hillcrest sign at Fifth and University avenues in Hillcrest. This annual street fair will feature a beer garden, arts and crafts, food, street stilt-walkers, water games, games for children and the annual lighting of the neighborhood sign. There will be a free shuttle from noon to 9 p.m. on Sixth Avenue, south of Robinson Avenue. Admission is free. Information: (619) 299-3330 or fabuloushillcrest.com/events/hillcrest-cityfest/.

Fiesta del Sol San Diego : 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 13 and 14 at Cesar Chavez Park (formerly Crosby Street Park), 1449 Cesar E. Chavez Parkway, Barrio Logan. This two-day festival features cultural performances, arts and crafts, games, health presentations and other activities. There will also be a free concert, “Mambo on the Bay,” featuring Orqueta Bi-Nacional de Mambo from 7 to 10 p.m. Aug. 12, at the park. Admission to the festival is also free. Information: (619) 572-7286 or fiestadelsolsandiego.org.

FinnFest 2011 : through Aug. 14 at the Town & Country Resort Hotel, 500 Hotel Circle North, Mission Valley (with some events at other locations). This annual celebration celebrates contemporary Finland and Finnish-American culture with various activities, including art exhibitions, dancing, lectures, films, fashion, education forums, activities for families, music performances, themed dinners, health lectures and sporting activities. Tickets are $25 per day. Information: (619) 291-7131 or finnfest2011.com.

Circus Family Day : 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 13 at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park. Watch model circus trains run on various layouts, make a train whistle, children can have their faces painted by Petals the Clown or get a balloon character to take home. Cost is $7 general admission and free for children under 15. Information: (619) 696-0199 or sdmrm.org.

Gem Faire : noon to 6 p.m. Aug. 12, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 13, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 14 at the Scottish Rite Event Center, 1895 Camino Del Rio South, Mission Valley. The annual Gem Faire will feature importers, exporters and manufacturers with jewelry, gems, beads, crystals, minerals, finished and unfinished jewelry, jewelry-making tools, classes, demonstrations and prizes. Admission is $7. Information: (760) 390-3599 or gemfaire.com.

Ray at Night : 6 to 10 p.m. Aug. 13 on Ray Street in North Park. On the second Saturday of each month, shops and galleries are open late for visitors. There will also be live music and food. Admission is free. Information: (619) 800-2787 or rayatnightartwalk.com.

Great Campgrounds Near San Diego, California - Tips for Teaching ...

San Diego is full of hotels. You can find hotels in every price range from a night to 0 a night, all with full restaurants, heated pools, cable TV and room service. But what if you want to enjoy the San Diego from an outdoor perspective? Hiking, fishing, bird watching, desert and mountain camping are all available just a short distance from this major coastal California city. There are many campgrounds to chose from, some on the beach and some further inland. The beach campgrounds seem to be set up for the RV camper but if you are a tent camper, where do you go?

  Guajaome Regional Park: Only 20-30 minutes away from the Pacific Ocean, east of downtown Oceanside, this campground is known both for its rich natural habitats (including a small but beautiful lake) and its historic Rancho Guajome Adobe. June weddings are a common event at this campground. Tent and small RV camping is allowed. Roughly 30 minutes from Legoland, 60 minutes from Sea World and the San Diego Zoo, 90 minutes from Disneyland and located just off State Route 76, this is a convenient campground for family campers. Reservations are a must! Currently RV/tent camping rates are a day.

Dos Picos County Campground: Sheltered by steep, boulder-strewn mountain slopes, this park is designed to highlight the ancient oak groves that make your stay here memorable. There is a small lake and many of the sites are shaded with full trees. Roughly 50 minutes from Legoland, 30 minutes from Sea World and the San Diego Zoo and located with easy access to State Route 67, this campground has showers and restrooms. Currently tent camping rates are a day.

Sweetwater Summit Park: This park specializes in accommodating equestrians, but all of those who love the outdoors will enjoy their stay in this well-groomed, grassy park, it is close to major attractions such as golf courses, Otay Lakes Reservoir, Olympic Training Facility, the San Diego Zoo, and Tijuana. Only 30 minutes from downtown San Diego, this is a great campground for those who want to camp near the city. Planes landing at San Diego airport fly directly overhead and can get a bit loud at times. A small campground with RV and tent sites, this campground is located near the Sweetwater Reservoir, just east of Interstate 805 off Highway 54. Reservations are a must! Currently tent camping rates are a day. Fishing fees at a day may apply.

Fodor's San Diego

Frommer's San Diego 2012

Fodor's 2010 San Diego, With North County and Tijuana

San Diego Magazine

Harper's magazine