San Diego, CA

[anwmn1]

Every year I take my son on a vacation where we do and see as much as possible in the given time. This year we headed over to San Diego for 6 days.

Sunday July 30th we headed from our home in Maricopa (just south of Phoenix) Arizona. After a few hours we arrived at the Arizona California border and made a stop at the Imperial Sand Dunes.

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86376728-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86376396-M.jpg

After arriving in San Diego and finding out about all the hiding charges at the hotel- mandatory valet ..BS- we headed over to Sea World for the rest of the day.

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86337033-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86337152-M.jpg

Monday: We headed out to the Wildlife Park.

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86337167-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86336537-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86336400-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86376919-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86163845-M.jpg

After spending 6 hours walking around this huge park we headed over to UC San Diego and the Birch Aquarium.

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86335224-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86337806-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86337888-M.jpg
[My son in aw]

Once the aquarium closed we headed down to La Jolla and the beach

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86376407-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86376144-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86334304-M.jpg

[anwmn1]

Tuesday we started at Quail Botanical Garden where I met Herb Knufken. A local photographer that was meeting a small photo group for a monthly shoot. After talking for a while, my son was itching to go, so off we went exploring the garden.

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86163797-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86167183-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86167796-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86167793-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86376504-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86375229-M.jpg

My son grew tired of the plants and dad taking so long. He reminded me that it was the day to go to Lego Land.

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86340548-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86342167-M.jpg
The Bridges of New York

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86341802-M.jpg
New York City. The building on the right is the Freedom Tower.

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86342061-M.jpg
My son in front of New York City. People and vehicles move with electronics and magnets under the roads.

Wednesday: Started out with a tour of PETCO Park home to the Padres.
http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86341388-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86342082-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86338643-M.jpg
Couldn't pass this one up- notice the brail

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86342083-M.jpg
My son and I in the Padres dugout

After the tour we went to see the USS Midway, a retired aircraft carrier.
http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86379470-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86380164-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86379994-M.jpg

Some lunch and a power nap and then it was back to PETCO Park for the Padres vs. Astros. Company connection = 13th row- seven rows behind the Padres dugout.

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86342225-M.jpg
Mike Piazza- my timing was on just not quite fast enough

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86342116-M.jpg

[anwmn1]

Thursday- The Busy Day!

Balboa Park was the agenda. Started out at the Automotive Museum

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86377625-M.jpg

The Air and Space Museum

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86378874-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86378894-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86338634-M.jpg

Not pictured are: The Science Center, Museum of Natural History, Model Railroad Museum, and Japanese Garden.

Finished the day off by walking through a rose garden

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86165012-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86165848-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86169321-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86169771-M.jpg

Friday we were back in Balboa Park to see the San Diego Zoo

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86336610-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86337254-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86163811-M.jpg

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86166993-M.jpg

Saturday was the drive home and try to recover.

Thanks for looking.

[petesopete]

Looks like it was a beautiful journey!

The first shot of the dessert kills me... You got some wonderful shots.

[marlof]

Those are some great shots, especially the second dune shot and the great colors in your flower shots. Thanks for sharing these!

[DJ-S1]

Great set of shots! Thanks for the suggestions of places to go in my other thread, I won't get to do 1/20th of all the things you crammed in. :D

Thanks for bringing us along for the ride. :thumb

[wxwax]

Very nice!

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86376728-Th.jpg

Your legs must be tired!

[anwmn1]

Looks like it was a beautiful journey!

The first shot of the dessert kills me... You got some wonderful shots.

Thank you. I appreciate the comments

[anwmn1]

Those are some great shots, especially the second dune shot and the great colors in your flower shots. Thanks for sharing these!

Thanks Marlof!

[anwmn1]

Great set of shots! Thanks for the suggestions of places to go in my other thread, I won't get to do 1/20th of all the things you crammed in. :D

Thanks for bringing us along for the ride. :thumb

Yeah, I know I over do it. That is why I came home Saturday so I would half a day and half to vacation from my vacation.

You will find plenty to shoot. If you have time at night there is an amazing Mormon Temple that is right off I-5 just between Del Mar and San Diego that is all lit up at night. It looks like a castle from Disney but I wasn't able to shoot it.

I look forward to seeing your shots.

Aaron

[anwmn1]

Very nice!

http://aaronnewman.smugmug.com/photos/86376728-Th.jpg

Your legs must be tired!

Thanks and yes they were.

[Seefutlung]

What a good deal for all ... for you and your son (since it was your first hand experience) and for us ... sharing in the adventure. (Been hot and muggy lately in SD ... still probably better than AZ ...

[anwmn1]

What a good deal for all ... for you and your son (since it was your first hand experience) and for us ... sharing in the adventure. (Been hot and muggy lately in SD ... still probably better than AZ ...

Thanks! It was a great trip.

Yeah, I'll take your high 70's to mid 80's hot and muggy any day!! My AC went out at my house the other night. I got home at 5pm and the house was 96 degrees!!

If it wasn't three times more expensive than Phoenix I would be in San Diego.

[BeachBill]

Amazing photos. I think you did more than I could do in a whole year from living in the area.

You will find plenty to shoot. If you have time at night there is an amazing Mormon Temple that is right off I-5 just between Del Mar and San Diego that is all lit up at night. It looks like a castle from Disney but I wasn't able to shoot it.

It's in La Jolla. I don't have a night shot handy, but here is a recent day shot.

[Nappalonia]

Wow, thanks I enjoyed your trip to San Diego:D

[anwmn1]

Amazing photos. I think you did more than I could do in a whole year from living in the area.


I don't have a night shot handy, but here is a recent day shot.

http://primarycolors.smugmug.com/photos/85513427-M-1.jpg

That is the one. I haven't seen it from this angle only from the freeway.

If I lived in the San Diego area my laptop would be out of memory. I have only had my dslr since March but have shot more than 3000 images and that is mostly of AZ.

[anwmn1]

Wow, thanks I enjoyed your trip to San Diego:D

Your welcome and thanks.

This was my first journey post and I love it. It helps my friends and family see the pictures easier. Just send them the link and whala. They don't have to go through all the different galleries I have.

Aaron

[padu]

Your welcome and thanks.

This was my first journey post and I love it. It helps my friends and family see the pictures easier. Just send them the link and whala. They don't have to go through all the different galleries I have.

Aaron


I live in San Diego, and you had a pretty busy week down here, I'll tell you that!
Very nice pictures!

[mbz]

Very nice.
Thank you for sharing.