Bob Rauch

San Diego Business

Why We Should Vacation in San Diego

Even If We Live Here
By Bob Rauch
Posted on Fri, Aug 8th, 2008
Last updated Fri, Aug 8th, 2008

Arguably San Diego is the best tourist and meeting destination in the world. We refer to the lifestyle we have here as “active relaxation.” Coined by the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau a few years ago to describe what visitors experience here, there simply is no better way to explain our lifestyle.

From the arts community with our world class San Diego Symphony to the newly renovated Balboa Theatre to comedy acts, concerts, dance troupes, Balboa Park with museums and great climate rated first in North America by yours truly. Three hundred days of temperate sunshine should be enough to fill every hotel room. However, that is not the case. We constantly have to battle to keep our tourism industry healthy, especially when the economy falters and gas prices rapidly increase. This is why we now see a push for “staycations,” opportunities for those of us who live here to take advantage of San Diego’s incredible amenity package.

If you get a chance to take a few days off in August, here is what I think you should consider:

1- Take a spa break - those of us who are not fortunate enough to have visited our destination spa resorts are missing a truly remarkable experience. For a close second, use a hotel that has a nice day spa and treat yourself!

2- Play some sports! Because we are able to participate in sports like tennis, golf, surfing, swimming, biking and running year around, we are the envy of most others. Many of us may even take this gift for granted…get your gear out and play!

3- Visit an attraction and learn something at the same time. SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo, Birch Aquarium, Wild Animal Park, Legoland and the myriad museums provide fun, educational experiences…listen to a Symphony Pops Concert or walk through an art exhibit!

4- Go for a wine or beer tasting…we have wineries, breweries and tasting rooms that are as good as most any in the world…okay, sure, Napa, Sonoma, and various places in Europe may take exception to this but go have a beverage or two and learn a little at the same time!

5- Go to the beach and read a book…this is how I met my wife!

The best way to do some of these things is to check in at your local hotel and play tourist…do something different every single day. You will be amazed at how you will barely make a dent in your “wish list” of things to do because San Diego has so much to offer! Feeling romantic? Have dinner and take a walk to enjoy the sunset.

My plan is to buy new golf clubs and learn how to hit the ball straight. I figure if I cannot hit my current clubs straight, maybe it is the “sticks” so to speak…but then again I am smart enough to know that this is probably not true so I will take a refresher lesson or two. In any event, I have made the decision that golf is a smarter choice of sport for me than baseball, since for the past three seasons of playing baseball I have had three injuries, the last one fracturing my skull and damaging my vision.

Whatever you decide, just remember that San Diego has something for everyone. So go explore! Enjoy the summer…don’t deal with airports or road congestion…and just stay with one of us hoteliers…we will make you feel at home!

About the author: Robert A. Rauch, CHA is President of R. A. Rauch & Associates, Inc. (RAR), is chairman of the board of sandiego.com, Inc., serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the San Diego North Convention & Visitors Bureau and sits on the Sales and Marketing Committee of the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau and founded the HotelGuru.com web site. He teaches a course in Hospitality Entrepreneurship at San Diego State University. His firm, RAR, operates the Homewood Suites by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn San Diego/Del Mar among others.
More by this author.

Subscribe to Business

 · 

Comments

Be the first to comment on this article.

(1)sandiego.com, Inc. invites comments in which readers can respond freely and anonymously if they wish. Comments submitted by readers will be rejected that are deemed by the editors to be damaging to the future of this web site.
(2)Comparison is made from the IP Address identity of the computer placing the posts. Some networks share these addresses between users.