The California Republican Party Fall State Convention was in San Diego in 2004, and since I always attend those it was a good time for me to do some site-seeing in San Diego.  One of my fraternity brothers from college lives there also so I made a three day mini-vacation out of the trip.  I went to the San Diego Zoo, the Wild Animal Park, and also a San Diego Padre Game at Petco Field.  During the trip, I stayed at the Barona Hotel & Casino.  It was really nice Indian casino, and their spa was not bad either.  I ended up getting a massage there also.

    San Diego is known for good weather year round.  I was in San Diego for another training class too for my company back in 2006.  We stayed at the Hyatt Regency-Mission Bay, and we had an awesome view of the ocean from our room.  The Gas Lamp District is a fun place to eat and hang out.  We also checked out a nice club in downtown San Diego.  We had a fun time sampling the numerous fine dining establishments in San Diego including Baleen @ Paradise Point Resort, Flemings, McCormick & Schmicks, & this awesome sushi place near our hotel.  Baleen is one of my most favorite restaurants of all time.  When one enters the resort, it looks like one is going inside a dense jungle.  Then, all of a sudden, the restaurant appears.  A lot of celebrities have dined there too.  I got to tour the USS Ronald Reagan air craft carrier also during that trip to San Diego.  My buddy was an officer on the ship so he gave us a full tour of the large aircraft carrier.  I got to see the tail hooks used to stop the planes when they land to the flight deck where the planes are catapulted off the ship.  Moreover, we got to see the different ward rooms used by officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel.  The ship has a museum dedicated to President Ronald Reagan also.

    I have been back to San Diego numerous times since the early to mid 2000s since I have some good friends down there.  The weather is usually beautiful too down there.