La Jolla

San Diego Travel: Exploring the Waterfront and Historic Tour of the Hotel Sofia

Today was our day of relocation, we have moved from our apartment rentals Solana Beach in San Diego The Sofia Hotel in the elegant downtown San Diego. In another brilliant day we arrived at the hotel around 10 o'clock, but our room was not ready so he decided to embark on explorations Local shortly.

Harbour Village Victorian architecture of Mexico and East Coast style and four miles winding roads paved to create a welcoming environment for banks, shopping and eating. The range of products, souvenirs, clothing, kites, chimes Wind and unique gifts. Art galleries and shops complete the offer and live music, while often throughout the year. An original 1895 carved carousel with animals to delight adults and children. Dining options include four restaurants, gourmet and casual dining thirteen.

An outdoor exhibition large balloons now adds additional interest to Seaport Village. "Cool Globes – Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet," has 40 balloons inspiring to illustrate simple solutions to global warming. Globes were designed by local artists, national and international road trip to places like Chicago, Washington DC, San Francisco and Los Angeles and London presented in 2009.

Further north of Seaport Village is the Embarcadero, including the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier has been in operation between 1945 and 1992. It was given as a museum ship and was berthed at San Diego Navy Pier in 2004. Visitors can tour the flight deck of the ship, dining area, flight control rooms of the officers, nursing and parts of the engine room. The evenings are often held in the boat and massive coffee adorns the back of the ship. Part of the Bay of San Diego Ship Port is available for free, although the entry for the rest of the ship is $ 17.00.

San Diego has been a center for the U.S. Navy and the area around the USS Midway features many reminders of military history, including the Battle of Leyte Gulf Memorial, dedicated to a historic naval battle in 1944. Tribute to Bob Hope, also known as Hello! National Bob Hope and the military is a impressive collection of over figures life-size bronze commemorating five decades of Bob Hope entertaining Support soldiers, airmen and Marines in 1943.

The salute consists of 16 National numbers in a circular space around a sculpture Bob Hope, entertaining the crowd in front of a microphone. The figures are actual representations surrounding military personnel from different eras, including the Second World War, the Korean War, Vietnam War, the Cold War and Gulf War Persian.

Among the many works of public art along Waterfront Drive, one of the most striking is the "unconditional surrender" a 25-foot sculpture of a sailor kissing a young nurse. The sculpture commemorates the time when the Second World War was over, finally, joy and elation toured the world. Inspired by a famous photo of VJ Day in Times Square, this sculpture by J. By Seward Johnson is a loan to the port of San Diego in late February 2009.

Further north along the coastline of the cruise terminal is located in Pier B along the street North Harbour Drive. San Diego is a port of call for many of major cruise lines like Carnival, Holland America, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises. About 620,000 cruise passengers arrived in San Diego in 2006. Local harbor cruises are also available in this area, and a central office of the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau, located just across the cruise terminal.

Now it was time to return to the hotel and then head in check in less than ten minutes and was arrived at the Sofia Hotel. Reception staff very friendly, and our luggage was already in Suite 602, Deluxe Suite study. Our room was modern and stylish living room enhanced by a second screen TV flat and ergonomic desk. Our room included a bathroom with shower bath luxury, and a dressing table with fresh orchids in the room.

Always driven by curiosity, I convinced two employees of the hotel to give me a tour around the hotel a few minutes later. Brian Wells reception and Danny Miranda, a hunter, has graciously accepted and began explaining the history of Sofia hotel for me. Two towers of the hotel was built in 1926 and opened a year after the Hotel Pickwick. The property is part of the Company Pickwick, a company that provided the 22 routes in California due diligence. The design was a Gothic style and in 1928, two hotel towers more were added.

From 1928 to 1944, the hotel has even become the location of a radio station called KGB (no association with the former Russian secret service agency). In 1929 Pickwick stages merged with Greyhound Society. During the decade of 1940 1950 and remained Pickwick Hotel Resort and entertainment venue, and residents and guests enjoyed the Hall Piccadilly. During 1950, the City has to decorative architectural elements to be removed from the façade, to avoid possible injury during an earthquake.

From mid 1950 to mid 1980, the center of San Diego experienced a prolonged decline lost its luster as a shopping and entertainment destination. Now a new owner, the Pickwick Hotel began to show its age well.

New Owners Ken Parekh and Harker Winslow purchased the property in 1986 and began systematically to repair the hotel during the next 20 years. With the opening of mall Horton Plaza retail success rejuvenation of the historic Gaslamp Quarter and the construction of Petco Park, San Diego has become a new destination. The location This hotel was absolutely perfect for us in our discoveries of San Diego.

After this brief introduction to the history of the hotel, we have a Step outside the hotel which is located at the intersection of West Broadway and First Avenue. The statue of a businessman outside the entrance was dedicated to the Corporation Downtown Development and the City as a way to thank the city to revitalize the neighborhood. Brian noted that Horton Plaza and the Gaslamp Quarter, literally just 10 minutes walk. Sofia is only seven blocks from the beach and the port area.

Speaking of history, Hotel Sofia has become a member of the Hotels Historic America last year and is the only historic hotel in downtown San Diego. One image shows the entrance area of ​​radio towers that decorate the hotel in 1934, where 50 000 watts of radiation waves is San Diego.

In a hallway to the left of the entrance we stopped to see some photos of the renovation. Photos bronze designer, architect and owner to decorate the wall. One photo shows the renewal and the only thing about the whole process of remodeling was the owners keep 12 nannies and Brian and Danny on staff to assist in the demolition. The team removed carpeting, ceiling fans, sinks and toilets in 242 rooms hotel, and 720 old doors were broken. Danny and Brian said it was ideal for keeping their jobs during the renovation phase and participate in the transformation of this hotel. Their sense of belonging and pride of the newly refurbished Hotel Sofia was clear and attractive.

Less than three weeks before Christmas, the foyer was lit for the decorations. Brian added that the hotel currently has a total of 14 Christmas trees decorated by the owners. Real orchids adorn public spaces and all rooms. In the back of the front of the entrance lobby is a painting of a girl on the beach in Coronado. This girl, granddaughter of Ken Winslow, named Sophia, and was the inspiration for the new name of the hotel, completely renovated. A cozy lounge that invites you to sit and relax by the fireplace.

To the left of the lobby is the business center has three new office computers, fiber high-speed Internet, printers, color and black and white fax. This business center is available home 24 hours a day.

Walking back to the room we turned right into "currant", the elegant 120-seat modern restaurant on the ground Sofia's main Hotel. Founded in 2007, offers French cuisine and American gooseberry is open daily for hotel guests and the public. High ceilings, graphics tiles, elaborate chandeliers, unique style furniture and a private room with curtains insulation, offers a sophisticated atmosphere.

Title up now, we were on the mezzanine, where many of the prices in Sofia with pride on the screen. In less than two years since its reopening, Hotel Sofia has won two Grand Prix and the Prize of Citysearch Expedia Select a connoisseur. This distinction is awarded only 1% of the hotels. The restaurant has also won awards, and also Sofia won an award from ASID Design Excellence.

Brian around the corner and Danny took me to two conference rooms, state of the art that are equipped to video and projection. The meeting room has 32 people while the seats for small meetings of 20 rooms is anchored by an old wooden table solid. The runner who entered the yoga and fitness center, an approval which is open 24 hours a day. The hotel even has its own yoga teacher and offers Guests TV, DVD, towels, water bottles and water infused with orange. Hotel Sofia has occurred even own a DVD of yoga!

After of common facilities, Brian and Danny took me to the room 633, a corner room. A standard room with a queen bed, this room offers an excellent overlooking the port of San Diego. A size of the smallest room, but well designed to offer high quality beds, pillows and covers therapeutic luxury queen quilt. A flat screen TV, digital safe, iron and ironing board, hair dryer and add equipment. Café and microwave enable guests to care for their basic needs. Ice machines in different power plants to provide cooling to a withdrawal of private party with champagne.

The hallways are decorated with a sage green and sophisticated color the carpet is the highest quality. After renovation, the number of rooms was reduced to 211 rooms below the original 242 rooms. The extra space was taken by the conference rooms and yoga studio / gym.

A few steps later in the year 601, Brian has demonstrated the comforts of a private room with a queen size bed and a sofa bed in the lounge. A queen suite can sleep up to four people. Reading lights technology can tilt in any direction, and alarm clock radio comes with an iPod / MP3 docking stations. Flat screen TVs are available in the bedroom and living room. All areas of vanity cabinets interesting feature dark wood, all decorated with real orchids. Luxury Soap and guests pampering, and bottled water is free.

To conclude the visit, Brian and Danny gave me some advice to explore San Diego: Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Old Town, Seaport Village and Coronado are among the attractions most popular tourist authorities. The luxury of La Jolla and Scripps Institution of Oceanography is one step further. I was waiting to join the morning tour through the Gaslamp Quarter, the free Sofia Hotel. A visit to Balboa Park will complement our Adventures in San Diego.

Not only have we found a very central location in San Diego, staying at the Hotel Sofia were also linked local history and discovered a unique property that has a well-preserved in the 1920's and is in the new millennium with the modern world-class team.

About the Author

Susanne Pacher is a Travel Journalist specializing in Unconventional Travel you can get tons of great unconventional and unique travel information and tips if you Click Here

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