According to the Auto Club, folks are staying close to home this weekend. The top five Labor Day travel destinations, according to a survey of the Auto Club's AAA Travel agents, are:

1. Las Vegas
2. San Diego
3. Central Coast
4. Baja Mexico Cruises (departing from San Pedro)
5. Northern California (including San Francisco, Monterey, Napa and Lake Tahoe)

There aren't many big organized events happening this weekend. Most of us are heading to the backyard, the parks, the beaches, or watching the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy (MDA) Telethon. If you want to donate to MDA: http://www.mda.org/

But, if you want something different to do:

• Stick Ball Tournament- Little Italy. Saturday/Sunday -8:00am - 6:00pm on Columbia Street, between Beech and Cedar Streets, and State Street, between Ash and Beech Streets. For more information, please call Stickball Willie at 858-279-1924
• Barona Pow Wow-- FREE--Click here for more info.
• Del Mar Racing Season comes to a close on September 3rd. Get in on the last of 2008. Labor Day is Family Fun Day - children get free admission along with free actvities including pony rides, rock climbing, bungee trampolines, carnival rides, inflatable games, rides and more. Find our more about Del Mar Racetrack events here or here.
• Daybreak at Del Mar- last weekend to each breakfast trackside during the horses morning workout. 7:30a-9:30am- $9.95 per/adult $8/parking. For more information, click here.
• Ocean temperature is PERFECT! 70-74 degrees depending on where you go.

NO DRINKING ON ANY SAN DIEGO BEACH. Period.

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Nighttime Zoo at the World Famous San Diego Zoo is coming to end on September 1st! It is hard to believe the summer whizzed by so fast. If you haven't been to Nighttime Zoo, you have one week to fit it into the schedule. Nighttime Zoo is great for those who can't stand the heat of spending the day at the Zoo under the hot summer sun. Here's some tips on how to roam the Zoo.

At night, the Zoo comes alive with world music, special shows, Cirque de Soleil-type performances by the Talamasca-The Storytellers performers and the nocturnal animals wake to get their groove on under the cover of darkness. The park is open from 9am-8pm all week. Nighttime Zoo runs from 4pm-8pm. To learn more, click here!

In partnership with San Diego Bargain Mama.com, we're giving away TWO FREE PASSES to the San Diego Zoo. Send an email to win by clicking here and tell San Diego Bargain Mama we sent you!

We all knew it, but now U.S. News and World Report has confirmed it. UCSD is one of the top dogs of all of the 262 universities in America.

Congratulations, UCSD!

For theatre-goers itching for a reason to go explore the new Balboa Theatre in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, here are 16 great reasons.

The Balboa Theatre's season starts September 14, 2008 with Tibetan Monks, "Sacred Music, Sacred Dance" and ends with singer, Mariza on April 28, 2009. Take a look at the Full Schedule.

For more information, please call the Box Office at (619) 570-1100.

For more information about the history of the Balboa Theatre please read our article.

Please take our word on these two terrific FREE offers from the Port of San Diego. This is one of the best ways to really see the inner workings of what exactly goes on at the waterfront and on the San Diego Bay. No other tour will take you to the backside, so to speak, of San Diego.

The FREE behind-the-scenes bus tour includes Pepper Park, waterfront view of the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, a real working shipyard and the National City Marine Terminal. Please note that due to shipyard security restrictions, guests must be 18 years or older and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

YOU MUST RSVP ONLINE FOR THESE TOURS.

Bus Tour Schedule:

• Tuesday, August 26
• Wednesday, August 27
• Tuesday, September 16
• Wednesday, September 17
• Tuesday, September 30
• Tuesday, October 14
• Wednesday, October 15
• Tuesday, October 21
• Wednesday, October 22
• Tuesday, October 28

The FREE San Diego Bay cruises are conducted on a San Diego Harbor Excursion boat. Narration is provided by the Port of San Diego so this is certainly a great opportunity to learn while taking in the sights. This is a great option if you have out-of-town relatives or you want to be a tourist in your own backyard. If you have never been on a harbor cruise, jump on this opportunity now!

San Diego Bay Cruise Schedule

• Thursday, August 21
• Thursday, August 28
• Saturday, August 30
• Thursday, September 11
• Saturday, September 20
• Thursday, September 25
• Thursday, October 2
• Thursday, October 23
• Saturday, October 25

This is a truly family friendly event that brings together the love of blue grass music with camping and the great outdoors. Lovers of bluegrass music know that jamming, music workshops, and a kids' music camp are all part of this great group experience.

Featured entertainers include: Don Rigsby and Midnight Call, Bluegrass Etc., Infamous Stringdusters, Burnett Family, Virtual Strangers, Lighthouse, and many others. Click here for a complete schedule.

The three-day festival takes place at the 40-acre outdoor Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum in Vista (2040 North Santa Fe Avenue) from August 22-24, 2008. Directions.

Admission ranges from $15 - $20 and three-day passes can be bought for $54. Festival tickets will be sold at the gate on each day of the festival. For campers, dry camping passes can also be purchased at the gate when you arrive. If the main campground becomes full, there is plenty of dry camping available in the overflow areas.

For more information, please call (760) 941-1791.

FESTIVAL HOURS:

Note: Gates open Friday & Saturday from 8am-8pm and Sunday from 8am -4pm.

• Friday - 3pm to 10pm
• Saturday - 10am to 10pm
• Sunday - 9am to 5pm

The wheels of government quietly roll on to arrive at hero status. The Metropolitan Transit Service (MTS) will operate, afterall, the Chargers Express bus from five locations across the San Diego to accommodate all weekend home games during the regular season. San Diego Chargers regular season begins on Sept. 7 against the Carolina Panthers.

You can catch the bus for $10 r/t per person. Buses start picking up passengers two hours before game time. The last bus ride to the stadium is 45 minutes before kick-off. Buses start clearing out of Qualcomm Stadium 20 minutes after the final whistle.

Park and ride from these locations:

• Kearny Mesa Traffic Court on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard
• Governor Drive at Interstate 805
• Spring Street Trolley Station
• Mira Mesa Park-and-Ride
• Chula Vista High School, 820 Fourth Ave.

Join hundreds of food festivals groupies as they graze around the dozens of restaurant joyfully nibbling on samples of Downtown Encinitas fare.
The date of this year's event is Thursday August 21, 2008 from 6pm-9pm in Downtown Encinitas. Presented by the Downtown Encinitas Mainstreet Association, the Downtown Encinitas Mainstreet Association, the Taste of Mainstreet has become one of the largest and most successful community events of its kind in San Diego County.

Participating restaurants will offer delicious samples of a vast variety of food. On the same night, carefully tended classic cars will be on display during the concurrent Rods & Woodies Classic Car Show. In other words, there is something for everyone on August 21st in Downtown Encinitas!

There is a charge of admission for the Taste of Mainstreet because it will help the restaurants and promoters with the cost of the event. Tickets are $25 (cash, check, or Visa/MasterCard) and are available for NOW either online or at the Downtown Mainstreet office. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. This event can sellout, so if you really want to go, get yourself over to the Downtown Mainstreet office, or order online.

Should you be one the people who is not able to get a ticket, put on your walking shoes and head over to Downtown Encinitas to take in the live music, see the Woodies, get some food at one or some of the restaurants, and have some fun at one of the sweetest-looking downtowns in all San Diego.

August 20-August 24, 2008 brings magnificence to San Diego bay. Step back and be reminded of how the seas were graced with the old tall ships. Over twenty tall ships and vessels will be floating into San Diego for the 2008 Festival of Sail. The Maritime Museum brings the tall ships parade and festival on Wednesday, August 20. Catch the festival along Harbor Drive heading south to downtown San Diego.

Where:
Foot of Ash Street to the foot of Grape Street in downtown San Diego. Streets are alphabetical.

Time:
Opens 9:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.

Admission: Paid ticket for Festival of Sail 2008 ticket/Passport required to visit ships and associated activities that are part of the festival.
Free public admission to vendor areas. $20 Adults
$15-Seniors 62 years and older, Active Military with ID, and children age 6 to 17 years
FREE for kids 5 years and younger

For more information on the schedule, click here.

NO ALCOHOL ON SILVER STRAND BEACH ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND

Take notice: Coronado's Silver Strand State Beach -- the only remaining public beach in San Diego County where drinking on the beach is still allowed will NOT allow alcohol over Labor Day weekend.

The temporary ban on alcohol at the beach is from Aug. 29 through Sept. 1.

The "Frosted Pink with a Twist" event that is taking place in San Diego on Sunday, September 14th.

"Frosted Pink with a Twist" is a multi-media event that joins members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics team together with Grammy Award-Winning music talent to raise awareness of cancers primarily affecting women.

Scheduled to appear at the event are the US Men's Bronze medal winning team, as well as the US Women's Silver medal winning team, which includes 2008 Gold medalist in the All-Around, Nastia Liukin and her teammate, 2008 Silver medalist in the All-Around, Shawn Johnson. Paul Hamm, Chelsie Memmel, Mary Lou Retton are expected to appear.

The event will be held at the San Diego Sports Arena on Sunday, September 14th at 6pm. Tickets will go on sale Monday, August 18th at 10am (west coast time).

"Frosted Pink with a Twist" will air nationally on ABC Television on Sunday, October 12th at 4pm (east coast time).

For more information, follow this link!

Midnight Madness Fun Bicycle Ride started in 1973 giving a nod to Paul Revere's Midnight Ride. This is a family-friendly or loner-friendly event!

San Diego is scenic, but you have to get out there to enjoy it. Midnight Madness offers that chance to actually get out and enjoy the beauty of San Diego before summer ends. You'll be riding around Harbor Island and Shelter Island on flat surfaces with awesome views of downtown.

Trick out your bike to win the REI Light the Bike and Costume Contest. Everyone is welcome to join in.

Cost to ride: $28 pre registration and $33 night of the event.
What you get: Event t-shirt, entertainment, goodie bag, and admission into the raffle.

Saturday August 16, 2008
Time: 8:00 pm
Location: San Diego County Administration-South Parking Lot
Address: 1600 Pacific Highway San Diego
Cost: $28 pre-registration / $33 night of event

For more info.: http://www.sandiegomidnightmadness.org/

Proceeds from the event help fund our youth education and outreach programs which help fulfill our mission to help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling.

The 31st Annual America's Finest City Half-Marathon kicks off Sunday at the Cabrillo Monument at 7am. The event has a time limit of 3 hours along San Diego's harbor, downtown, and ends at Balboa Park. Registration is CLOSED for the race itself, but the 5k still has openings-register now!

The 5K is completed all within Balboa Park starting at 6:45am. One-hour is given to the 5K walkers. The 5K begins in Balboa Park in front of the Hall of Champions at Pan American Plaza and President's Way.

You might want to check out the Nissan AFC Fitness Expo - August 15 & 16 Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina

Expo Hours:
Friday, August 15: 12 noon to 7:00 pm
Saturday, August 16: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

More info? Click here!

The 24th Annual Oceanside Longboard Surfing Clubs big bash will be August 15-17, 2008 at the Oceanside Pier.

The event begins Friday August 15th with Guy Takayama's 8th Annual Pro Noseriding Contest. This contest brings the some of the world's best longboard surfers fighting it out to see who can ride the nose of a surfboard for the longest period of time. Prize? Cash and lots of it.

Saturday, August 16th brings the amateur longboarders and those standup paddleboard surfers from the Bay area and all around. They are all looking to show their stuff and walk away with cash.

Pizza Port will sponsor the beer garden and the event vendors will have food ready to munch out on. Typical of festivals the retail vendors will be out showcasing their art, crafts, etc. You'll find music and a Polynesian dance group.

Proceeds from the event will go to the Oceanside High School Surf Teams, California Surf Museum, and the Interscholastic Surfing Federation.

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