Planning Your Summer Trip to San Diego

San Diego is a hot summer destination for many travelers. If you are considering a trip to San Diego for the summer, you should start planning now. Here are some tips to consider.

Any trip to San Diego is going to include some serious beach time. It is, after all, pretty much what we are known for. The interesting thing about the city is the beaches come in many different types and offer a wide variety of experiences for visitors. Mission Beach and Pacific Beach are for the younger, party crowd. Beaches farther north in Del Mar, Solana Beach, Cardiff, Encinitas and Leucadia are for a more relaxed crowed who are primarily interested in loafing, baking and getting in the water.

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While the beaches may differ, there is one thing you definitely need to know about if you are scheduling a visit. From the middle of May to the last week of June, all the beaches tend to suffer from cloudiness. This is known as "June gloom" by the locals. A haze that would make Oregon proud just sits on the coast for much of the day. You might get a couple hours of sun during the middle of the day, but that is about it. If you want to sit on the beach all day during your visit, July, August, September and October are better months.

Many visitors to San Diego also like to take a day or two in Mexico. As any map will show you, San Diego sits right on the border, so a day trip is simple and a good bit of fun. Unfortunately, Mexico is going through a very tough time at the moment. The problem is narcotics. The government is fighting narcotics groups. The narcotics groups are fighting each other and...well, it is just a bit of a mess. For the first time in a very long time, visitors have been getting hassled and some robbed. If you are considering including a trip to Mexico as part of your vacation, make sure to keep up with the news before you go.

All and all, it is pretty hard to go wrong on a trip to San Diego. The biggest issue, ironically, is the weather. Make sure you plan for June Gloom or you could be a bit disappointed if you want to sit on the beach all day.

Planning Your Summer Trip to San Diego

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Top 23 Travel Tips For Taking A Summer Road Trip

Planning a summer road trip this year? Do movies like RV and Family Vacation not scare you from the adventures that could await you on your cross country trek? Before you go, make sure you check off these top 23 travel tips.

Look at maps and plan your route. There are many great online maps that do a HYBRID map view showing real streets and routes with satalite images. Knowing the location, and how it looks, by viewing it from space is both cool and very helpful, so you won't get lost. Research the roads you'll take. You'll especially want to know if you'll be traveling through areas of major road construction. The maps mentioned above are a little dated. Some new roads and maps will not have current, realtime data, bring physical maps, like ones you could buy from AAA along. Make estimates of travel times along the route, so you'll have an idea when you'll be at certain points on your trip. This will help you to plan rest and meal stops. It will also help you plan to avoid traveling through a major city or area of road construction during rush hour. Get the car checked, especially the filters, belts, fluid levels and have the oil changed. Don't wait until the last minute, it may take time to get an appointment and parts may need to be ordered. You also want some time to drive around town and make sure that whatever they fixed stays fixed. If you vehicle is 'mission critical' and could die at any moment, DON'T take it with you, borrow a friends car instead. Check the condition of your wiper blades, both front and back windows. Check the operation of your turn signals, brake lights as well as the high and low beams. Bring some extra fuses along. Examine the tread on your tires. Consider mountain driving in winter conditinos on snowy peaks. Make sure you have chains or 4x4 traction for icey roads, out of season. Or try a different route. Make sure your car is prepared for the weather it will encounter on your trip. You might need more antifreeze or need to recharged air-conditioning when you go through the desert. Today, many cars have fancy wheels instead of hubcaps. These wheels usually have a lock to prevent them from being stolen. If you have a car with wheel locks, make sure you know where the key is stored (often with the jack). Otherwise, a flat tire will become a major problem since you won't be able to get the wheel off the car. Get your car cleaned. You'll feel better in a clean car. Pack an emergency kit in your car. Include motion sickness medication if anyone in your group suffers from it. Remove any items from the car that you won't need on your trip. Bring some blankets. Prepare some on road entertainment for your trip. Include games and CDs of music and/or audio books. Portable DVD players are really inexpensive and help pass the time in dead spots where where is nothing new to see. Check your plates, registration and insurance information to make sure they are all valid. Be sure to place your insurance company's emergency contact number in your car. Check with all the drivers in your party to make sure their driver's licenses haven't expired. Check your insurance for expiration dates and coverage for your automobile. Arrange for someone to start your other car, if you leave one home, during very cold or very hot weather. Fill the car with gas before you pack the car so all the fumes won't bother your passengers. Check the fluid levels and tire pressure, your tire pressure will affect the ride and gas mileage you get on your trip. Pack the car inside the garage, with the door down, so people driving by won't find out you're leaving.

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Overall, enjoy the road trip. It's not going to be as crazy as Clark W Grizwold's family vacation experiences, and if it is, make sure you video it and put it up on You Tube!

Top 23 Travel Tips For Taking A Summer Road Trip

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Six Tips For Debriefing a Summer Missions Team

Summer missions trips have become routine events in many church calendars, but could your church's missions program be improved? Returning Summer Mission's teams offer great input in answering that question. As the saying goes, "Hindsight is 20/20." Good debriefing helps pastors turn hindsight into foresight for the next year's programs.

So here are six things to consider when debriefing your team.

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1. Keep it laid back. Have you ever noticed that mountain-top experiences are exhausting? Most teams are ready for a vacation or time off when they return, especially if they had a successful trip. But it is important that they have an opportunity to share their experiences. Debriefing is part of the adjustment process in returning to their normal lives. Or, in some cases, part of the process in deciding they don't ever again want their lives to be normal.

A barbecue or pot luck with a sharing session can be helpful. Anonymous surveys - if they aren't too long - can be helpful in uncovering problems. People with complaints won't have any trouble explaining it, while those who had a good time won't want to be bothered with an essay. A safe environment to share is important so that team members can sort out any conflicting emotions and thoughts.

2. Keep outsiders to a minimum. Families and friends may not understand what your team went through on their trip. Later, team members may be ready to tell others about their experiences. But when they first return, they need people who will understand and sympathize. For this reason, many teams have at least one debriefing session just before they return to their home country. It is certainly something to consider in your busy Summer Missions schedule.

3. Verify logistic issues. Even the best laid plans have room for improvement. Did the team have enough to do, or did they have to improvise? Did they perhaps have too much to do? Did everyone come back healthy or were there injuries on the trip? Were the packing lists complete, or did team leaders have to run around securing last minute items? If you didn't remember travel insurance for international trips, put it on the list for next year. Your team leaders should be able to suggest improvements for next year if you ask them before they forget.

4. Don't be afraid to ask the hard questions. What happened on the trip? Did God show up in a significant way or did the team see it as a glorified vacation? Was the team's worldview shaken as so many returning Short-termers attest or is everything back to normal within a week? Was it worth it? What's next?
If the trip was disappointing, this is an easy time to give up. However, most often when we fail, it is from jumping into a program without a God-given vision. If this has happened to you, now's the time to stop and refocus.

5. Give them a new challenge. When God shows up on a mission trip, the effect can be life-changing. One of the reasons for sending young people on missions trips is to challenge their worldview and push them out of their comfort zone. If you are successful, be prepared for your young people to be fired up and ready to do almost anything to change the world. Too often these teachable moments are squandered when they can't find an outlet for their new-found passion. Does your church have a local ministry to the homeless or a prison ministry? Perhaps the local rescue mission can use extra volunteers. Whatever you do, don't just let them sit around and slip back into life as usual.

6. Check with other pastors on their Summer Missions successes and failures. Since Summer Missions are so common, autumn is a good time to ask other pastors about their trips. What was their focus for their Summer Missions? Did they do something different that worked? Would it work at your church? Just because something worked at one church doesn't mean it will work at yours, but it might spark ideas.

Debriefing is important. Most people want to share their stories, even the negative ones, for it is usually the difficult experiences that most develop us. Keep a keen eye and ear open to the participants. You will help them and your church's future involvement in summer missions.

Six Tips For Debriefing a Summer Missions Team

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Ten Ways To Avoid Summer Boredom (For Kids And Adults)

Summer is just around the corner and that means the kids are home. All day. Every day. So how can we avoid that age-old complaint of "I'M BORED" that resounds through every single home once school is out? I've made a list of ten ways to avoid summer boredom and these activities can be equally fun for both kids and adults.

1) Have A Garage Sale. If your home is like many, filled with unused toys, outgrown clothes, dust accumulating trinkets and things, then it's about time to have a garage sale. Sorting, organizing, and selling unwanted and unneeded items can be a fun activity for the whole family. Plus you'll end up with a much less cluttered home and maybe even enough money to go out for ice cream afterward!

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2) Emerge Into A New Culture. Take the whole summer to learn about another culture. Learn the language, cook the cuisine, and if budget allows, go visit the country. Not only will your little one be a little more refined by the end of the summer, but they'll have so much fun you'll be sure to never hear of boredom.

3) Volunteer. Volunteering can not only build character but it can also be a lot of fun. Whether you're volunteering at a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, animal shelter, big brother or big sister clubs, or camping retreats, this is a boredom proof activity that can benefit all parties involved.

4) Road Trip. Road tripping is awesome. There are so many activities that can be rolled up into one big road trip. Enjoy sightseeing, traveling, nature, tourist spots, or even visiting family and friends in another city or state along the way.

5) Join A Sports League. Summer sports are a great way to keep your out of school kids busy during the summer. Not only will they be occupied by practices and game days, but they can meet new friends while at it!

6) Join A Boys/Girls Scouts. These kids club do a great job of keeping your kids busy with fun-filled activities and it takes away the thought process on your part so you don't have to think up of fun ways to keep the kids occupied. Best of all, parents and adults can also be involved!

7) Go Backyard Camping. This activity is not only fun, but is also easy on the wallet. Just take a tent, a couple of sleeping bags, a small fire pit, some sticks, hot dogs, hot dog buns, marshmallows, chocolate bars, graham crackers, and head on to your (or someone you know)backyard. It can be a nightly event...that is if you don't get tired of hot dogs and S'mores.

8) Cooking Lessons. You and your kid could enroll in a formal cooking class or if you're somewhat of a chef, then you can teach them how to whip up some classic recipes in the comfort of your own kitchen. Cooking can be very educational as well as fun for the kids. You never know, by the end of the summer they may be the ones preparing dinner!

9) Mission Trips. A lot of organizations and churches organize mission trips to different countries. While on a mission trip, you and your child can participate in a lot of good will philanthropy. Build houses for the less fortunate, aid victims of a natural disaster, feed the hungry, clothe and shelter the poor. It would definitely be a memorable summer for everyone.

10) Send Them Away. Yes this advice is a little more like the short cut route, but still can work very well in regards to not having to hear "I'M BORED" throughout summer vacation. Send your children to their grandparent's or a relative's for the summer. Now your child's boredom is their problem!

Hopefully these suggestions can help you and your kids avoid summer boredom. Now go and start having fun!

Ten Ways To Avoid Summer Boredom (For Kids And Adults)

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