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I can’t believed how cold has been here in Southern California, we have rain last couple of days and you can see the snow in the Big Bear mountains. 

So what people in Santa Monica California do when they can’t go sunbathing at the beach?
They go ice skating by the beach !!!
Yeap ! it’s is true, I am not kidding.  These people from Santa Monica always find a way to have fun in any situation.
Some of us have turn into a Grinch with this bad economy and the sight of kids and family laughing and having fun make us feel uneasy.  On this Christmas there is nothing to be happy about. There are huge money losses, everybody is going out of business, worst bear economy, the sky is falling, money is everything, money, money, money. People is wisely cutting down expenses, and maximazing on savings and is advaisable that you should do the same in these uncertain times, but don’t over do it that will ruin the Christmas for your children and love ones. You don’t need a lot of money to enjoy the Christmas spirit.
There is a slight possibility that maybe, if you join them (the ice skaters), suddenly your Grinch mood will start to disappear, and you will find yourself smiling, perhaps will be the first time you actually have fun in all this year. For your love ones everything is more beautiful and wonderful when ”you” are with them.  Well? What are you waiting for? Just give it a try and come visit the city of Santa Monica.

The city of Santa Monica in association with some business continue with a tradition of installing a temporary ice skating ring in a empty parking lot for the fun and entertainment of local Santa Monica residents and any visitant. The rental fee is $10 and that include the skate rental and use of the ice ring, the facility also have some area where you can enjoy a hot chocolate or your favorite brand name coffee or hot drink.
The Ice skating ring is located exactly in the corner of Arizona Ave and 5th street right across from the U.S. Postal  Service so is very conveniently located if you want to drop off some packages at the post office and take the kids to ice skate across the street.

Just five blocks from Santa Monica beach and two blocks from the popular 3rd street Promenade, where you can find a great selection of good restaurants, top brand name stores, movie theaters, live street entertainers, popular bookstores, fruit name computer and electronic stores, al-fresco or patio restaurant and coffee shops where you can just sit down and enjoy the view and the day.

Celebrate Christmas and enjoy the holidays, come and have fun with your love ones.

I can’t believe how hot the weather has been this past week here in Los Angeles, California area
I guess some people got tired of surfing the internet and getting so depressed about the stock market, the recession, and the financial slum we’ve fallen into, that they grab their surfing board instead and headed for the beach.
Everybody seems to have the same idea than me because the Santa Monica beach was crowded. My kids mentioned that they want to see the kitesurfers again so we headed North in Pacific Coast Highway toward Malibu beach. (See my previous post kitesurfing at Malibu Beach California)
This seem to be the only place that this sport is practiced because I have not seeing any kitesurfing practiced anywhere but here. From San Diego, through Orange county and South Bay beaches, but I might be wrong and just happen that when I was visiting these places there was nobody kiteboarding at that time.

As we watched the beautiful colors and designs of these kite boards, we talked with some of the surfers and inquired what are the features a good kiteboard should have and they mentioned that they expect their kite to: turn faster, jump higher, loop tighter, and hang longer

If you want to try and learn more about this sport there are some instructional DVD for kiteboard training so you can become familiar with what is required for kitesurfing. Get to know the masters of kiteboarding names like Chris Moore and others professionals that practice and master kitesurfing.

Kitesurfing is a very physical demanding extreme sport and some of basic physical condition you must have as a surfer also applied to kiteboarding and they are:
· You must have good swimming skills
· Good balance abilities
· Upper body strength
· Legs and calves strength
· Endurance
· Ability to think and react quickly to a split second changing conditions.

If you think you can do it, then you must do your diligent research for the best brands, prices and quality. Sometimes you can find in Ebay great bargains in used or new kiteboarding kit and equipment.

Here are some of the popular brands and styles of kiteboards that are sold on Ebay
2007 16m Bularoo complete with kite bag and pump
2008 13 m waroo kiteboarding Waroo pro 11 meter
Slingshot machine 17.5m kite
2008 cabrinha convert 9m kite
Gk globe kites sonic 14m kite complete

Kiteboarding in a exciting sport to practice when you visit some of the great sunny beaches of Southern California

Our Mexico vacation with the family in Puerto Peñasco.
As soon as we enter our room, My kids opened the balcony to check what view we have of the area
This is our breath taking view from our room.

I got a warm feeling of satisfaction when I saw the wow expression on the face of my kids when they realize that this family vacation is going to be fun and with a lot of new and exciting adventures.
Next thing I knew we were in a warm swimming pool, drinking my favorite liquor drink and munching on Spicy Buffalo wings and fish tacos, they have an extensive menu of real Mexican food so I told my kids to place their order, each choose a virgin piña colada (no liquor) and a Hamburger.
This is a list of some of the activities and fun games to do

• Tequila Volleyball-water polo.  The teams that score a point win a shot of tequila. We must have beaten the other team  because by the time the game finished I was too booze to keep the score.
• Beach soccer – I played a few minutes
• Beach volleyball – Also played a few minutes
• Aqua-aerobic   Which I participate and have a lot of fun
• Gym and Spa – I didn’t know they have gym until later
• Learn to prepare your favorite liquor drink and mix- I miss this important class too. Damn
• Latin dance classes – Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue – My 2 teens which are excellent dancers, a boy 17 and a girl 13 liked and participate under my suggestion. In previous talk with my son I mentioned to him that if you want to have a lot of fun and at the same time be popular with beautiful girls you have to ether learn to play an instrument (guitar) or learn to dance, which he is doing both. He is enjoying the benefits now.
• Children activities – Ecological and shell collection, educational field trips, and many fun children activities to mention. If you are traveling with children this is a good place to have a family vacation.

This was like having your own private beach, because there is no other construction for miles around this place and the town is about 20 to 30 minutes driving.
As we touch the water on the beach it was as warm as the swimming pool, and there is a large area where the water level only reach up to your waist, that was good for my friend who have two children ages 5 and 7
This beach is not for surfing or bodyboard because there are no waves but other beach activities can be done here.

We were talking with my 17 year old son (who want to study and enter the field of engineering and architect in the university) about how they have turn this deserted area into this green vacation place by taking the water from the ocean and send it through a process of desalination and water purification they turn ocean water into purified water which is life for the green grass, plants and ready for human consumption and other necessities.
This place is just a small percentage of the original plan which includes several beautiful green grass and palms, ocean side golf courses, shopping centers, dance club, theaters, a marina with boat docking facilities, an soon an airport. This is going to be the next Cancun except is closer to Los Angeles.

Next going to Downtown Puerto Peñasco

I just came back from a well deserved vacation. It’s been several years that I have not been able to take some time off that I can truly enjoy. I have been so busy pleasing everybody else that I did not have any time and energy left on me to do the things I wanted to do.
I manage to scrap one week off and suddenly a lot of urgent things started to come out on that particular time frame. It seem like it was planned to conspire and threatening to ruin my week off.
 Finally I sorted everything out and I was free for a week. I took my wife and kids and we headed south of the border, I have been in Mexico before but we were heading for a new place, a place that I have never have been before and It is called Puerto Peñazco or Rocky point as English speakers called the area. This place is located in the Cortez’s sea in the border of California and Arizona.
We have estimated that will take us about 8 hours to get to our destination so we left L.A. at around 2:30 am and took the 10 freeway East toward San Bernardino and continue until you cross Arizona, We stop at a restaurant around 6am and as the family and friends when for breakfast I went to sleep in the car. I was so uncomfortable in the car but let me tell you that whatever time I sleep was the most satisfying sleep I ever have, because when my group came back I was feeling a lot better and ready to continue with our trip. Soon we cross Arizona and we reach the intersection of the AZ-85 S and turning south toward I-8 Gila Bend we went to a desert area. Driving through the desert area during the early hours was a good idea and having a good air conditioner system in your car is a must for a comfortable ride through the desert.
We pass the town of Ajo and continue until we reached the last town Lukeville next to the US border
On the Mexico side of the border the town is know as Sonoyta and next stop will be Puerto Peñasco called La Jolla de Cortes.
I was wondering if we took the wrong turn because I could not see any water or ocean anywhere only cactus, rocks and desert, until we finally reached our destination around 11 am. And as soon as I pass the lobby this was my welcoming view.

Next, more fun in Puerto peñasco

As I mentioned in my previous post about our trip to Malibu Beach in search of the perfect beach to test our brand new Morey bodyboard. As we drove through Pacific Coast Highway, we spot in the distance several kites with beautiful colors and designs, but they were in the ocean.
 As we drove closer we notice that they were some kind of parachute that people where using in the water. Later on we find out that this sport is called “Kitesurfing” and use a small parachute or kite and a small surfboard.

We sat on the beach and watched how the surfer deployed his kite and the wind will drag him several feet into the air. The surfer take advantage of the moments he is airborne and he start doing some intrepid spin and awesome jumps before he land in the water with his kiteboard attached to his feet.
The Kitesurfer we were watching were ether advanced or experts because my kids were amazed of the jump and spin they were doing. At times they seem to be suspended in mid-air and landed in slow motion.
All they needed were a wind strong enough to lift them several feet into the air and water for a soft landing. This sport can be practiced everywhere that have water, So a lake or a dam are ideal to practice this sport, or perhaps a river that does not have a strong current and is wide enough to move in any direction will be good as well. But as anything that you do where you can get hurt, practicing the golden rules of common sense and safety are applied here.
Kitesurfing is a beautiful and fun scene to watch but I am sure that this sport required great strength and ability from the kitesurfer. You must be in top physical shape to withstand this demanding sport.
Ebay have several kitesurfing stores where you can find kitesurfing equipment used or brand new for good prices.
Some of the top models and popular brands I found were:
• Slingshot Turbo 2 Kitesurfing 14m complete with bar, bag and pump and is sold by a store named Kite Wind Surf
• Gaastra Phoenix 17.5M kiteboarding kitesurfing kite
• Eclipse Truster 10m 2008 Kitesurfing kiteboarding kite
• Naish 10m Torch 2008 Kitesurfing kiteboarding kite
Just to mention some of the most popular kiteboard and perhaps you will find other brands and models that will become your favorite as you get familiar with this water sport.

Kitesurfing is another fun thing you can do when you visit our GreatSunnyBeaches in Southern California

When you visit Newport Beach make sure you check our vacation package and timeshare section where you will find several deals similar to this one.

Visit Newport Beach and stay at Marriott Newport Coast Villas and enjoy this spectacular resort, located in Newport Coast, California. Between Newport and Laguna Beach.

 This 2 Bedroom 2 Bath unit resembles an Italian village. And is located in a 12-building complex set above the Pacific Ocean.
 These Marriott’s villas offer full kitchens, washers and dryers, and dial-up Internet access.

Some of the amenities include:
• Three pools offer swimming with expansive ocean views.
• On-site spa provides massages, facials, and other treatments.
• Hot tubs
• 26,000 square foot pool.
• Golf course adjacent to the resort, with spectacular trees and greens located right on the ocean
• Water and beach activities
• Oceanfront fitness center
• Whirlpool and jacuzzi

These are some of the top of the line amenities that you would expect from Marriott

If you would like to explore your surrounding, you will find a pleasant surprise on Laguna Beach, Carlsbad and San Juan Capistrano

Come just you and your love one or bringing the whole family with the children. You will find that this is an excellent place to visit, there is fun and entertainment for everyone. With shops and excellent restaurants and walks on the beach. Visit another GreatSunnyBeaches in Southern California and make your unforgettable summer.

Surfing Competition
Want to see how the experts do it? Come to Manhattan Beach this weekend.

The South Bay cities will have a surfing and other beach activities from Friday August 1st through Sunday 3rd. California’s  South bay cities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach and the Los Angeles department of beaches will be having beach-summer-activities for locals and visitors as well. A series of competitions, championships and others activities will be taking place in some of the cities mentioned above. Plenty of food, music and entertainment for the family.

Calendar of Activities
Friday August 1st
 at 7:00pm  LA County Lifeguard Championships-At Torrance Beach
Saturday, August 2nd
6:45 am International Bodysurfing Championship at Manhattan Beach Pier
7:00 am Surfing Championships at Hermosa Beach Pier
7:00 am Sand Soccer Challenge
8:00 a.m Two-Mile Beach Run — Hermosa Beach Pier
9:00 a.m Volleyball Tournament — Manhattan Beach Pier
7:00 p.m. So Calif. Lifeguard Championships Events — Torrance Beach
Sunday, August 3
7:30 a.m Pier-to-Pier Paddleboard Championship — Manhattan Beach
8:00 a.m. Sand Soccer - Torrance Beach
9:00 a.m. Volleyball Tournament — Manhattan Beach Pier
9:00 a.m. Pier-To-Pier Swim — Hermosa Pier to Manhattan Pier
10:00 a.m. Lifeguard Dory Race — Hermosa Pier
1:00 p.m. South Bay Youth Swims and Paddles — Hermosa Beach Pier.

 Fun and activities in our GreatSunnyBeaches of Southern California

We just received our brand new and beautiful Morey bodyboard (I believed it is also called boogieboard) for my daughter.  With screaming and excitement she runs showing the board to everybody in the house. Next thing I knew I felt a tap on my shoulder. And there she was. All dress up with her swimming suit, fins, bodyboard and towel. And she said “Dad I am ready for the beach” as I was wandering how did she manage to change her cloth so quickly.
Next thing we were heading for Malibu Beach where surfing is king and you can surf with a short or classic long board, windsurf, kite surf you name it everything related to water is practiced here.

Since my daughter have never tried bodyboard surfing, I decided to stay close just in any case something goes wrong but for a first time user and a beginner she was not doing so bad. She was able to take some good waves that glide her all the way to the beach sandy area.
Surfing on a boogieboard is a relative unexpensive way to have fun at the beach.

You only need a boogieboard and fins and you are ready to go. (Don’t forget to wear a swimsuit too) You might find a good bodyboard here but do your diligent research first and find out about prices, quality and brands so you can compare and choose your best deal at best prices. There are Bodyboard in a great assorted of colors and some of them come with Disney characters or super hero designs for small children but others are geared to adults and experts bodyboarders and are designed accordingly
 Choose right and you will enjoy hours and many days of surfing fun at the beach.
As a precaution, I believed that is safer not to use the fins if you are a beginner and later on when you got more experience and become and intermediate boogieboard rider you might get your fins or get a wetsuit to keep you warm on cold water.

Don’t underestimate the power of the waves and bodyboarding surfing. Experts can surf at great speed and do some intrepid jumping, spinning and turning maneuvers that are only limited to the audacity and surfing skills of this bodyboard riders. Like any other surfing sports you just have to catch the perfect wave.

This pass 4th of July long weekend was excellent, we all needed a brake from our routine.
The temperature here were so hot that everybody was heading to all those places that have “Water” and places like Raging Waters, Soak City, Hurricane Harbor and Wild Rivers in Southern California was the favorite place to be for kids and adults. Of course that local lakes, beaches and rivers were very popular spots to be with family and friends.
A lot of people where so anxious to use that brand new grill they just bought. They were waiting for a special occasion like this pass holiday. They put on the grill everything they could find, hamburgers patty, chicken, shrimps, hotdogs, vegetable you name it. Even the hamburgers that some of my folks created were as delicious as the one in In-and-Out restaurant.
While I was resting and swinging in the hammock next to the water, I was kind of daydreaming about “why not create my own personal independence day”
Well? Of What I need to have an independence from? To begin with I have compiled a list of things that I need to get my independence from so here it is my own personal list:
 

My own independence day

• Financial independence - continue working and researching my home-based-business and other opportunities while I still have a job. Don’t give up, some day my efforts will pay off.
• Independence from debt – Cut down or completely eliminates expenses. Doesn’t use Credit Cards, use a ATM/debit card instead.
• Independence from misery - Live my life at plenitude – Be happy, enjoy the moments with my children and wife. Live and enjoy the present.
• Independence from oil – Oil price $125.00 per barrel and no top on sight, somebody must be swimming in a pool of dollars. Is there something I can do to lower my consumption and dependence on gas? First I will try to get the maximum benefits in every car trip I make, and use the car only when necessary. Also use alternative transportation, public bus, metro, bicycle, car-pool, whatever I have to be creative.
• Independence from taxes - Create my own Boston Tea party, find way to reduce taxes, I already try my two dependent tricks but I did not do well, I love my kids anyway so that don’t matter if I spend more than what I can deduct. Maybe I will try to get my home base business profitable so I can legally allow some expenses deductions and tax deductions.
• Independence from bad politic -vote on November 08. Select the people who will contribute for the good of our country and not the deterioration of our states.
That will keep me busy for a while.  But for now I will go and see the 4th of July fireworks instead.

4th of July celebration at the beach
This coming Friday we’ll be celebrating 4th of July
And a lot of people will be heading to the Great Sunny Beaches of Southern California
You can enjoy a beautiful day at the beach, where temperatures will be around the 80 or 100. You can bring your barbeque or if you prefer to visit one of the several local bar-restaurants for a good meal or your favorite cold drink and socialize while you are there.
During the day you can do the usual beach activities like, surfing, playing volleyball, ride your bike or inline skates or simply enjoy the sand and the water.
Each beach city will have their own way to celebrate the 4th of July, for example Marina del Rey will have their annual fireworks show over the Marina’s main channel and Venice Beach will have a bodybuilding competition and they will be looking for Mr. and Ms. muscle beach for this year. Also in the same event it will be the figure and swimsuit competition. Come and enjoy the show, and treat your eyes to this spectacle by the beach.

But when the night comes be prepare to watch the grand fireworks spectacle that most of the beach-cities do as a 4th of July tradition. The night will be illuminated with explosions of red, white and blue colors, such a beautiful sight for children and adult as well.
Make sure you are wearing something patriotic but click on USA Flag wear if you need some help. You can use your imagination and creativity to show your true colors.
Have a happy and safe 4th of July from GreatSunnyBeaches.com