Looking for a Fabulous Taco Tuesday? Try Baja Betty’s

When I first considered San Diego as a potential place to live in 2020, my best friend told me I couldn’t leave without stopping at Baja Betty’s in Hillcrest. Now that I’ve been a San Diego native for almost four years, it’s become one of my go-to favorite spots, especially during Taco Tuesday.We live in a world of rising inflation, but Baja Betty’s has at least managed to keep up with their portion sizes and still offers food cheaper than you’ll get at Taco Bell (without the immediate trip to the bathroom right after.)Photo Credit: Britt LeachBaja Betty’s Taco TuesdayStarting at 5 p.m. and lasting until close, their street tacos run between $2.75 and $3.75 a pop and come stuffed to the point where you won’t need more than two or three. You can also get a shot of house tequila for $2.75, a Pink Pussy shot that tastes like a watermelon Jolly Rancher for $3.75 or sip on a House Margarita for $6.75, which easily makes this one of the most affordable meals in town.When it comes to the tacos, though, you really can’t beat the Carnitas BLT. The chipotle aioli they drizzle on top lives rent-free in my dreams and it’s the only thing I order when I come in for a Taco Tuesday. I’ve tried other tacos and they’re good, but nothing beats that one for me.Outside of the BLT, I also recommend you put your gaze toward the Al Pastor and/or Short Rib tacos. The Al Pastor comes with grilled pineapple and sesame salsa, and they braise the short ribs to absolute perfection. Their white queso bean dip with chorizo is also a great starter to share for the table, though that would be the most expensive food item on your trip at $5.75. Photo Credit: Britt LeachBut there’s more than just Tacos!Taco Tuesday isn’t the only reason you should pop into Baja Betty’s. Over on the regular side of the menu, I always head straight for their Taco Salad. It comes in a traditional fried tortilla bowl stuffed with black beans, mixed greens, cucumbers, black olives, grilled corn, tomatoes, jicama, red onion, Monterey queso, guacamole, sour cream, and your choice of protein. Even though this is a much steeper price at $15.25 depending on your protein choice, the portion size is enough to fill you for the rest of the day, if not even into the next.Are you a big burrito fan like me? Allow me to offer you a warning.Betty’s has a Short & Fat and a Long & Fat option for burrito choices. The first time I came in, I ordered a Long & Fat. The server cocked an eyebrow and asked me if I was sure, which should have been my first hint. I went with it, only to have the largest burrito I’ve ever seen in my life placed in front of me, which then became my only meal for the following two days (and I’m 6’5 with a huge appetite.)Photo Credit: Britt LeachBesides the food, be aware that they pour their drinks heavily here. The Pink Pussy “shot” is basically a full drink with no ice. If you watch the bartenders when they make your margarita, you’ll also notice it’s about 85% liquor and 15% sweet and sour in a 16 ounce glass, yet they somehow find a way to make it taste like there’s no alcohol in it at all. Drink and be merry all you want, just be extra responsible when you do.Photo Credit: Britt LeachShould you still have any room left for dessert at the end of your meal, regardless of when you come, try out the traditional Fried Ice Cream. This comes in a vanilla ice cream ball breaded in cornflakes and topped with cinnamon sugar, dulce de leche, and whipped cream. It’s a great way to finish off your meal.Happy Hour aka Papi Hour If Tuesday nights don’t work out for you, Betty’s also has a “Papi Hour” Monday through Friday from 2-6 pm where several drinks and food items are available for $6.50. The Papi Hour also extends until 10 p.m. on Mondays, which still gives you the opportunity to come in for an evening meal if the afternoon doesn’t work in your favor, either.Photo Credit: Britt LeachDo you want to enjoy Baja Betty’s all to yourself? They have private party options, as well as a “Backdoor Betty’s” speakeasy for those who want to have a more intimate experience with up to 40 of their closest friends and family. My friend was absolutely right about one thing when he took me to Betty’s: It’s one joint in Hillcrest you most certainly do not want to miss. They’ll have you feeling “home sweet homo” in a safe and inclusive space with one of the most fabulous experiences in the area.This article was written by Andrew J. Stillman for San Diego Explorer. Photo Credit: Britt Leach Last Updated on August 13, 2024 by Maria HaaseThe post Looking for a Fabulous Taco Tuesday? Try Baja Betty’s appeared first on San Diego Explorer.

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Tee Off in Paradise: Quivira Los Cabos Golf Resort

I live in Carlsbad, about a mile from the Pacific Ocean, so summers aren’t so bad. But occasionally, it’s nice to detach from smart phone and laptop screens, politics and freeway traffic and head south of the border. Lately, my favorite summer place to relax, restore and explore has been Los Cabos, Mexico. A magical place where the desert meets the Pacific Ocean. I’ve visited several of the fabulous resorts lined up along the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, but I’ve never found one I liked more than Quivira Los Cabos. This luxury residential golf resort community is home to two stunning Resorts – Pueblo Bonito Pacifica and Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach.I visited Quivira on a recent press trip and discovered the bliss of a new lifestyle club created for Pueblo Bonito resort guests and Quivira residents, the Q Life.GOLFING THE Q LIFEThe Q Life aims to inspire residents and guests of Quivira to seek new ways to enjoy a healthy, well-rounded lifestyle. It’s built around four pillars: wellness, culture, cuisine and social. I arrived late on a Thursday night from Tijuana through the Cross Border Xpress on a Volaris flight, I dove right into the wellness portion of Q Life with a relaxing five-hour round of golf at the semi-private Quivira Golf Club Friday morning. The CourseFor Americans, relaxing and five-hour golf rounds usually don’t mix. But rounds are managed a little differently here. Four “comfort stations” are strategically sprinkled around 18 holes, offering players a chance to pause or reset their round several times. The spectacular course designed by Hall of Fame golfer Jack Nicklaus starts at sea level, scales cliffs, spans canyons and arroyos and meanders through dunes and deserts. First Things FirstBefore teeing off, I met my playing partner Gerardo, an accountant from Tijuana, and stopped off for a coffee and a cinnamon pastry at the first comfort station. The most remote and striking comfort station is perched atop a cliff, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the sixth hole. The five-minute climb from the fifth green winds up the side of a mountain along a narrow cart path.The small restaurant offers tacos, chips, sandwiches, fresh fruit and desserts. The bar has an abundance of high-end Tequila, an assortment of Mexican beers, sodas and bottled waters. With no group pressing us from behind, we had time to sit and enjoy delicious fish and carne asada tacos while sipping on ice-cold Modelos.The dog-leg left par-4 sixth and the par-3 seventh hole are two of Quivira’s most challenging and scenic holes: they play directly into a stiff breeze and sit nearly on top of the Pacific Ocean.I hit two perfect shots on the sixth hole and had 25-feet for birdie. Naturally, I three-putted for bogey. But it’s hard to get too steamed when you pick your ball out of the hole and see nothing but waves crashing onto the white sand below. The round ended just after noon, but not before Gerado and I hit one last comfort station, washing down ham and cheese croissants with a shot of tequila.Golfing in paradise is magical, but pricey. Green fees range from $306 to $465, depending on the season. The course is available only to Pueblo Bonito resort guests and Quivira homeowners. It won’t be long before golfers will have two courses to play at Quivira. Ground has already been broken on another Nicklaus course.THE HEIGHT OF RELAXATIONQuivira staff told us that living life at your own pace is the real beauty of the Q Life. So I decided to slow it down almost to a complete stop with a deep-tissue sports massage at the heavenly Armonia Spa. The massage was so relaxing, I nearly fell asleep three times during the 50-minute treatment that seemed to hit every achy part of my body. But the sauna and an invigorating dip in the cold plunge pool snapped me back to reality.Other Q Life activities include yoga at the beach, crystal healing, mountain biking and guided walks.PACIFICA RESORTSituated on a mile stretch of pristine beach on the Pacific Ocean just 15 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas, the adult-only, 201-room Pacifica resort is a peaceful and romantic retreat that offers full-service amenities and facilities, including four restaurants, the Armonia spa, a large pool with a swim-up bar and a butler. Our butler managed our check-in and check-out in no time. He also arranged dinner reservations and spa treatments, reserved prime spots at the pool and kept our mini bar stocked with our favorite specialty items.The Towers at Pacifica has 47 rooms and suites. Guests enjoy oceanfront VIP Lounge privileges with breakfast, lunch, and sunset hour food, drinks and snacks. We took advantage of the VIP Lounge, eating two delicious breakfasts. I’m still dreaming of my Cajeta (Mexican caramel) brioche with caramelized apples, berries and vanilla creams and toasted pistachio. For the fall season, ocean view and oceanfront deluxe rooms at the all-inclusive Pacifica start at $325 a night. Rooms at the nearby 749-room all-inclusive Sunset Beach resort, geared more toward families, start at $273 per night for a junior suite ocean view room.Check Prices at Pacifica ResortCheck Prices at Sunset Beach ResortTHE CUISINEIt makes sense that cuisine is one of the Q Life’s four pillars. It’s hard to beat the quality and diversity of restaurants within the 1,850-acre resort. During our three-night stay, we were lucky enough to dine at Peninsula and Pescados, located at the Pacifica resort, and Quivira Steakhouse at the Quivira Golf Club. PeninsulaPeninsula is a sophisticated gourmet restaurant featuring regional Baja cuisine. It sits on the far west side of the Pacifica resort, next to the Pacific Ocean. We loved the sweet pea soup and truffle oil, the beets and mile rosa salad and the pan-seared sea bass with organic vegetables.PescadosPescados, located next to the pool, wowed us with its array of sushi plates. We had two favorite dishes: the tuna spicy wonton with avocado, crab, pickled onions, spicy mayonnaise and serranito sauce and the sashimi pescados with tuna, salmon, and macha-ponzu sauce.Quivira SteakhouseThe elegant Quivira Steakhouse sits just off the first tee with spectacular views of the Pacific. We were blown away by roasted broccoli cream soup with potato croutons. Another highlight was the main course, a totoaba fish cooked in organic black ash with cauliflower puree and wild mushrooms. Who knew organic black ash could be so tasty?GETTING THEREAccessing Los Cabos is easy and inexpensive via the Cross Border Xpress in Otay Mesa. For $23 you cross the border, go through customs and airport security and arrive in 15 minutes at the remodeled Tijuana International Airport. Street parking, reserved and valet parking are available at CBX, as well as public transport and shuttles (read more here). 22 million passengers have used CBX since opening eight years ago.Round trips for the two-hour flight from Tijuana to Cabo start at just $250 on Volaris Airlines. Upon returning to Tijuana, we made it off the plane, across CBX’s pedestrian bridge and into our car on the U.S. side in under 15 minutes. Disclaimer: This post was written by Dave McKibben for San Diego Explorer. As customary in the travel writing industry, the hotel stay, green fees, activities, restaurants, CBX, and flights were hosted. This has not influenced the author’s opinion of these experiences.Last Updated on August 6, 2024 by Maria HaaseThe post Tee Off in Paradise: Quivira Los Cabos Golf Resort appeared first on San Diego Explorer.

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Julian Apple Picking Season 2024: Best Orchards & Tastiest Apple Pies

Fall is here and that means it’s time for apple picking in Julian, California! September and October are prime apple-picking months, so it’s an ideal time to be outdoors and plan a fun family outing. And nothing is better than gathering up your own apples and taking them home for eating, cooking, and baking. So, let’s head to the mountains of Julian for these wholesome fall treats and maybe try some of the famous Julian apple pies or the fantastic restaurants in Julian. As the 2024 apple-picking season is coming closer, we will update this article with the 2024 opening times and days of each apple orchard in Julian. Stay tuned…Apple Picking in Julian CaliforniaHistory of Julian ApplesThe town of Julian is the place to go for apples. Located just an hour northeast of San Diego in the foothills of the Cuyamaca Mountains at an elevation of 4,225 feet, Julian is a refreshing throwback to simpler times.Once a bustling gold mining town, Julian’s mines eventually dried up, but a new treasure had already been taking hold — apples. All thanks to a widower named James T. Madison who relocated here from New Orleans and quickly discovered the fertile soil of Julian was perfect for fruit orchards.Madison traveled to San Bernardino with a four-horse wagon and returned with it filled with apple trees. And the rest is history. By the 1890s, Julian was proclaimed the “greatest apple belt in the world” and its fruit and pies were winning one national award after another. Julian’s legacy lives on today with its apple farms and famous apple pies.Julian Apple Picking: Where and When to Pick Julian ApplesHere’s a listing of places to pick apples in Julian. However, it’s a good idea to check the website or give these businesses a call for updated information before you go.Fall in Julian California Peacefield OrchardAddress: 3803 Wynola Rd, Julian, CA 92036310-902-6321 kenb.anewleaf@gmail.comWebsiteDates: Saturdays and Sundays, 9 AM – 2 PM, starting in mid-September (2024). The exact dates are TBD. Peacefield Orchard U-Pick and Farmstand will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 2 pm starting in mid-September to around mid-October (or until the day’s ripe apples run out). It’s a good idea to arrive early, as it gets hot! Please wear close-toed shoes.Orchard tours and u-pick by appointment are also available. Please make reservations for groups larger than 2 cars. Pick Granny Smith, Red and Golden Delicious, Jonathan and Jonagold on 2 1/2 acres, widely spaced lanes made for plenty of space! The orchard is stunning and is home to beautiful old trees. Cost: $20 per bag (1/2 peck) with no entry fee.Julian Mining CompanyAddress: 4444 CA-78, Julian, CA 92036Phone: (951) 312-9940WebsiteDates: Sweet Varieties are expected to be ready at the end of September and Granny Smith are expected to be ready in Mid-October. Check Instagram for updates. Julian Mining Company is all about connecting living history with a working farm. Yes, there are apples, but this orchard offers a whole lot more.Apple picking is not all they offer, but also variety of fun activities like fall goodies, pumpkins, gold mining & gold panning, fossil digging, a mini train ride, and of course, apple picking. The farm is open Saturdays 10-4 and Sundays 12-4. Cost: $18 per bag (can be shared) and $3 per person entry fee.Fall is Apple Picking Season in JulianVolcan Valley Apple FarmAddress: 1284 Julian Orchards Dr, Julian, CA 92036Phone: (760) 302-4574FacebookDates: Starting September (exact dates TBD)A seasonal u-pick orchard with 8,000 trellis-grown apple trees and seven apple varieties, Volcan Valley Apple Farm is all about family fun and is starting this year’s apple picking season in September. Hours of operation are Friday-Sunday, 9 am to 4:30 pm (last sale). Gates close at 5. Cost: $15 per bag, which holds about 6-7 lbs. and includes one admission. Active military with an ID pay $10. Extra admission is $5 per person. Children 5 and under are free. Best Farms for Apple Picking in JulianCrosscut Farm and Orchard1209 Farmer Rd, Julian, CA 92036(605) 431-0136WebsiteDates: September 14 – 28, 2024Gather your friends and family and be ready when the family-owned and operated Crosscut Farm and Orchard opens for apple picking this September. Reservations are required. Walk-ins are not permitted. 75 people per group maximum. Reservation times are 10AM-Noon, 1PM-3:00PM and 3:00PM-5:00PM but feel free to bring a picnic lunch and spend the day.Apple Varieties: Golden Delicious, Jonathon, Liberty, as well as Empire, Fuji and Honeycrisp in limited amounts. Parking is on site – travel down the restricted lane that is designated as a trail for Volcan Mountain, come through the metal gate near the farmhouse and follow signs to the parking area. Cost: $20 per bag and $6 per person entry fee. Apple Picking Farms in JulianCalico Apple and Pear Ranch & CideryAddress: 4228 Firefighter Steven Rucker Memorial Hwy, Julian, CA 92036Phone: (858) 586-0392WebsiteDates: No U-Pick this yearApple Harvest in JulianThis family-run ranch has been in operation for over 90 years and is a great place to pick apples and pears. While this year, they are already picked out, you should definitely keep them on your radar for next year and also stop by for their cider, which luckily, has not run dry yet. Apple Picking Tips: What to Wear and How to PrepareOur first recommendation is to check the weather report as Julian can sometimes see cooler temperatures than the rest of San Diego due to its elevation. Comfortable, cotton clothing should be worn along with comfy shoes (preferably tennis shoes) as you’ll be trapsing through orchards. A short orientation on proper picking techniques is available at each orchard prior to apple picking. Orchards require masks and social distancing within the rows. We’d also recommend you pack hand sanitizer, wipes, and bottles of water. Each of the orchards has bathroom facilities available.Think about spending the night…. Yes, Julian is an easy day trip from San Diego or Los Angeles, but if you spend the night, you REALLY get to enjoy it. Here are some really great places to stay in Julian:Julian HotelOak Hill InnThe Julian InnJulian Hotel – Photo Courtesy of Julian HotelOther Apple(y) Fun Things to Do in JulianStop in for a Piece of Apple Pie in JulianYou can’t be in Julian and not try a big slice of flaky, sweet, delectable apple pie, a true Julian treasure. Several pie companies in town offer either sit-down or window service, but you just have to do it. Best Apple Pie in Julian, CaliforniaThese are the best apple pies in the universe (and even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top). We guarantee you’ll be taking one home with you.But which bakery has the best apple pie in Julian? It seems like every family in Southern California has their personal favorite and some are hard set on only eating apple pie from “their” bakery. I have tried a few of them and have to say, they are all amazing and you won’t find a bad piece of pie in Julian, promise. Here are some of the best Julian Apple Pie Bakeries in town:Julian Pie CompanyJulian Cafe & BakeryMom’s Pie HouseApple Alley BakeryRead our full review here>>Julian Cafe & Bakery – Best Apple Pie in Julian, CaliforniaVisit Volcan Mountain WineryAddress: 1255 Julian Orchards Dr, Julian, CA 92036Phone: (760) 765-3267WebsiteOpen Friday through Sunday 11-5, Volcan Mountain Winery is located directly across from picturesque apple orchards. Sparkling, white, and reds are available for tasting, but their apple wines like the Pomme D’Amour sparkling and Dolcezza, an estate-grown apple white are unique and luscious. This is one of the best wineries in San Diego county. Don’t miss this!Volcan Mountain Winery JulianCheck out Julian Hard CiderAddress: 4470 Julian Rd, Julian, CA 92036Phone: (760) 703-7307WebsiteYes, you can get apple cider at various places throughout the town of Julian, but there’s the really good hard stuff too. Julian Hard Cider’s Miners’ Saloon is located in a former apple packing facility. They feature a variety of premium fresh-pressed ciders from harvest apple to cherry, berry, pear, and yes, even apple pie. Open Friday to Sunday from 12 to 6 pm, it’s a super fun way to toast the autumn!  Have fun with the apple picking in Julian, and be sure to share your experience with us!Take a look at these other Fall Activities in San Diego and Julian:8 Ways to Celebrate Fall in San DiegoThings to do on Halloween in San DiegoBest Haunted Houses in San DiegoApple Picking in Julian Web StoryJulian Apple Picking – Pin for Later:Last Updated on August 29, 2024 by Maria HaaseThe post Julian Apple Picking Season 2024: Best Orchards & Tastiest Apple Pies appeared first on San Diego Explorer.

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