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Frommer's Guide
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FEATURES AND EVENTS
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Spring Fling: What's Blooming in San Diego
by Jeremy Chipman and Rachel Berg
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Locale: San Diego, CA
Nearest Airport:
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
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It doesn't matter where in the world you go: The arrival of spring is a special time, when the grass is a bright green, the flowers bloom, and the snow, rain, or cold of winter recedes from memory. Even San Diego, with its near-perfect weather (the sun shines here an average of 320 days annually), is especially beautiful during the months of March, April, and May. Blooming deserts, outdoor festivals, and sporting events are just some of the reasons why it's a great time to visit this Southern California destination.
In Full Flower
 The winter rains leave behind a colorful legacy at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Desert wildflowers bloom here every spring between February and April, as tiny blossoms and red floral clusters brighten the stark landscape. While the intensity and length of the flowering is highly variable (depending on the amount of precipitation the area has received), there are usually at least a couple weeks when the park really comes alive. Regardless, Anza-Borrego is well worth the scenic two-hour drive from downtown San Diego. The park is filled with wildlife, including big-horn sheep, golden eagles, and desert iguanas. Short hikes lead around the desert floor and into rocky canyons, including one with a surprising oasis of palm trees at the end of the trail.
 The other place to head to see a canvas of natural color is the town of Carlsbad, about a half-hour north of the city. Carlsbad is the home of Legoland California, which will unveil its newest ride to coincide with the beginning of spring in April. The thrilling LEGO TECHNIC Test Track will test the principles of acceleration, breaking, and maneuverability. Carlsbad is also where the famed Flower Fields are located. Spread over 50 acres of land that looks like a series of rainbows, the Flower Fields contain millions of ranunculus bulbs that bloom between March and early May. Walking paths in between allow visitors to explore this magical world before the bulbs are harvested and marketed around the world. Think of it as Holland-by-the-Pacific Ocean.
A Festive Mood
Springtime in San Diego also means a flurry of festivals. It starts with a touch of the Wild West in the city's east county, as the Annual Lakeside Rodeo takes place the last weekend in April. That weekend is also when San Diego's visual and performing artists get to strut their stuff at Sony ArtWalk. The public can take free, self-guided tours of artists' staging spaces--studios, galleries, and public areas--scattered throughout the downtown area. Aviation fans will want to be around for the first weekend in May (starting Thursday), for Wings Over Gillespie when some of the most famous vintage aircraft in the world are on display at El Cajon's Gillespie Field.
 Of course, the highlight of the spring festivals is May 5, when the Fiesta Cinco de Mayo kicks off at Old Town State Historic Park in the center of historic San Diego. Cinco de Mayo, a popular patriotic celebration of Mexico and its culture, has special resonance in this city that's located only miles from the Mexican border. Fiesta Cinco de Mayo stretches over the entire first weekend of May, with non-stop entertainment and plenty of tasty dishes at the many food booths. There are numerous Cinco de Mayo festivals in the area that weekend, including ones in Calexico, Chula Vista, and Oceanside.
Spring Forward
On both land and sea, athletic games and events are also a distinct element of the San Diego spring experience. No spring would be complete without the umpire's resounding cry of "play ball!" at Qualcomm Stadium. In April, the San Diego Padres step up to the plate to begin another season of National Major League Baseball. Another land-based affair is the nation's most prestigious equestrian event at the 56th Annual Del Mar National Horse Show, which is held from mid-April to early May on the grounds of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Here, North America's finest horses and riders compete for over $250,000 in prize money. Also in May, famous faces and sport combine on the green at the Third Annual Stan Humphries Celebrity Golf Classic. This is the only Southern California stop on the golfing world's Celebrity Players Tour, so a swing by the Morgan Run Resort & Club to see the action is its own reward.
For ocean-oriented activity, some of the most exciting saltwater sportfishing in the world takes place off the San Diego docks, and on April 29, the Port of San Diego holds its annual Day at the Docks festival. Completely free to the public, the event features fishing demonstrations, boat rides, entertainment, and food.•
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