San Diego

A Whale of a Good Time! What do a "spout", a "spyhop", a "fluke up" and a "fluke down" have in common with one another? Each is a whale behavior which, along with breaching - the ultimate behavior, may be visible to your guests during the winter months in San Diego. With whale watching season almost upon us, it's time to remind you that in winter months (late December-March) San Diego offers the opportunity to see whales migrating south to Mexico. The Pacific is renowned worldwide as the home of the magnificent gray whale which migrates south every year from the Bering Sea towards Baja California in order to mate and give birth in protected warm waters. San Diego is lucky enough to be right along the way. On the return trip, young calves can frequently be seen swimming at their mothers' sides.

Remarkably, your guests could whale or dolphin watch during your program aboard a different style of watercraft each day so your choices for activity selection are many based upon your schedule and the preferences of your guests. Consider a private or public cruise aboard a comfortable, motorized whale watching yacht, complete with informative naturalist on board.

For a different type of experience, set sail aboard the 139-foot yacht "America." With its low center of gravity and deep keel, "America" presents a very stable platform for viewing the whales and dolphin schools in comfort. Recently repainted and refurbished below decks, this resplendent vessel provides a wonderful combination of whale viewing and magnificent ocean sailing. Word has it that even yachting superstar Dennis Conner worked tirelessly beside the crew during the process. Or...kayak out from La Jolla Shores and catch a peek of the magnificent gray whales or view the seals, sea lions and dolphins who consider the San Diego coast their playground. Whatever your preference, your guests will enjoy the opportunity to explore the sparkling side of San Diego while experiencing close encounters with a wide variety of marine life best seen from afloat.

A Few Whale Facts - Courtesy of the San Diego Natural History Museum:
- Gray whales spend the summer months in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, and then leave for the breeding lagoons along western Baja California and off southern Sonora and Sinaloa, Mexico.
- They follow the longest migration route of any mammal on Earth, traveling nearly 13,000 miles round trip.
- On their return journey, the last whales to travel north are the mothers with young.

The team at ACCESS Destination Services San Diego is ready and waiting to design a fun-filled custom land and sea program itinerary for your next Southern California meeting, conference or incentive travel program. 

Contact the team at ACCESS San Diego today!

Orange County

New Look for a Vintage Beach Party! Are you looking for an out-of-the ordinary beach theme that would complement even the finest Southern California resort setting? Something upscale yet fun with casual designer flair suitable for a final night event? Look no further!

The ACCESS Orange County team went beyond beach balls and lifeguard stands to create the perfect vintage style beach theme at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in coastal Dana Point. The eclectic look creatively blended "Beach Blanket Bingo", Tommy Bahama and even Pottery Barn aesthetics for a stylish, relaxing environment for this final night event.

"Frankie and Annette" look-alikes welcomed guests (great photo ops) while a beach band offered up a variety of beach style music from vintage Beach Boys to Jimmy Buffet as well as contemporary tunes. Thatched hut bars served up cocktails for guests to enjoy at hi-top tables draped with vintage Tommy Bahama-inspired longboard-patterned linens. Decor highlights combined longboard groupings, contemporary conch shell gobos and classic Woodies with surf racks - perfect photo ops. Modern free-standing hammocks with plump Pottery Barn style pillows under patterned globe lights provided relaxing diversions.

Guests dined at a combination of designer-inspired dark wood rectangular tables complete with cushioned clean-line bench seating and at casual cushioned platform tables featuring themed pillows and bamboo drink trays. Florals with coconut shells provided bursts of color in shades of burnt orange, deep eggplant and apple green.

After dinner guests enjoyed toasting "create your own" s'mores with all the fixins' at contemporary firepit groupings where they could sit back and relax to the tunes of the band in "unplugged" mode. The perfect ending to a delightful evening.

Talk to the team at ACCESS Destination Services about the variety of options for this type of themed event from surfboard carving demonstrations to plush blanket giveaways. Whether you desire a Beach Party, a Mexican Fiesta or another Southern California-inspired theme, allow the ACCESS team to take your event from traditional to transitional by carefully combining the best of multiple design styles and adding up-to-date touches to old favorites.

Contact the team at ACCESS  Destination services for your destination management needs in the Orange County area.

Spice it up with ACCESS

Mojito Mashed Potatoes!
For a variation on traditional Thanksgiving sweet potatoes, consider Rachael Ray's Mojito Mashed Sweet Potatoes - a tangy alternative.

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

- 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced
- Salt
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 shots rum or spiced rum
- 2 limes, juiced
- Handful mint leaves, chopped

Directions:

Place potatoes in a small pot and cover with water. Bring the water to a boil and salt it. Cook potatoes until tender 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes and return to hot pot and mash with butter, sugar, rum, lime and mint. Season the Mojito Mash with salt, to taste.

Enjoy!