Aug
30
10
When you start digging into the history of Old Town, San Diego, you’re bound to uncover a few skeletons. That’s certainly the case with Whaley House, which has more than its fair share. According to the Travel Channel, the site is the most haunted house in the United States today.The house was built for Thomas Whaley, a Scotch-Irishman born in New York City in 1823. He moved to California in 1849, later returning to New York to take Anna Eloise Delaunay as his wife. The couple settled in Old Town, San Diego in 1853, and their new house was completed in 1857.Supposedly, the house was haunted even before the Whaleys took up residence. The ghost of a criminal named James “Yankee Jim” Robinson was reported by the family, most evident in the footsteps which echoed through the house. Over the years, though, as members of the Whaley family met their demise, they too joined the house’s haunted history. (more…)
Filed under Entertainment, Other, Travel.
Aug
30
10
In Helen Maria Hunt Jackson’s novel Ramona, she dramatized the life of a Scottish-Native American girl growing up in Southern California. The book was designed to illustrate the prejudices Native Americans faced in America in the late 19th century, but it also brought many Americans their first vision of the Mexican colonial life of Old Town. Several sites from the town are featured in the book, all of which are now National Historic Landmarks. If you’re interested in seeing the same sights that inspired this early activist work, read on.Casa de Estudillo: Although never mentioned by name in the novel, the Estudillo House is known as the marriage-place of the main character, Ramona. Constructed in 1827 by the father-and-son team of Jose Maria Estudillo and Jose Antonio Estudillo, the house once epitomized the glamour of early San Diego life. The house was restored in 1968, and today visitors can see replicas of the luxurious beds and dining areas that the Estudillos themselves would have enjoyed. (more…)
Filed under Arts, Mexican Influence, Travel.
Aug
30
10
Locals know that when they enter the Old Town Theatre, they’ll be treated to a clever, thought-provoking performance, courtesy of the in-house Cygnet Theatre Company. The theatre is easily accessible in the Old Town district, located right next to the Old Town Market and across from the San Diego Avenue downtown area. The Old Town Trolley Tour will bring you right up to it.Currently, the company is offering a trilogy of rotating plays, all directed by Sean Murray and Francis Gerke. The three plays which make up The Norman Conquests“Table Manners,” “Living Together,” and “Round and Round the Garden”make up a complete story revolving around six characters. In addition to the technical skill which one can imagine it takes to star in three different plays at a time, viewers will also have incentive to check out the entire trilogy in order to get a free t-shirt. (more…)
Filed under Arts, Entertainment, Travel.
Aug
30
10
While you certainly have your choice of larger hotels (Best Western, Marriott, and Holiday Inn all have footholds in the area), there are a variety of smaller options for the adventurous traveler. Smaller inns often feature more community among guests, so if you’re interested in getting to know your fellow travelers, they’re a great bet. Plus, although larger hotels may offer continental breakfasts as well, just between us, the classic cooking you’ll find at these sites more than rivals it. Whether you’re solo or with your family, consider these choices for some historic hospitality.Heritage Park B&B: This charming bed & breakfast is located in an 1889 Queen Anne Mansion in Victorian Park. Afternoon Tea is a highlight, with light hors d’oeuvres and a community jigsaw puzzle, as are the nightly showings of classic films. Full breakfast is included with every room rate. (more…)
Filed under Mexican Influence, Places to stay, Travel.