October’s a treat with hauntingly good fun! Dare to enjoy these top things to do in our e-newsletter: https://buff.ly/2pf0fO5
Attractions
By Cynthia Lamont
PassPort to San Diego
One of the world’s richest deposits of tourmaline is found in San Diego County.Gemstone collectors and families from all over the U.S. and world come to the Oceanview Mine located in the foothills of north San Diego County to mine precious stones such as tourmaline, kunzite, aquamarine, quartz and more. In the 1900s pink tourmaline was in high demand and exported back east to big jewelry stores like Tiffany’s.
My family and I visited the mine recently. We brought our gloves and a picnic lunch. There’s a shaded pavilion with picnic tables and a beautiful view to enjoy.
Tons of rock are taken from the mine and put in a big pile in a circular area, surrounded by sifting tables and trays of water. Right away my grandson found a beautiful quartz crystal and my son and daughter-in-law found some lovely pink tourmaline. Cameron Mertes, the gemologist, looked at our just screened gems and said we had over $100 worth of stones. We had just started!
I talked with people from all over. Many couples and families have been here a half-dozen times or more. One gentleman, a jewelry maker, comes to the mine twice a month from Arizona.
This is a great time and an exciting adventure to possibly find the “mother lode.”
It might not be gold, but there are some real gems in “them thar hills.”
I would like to thank Jeff Swanger and his hard working staff for a fun and very informative afternoon. We will be back!
Oceanview Mine is at 37304 Magee Road Pala, CA.
For more information, call (760) 415-9143 or visit www.digforgems.com.
Be sure to use the Maritime Museum of San Diego discount coupon for $3 Off Admission.
Walk along downtown San Diego’s waterfront, and you’ll see one of the city’s most treasured attractions — the floating Maritime Museum of San Diego, anchored in the bay. The museum is housed in an iconic collection of ships, with the magnificent Star of India, an 1863 iron bark, as the main draw.
The museum’s collection includes the steam ferryboat Berkeley, a B-39 Soviet submarine, an American research submarine the USS Dolphin, and the HMS Surprise (star of “Master and Commander” and “Pirates of the Caribbean 4.”) Most recently, the museum has added the San Salvador, a newly constructed replica of the first European ship to reach America’s West Coast in 1542.
Visitors not only explore the decks of these world-class vessels, but experience firsthand the thrills of sailing on them too. Enjoy a tall-ship adventure aboard the schooner Californian, a traditionally rigged tall ship. Haul a line, man the helm and end your day with a cannon salute. Or enjoy a 45-minute harbor cruise aboard the Pilot, an assistance craft for commercial ships first launched in 1914. If you’re lucky, the boat will take you right under the flight deck of the awe-inspiring aircraft carrier USS Midway nearby. Also enjoy a narrated Swift Boat tour, describing the PCF 816’s role in the U.S., Malta, Vietnam and more.
Aside from these unforgettable tours, Landlubbers shouldn’t miss the museum’s world-renowned research library for members as well as a retail shop with lots of souvenirs, historic and academic books or memorabilia for sale.
Getting married? Having a party? The venue is available for weddings, anniversaries, corporate events, retirement celebrations and children’s pirate-themed birthdays!
Where it’s watching Independence Day fireworks or listening to eerie haunted ship tales, the Maritime Museum of San Diego offers something for everyone. Don’t miss exploring this exciting and memorable attraction. The venue is open year round from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.sdmaritime.org/.
Savor our September newsletter, filled with Labor Day Weekend events, wine harvest fun, annual festivals, museum exhibits, area dining and much more! https://buff.ly/2PsSdOo
Cruise into August’s warm summer days with cool events! Catch Thoroughbred horse racing, live theater, a fine-arts festival, wine-tasting, and savor summer dishes throughout the month! Check out our August newsletter for more things to do here: https://buff.ly/2GHU9f7
Hop into Easter events, museum exhibits, festivals, water activities,
entertainment, wine tasting, dining and more in our April newsletter!
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