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Paradise Point Resort & Spa at Mission Bay, San Diego
By Bonnie Neely
Imagine your wedding trip (or second honeymoon) beginning as you drive your "Just Married" automobile into a thick jungle of palms, palmettos, eucalyptus, frangiopani, poinsettias, and the road is banked by a wall of lush green shrubbery you cannot see through or over. Banana trees signal you are close to the resort check-in and conference center. A large, peaceful, dark, meandering lagoon with varieties of ducks and water fowl perching in the numerous palm fronds to welcome you at the lobby. If you arrive at night finding your way can be a bit daunting. You feel as if you are entering an African village, with a large fire brazier blazing your welcome.
Paradise Point is an absolutely beautiful resort, perfect for your wedding trip or any romantic get-away, just past Sea World in the Mission Bay area of San Diego, off the frantic traffic of Highway 5 and Ingram Road where you enter this other world on Vacation Road. 
Its perimeter is formed by Mission Bay, the 4,500-acre water playground for all kinds of sports. The sandy beach of this peaceful body of water meets the lush, thick grassy lawns of the Bay-view bungalows, which look a bit rustic on the outside and are luxuriously appointed yet comfortable inside, each with its glass wall and private patio, where you can sit in your Adirondack chairs and enjoy the view or rest after your beach walk or run, watching birds, sailboats, kayaks, rowing crews, skiers, and other water craft. And sunsets are breath-taking!
Its perimeter is formed by Mission Bay, the 4,500-acre water playground for all kinds of sports. The sandy beach of this peaceful body of water meets the lush, thick grassy lawns of the Bay-view bungalows, which look a bit rustic on the outside and are luxuriously appointed yet comfortable inside, each with its glass wall and private patio, where you can sit in your Adirondack chairs and enjoy the view or rest after your beach walk or run, watching birds, sailboats, kayaks, rowing crews, skiers, and other water craft. And sunsets are breath-taking!
The perfect place for conferences, weddings, honeymoons, or family fun, the resort is quiet, and everywhere you go brilliant-colored flowers border the rich, verdant greenery of the jungle setting. There are several choices of excellent restaurants, from the Barefoot Bar to the elegant Baleen Restaurant. Or you can dine or have your wedding reception by the huge pool. Within the pool complex you'll find a state-of-the-art fitness center where you can work out until your muscles rebel for just $10 a day, or have the fee waived if you select certain services at the amazing Spa.
At Paradise Point's own SpaTerre you'll find all kinds of beauty and skin treatments, with experts to make you your most beautiful. Treatments by the well-trained massage therapists include nearly every kind of relaxing, rejuvenating experiences you have ever heard of and even more you haven't discovered before. What a gift to give someone you love or to pamper yourself!
This beautiful place is not only for lovers. Families will find so much to enjoy here also. Kids will love the Paradise Point: feeding the ducks, looking for shells along the Bay, fishing in the lagoon, swimming, biking, and much more. And the entire family must climb the 81 steps (with rest stops after about every 6) of the Observation Tower by the lagoon. Don't forget your camera because you'll get really great views of the entire area of San Diego, Mission Bay, the Pacific, and even the mountains, not to mention the beautiful overall view of your perfect jungle resort. And this is a great place for pros or amateurs to get those awe-inspiring sunset or sunrise shots.
The resort is expensive in peak seasons but often has special rates and is more affordable in off-seasons. If only you could afford to honeymoon forever, you'd never want to leave this Paradise Point!
Be sure to venture out for a day and evening at Old Town, the first European settlement in California, built at the mouth of the San Diego River, now near San Diego International Airport. Old Town is a California State Park with a par three golf course, historical homes and church and cemetery, and a small museum explaining the history. At Bazaar Del Mundo you'll find many wonderful and unique shops. Consider taking the trolley because parking is difficult and expensive. For more information call 619-220-5422.
The Bazaar features many restaurants and eateries and a festival atmosphere in the evenings, for young and old. We chose to dine at Casa de Bandini, this beautiful hacienda built in 1829 by Juan Bandini who was given the land grant by Mexico, since this area was part of Mexico then. The rich history of La Casa includes the u-shaped design to defend from Digueno Indians and also provide a grand ballroom, where dignitaries danced the waltz for the first time in California. In 1846 during the Mexican War part of the home was used as American military headquarters.
This historical property as survived many changes including being a ranch until the great drought of 1860, sold to a Frenchman who turned it into Old Mission Olive Company's pickling factory, 1862 floods washing away the outbuildings and corrals, and after the Civil War was purchased by the owner of the postal service and stagecoach line of the area, Albert Seeley, who added a second story and opened the cosmopolitan Hotel in 1870.
In 1928 it was purchased by Bandini's grandson Cave Couts, Jr, who leased it as a hotel and restaurant Miramar Hotel. In 1945 the old building received a face lift from the famous architect Richard Requa, who created what you visit today. It was operated as a motel for awhile until the State of California purchased it and declared it a State Historic Site.
The food and service and atmosphere at Casa De Bandini are excellent and authentic. Waitresses in Mexican costumes serve the most wonderful Mexican dishes, freshly prepared and enormous portions, and the bar is also superb. You'll have a difficult time making your selections from the very large menu. This restaurant is a must when you are at Old Town, but be prepared to wait if you arrive at popular mealtimes. Call 619-297-8211 for more information.
Nearby you'll also enjoy excursions to SeaWolrd Adventure Park, San Diego Zoo, museums of Balboa Park, Birch Aquarium at Scripps, Legoland California, and the San Diego Wild Animal Park.
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