It sure seems that, regardless of where in the world they are from, visitors to San Diego usually want to see our zoo. And there are many, many people like me who have lived here for years and have gotten a little bored schlepping out-of-towners to the same attractions over and over again. Which is why I am so excited to have discovered the zoo’s “special experiences.”

This past Mother’s Day weekend I enjoyed an inside look tour called Bugs & Blooms, which was part of the zoo’s annual Garden Festival. The two hour tour took us behind the scenes with insect and horticulture experts in their “habitats.”

Wow! I absolutely loved interacting with the friendly, fun and knowledgeable zoo staff who are really passionate about what they do. I learned so many new tidbits and saw things I had never seen in 12 years of visiting. The $69 tour gave me a completely new understanding of why many have called our zoo world famous, and it got me thinking about the other special experiences my family might enjoy. I can see Nana & Pa taking a sunrise surprise stroll. I’ve heard great things about the kindernights program. And for those looking for a summer camp experience, there are several opportunities for children of various ages.

The experience I would most like to check out though is a sleepover at the zoo. In a tent. With wild animals nearby…

SPOOKY SLEEPOVER 2012
Get into the “spirit” of the season during Spooky Sleepover at the Zoo, and meet animals that wear their colorful costumes all year-round. Your ghostly camp director, Dr. Zoolittle, and his ghoulish experts will greet you at check-in with a slithery animal friend. Make your own personalized treat bag to collect goodies throughout the evening, and take an exclusive bus tour that will introduce you to some scary and strange animals before delivering you to “haunted” Camp Timbuktu, where you and your child can settle down in your tent.

You’ll wake up to a delicious buffet breakfast overlooking Elephant Odyssey before heading there to watch keepers offer pumpkins to the elephants and lions for a treat or plaything. Then you’ll head home with a souvenir gift and lots of happy memories.

While each of these experiences requires investments above and beyond your admission ticket or membership pass, the money raised goes for a great cause, the zoo’s Global Wildlife Conservancy. If you have a budding conservationists or children who are really curious about wildlife and plants, this is their opportunity to experience a true outdoor classroom with experts at hand. In each special experience you’ll get just that, a special opportunity to learn from the zoo staff, meet and touch the animals and see parts of the zoo that you’ve never seen in a regular visit.

For more information visit www.sandiegozoo.org.

More and more I find myself wanting experiences instead of gifts for any occasion. Mallory and I had a beautiful day together recently when we attended a glass garden workshop at The Living Studio in Del Mar. Combining our love of gardening and art, Mallory aptly labeled the terrariums that were the fruits of our labor, “gart.”

Terrariums are containers in which small plants are grown. We used glass globes and layers of colored sand in ours.

The nice owners of The Living Studio helped us first-timers pick out just the right size and combinations of plants.

They had 15 different colors of sand to choose from, a variety of colored moss, stones and other embellishments to enhance our gardens.

If you’re looking for a fun mom’s day out or mommy & me class, consider an afternoon of “gart.” The Living Studio offers workshops for adults and children, AND you’ll leave with something beautiful to display in your home.

In addition to their weekly art workshops, The Living Studio offers a wide selection of hand-blown glass gardens, artisan jewelry, home decor crafted from sustainable materials, original art, and unique gifts. Visit them in Del Mar at 1011 Camino Del Mar, Suite 100 or at www.thelivingstudio.net.

If you live near Pacific Beach, you are probably familiar with the annual summer luau party that the Catamaran Resort hosts. You don’t have to be in Hawaii to feel like you’re on vacation. The Catamaran luaus are pretty authentic and are definitely a great way to spend a San Diego evening.

From the moment you step foot onto the grassy lawn that overlooks Mission Bay, you’ll be serenaded with tropical music, greeted with colorful leis and handed your soothing cocktail. After the ceremonial entrance of the pig, a fabulous buffet of fresh salads and fruits, Kalua pig, pork loin, miso glazed salmon, guava chicken and assorted rice and vegetable dishes awaits you.

While you feast, you’ll enjoy the sounds of the South Pacific and authentic dances and stories of the islands. As the sun goes down, the fire dancing begins, delighting all ages.

The Catamaran Resort Summer Luaus start in late June and run through August. There are generous discounts for military, and their children are invited to attend free. But readers of The Mom’s Guide to San Diego have the chance to win a pair of tickets to the Tuesday evening luau of their choice. (an $116 value!)

To enter to win, simply reply here with how you are planning to spend Mother’s Day. This prize will be awarded to one reader this Sunday!

The Westgate is a grand hotel located in downtown San Diego near the Civic Center. I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon there recently when my daughter and I attended the Fancy Nancy Tea Party. I had always heard wonderful things about the hotel’s traditional tea service, which made selecting The Westgate as the location for our Fancy Nancy Tea Adventure, a no-brainer.

If you are looking for something extra-special to do with your little one or are searching for a different mom’s day out opportunity, you’re in luck. The Westgate offers its traditional tea service every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 2:30 until 5:00 p.m. Playing in the background is gentle harp music, and on the menu is a selection of fine teas, savory breads and sandwiches, sweet berries and scones and a selection of delightful desserts.

The Westgate has generously donated an afternoon tea for two with tax and gratuity included, which one lucky reader will win. If I could win this prize, I’d research the upcoming performances at the San Diego Civic and Balboa Theaters and coordinate my special tea around a theatrical production to make it a full day of fun. (Peter Pan, featuring Cathie Rigby, is coming in November and we always enjoy The Nutcracker in the winter!)

To be entered to win this tea-for-two prize, reply here with who you’d bring, what occasion you would celebrate or what fun downtown happening you’d squeeze in before or after tea. One winner will be selected this week!

San Diego Junior Theater performances are wonderful, so even though we were not planning to attend the current production of Disney’s Peter Pan, I wanted to let subscribers know about it. When I received this message back from a mom, I decided to make time for this play…

“I wanted to say thank you for your email of events a few weeks ago which included the Peter Pan play in Balboa Park. We went last weekend and it was a fun family outing! I wouldn’t have known about it otherwise. Thanks so much!”

So tonight we were there in beautiful Balboa Park in a packed theater watching the live performance of a show we’ve seen so many times in cartoon form, and it was definitely a “fun family outing” as the mom’s guide reader had exclaimed. The young actors were very talented, the set was fun, and the music was lovely.

More than the actual performances, I love watching my kids watch other kids performing. Neither of them has expressed any interest in being on stage, but they are mesmerized by those young actors. Gage, who normally wants nothing to do with photos would not leave without meeting Peter Pan. When I asked him if he wanted to take lessons or attend the Junior Theater camp this summer so that one day he could play Peter Pan, he gave me his biggest signature smile.

There are five performances of Peter Pan left, and tickets start at $8. If you go and like it, be sure to spread the word…

If you’re in the North County, why not make it an extra special night out with a visit to Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas? At Cinepolis theaters in Del Mar and La Costa, you can meet up with your friends in the cinema bar before the show starts and enjoy cocktails ranging from bottled beer to Dom Perignon.

Running late? Don’t worry, you can still enjoy that drink with your friends inside the theater from the comfort of your oversized leather recliner.

With the touch of a button on the arm of your recliner, you can order cocktails, gourmet coffees, traditional movie snacks as well as an extensive array of tasty entrees from the Cinepolis menu. It all looked wonderful during my recent visit…artisan cheese and meat plates, teriyaki skewers, grilled sliders and made-to-order sushi rolls. Desserts include cheesecake, lava cake and chocolate fondu, so show up hungry!

At Cinepolis, you’ll pay about $8 per ticket more than at a traditional theater, and in return you’ll get no sticky floors, no crying kids (in the 21 and older theaters, of course), no disgusting bathrooms and a fun variety of food and beverages that makes Cinepolis a great date night or mom’s night out destination.

Want to try Cinepolis for free? Tell us what you think about luxury theaters here to be entered to win a pair of tickets to the Cinepolis movie of your choice. One reader will be randomly selected to win just in time for Mother’s Day!

I’m excited about this weekend’s Just Between Friends consignment event because it’s forcing me to do the spring cleaning that I should have done before the new Christmas toys arrived. I’ll be getting rid of some treasures that we no longer need, but I have to admit it’s hard to let some of them go.

Like our Potty Power DVD. No, it didn’t really help speed up the potty training of either of my children, but it did provide hours of entertainment to them. Potty Power represents a time in mommyhood where toilet training was just about the most important thing going on in our home. Like so many moms, I worried, I was frustrated, and I tried just about every trick in the book including DVDs of little princesses learning to sit on the “royal throne.” Now those days are (thankfully) long behind us, but the video is kind of a bittersweet reminder that I don’t have toddlers anymore.

Ditto with our Max & Ruby video, book and doll collection. Boo Hoo. After years of reading these stories nearly nightly, my big kids now think that Max & Ruby are quite boring. But I feel I owe those sweet little bunnies so much. I seriously believe that Ruby helped teach Mallory how to be a good big sister to Max. (I mean Gage.) I hate to see them go, but they will be loved just as much by some other family I’m sure. (and for up to 90% of what I paid!)

The Just Between Friends sale is this weekend, May 4-5 in San Diego’s East County. It’s not too late to consign and it’s just the right time to think about buying. For more information visit http://sandiego.jbfsale.com.

What: Just Between Friends Consignment Event
When: May 4 & 5
Where: Faith Chapel, 9400 Campo Road, Spring Valley (just off Hwy 94)

I feel completely incapable of replicating that sparkling clean result that they always leave behind, and I know my attempt at a whole house cleaning would last much longer than 2 1/2 hours. It’s a wonderful gift each month to have them here in my home.

So since the Lime Maids are definitely one of my favorite things, and since some of you specifically said that the gift of house cleaning would make your Mother’s Day just that much more special, I’m happy to let you know that one reader will receive a free house cleaning, compliments of the Lime Maids.

Entering is easy…just tell us here how long you’ve been celebrating Mother’s Day, and you’ll automatically be entered to win a free cleaning! Winner will be selected next week.

Good luck & happy Mother’s Day to you!

When: Thursday, May 10, 2012, 7-9pm

Where: Bliss 101, 687 South Coast Hwy. 101, #151. Encinitas, CA 92024

Parking: Free underground parking by Whole Foods. Free street parking also available.

Cost: $20 pre-sale online, now through midnight on Wednesday, May 9 or $25 at the door

Ticket includes: