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During your San Diego vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
San Diego Museum of Art
With one of the grandest entrances along El Prado -- the rotunda at the head of dramatic stairs features striking Spanish tile work -- the museum is known in the art world for its outstanding collection of Spanish baroque painting, and possibly the largest collection of Indian paintings outside India. The American collection includes works by Georgia O'Keeffe and Thomas Eakins, and San Diegans like Maurice Braun and Dan Dickey are represented. Over 12,000 pieces are part of the permanent collection, only a small percentage of which is on display at any given time, in favor of varied, often prestigious touring shows. In 2005, Maxfield Parrish -- Master of Make Believe should be a big hit, featuring 70 fanciful works by the early 20th-century artist (the show runs July 16-September 11).Docent tours are scheduled at 1pm daily, and 2pm Friday and Sunday, and at 11am other days. Plan to spend at least an hour here.
Mingei International Museum
This captivating museum (pronounced "min-gay," meaning "art of the people" in Japanese), offers changing exhibitions generally describable as folk art. The rotating exhibits -- usually four at a time -- feature artists from countries across the globe; displays include textiles, costumes, jewelry, toys, pottery, paintings, and sculpture. The permanent collection includes whimsical contemporary sculptures by the late French artist Niki de Saint Phalle, who made San Diego her home in 1993. Martha Longenecker, a potter and professor emeritus of art at San Diego State University, founded the museum in 1977. It is one of only two major museums in the United States devoted to folk crafts on a worldwide scale (the other is in Santa Fe, New Mexico) and well worth a look. Allow half an hour to an hour to view the exhibits. A large new Escondido branch has additional exhibits.
Marston House
Noted San Diego architect Irving Gill designed this craftsman house in 1905 for George Marston, a local businessman and philanthropist. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and now managed by the San Diego Historical Society, the house is a classic example of prairie-style architecture, reminiscent of the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. Some of its interesting features are wide hallways, brick fireplaces, and redwood paneling. Opened to the public in 1991, it is now fully furnished with Roycroft, Stickley, and Limbert pieces, as well as art pottery. Tours take about 45 minutes.
Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown
The hotel designed by business travelers, Courtyard by Marriott surrounds you with all the comforts that make business and pleasure travel easy. Get ready for the day ahead in one of our guest rooms featuring cable television with free HBO premium channel and pay movies, comfortable sitting area, free wired high speed Internet access, hairdryer, in-room coffee and tea service, iron and board, spacious well-lit work desk with ergonomic chair, two dataport telephones with speaker and voicemail ...
Best Western Lamplighter Inn & Suites
'From: Interstate 8. Exit on College Avenue. Go south on College Avenue to Montezuma and turn left. Take Montezuma to El Cajon Boulevard and turn right. The Best Western Lamplighter Inn & Suites will be down the street on the ...
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