Ramona golf club originally intended for Hollywood stars.

Originally built by a famous director more than 30 years ago, San Vicente Inn and Golf Course has an interesting history. It was intended to be an exclusive remote getaway for the director's Hollywood friends and associates, so guests visited the resort because it was isolated and they were able to relax and experience the beauty and serenity that San Vicente offers, while enjoying the privacy they desired.

Years later, the Inn and Golf Course were purchased by the developers of San Diego Country Estates as a beautiful addition and amenity to the spacious housing development.

Today, the San Vicente Inn and Golf Course is open to the public and now all can enjoy the beauty and serenity once available to only a select few. The golf course is a par 72, 18-hole championship course with mature landscaping, a variety of water features and panoramic views of the hills.

Guests of the San Vicente Inn and Golf Club may visit its Par Lounge, its restaurant or, for a longer visit, may stay in its lodge. All three offer beautiful views of the course. An Olympic-sized swimming pool, Jacuzzi and tennis courts are also available for guests' enjoyment. Golf packages are available and live entertainment is offered on the weekends.

Bonnie Beach is the lodge manager at San Vicente Inn and Golf Course. For more information, please call [phone].

SAN DIEGO continued from page A-19

ing from the San Diego River--today is an outdoor paradise where visitors can mix with locals on 44 miles of waterfront park trails for biking, jogging, boating, picnicking or enjoying the beaches.

It's the home of Sea World, which this summer debuted a new sea lion and otter show and brought back its Cirque de la Mar--an air, land and water acrobatic show. Both vacationers and groups also can swim with the dolphins in the Dolphin Encounter.

"It was a highlight for meeting attendees," said Bret Jarvis, partner of International Site Alliance in Laguna Beach, which plans three or more meetings in San Diego each year.

Dana Mission Bay hotel is the closest to Sea World, but the Hilton San Diego and San Diego Marriott Marina are just a few minutes away.

All are just 10 minutes from the airport.

Two sternwheelers ply the bay between the Bahia Resort and the Catamaran Resort Hotel; The Bahia and Catamaran--right on the water--share the boats, which can host receptions, dinners or seminars.

As part of the redevelopment of Mission Bay's Belmont Park area, the new Wave House adds a surf park to the shore (its other site is in South Africa) where you can watch surfers challenge the Bruticus Maxiumus wave machine from a cabana style outdoor lounge or try your own hand with the waves. Wave House offers a private beach with open-air barbecues, fire rings, boardwalks, hammock lounge and music stage that's a built-in party setting for groups.

DOWNTOWN

Downtown San Diego has been the talk of the visitor industry since the mid '90s and it's still evolving. Its waterfront Convention Center evokes images of sailing--available right outside the adjoining Marriott Hotel. Just a block away, next to Seaport Village and park, is the Manchester Grand Hyatt, whose rooftop pool deck provides stunning views of the harbor, Coronado Bay Bridge and downtown.

A block in the other direction is the newer Omni Hotel--the only hotel in the country that's linked to a baseball park--Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres.

The ballpark was the catalyst for additional development in downtown.

While the Gaslamp District still is thriving with restaurants of every ethnicity and clubs like the Bitter End. Croce's and the Martini Ranch bringing in the nighttime crowd, now it's the East Village that is getting the attention.

On the fringe of East Village, the Marriott Gaslamp and Hotel Solamar debuted this year and more hotels and downtown residences are going up fast.

Along Broadway, a Hard Rock Card is slated to open next year and the venerable U.S. Grant Hotel--currently closed for remodeling--will reopen this fall. Another entertainment venue, On Broadway in a former bank building is a unique setting for banquets and parties.

"The Gaslamp Quarter is one of the hottest spots in the U.S.," Rauch said.

Street improvements are part of the mix, and though that may create a bit of a backup heading up 10th Street toward Balboa Park (one of the largest urban parks in the nation), that eventually will become a pedestrian-friendly link between downtown and Balboa Park.

The San Diego hotel market has been hot in recent years, posting first quarter occupancy of 73%, and rates have headed up, as they have in other urban areas. But there are properties available for almost any budget. South of downtown, average rates run about $65 a night, while in La Jolla you can expect to pay an average of $200 a night. For a more leisurely pace, stay across the Bay on Coronado Island at Hotel Del Coronado--the queen of San Diego hotels--the Marriott Resort or Loews Coronado Bay. A ferry runs between the island and downtown--as do some land/amphibious tours.

Balboa Park itself could occupy museum lovers for a week or more, with its Natural History Museum, Ruben H. Fleet Science Center, Air and Space Museum and--of course--the San Diego Zoo.

But before you leave, take a little time to explore inland San Diego for a taste of Southern California in earlier times.

From downtown, you can go east on the 1-8 Freeway and then north on State Route 79 toward the mountain town of Julian and then State Route 78 to the Anza Borrego Desert and Borrego Springs. Julian--the apple capital of Southern California--has gold mines, wineries and even a wolf rescue center as well as unique shopping along Main Street.

Or, explore semi-rural areas via a network of smaller highways to reach golf Meccas like Morgan Run Resort & Club, Sycuan Singing Hills or Pala Mesa Resort or Indian gaming resorts like Harrah's. Barona Valley Ranch or Pala Casino. Once just dark bingo parlors, today many have turned into full-scale resorts, often with complete meeting facilities that give planners the option for a touch of Las Vegas without the crowds.

If it's spring, you're in for a real treat during wildflower season in the Anza Borrego Desert--the largest state park in the country at 600,000 acres. Outside Borrego Springs is La Casa Del Zorro Resort & Spa, a desert oasis. Meeting groups like the self-contained resort setting with tennis, several pools and golf adjacent. Leisure visitors also come for the food, the wine, the golf--or just pure relaxation.

When you're ready, go east on County Highway 22 and then north on State Route 86 toward Palm Springs.