San Diego

Before children, couples often plan vacations around sunbathing, frozen cocktails and an exciting nightlife. A step in that same direction, families looking to take a trip full of activity and pleasure for everyone can book an adventure to San Diego. Keeping parents and their wee ones in mind, the city offers fun in the sun for everyone.

Perched along the Pacific coast, visitors can soak up rays on the beach in near perfect weather. Check out all the brilliant places it has to offer.

• When everyone tires of the surf, take the fam to the San Diego Zoo. Famous for the animals alone, the surroundings and shows make it worth visiting.
• Leave the sand behind and head to Sea World to watch Shamu jump through the air and the penguins waddle around the ice.

To see the rest of my favorite family attractions, read more

During and after a disaster such as the Southern California wildfires, it's common to hear pleas for donations and want to help out. As of this time, the creatures at the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park are doing fine, but organizations like the Humane Society are still helping to rescue, shelter, and provide for the needs of displaced pets and larger animals like horses and llamas. If you're inspired to give to a cause (animal-related or not), here's some food for thought to protect your good intentions from someone else's bad ones.

• Pick your passion. Chances are if you're thinking of donating, you already have an organization or a cause in mind. If you're still looking, it helps to search nationally soliciting charitable organizations (and determine their legitimacy) at the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, a merger of the National Charities Information Bureau and the Council of Better Business Bureaus' Foundation.
• Do your homework. If it smells fishy, it probably is. Be careful to avoid charitable scams. Many times, especially when disaster strikes, bogus organizations pop up often with similar or "legit" sounding names. In this situation, give to familiar charities that have a history of working in disaster relief. Always protect your information – don't give card numbers over the phone to solicitors or on the spot cash donations, and keep a record of your transactions. Remember all donations are valuable even offering up your time!

Firstly, a million thanks are in order for reader Phasekitty whose blog coverage of Comic-Con this weekend is incredibly thorough, detailed and spectacular for those of us dying for the dirt but unable to be there. She is kindly letting us post her reports on Buzz, so thank you, Phasekitty!

Now, for the juicy bits Phasekitty learned from Carleton Cuse and Damon Lindelof about the next season of "Lost"!

• Phasekitty writes, "We will get more of Libby's story this year. Lindelof said that we would be very happy with it and indicated that she might have been involved with Dharma." Yes! They must have heard all of your comments on Buzz saying how much you need to find out more about Libby's story!

So much more great stuff, so read more

Get your friends together for Self Magazine's Workout in The Park!

What: A full day of great workouts from Crunch Fitness, tips and FREE product samples.

When and Where:

• April 28, 2007 - Balboa Park, San Diego (11am-3pm)
• May 5, 2007 - Lincoln Park, Chicago (11am-3pm)
• May 12, 2007 - Central Park, New York (11am-3pm)
• May 19, 2007 - Lummus Park, Miami (2pm-6pm)

How: Tickets are available online for $20 starting March 15th, or you can get them at the door for $25.

Why: This is a great reason to spend the day in the park! Your ticket includes a one year subscription to Self and (yup, there's more) proceeds go to cancerandcareers.org, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Fertile Hope.

Get ready for the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon on June 3, 2007. This marathon is renowned for the more than 40 bands that play live music along the 26.2 mile tour of beautiful San Diego, California.

If you register online between now and April 20, it costs $90. Register between April 21 and May 25, it's $100. Or you can sign up right before the big day for $120.

The marathon weekend also includes a 2 day Health & Fitness Expo where you'll find the latest in gear, services, and apparel.

Get those sneaks warmed up because if you've ever thought about running a marathon, this one was voted "Best Race" and "Best Post-Race Party" by Competitor Magazine. It's fun because it combines running with entertainment - you can't go wrong.