Is Beyond King Tut worth it?

Is Beyond King Tut worth it?

Beyond King Tut is an immersive, art exhibit that dives into the life of the famous kid pharaoh of ancient Egypt, King Tut. The exhibit is hosted by National Geographic and allows guest to step into a world of wonder. They currently have locations in Los Angeles, San Diego, and coming soon to Atlanta. But is it worth it?

Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience

I had the opportunity of going to the preview night of Beyond King Tut’s newest location in San Diego. The exhibit is being held at the Wyland Center at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The address is 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd Wyland Center at Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, CA 92014. The exhibit will only be around until March 26th!

I went in with little knowledge of what to expect. Like many, I have seen short videos and ads of other immersive exhibits. It was all the same type of video – a big room with projections on the walls from floor to ceiling. Don’t get me wrong – they are beautiful videos. But is that enough to get me to pay to see that? As such, I figured Beyond King Tut was going to be this one giant room with projections on the wall and that was it.

I was very wrong.

The first part of the exhibit starts with an introduction video that then opens up into a winding hallway. Throughout this hallway are snippets throughout history that led to the discovery of King Tut’s tomb. You can walk through the exhibit at your leisure as it is a self-guided experience. Going from one room to the next, you dive deeper into King Tut’s life and the impact he had on his people that made him so incredibly popular. And just when you think you’ll end up at the big projection room, it keeps going!

I won’t give too much away because I want this to be spoiler free. If you want a more in-depth look at the exhibit, then scroll down to watch my video! All I will say is that there are about four sections of the exhibit before you even get to the projection room.

Review of Beyond King Tut

It’s safe to say that I absolutely recommend this exhibit. It’ great for all ages and a unique date night idea! But this is just my opinion. I really enjoyed it because I am truly fascinated by ancient Egypt. I also really liked the depth of the exhibit. There was a lot to see and learn, and the visuals were captivating. And each room had a new thing to keep your attention craving the next cool thing to come.

I recommend purchasing the general admission ticket as opposed to the VIP ticket. Having experienced this exhibit at the VIP level, I can honestly tell you that unless you really want to do a 7-minute virtual reality video and get a small gift at the end of the experience, it’s just not worth it to pay an additional $30. Stick with general admission – you won’t be disappointed!

Be on the lookout because Beyond King Tut is popping up in more locations! Act quickly because these pop up locations do not last long.

Inside look of Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Exhibit in San Diego

Read more about things to do in San Diego.


Fall Festivities at Belmont Park

Mission Beach comes alive for Halloween with the Fall Fest at Belmont Park. All the rides and activities that you love from this iconic San Diego landmark, now ready for a frightfully ghoulish time!

Belmont Park’s Fall Fest Details

This event takes place from September 9th through October 31st. Here are some more of the details regarding fall fest specifically:

  • FREE Trick-or-Treating every Sunday in October
  • Mr Jack O Lantern’s Pumpkin Patch
  • live acoustic performances and festive beer garden Friday nights
  • specialty treats from your favorite stops
  • go karting
  • multiple photo opportunities for fun, seasonal pictures
  • iconic rides and attractions and MORE!
Ice cream with chocolate dipped waffle cone with Halloween colored sprinkles

Although you are welcome to walk around the park for free, if you want to be a part of the action a little more, then you will need to purchase a pass. Although, you can pay individually for the rides, activities, or attractions that you want to do. However with the Ride and Play pass being $60 per person, this is an EXTREMELY fair price! It is a great deal that allows you to do pretty much everything.

Personal Experience

When my husband and I went, we had the Ride and Play Combo pass which included all rides and activities. This included all day turns on the rock wall, LazerMaze, Sky Ropes, mini golf, the roller coaster and rides, and two turns on the zipline. To name a few! We arrived at around 4:45 pm and the park closed at 8pm. We didn’t do everything we could have done with the pass, but we sure did a lot! You will definitely need a decent amount of time if you want to do it all at Belmont Park.

I highly recommend attending the Fall Fest at Belmont Park if you want to mix up your date night activities or do something fun with your kiddos. There are so many things to do. Not to mention you are right next to the beach and those sunset views cannot be beat.

Stay up to date on more things happening in San Diego on Donna Gail Blog.



Things to do in San Diego in the Summer

Four Awesome Things to Do in San Diego – Summer 2021

Summer is in full swing and it’s time to make up for everything we missed by staying at home last year! One of the hottest (quite literally) places to visit on your summer vacation is my hometown of San Diego. Now even though I have lived here my entire life, I am only just realizing how amazing it is here. Why didn’t anyone tell me??

So the great thing about this blog is that it’s not only a resource for you to find something fun to do on your vacation or staycation, but it’s also a way for me to tell you about all the great things I have done for the first time too!

1. EcoBoat Rentals

Want to get great views of the San Diego bay and get a great leg workout in at the same time? This is your activity! My fiancé and I had a great time paddling about, looking at some animals, and just enjoying being out on the water. One hour out on the water is $45, but you can always pay to be out there longer! They will give you a short introduction on how the boats operate. And inside the boat also has pictures of the bay animals that you can identify. The boats can fit up to 3 people so this will be a great activity for you and a couple of friends. Just make sure you don’t do leg day at the gym the day of or the day before..

Out on the water with EcoBoat Rentals in San Diego
A water activity in San Diego with EcoBoat Rentals

2. Rooftop Cinema Club

My friend and I saw Raya and the Last Dragon for the first time at Rooftop Cinema Club. Simply put, it was incredible. Such a unique way to see a new movie. With amazing views of the city and a nice area to enjoy the summer night, it was just a fantastic girl’s night out. And don’t worry, they give you sanitized headphones so that you can hear the movie without the sounds of the city interrupting.

Tickets range from $13.50 to $25 a person depending on age and the screening purchased. Moviegoers will receive a 30% off room discount with Grand Hyatt San Diego following a night with Rooftop Cinema too! You can get $11 validated self-parking with Hyatt. You can also park at Seaport Village and take that short walk to the hotel, but it will be more expensive. Their schedule is posted for viewing online here, and for the first showing you can get there an hour before the movie starts, and for the second viewing of the night (if there is one) you can go in 30 minutes beforehand.

For a full look into RCC, check out my blog: A Night Out with Rooftop Cinema Club San Diego. Locations include San Diego, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, New York, Tampa, and London.

A photo opportunity at Rooftop Cinema Club San Diego
Food and beverages from Rooftop Cinema Club San Diego

3. Pool Day at Sycuan

If you have been following along for a while now, then you know that I love finding deals. One of the biggest ways that I have found to save a good chunk is with the myVEGAS apps. Before, they were just rewards for Vegas (and you can read more about what those rewards are HERE), but they recently added rewards for me to use in my hometown of San Diego at a local casino – Sycuan!

We were able to not only get a Premier Suite FOR FREE with these rewards, but also a $250 credit for one of their pool cabanas. We definitely needed a day to enjoy the summer weather and have fun, and this pool and lazy river did not disappoint. If you do get a cabana, just be aware that you have to spend $300 while at the cabana and it can have up to six people there. The only reason we got the cabana was because we had that credit! But this pool was amazing regardless of the cabana – that was just a nice little bonus for the staycation..

On a rainbow floatie in the Sycuan pool
The food selection in the Sycuan pool cabana

4. Pink Rose Café

One of the newest cafes that have opened in the San Diego County is Pink Rose Café! I was lucky enough to be invited to a mixer event that they were holding to celebrating their opening, and I was in complete awe of this place.

The name definitely suits it with the insane aesthetic that this café holds! But it is a café after all so what about the food ad drinks? They were amazing! I tried their White Chocolate Latte and my friend tried their signature Rose Latte and honestly I wish I got the Rose Latte – it was so good! We were also able to sample a cake pop and a cinnamon bun and oh wow were they both delicious! My favorite was the cake pop for sure. Such a unique place and I highly recommend taking time out of any trip to San Diego to see this place for yourself.

Enjoying Pink Rose Cafe aesthetic in San Diego
Some Pink Rose Cafe beverages
Food and beverages from Pink Rose Cafe

There is so much to see in San Diego and I am so shocked that I am only just now getting out there and exploring it all. Stay tuned for more of these guides. I will continue this journey of learning more about the cool things in my home town!


A Night Out with Rooftop Cinema Club San Diego

Recently Rooftop Cinema Club invited me for a night out at their San Diego rooftop location at the Manchester Grand Hyatt to watch Raya and the Last Dragon. To sum up the evening in one word, it was PHENOMENAL. But before we get too far in to this blog, I do want to note that this experience isn’t just for San Diegans – Rooftop Cinema Club has locations all over including Los Angeles, Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, New York, Tampa, and London!

San Diego Rooftop Cinema Club at Manchester Grand Hyatt

With the San Diego location being in the heart of Downtown San Diego, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for a girl’s night out with my friend, Saralyn. Not to mention with it being our first time seeing Raya and the Last Dragon, we also decided to dress for the occasion! A Disney Bound was an absolute must. How did we do?

Raya and Sisu Disney Bound
Rooftop Cinema Club in San Diego at sunset
Rooftop Cinema Club in San Diego cute photo opportunity area

We parked in the Self-Parking for Grand Hyatt and, with RCC validation, was only $11! So much cheaper than trying to park in Seaport Village and walking over.

Everything You Need to Know for Your Visit

Rooftop Cinema Club (RCC) opened their doors an hour before this screening, so in that hour we were able to take part in their “Social Cinema”. They had some games to play like large stacked Jenga, ping pong, and cornhole. We soaked in the views of San Diego, took some cute pictures with the views and their nice photo op they had! Pre-COVID, they normally provide pillows and blankets, but since they are still in their transitional period into being back in full swing, they didn’t have them this time. But they encourage viewers to bring their own!

Tickets are sold exclusively online. Ticket prices vary by seating, guest age as well, and what day you are looking to watch your movie. Booking fees apply. All information above is provided by RCC and may only be the ticket prices for San Diego moviegoers! Be sure to check online to see the location prices for the viewing you want to go to!

Rooftop Cinema Club San Diego food options
Rooftop Cinema Club social hour
Rooftop Cinema Club offers games to play before your movie starts

Rooftop Cinema Club Schedule

Based on the day, RCC shows one or two movies a night and they have themed nights as well for kiddos, teens, and adults! For the first screening (if applicable to the day), you can enter in an hour before, and for the second viewing, you can enter in thirty minutes before. They have all of their upcoming shows on their website which is updated frequently for each month. Keep in mind, they sell out pretty far in advance so if you see a show that you want to see, act quickly so you can have a night out in this amazing place too. I am especially excited for their Christmas in July themed nights when Elf will be playing! It’s my favorite Christmas movie!

Bridesmaid Proposal with Saralyn

What is Provided for a Great Movie Experience

All seats are provided with a sanitized pair of headphones so that you can hear everything in the movie and block out any possible distractions or other conversations going on. And if you need any help at all, the staff there is so friendly and happy to help.

Before we went to our Love Seat, we grabbed our snacks and some drinks. RCC is completely cashless so make sure you bring a debit or credit card. I thought this event would be the perfect place to do a bridesmaid proposal to Saralyn. The staff was able to write “Will you be my bridesmaid?” on her popcorn and oh my gosh it was adorable! She was so happy that she almost forgot to answer the question. But after all of that, we grabbed our seats and we got the perfect view! We had people in front of us but they did not block our view at all.

Once we took our seats, all there was really left to do was enjoy the show. It was so amazing being able to watch a new movie somewhere other than my couch. I can’t even remember the last movie I saw in a theater but this experience was so magical and the perfect reintroduction to watching new movies at a movie theater again. And why wouldn’t I want a great view to go with my movie and popcorn?

An Exclusive Discount!

Lastly, and this is HUGE, The Manchester Grand Hyatt is offering a 30% room discount for guests who would like to stay at the hotel following a night at Rooftop Cinema Club Embarcadero. The discount code is available on the cinema email ticket confirmations for online bookings. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. This is an INSANE deal because this hotel is absolutely STUNNING.

Check out my 2 minute YouTube video of this amazing place and views of the hotel as well to get the full scoop on everything there was to see and just the general atmosphere of it all. Be sure to check out Rooftop Cinema Club and find a screening that you will love too!


Taking beautifully bright picture of the spring spots in Carlsbad San Diego

Things to Do in Spring in Carlsbad, San Diego County

Let’s craft your perfect Spring day here in San Diego shall we? {Also don’t worry, these are not San Diego specific things – so use this as inspiration for things to do in your own hometown too!}

Go to Brunch @ The Shorehouse Kitchen

I have lived in San Diego my entire life, and it wasn’t until about a month ago that I learned… Carlsbad is kind of cool! It’s got some small town, beach vibes and there is beautiful architecture everywhere you turn. My friends, Ashley, and I visited the Shorehouse Kitchen as our first stop on our spring day adventures. It featured a great menu selection, multiple options for coffee and mimosas (so of course I got both), and great areas just outside of the restaurant for impromptu pictures! I would definitely go back here for breakfast because they had some of the best Eggs Benedict that I have ever had!

Go Pick Flowers @ The Flower Fields

It’s every spring fairy’s dream to dance around the flowers so our next stop was the Flower Fields! Many areas for photos and the flowers there were unbelievable! They offered multiple stops more “in” the fields where you could get pictures, but just be mindful that there are lines to wait in to get pictures. For every line we waited in, it was about a 20-30 minute wait. You can only spend 10 minutes max in each spot but some people were not following that rule. So just be mindful of your time and make sure that when it’s your turn that you already know what you want to do! These spots are amongst different colored flowers so if there is only a certain color you want pictures with, then you only have to wait in the line for the flowers you want! Entry is $20 a person.

Go Pick Strawberries @ Carlsbad Strawberry Company

Just a short five minute drive from the Flower Fields was our last stop of the day! And after having so much fun amongst the flowers, I needed a little snack – the Carlsbad Strawberry Company! This place offers you the opportunity to go out into the strawberry fields to pick your own strawberries (or just eat them like I was). You will have to pay for your entry as well as any little bucket you buy to pick the berries. They also had a free sunflower maze which we didn’t have time to do but I would recommend getting there with enough time to do it!

Overall, bring your camera for all the cute pictures or just enjoy all the sites and the smells of spring!