California Vacation and Travel Information

Disney hopes 'magic' will loosen pocketbooks

2009-02-20T12:25:00.001-05:00

You know times are tight when the “Happiest Place on Earth” is making a visit easier on the pocketbook.

Discount deals abound for Universal Studios and Sea World, but Disneyland bargains haven't been quite as accessible — until now. The parks (Disneyland and California Adventure) are offering some incentives to make your visit more affordable. Maybe one of these offers will put more “magic” into your year.

Free admission on your birthday: Just register your 2009 birthday online (http://www.disneyland.com/) a few weeks ahead of your big day. Disney will confirm by e-mail. Then, take your confirmation and an ID to the ticket booths at the park to claim your free entry. This will only let you into one of the parks, Disneyland or California Adventure, but you can pay the difference to upgrade to both.

Disney Parks Celebrate US Military With Free, Multi-day Admission ...

2009-02-16T12:02:00.001-05:00

As Disney Parks ask “What Will You Celebrate?” and invite guests to turn their personal milestones into magical family vacations in 2009, America’s military personnel will have one more reason to celebrate: Free multi-day admission to Disney’s U.S. theme parks.

With the “Disney’s Armed Forces Salute” offer, active and retired U.S. military personnel,including active and retired members of the United States Coast Guard and activated members of the National Guard or Reservists, can enjoy complimentary, multi-day admission into Disney’s U.S. theme parks, great rates at select Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort hotels, and additional special ticket offers for family members and friends.

Visiting California? Check Out Gorp.com Before You Leave

2009-02-13T09:27:00.001-05:00

Gorp.com, the extensive online resource that specializes in travel information for national parks, outdoor activities and adventure travel gear, also happens to have a great destination guide on California.>>What's hot: You don't have to know what type of Polartec fabric is appropriate for which season to find something that appeals to you in the many sections of the California destination guide. In the "Road Trip Guides," even the laziest adventurer can find options, and there are many more ideas for your next California vacation.

"The Best of California" on the main page suggests coastal trails, day hikes and Sierra escapes, and the regional links beneath the map lead you to plenty of gems, such as five oceanfront campsites in Southern California ("An Ocean at Your Doorstep") and white-water rafting on the American River. Every page of the site has another set of activities to check out. There's far more than a year's worth of weekend getaways and much more to keep you daydreaming.

Roundup: Southern California resorts get snow. Best Western sale ...

2009-02-13T09:22:00.001-05:00

Good morning, travelers! Was it a little wet for you this weekend? The bad news is that there is another storm coming today. The good news is that means more snow for the local ski resorts. Here’s a Los Angeles traffic map for you. Local ski report On the Snow reports that Mammoth, Mountain High has already received 24 inches in the last 72 hours; Mt. Baldy received 36 inches of snow in the last 72 hours while Bear Mountain, Snow Summit and Snow Valley only got 16 inches.

Deals Best Western, the consistently decent and comfortable hotel chain with the free high-speed Internet (Wi-Fi varies by location) and free breakfast is having a special week-long sale. Each day they will offer discounts wrapped around a theme or destination. The sale starts at 9 a.m. PST and lasts for two hours. Monday deals will be centered around popular ski destinations and resorts; Tuesday deals feature romantic hot spots such as Napa, Savannah and Nashville; Wednesday deals are all about the warm weather in places such as Honolulu, San Diego, Scottsdale and Orlando; Thursday features favorite U.S. cities, including New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles; and Friday deals will be a grab bag mix of destinations in North America. Where is your favorite Best Western?

California, California, There You Go

2009-02-13T09:17:00.000-05:00

Tan: Get far away from the looming Capitol Building in Sacramento and the way it mocks you with its opulence. We're thinking San Juan, Puerto Rico -- a quick LastMinute.com search found a $551 per-person flight and hotel package from Sacramento. It leaves Feb. 28, so you have plenty of time to pack.

Tone: It's still nowhere near cheap, but Tucson uberspa Canyon Ranch will give you a credit for your flight (up to $350) if you stay 4 nights, eating their perfectly healthy food and hiking the hills.

Find more California information at http://www.thecaliforniazone.com

TRAVEL Palm Springs: The gay desert oasis

2009-02-04T09:23:00.000-05:00

Basking in the heat of the California desert lies one of America's most magical gay and lesbian vacation destinations. Nestled in a vast fertile valley surrounded by lush and ancient palm groves, banked by steep ravines and mountain peaks, the village of Palm Springs is no mirage, as it proves to be a really gay desert oasis.

Some of the original residents included Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Gerald Ford, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, just to name a few. This resident ancestry, plus the work of mayor-turned-congressman Sonny Bono, led to the development of a vibrant community that evolved to provide an escape from the frenetic pace of life in Hollywood.

Find more California information at http://www.thecaliforniazone.com

Return trip from the Baja tip

2009-02-04T09:19:00.001-05:00

This is the last of a three-part series by Michael Miller recounting his recent travel throughout the Baja California peninsula. Miller, a professor at Arizona Western College, his wife, Lori Stofft, and their daughter, Mary, traveled through Baja California Norte and Baja California Sur, ending up at the tip of the peninsula.---

At Cabo Pulmo we were just inside the Tropic of Cancer. We woke up on New Year's Day in our thatched cottage and headed south along the sandy road that follows the eastern shore toward the tip of the peninsula, easily one of the most beautiful stretches on the Baja.

Seaside California hotels offering bargain rates

2009-02-04T09:17:00.000-05:00

From San Diego to Humboldt County, these are times of difficulty for hoteliers and opportunity for travelers. Here are the nine waterfront lodgings I used on my toe-to-tip California road trip in early January, followed by four I looked at and liked. Average price I paid: $141.67, pre-tax.
In all 1,100 miles of California coast, there seem to be fewer than 150 hotels that are truly on the beach. In summer, on a weekend, in a year of economic boom, these hotels might charge twice what I paid. Especially in this economy, rates fluctuate.

I made all my bookings in advance (without disclosing that I was a travel journalist ) and found all nine at least half-empty. In other words, I probably could have driven even better bargains as a walk-up guest. For consistency's sake, we chose Feb. 28 for a price quote (researched on Jan. 16).

Disney Offering Free Gift Cards for Stays at Disneyland Resort Hotels in Southern California

2009-01-20T12:04:00.001-05:00

Disneyland Resort guests can enhance the fun and value of their magical vacation with a special bonus: a free Disney Gift Card to use for food and merchandise purchases during their experience - just by staying at a Disneyland Resort on-site hotel. Guests who stay at one of the three Disneyland Resort hotels - Disneyland Hotel, Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel, and Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa - receive a Disney Gift Card -- $50 for a two-night stay, $100 for a three- night stay, or $150 for a four-night stay. The gift cards are provided upon check-in and available for use at any of the Disney-owned restaurants and stores located inside Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure theme parks, Disneyland Resort hotels and Downtown Disney.

Travel must be completed by April 30. Whether it's discovering whimsical Disney art at the Disneyland Hotel, stepping back in time to the golden days of California beachfronts at Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel or indulging the senses at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, staying at any of the Resort hotels provides the Disney magic from check-in to check-out. Guests are steps away from two of the world's most famous theme parks and a vibrant dining and entertainment district.

Southern California

2009-01-20T12:02:00.001-05:00

Southern California:

I've lived in Southern California my entire life. But whenever I pick up a travel guidebook for the region, I discover some fascinating new place I've never visited or never heard of within a day's drive of home! Since the airlines and the TSA have made air travel into an ordeal, I've taken advantage of the new opportunities to discover all the treasures right in my own backyard that I had overlooked for so long. So in 2009, I plan to just get in my car, hop on the freeway, and I'm off to a world-class adventure! In 2009, I also resolve to do at least some of my exploration using MTA buses and light rail, to...

Find more California information at http://www.thecaliforniazone.com

Kid Friendly Vacations in San Francisco

2009-01-06T08:41:00.001-05:00

The San Francisco Cable CarRiding the San Francisco Cable Car throughout downtown was a thrill. There are three cable car lines that run through the downtown area. The most exciting ride of the lines, in my opinion, was the Powell-Hyde Line from Powell Market to the Aquatic Park near Ghirardelli Square.

The cable car are a part of the San Francisco MUNI system, purchasing a one day pass allowed us to ride the cable cars, the electric trains, and the MUNI buses throughout the city. So, if you plan to spend the day in the city, the cable cars can be a very cost-effective attraction.

Find more California information at http://www.thecaliforniazone.com

Los Angeles Vacation Guide

2009-01-06T08:13:00.001-05:00

Passport/Visa Requirements: All U.S. citizens must have a passport when traveling by air to or from Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America and Mexico. Citizens of Canada, Mexico and the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda also must have a passport or other designated secure document to enter the U.S.

Telephone Codes: 213, for downtown; 323,areas surrounding downtown, including Hollywood; 310,Westside, Beverly Hills and South Bay; 562,Long Beach; 818,the San Fernando Valley, Glendale and Burbank; 626,Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley.

Find more California information at http://www.thecaliforniazone.com

Making the Most of Your Los Angeles Vacation

2009-01-06T08:11:00.001-05:00

Before you pack your bags and fly to LAX (that’s L.A.-speak for Los Angeles International Airport) however, you might want to slow down and read this tips to help you make your vacation in the City of Angels as lovely and enjoyable as possible:

§ The weather of the entire year is pretty much conducive to vacations, but because smog levels tend to worsen during July and August, online history course recommended that you skip these months. Go instead between March and April when blooming flowers decorate the city or during September to October when the skies are clear and there is little or no fog (or smog) to dampen your trip.

§ Going to Los Angeles without visiting its beaches is almost blasphemous (this is the home of Baywatch, after all), so be sure to spend a day lounging on L.A.’s famed shoreline. Take your pick from among its numerous stretches online history course sand (Hermosa Beach, Venice Beach and Manhattan Beach top the list) and soak in the rays of the golden California sun.

Find more California information at http://www.thecaliforniazone.com

Sequoia National Park, California Vacation Home Rentals

2009-01-04T09:00:00.000-05:00

Sequoia National Park, California offers great vacation house rental and home rental-by-owner deals for the knowledgeable traveler. No matter what budget or level of comfort you seek in your holiday to Sequoia National Park, CA, there's surely a great local vacation home rental available to meet your needs. Browse the list below for information on Sequoia National Park cabins, condos, bed & breakfast inns, luxury suites, corporate apartments and vacation packages.
Sequoia National Park California Travel Information:
-SPONSORED LINKS-California Vacation Rentals California Condos California Hotels California Travel Guides California Bed and Breakfast
Sequoia National Park California Real Estate...

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Pixley California Photos and Travel Information

2009-01-02T15:54:00.001-05:00

Pixley is located in Kern County in the heart of Central California. In the local vicinity you'll find cities such as Earlimart, Poplar and Tipton, and discover that Pixley's 2600 people easily access Tulare, Visalia, Bakersfield and Hanford by car. Comprised of mostly farming, industry and residential communities, a visit to this region is best served by overnight stays in hotels in Tulare less than 20 miles north (see map below). Pixley is like other small cities in California.

Its downtown area is the heart of its parades and celebrations, and there's a solid sense of community enjoyed through the school system and the Pixley Chamber of Commerce. Located a few minutes south of the world’s largest farm equipment and agricultural show, the World Ag Expo in Tulare, an annual show held in February, Pixley enjoys access to many events and activities in nearby places such as Tulare and Bakersfield.

Find more California information at http://www.thecaliforniazone.com

California Dreaming on such a Winter’s Day

2008-12-31T18:15:00.000-05:00

Located just about 7 miles south of Los Angeles International Airport is Redondo Beach, California. Redondo Beach is a family-oriented beach town that offers the California lifestyle at its’ best. Being so close yet just far enough away to LA has its’ priviledges for visiting guests of Redondo Beach.

Since LA is so close one can enjoy the entertainment value of Hollywood’s Universal Studios, Hollywood Walk of Fame and Mann’s Chinese Theatre. Of the 18 boutique Mann Theatres located in the greater LA area, the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is the most famous opening its’ doors in 1927 to show movies on the big screen for the people. The opening of Grauman’s Theatre sparked the beginning of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame where famous movie stars are denoted as to have “made it” in show biz.

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Go Green for Less Green at Baja's First Green Globe Certified Resort

2008-12-31T18:13:00.000-05:00

Loreto, Baja Sur, Mexico (PRWEB) December 31, 2008 -- The first resort in all of Baja to be Green Globe certified, an internationally recognized level of distinction for operating at the world's highest environmental standards, Loreto Bay, an 8,000-acre, seaside community neighboring the historic town of Loreto in Baja California Sur, Mexico, allows guests to go green for less green, thanks to its newest promotional packages, valid January 4 - March 31, 2009.

Loreto Bay guests may select from two choices in accommodations, fully furnished vacation villas or the Inn at Loreto Bay, and receive special discounts, complimentary activities and unlimited golf on nine holes of greens, making travel easy -- both for the conscience and the wallet.

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Surfing Family Float to Represent Surf City USA® in Annual Tournament of Roses® Parade

2008-12-26T15:42:00.000-05:00

Mark your calendars for Thursday, January 1, 2009 at 8 am (PST). In honor of Huntington Beach's 100th Anniversary of Incorporation, the City of Huntington Beach (also known as "Surf City USA®"), presents its first-ever float in the 120th Rose Parade®. Themed "Surfing Family," the City's Centennial Celebration Float joins dozens of magnificent floral entries, as well as high-stepping equestrians and spirited marching bands.

Huntington Beach's float captures the essence of living in "Surf City USA." Measuring 55-feet long and 30-feet high, the float features waves, surfboards, local ocean life such as fish, pelicans, seagulls and dolphins, and a Surfing Family having a barbecue on a giant surfboard with their faithful dog in attendance. Evoking the image of the famous Huntington Beach Pier, the float also features the official City of Huntington Beach Centennial Celebration Logo and a stand for human riders. Festival Artists, whose previous floats have won more than 75 Rose Parade awards, designed and built the surf- and family-oriented float...

Find more California information at http://www.thecaliforniazone.com