Valentine's Day deals don't come cheaper than this: $14 for a day of skiing at Squaw Valley or a ticket to the tableaux vivants Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach this summer. And really, you could take advantage of both. Isn't that better than chocolates and flowers?
If your plans include conquering Mt. Whitney this summer, you'll need training -- and a $15 hiking permit. This year the annual lottery for the highly sought-after Mt. Whitney Trail permits will be conducted online.
The best time to go whale-watching in Egypt would have been about 37 million years ago. Smithsonian magazine recently profiled the amazing whale boneyard at Wadi Hitan where fossils reveal an important evolutionary tidbit: the whales had little legs and feet.
Travelers interested in participating in the TSA’s expanded pre-check screening, which pre-approves some passengers to pass through checkpoints without removing shoes and belts – should click here for information. The expanded program was announced Wednesday . . . . Hawaii hotel revenue rose 12.7% last year, according to a report by Hospitality Advisors LLC and Smith Travel Research. Occupancy was 73.4%, up from 70.7% in 2010. The average daily rate was about $189.62, up from $174.84 the previous year . . . . Nationwide, only New York City has higher room rates than Hawaii, Smith Travel Research says . . . . The 20th annual Zinfandel Festival takes place in Paso Robles March 16-18, featuring wine from more than 50 vintners. For info or tickets, go to
The U.S. State Department issued a new state-by-state warning for travelers to Mexico that details the more violent areas of the country but also points out popular places such as Cabo San Lucas and Mexico City where travel advisories aren't in effect.
A romantic beach is one of those can’t-miss Valentine’s Day standbys — the more pristine the better. And no one knows pristine like Heal the Bay, which has released this guide to the West Coast’s most romantic sand. All have received an “A” for water quality.
For football fans, it's a cruise dream come true: NFL greats including former coaches Don Shula and Dick Vermeil, past Super Bowl MVP Larry Csonka and NFL referee Jim Tunney will set sail in May on a Crystal Cruises journey from New York to Dover, England.
A disaster-prone Texas tourist destination that for more than a century has been an on-again, off-again home to oceanfront amusements will once again lure thrill-seekers with roller coasters, midway games and carnival confections.
A new blood clot study finds that flying economy class is not any riskier than first class, as sometimes thought, but sitting by the window seems to play a role, because it makes people less likely to leave their seats. Still, even on long flights (four hours or more) the risk for most people is extremely low, an American College of Chest Physicians' committee reported. For details, go to http://www.chestjournal.org . . . . Salt Lake City retail shopping scene undergoes a major upgrade March 22 with the opening of City Creek Center, a shopping and dining destination downtown. With a total of 80 stores and restaurants, the rustic 700,000-square-foot complex will be anchored by Macy’s and Nordstrom . . . . A North Carolina hotel has...
The final score, at least as far as Indianapolis is concerned: the Super Bowl Village welcomed 1.1-million visitors, and the NFL Experience exhibit/fest drew 265,039 to the Indiana Convention Center. And are ziplines now the must-have attraction for big events? Indy’s drew 10,429 riders. The economic impact to the city has not yet been released but reviews of Indy's Super Bowl performance have been glowing . . . . Among the interesting golf packages now being offered at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach is a 50-minute “Golfer’s Massage,” which uses golf balls to apply specific friction, kneading and pressure maneuvers that relax a golfer’s muscles. $210 Mondays through Thursdays, or $260 Fridays through Sundays, not including tax or gratuity. The packages begin in April, but golf academy classes start this month. Info: www....
Winter always gets me thinking about going to theme parks in Southern California, even if I don't have visitors underfoot. The prospect of cooler temperatures and lighter crowds in February and March sends me looking for discounts on the high cost of tickets. I found that the Southern California CityPass -- with a flat rate for admission to Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, Universal Studios Hollywood and SeaWorld San Diego -- offers good savings, even when compared with incentives for SoCal residents.
