Thrill seekers may anxiously await this summer’s arrival of Sin City’s newest adventure, the VooDoo Skyline, coming to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.

The ride will send guests racing along a wire between the hotel’s Masquerade and Ipanema towers at speeds of up to 33 miles an hour. While it’s similar to a zipline, the attraction is electrically powered, so it doesn’t rely on gravity. The ride can handle two passengers at a time.

The 70-second roundtrip begins and ends at the resort’s VooDoo Lounge, atop the 50-story Masquerade tower. On the return journey, guests will be transported backward as they overlook the famous Strip, just across I-15.

“We’re excited to be offering this invigorating new view of Las Vegas,” Kevin Donnelly, director of hotel operations, said in a news release. “Now thrill-seeking guests can enjoy the legendary views that VooDoo Steak and VooDoo Rooftop Nightclubare best known for -- from an entirely...

One of the most famous aircraft in American military history -- the Lockheed F-104A Starfighter -- has landed at the Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor.

The jet arrived on Oahu’s Ford Island in early May, becoming the 43rdaircraft to join the museum’s collection of historic planes.

Starfighters were used by the Air Force from 1958 through 1975. At a length of more than 55 feet, but with a wingspan of just under 22 feet, the jet was dubbed “the missile with a man in it.”

It was in an F-104 that Gen. Chuck Yeager made the record-breaking, high-altitude ascent depicted in the movie “The Right Stuff.” The modified, rocket-assisted jet soared to more than 100,000 feet during a test flight in December 1963.

The museum is located on the site of what was known as the Pearl Harbor Naval Air Station at the time of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack. Visitors reach the site aboard shuttles that depart from the USS Arizona Memorial/Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.

Adult...

Trails and campgrounds in Point Mugu State Park damaged by the Springs fire earlier this month will reopen  Friday but officials warn visitors to stay out of closed areas to help the area recover, according to an announcement.

The popular Sycamore and La Jolla campgrounds off Pacific Coast Highway at the southern end of the park will open in time for the Memorial Day weekend. Campgrounds have been closed since May 2 when the fire burned from Newbury Park to the ocean and torched about 12,000 acres of the almost 14,000-acre park. (Thornhill Broome Campground and Sycamore Cove day-use area remain open and were unaffected by closures.)

The Chumash trail and back-country routes will reopen too, allowing a first-hand look at the fire-ravaged landscape. Trail repairs will be ongoing, and the park will open at sunrise and close at sunset until further notice.

Park officials warn visitors not to wander off trail and hamper habitat recovery. "We'll be monitoring the situation closely, and if we...

If you’re a baseball fan, you probably know that the Omni San Diego Hotel offers a unique tie to the game: It overlooks Petco Park, with a pedestrian skywalk connecting the hotel to the action. It’s the only hotel in the nation attached to a major league ballpark.

The Omni offers visitors other perks too. It’s in the historic Gaslamp Quarter across from the convention center and is convenient to other city sites.  But the hotel really shines in summer, when the ballpark is in use.

The deal: Celebrate America’s pastime with the "Beer, Brats and Baseball" package, which starts at $289 and offers lodging, plus two tickets to a Padres game, beer and brats. A Father's Day special for people who book June 14-16 adds a complimentary “Batter’s Up” breakfast of waffles or pancakes for Dad.

When: It’s available through Sept. 20.

Details: In addition to tickets and accommodations, the deal includes complimentary valet parking, and peanuts and...

One of the classiest hotels on the Las Vegas strip – the Mandarin Oriental at CityCenter – is offering a tempting “three nights for the price of two” offer through Sept. 5.

The five-star property’s Extra Fun Day Away package includes a third night free following a paid, consecutive two-night stay. The deal is subject to availability – for example, it’s not offered for arrivals on July 4, Independence Day – and guests booking online need to be aware that the price quoted per night is for three nights, not two.

Here’s how it works out. We found the deal available for a Strip View room with a king bed for three nights arriving Monday, June 17 and checking out on Thursday, June 20. The rate quoted is $176 per night, but clicking on the “price breakdown” link reveals that the sub-total for three nights is $530. That breaks down to $265 for each of the two paid nights.

Taxes of 12 percent and the daily “Golden Access&...

For couples hoping to get hitched in Las Vegas, the offer for free weddings on Memorial Day (Monday) could prove to be the deal of a lifetime. Victoria’s Wedding Chapel is offering free marriage ceremonies, with roses included, for active-duty service members and veterans.

The chapel normally charges $535 for the ceremony.

“The men and women of the military do so much to keep our country safe, and we wanted to show our appreciation by donating a day to give them the gift of a wedding ceremony,” Janeen Hinden, owner of Victoria’s Wedding Chapel, said in a prepared statement. “All they have to do is call and make a reservation and we’ll take care of the rest.”

Couples should call (702) 252-4565. The chapel is at 2800 W. Sahara Ave. in Las Vegas, just west of the 15 Freeway.

Ceremonies will be performed from noon to 8 p.m.

Las Vegas rightfully claims the title of “Marriage Capital of the World.” The Clark County clerk’s office...

Fans of Asian food can sample dishes from a variety of nations without any jet lag during a visit to Richmond, British Columbia, the city that’s home to Vancouver’s international airport (YVR).

Within three blocks along Richmond’s Alexandra Road -- in the suburb’s Golden Village district -- 200-plus restaurants feature styles including Cantonese, Szechuan, Korean, Malaysian and more. While many are small “holes in the wall” tucked into strip malls,  the food befits the city’s residents, two-thirds of whom are of Asian descent. (A full 45% are of Chinese ancestry.)

It’s no surprise that this short street is better known by its Chinese name, “Wai Sek Kai," which translates as “Food Street.”

Officials at Tourism Richmond suggest an itinerary that includes hopping from country to country and cuisine to cuisine with visits to several different restaurants.

Visitors can start with Hong Kong-style noodles and dumplings before...

Those visiting Honolulu over Memorial Day weekend will have a chance to visit three museums at a discounted price -- and spend as much time as they like at each site. The Bishop Museum, the Honolulu Museum of Art and the Iolani Palace are offering a two-day pass good for unlimited visits.

The deal: The pass is called Two Museums and a Royal Palace and costs $19.95 for adults and $5 for children 3 to 17 years old. It allows unlimited entry to the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, which showcases history, arts and culture; the Honolulu Museum of Art; and the historic Iolani Palace, where Hawaii's monarchs once dwelled.

When: The pass is good May 25 and 26 only.

Details: The savings are good with the 3-for-1 pass. Admission to all three for an adult can cost up to $51.70, according to the museums.

Info: Two Museums and a Royal Palace, (808) 847-3511.

Mary.Forgione@latimes.com
Follow us on Twitter @latimestravel, like us on Facebook @Los Angeles Times Travel.

Globus has joined the ranks of well-known tour companies offering trips to Cuba under a special U.S. Treasury Department license that permits people-to-people educational exchanges on the Communist island.

Its nine-day “Undiscovered Cuba” itinerary, based in Havana, includes a city tour led by a local architect; meetings with musicians and university students and local car club members; dinner at a family-owned paladar (privately owned restaurant), with a discussion of the free-enterprise system; a visit with a tobacco farmer and his family; and an excursion to the home of late novelist Ernest Hemingway. Beach time is not on the agenda.

“Our Cuba programs are not about leisure time and being a normal ‘tourist’ in Cuba,” says Pam Hoffee, vice president of product and operations at the Globus family of brands. “They are about interacting with the Cuban people.”

Dates: Frequent departures July 14 to Dec. 8; also Jan. 5 to Feb. 19, 2014.

Pric...

Longtime comic and impersonator Rich Little is extending the run of his one-man show, “Jimmy Stewart and Friends,” in Las Vegas. The show will now continue through July 1 at the LVH resort.

The master mimic has more than 200 voices in his repertoire. Little was a favorite of Ronald Reagan. Following one of his several performances at the White House, the impersonator recalled the president telling him, “Rich, you do me better than I do.”

Reagan is one of the more than 30 celebrities Little invokes during his graceful journey through the life of the legendary actor Stewart. Among others making “appearances” during the show are George Burns, Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn and John Wayne.

Little performs Saturday through Monday in the Shimmer Cabaret at the LVH, formerly the Las Vegas Hilton. Showtime is 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are roughly $70, or $80 for premium seating, plus tax and fees. They’re available online or by calling (702) 732-5755.

Twitter: ...

The Time Warner Center in the curve of Columbus Circle in New York City houses markets, restaurants and shops -- what better combination of services for shopping and relaxing? A free pass is available with discounts and freebies for dining and shopping at the center as well as packages that add a massage or museum tickets.

The deal: The VIP Shopping Pass applies to the center's Shops at Columbus Circle and the Restaurant and Bar Collection. Some examples: a free appointment with a stylist at J Crew, $50 off purchase of $250 or more at C. Wonder and a free glass of wine with a reservation at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola.

Then there are Explore New York as an Insider packages with six themes that all come with a VIP pass. The Food, Fashion, Fun option features prix-fixe lunch for two at A Voce Columbus, two tickets to the Museum of Arts and Design and drinks for two at Porter House New York. The cost? $110 for two people. The Day of Leisure package costs $135 per person for a 50-minute massage...

It’s now possible to enjoy stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) in the Mojave Desert only about half-an-hour from the Las Vegas Strip. Paddle to the Core offers boarding experiences at all levels on the tranquil waters of Lake Las Vegas, located in an upscale (think Celine Dion) community adjacent to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Stand-up paddleboarding is a water sport that’s quickly growing in popularity. The experts at Lake Las Vegas treat SUP as much more than just a fun activity during a visit to Vegas. They also approach it as a fitness — and even spiritual — experience through their Pilate sand yoga classes.

Stand-up paddleboarding is offered daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the summer months. The journeys begin on the beach at the Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa at 101 Montelago Blvd. in Henderson, Nev.

The company also arranges other outdoor activities such as biking, hiking and historic tours.

Info: (702) 567-2187

Twitter: @LATimesTravel | Fa...

Campers and visitors are urged to take extra care with campfires when visiting Yosemite National Park  because fire danger is higher than average for this time of year, according to a park announcement.

Fire season in the park officially starts Monday. "The park is currently transitioning to fire season preparedness and fire resources will be available seven days per week for suppression efforts within the park," the statement said. 

Some safety tips for campers, from the park's website:

• Campfires are allowed only between 5 and 10 p.m. from now through September in Yosemite Valley camps.
• Don't leave fires unattended. Douse them completely with water.
• Buy firewood at stores near the campground. You can't gather wood, pine cones, pine needles or other kindling in the park, and officials discourage folks from bringing firewood from more than 50 miles from the park for fear it may carry unwanted pests.

The National Interagency Coordination Center, which coordinates resources for...

If the pine trees, hiking trails and clear blue skies of the San Bernardino Mountains are calling to you, hop online fast or grab a phone. Big Bear Lake is kicking off the vacation season with a flash sale for Memorial Day weekend.   

But you need to act fast: The sale lasts just 72 hours, from 9 a.m. Monday (today) through 9 a.m, Thursday.

The deal: Big Bear Lake Resort Assn. is offering 50% off lodging accommodations for a three-night holiday weekend stay.  

When: Friday-May 27.

Details: The Memorial Day weekend special offer is a one-time 72-hour sale that is available onlineor by phone from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday of this week. A three-night stay is required for the special, which is valid for new reservations only. The special must be mentioned at the time of booking; there is limited availability, participating lodges only, blackout dates and other restrictions may apply, and it cannot be used with any other specials or promotions. I was able to take a sneak peek at the...

Hollywood actor-turned-bad boy Charlie Sheen will bring some star power to the Memorial Day Weekend party in Las Vegas at Sapphire Pool & Day Club, which bills itself as “the world’s largest gentlemen’s club.”

Sheen will mingle with male guests and scantily clad women on Saturday. A red carpet walk is scheduled for 2 p.m.; the meet-and-greet is expected to continue until about 5 p.m.

Admission is $50.

Sheen’s big break came in 1986, when he landed a leading role in the epic Vietnam movie “Platoon.” By 2010, he had become one of Hollywood’s best-paid actors, earning a reported $1.8 million per episode on TV’s “Two and a Half Men.” His well-publicized struggles with drugs and alcohol led to his departure from the hit show in 2011.

Sapphire, just west of the Strip at 3025 S. Industrial Road, features free limo transportation to and from patrons’ hotels.

The club’s newest feature, Sapphire Grill, opened in early...

“The Hangover Part III” is just the start of Memorial Day weekend in Las Vegas, which also includes the debut of Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson tribute and a bounty of nightclubs overflowing with widely known DJs.

The comedy film's famed Wolfpack once again will overindulge, cinematically speaking, at Caesars Palace, whose gift shops will be awash in movie-themed merchandise.

To celebrate the release of the movie, Caesars will offer two themed packages beginning Friday. The Hangover Package includes a two-night stay and a $40 retail credit for movie-related items. Beginning Friday, use online booking code ICHOP. If you're booking by phone at (800) 223-7277, use the code PKGCHOP.

The Ultimate Hangover Package upgrades guests to a two-story suite like the one featured in the movie “Rainman.” It also includes the gift-shop credit. Guests must book by phone at (800) 223-7277, using code PKGCUHO.

Prices for both offers vary by date and are subject to...

Garmin’s newest GPS superstar, the Nuvi-3597 LMTHD, has a crisp, high-resolution color 5-inch display screen and is packed with neat features in a half-inch-thick, 7-ounce body.

The 3597 adjusts automatically to landscape or portrait mode, has a multi-touch pinch and zoom interactive screen, 3-D terrain and building-view options, and lifetime maps and traffic updates.

You get cutting-edge voice-activated navigation, traffic tracking and detour guidance. Bluetooth wireless technology provides detailed weather updates, and access to many of the functions of a paired smartphone, including contact look-up and hands-free phone calls by way of the GPS’ integrated microphone and speaker.

Garmin Nuvi-3597 LMTHD costs $380.

Info: Garmin, (800) 800-1020

Twitter: @LATimesTravel | Facebook

Viking Cruises announced Friday that it's getting into the ocean cruise market -- in a small way.

The luxury river cruise line brings its all-inclusive model to the seas in May 2015 with the newly built Viking Star, a sleek ship that will accommodate 928 passengers. It features two swimming pools, a spa and private verandas with each stateroom.

"It is our view that in the race to build bigger ships, many cruise lines have lost sight of the destinations to which they sail," Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking Cruises, said in a statement. The company expects to add a second ocean ship in 2016 and has orders for four more in the works.

Like for Viking's river cruises, the price covers extras such as shore excursions, meals with wine and beer and Wi-Fi. And the Viking Star will stay in port late into the evening or overnight to give passengers a chance to experience a city's night life or attend the opera. 

Maiden voyages for 2015 include a Viking Homelands cruise (Stockholm; St....

Hotel Terra Jackson Hole in Teton Village, Wyo., sits at the base of the area's famous ski resort and about a mile from the entrance to Grand Teton National Park. As the season shifts from winter to summer, the hotel offers visitors a midweek break on rooms during a 72-hour sale starting at $199 a night.

The deal: The sale rate is good for stays Mondays through Thursdays in a guest room or an urban studio. You may cancel the reservation but you must do so at least 14 days in advance to avoid penalty fees. Room prices don't include tax and the $17 daily resort fee.

When: The offer is good until Monday for stays through June 29.

Tested: I found the rate available June 23-26 for a room with king- or two queen-size beds, or an urban studio, which comes with a fully equipped kitchen. The best available rate on the same dates for the same rooms cost $299 to $339, excluding tax and resort fee.

Info: Hotel Terra Jackson Hole, (800) 631-6281

Mary.Forgione@latimes.com
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