Need to know: baby penguins, snowshoe races and dining deals

Here come the penguins

A dozen macaroni penguin chicks have hatched at SeaWorld San Diego this breeding season, the most ever for the species at the marine park. Since 1980, more than 500 Adélie, macaroni and gentoo penguins have been hatched and raised at SeaWorld. SeaWorld aviculturist Kim Peterson introduces three of the macaroni chicks to their new Penguin Exhibit home, above. The marine park’s Penguin Encounter features eight species, and visitors can watch the birds dive and swim. The park’s penguin collection is the most extensive exhibit of Antarctic birds in the world. Info: (800) 257-4268, www.seaworld.com.

-- Brady MacDonald

Snowshoe fun

So you didn’t make the U.S. biathlon team? Catch a little Olympic spirit anyway with 5- and 10-kilometer snowshoe races Feb. 6 at Big Bear. The course meanders through the woods before heading back to the start-finish line at the heart of the village. The family-friendly event, open to all skill levels, also includes a kids race, exhibits and live music. Snowshoes can be rented for about $12 at board shops or sporting goods stores in Big Bear, but supplies are limited, and reservations are recommended. The 10K race starts at 10 a.m., and the 5K race starts at 10:15 a.m. The cost is $25 for the 5K and $45 for the 10K. The children’s event is free. Info: (909) 224-9315, www.snowshoethebear.com.

-- Chris Erskine

Dining deals

Three-course dinners start at $20 during San Diego Restaurant week Jan. 17-22. More than 200 restaurants are taking part, from the Gaslamp Quarter to La Jolla. Fixed-price menus also range from $30 to $40 per person, and include such choices as braised short ribs at the Quarter Kitchen ($30) at the Ivy Hotel downtown, or prosciutto-wrapped sturgeon ($40) at the Hotel del Coronado. Many hotels are also offering room deals in conjunction with the restaurant week. The website is the best source for lists of participating restaurants and what their menus will be: www.sandiego.org/restaurant week. For additional questions, call (619) 233-5008.

-- Chris Erskine

So, so comfy

Your traveling friends will thank you from the bottom of their feet for Tumi’s cushy travel slippers, which fold compactly into a matching zippered case. Treat the guys to the black Vachetta leather model (fits men’s sizes 8 to 10); watch the women go wild over the brown leather-lined nylon slippers in a faux python pattern with satin trim (fits women’s sizes 7 to 9). And don’t your toes deserve a pair of their own? Black Leather Slippers with zip case (item 14125) are $148; women’s Voyageur Women’s slippers in python, $158 at www.tumi.com; (800) 299-8864.

-- Judi Dash