Friday Travel Ticker: Go soon, before rates soar

The travel search site Hipmunk reviewed more than 1 million holiday flight options and found that the cheapest weekend to get away the rest of the year is Oct. 5-7, on average. In November, when the holiday travel season heats up, the average minimum price can jump by as much as 700% from the weekend of Nov. 9 to the weekend of the 16th, Hipmunk says . . . . The Los Angeles Zoo holds its 22nd Annual Photo Day on Sunday, Nov. 4, for film and digital photographers of all levels of expertise. Among the activities, hands-on workshops with instruction for novices on the basics of wildlife and nature photography. Photo Day admission prices are $175 per person, $60 for guests. Guests receive catered lunch and early admission to the zoo. Regular zoo admission is still available for non-photo day zoogoers. For additional info, call (323) 644-4703 . . . The world’s biggest Ferris wheel is to be built on Staten Island, an ambitious attempt to draw tourists to what’s sometimes known as the city’s “forgotten borough.” Estimates for its opening begin in late 2015 . . .Searching for flights? Check out CheapAir.com‘s new search tool. Instead of having to click through a travel search form with numerous fields and airport codes, customers type a simple query, like “L.A. to Chicago on October 3rd, back on the 10th,” and the new natural language search tool will do the work from there . . . . One of two 52.5-ton turbine generators has been lifted by crane into the structure of the replacement Central Utility Plant at LAX, part of a $438-million project to replace the existing 50-year-old power plant . . . . On Oct. 28, Thai Airways will begin flying a spacious B777-300ER from LAX to Bangkok, with one stopover in Seoul. In economy class, travelers will have 18.5-inch wide seats, the widest in the industry . . . . American Airlines is extending its seasonal summer daily flights between Nashville and LAX throughout the year, giving fliers two daily flights connecting the two cities . . . . The Tahoe Rim Trail Assn. hosts a “Peak of the Rim Harvest Moon” on Saturday, 3 p.m., at the Mt. Rose Trailhead located off Highway 431. The nine-mile, strenuous hike will include the highest point on the Tahoe Rim Trail – Relay Peak at a 10,338-foot elevation . . . . The Tahoe City Downtown Assn. hosts the 8th Annual Tahoe City Harvest Festival Saturday, Oct. 6-20, with a traditional Cobblestone Oktoberfest. Events include an Uncorked German Wine Tasting (Oct. 6), Scarecrow Sprint & Stroll with 5K and 10K runs (Oct. 13), Zombie Pub Craw (Oct. 13), Gatekeeper’s Ghost Walk (Oct. 18) and the Felt-A-Pumpkin Workshop for arts and crafts lovers (Oct. 20) . . . . Tickets start at $16 for Rita Coolidge at the Suncoast Showroom in Las Vegas on Oct 27 and 28; (702) 636-7075, or www.suncoastcasino.com. . . . Highway 1 viaduct repair 15 miles south of Carmel will cause overnight closures beginning Oct. 7 or 8 and continuing for three to four months, Caltrans says. Big Sur traffic hotline (888) 836-0866 . . . . Travel quote of the day: “We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.” (Hilaire Belloc)

Follow us on Twitter @latimestravel

Like us on Facebook

chris.erskine@latimes.com