Archive for the 'California' Category
Yosemite: Curry Village ice rink opens today
November 20, 2009 2:57pm
Whether you’re on the ice to pirouette, or to practice skating in a straight line without causing any harm, you can’t have less than an awe-inspiring time at an outdoor rink in Yosemite. The national park’s ice-skating venue, which sits below Glacier Point’s cliffs, is naturally blessed with good views of popular landmarks like Tenaya Canyon, Half Dome and Cloud’s Rest.
And now you can see it for yourself. Located in the western section of Curry Village, the rink opens today for the 2009-2010 winter season.
Though the attraction got its start in 1928, after a Yosemite club flooded a parking lot, the rink is equipped to meet visitors’ 21st-century needs: Rental skates are available, as is a warming hut, and an ice-resurfacing machine comes through regularly to freshen up the rink. Non-skaters can watch the fun next to a fire pit close by.
Skating sessions are scheduled daily, from 3:30 to 6 p.m., and 7 to 9:30 p.m. Additional sessions are available on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30 to 11 a.m., and noon to 2:30 p.m. Read the rest of this entry »
Thanksgiving travel predicted to be up this year at LAX, down at ONT
November 20, 2009 9:11am
Here we go. Today begins the 10-day stretch known in some circles as the “Thanksgiving holiday travel period,” so brace yourselves for lines, lines, lines.
At Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), passenger volumes between today and Nov. 29 are predicted to be 1.1% higher than they were in 2008. Airport officials expect to see 1.49 million passengers at this major hub.
By contrast, L.A./Ontario International Airport (ONT) is anticipated to see fewer travelers, with a passenger volume that may be 8.8% less than it was in 2008. That translates to 123,500 travelers expected in the coming 10-day period.
Today is expected to be one of the busiest at both airports, as are Wednesday and Sunday, Nov. 29. Many airlines are forecasting that flights will be 80% to 100% booked, according to Los Angeles World Airports in a statement. Read the rest of this entry »
Ride-makers roll out new thrills for 2010 at Las Vegas expo
November 19, 2009 5:34pm
Roller-coaster and thrill-ride manufacturers from around the world descended on Las Vegas this week for the annual amusement park convention, offering a sneak peek at what we can expect to see in 2010 and beyond.
In my conversations with show exhibitors, I came away with one overarching message as I toured the massive International Assn. of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) show floor: All the latest and greatest rides are heading to Asia and Europe in 2010. By and large, recession-weary American theme parks are sitting on their thin wallets.
Here’s a few of my favorite new rides and attractions on display at the expo:
> Twist N’ Splash from Germany’s Mack Rides combines a spinning teacup concept with a Splash Battle water ride. Riders squirt each other and landlubbers with water cannons. Two European parks will get the new ride, officials said.
In Tahoe, learn gingerbread secrets and snow tricks
November 19, 2009 12:01pm
Sorensen’s is one of those little Tahoe resorts that seems right out of a snow globe. The historic cottages, just east of Kirkwood Mountain Resort on Highway 88, are a perfect backdrop for a two-day workshop on gingerbread houses.
The workshop, Dec. 5 and 6, offers step-by-step instructions on how to bake, build and decorate the creations. This is intended for children 12 and older and adults. The cost is $65 for guests and $90 for non-lodging guests. Winter weekend rates start at $140 (ask about an extra free night). The workshop also includes all materials, plus complimentary cocoa, cider and treats. Read the rest of this entry »
Newport Beach’s Christmas Boat Parade: Plan ahead to cruise in its midst
November 18, 2009 3:21pm
If you’re not going to be in the popular Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, then one of the next best places to see the lights and action may be aboard a Hornblower yacht.
On five consecutive nights, Dec. 16-20, the Christmas Boat Parade Dinner Cruise, put on by Hornblower Cruises & Events, sails “right through the middle of the entire parade,” said the company’s director of marketing, Sara Copping.
And if you want one of these prime lookout spots, you’d better plan ahead. These cruises sell out every year, usually one or two weeks before sail date, said Copping.
The cruises last from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and cost $115 per person (pre-tax). You’ll get a glass of champagne upon boarding, a four-course seated meal and live entertainment. Read the rest of this entry »
Book your 2010 Palm Springs hotel stay now to save 40%
November 18, 2009 6:03am
Here in Los Angeles, we may get flak when complaining about a winter chill, especially during times when much of the country is buried under snow. But it’s all relative, right? So once we’re in the winter months, remember: When the goose bumps start popping up and the heating bills skyrocket, head to the desert.
Palm Springs is just perfect, weather-wise, in the late winter, and there’s always lots to do, whether you’re into hiking or shopping, hot-air ballooning or horseback riding. And if you plan your stay in advance, you can save a pretty penny on accommodations at the family-friendly Riviera Resort.
Deal: A current Riviera Web special offers 40% off the resort’s best available rates for those booking now for stays from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2010. Read the rest of this entry »
Queen Mary to update restaurants; two-week December closure for Sir Winston’s
November 17, 2009 2:35pm
The Queen Mary’s signature upscale restaurant, Sir Winston’s, is about to go under the knife. Planned updates to the restaurant named for Winston Churchill follow a recent change in management for the popular tourist attraction.
We can expect the Old World classics on the menu, such as beef Wellington and rack of lamb, to receive “a more contemporary interpretation” as well as an emphasis on local, seasonal produce, according to a statement by Delaware North Cos. Parks & Resorts, which took over management of the Queen Mary in late September.
Menu and restaurant-décor changes are scheduled to be implemented by Dec. 21. As such, Sir Winston’s will close on Sunday, Dec. 6 and reopen on Monday, Dec. 21.
At the helm of the transition is Larry Banares, who was the executive chef at the Queen Mary over 17 years ago, and returned in October to serve as executive chef for all of the ship’s restaurants. Read the rest of this entry »
FlyAway bus service links LAX to Irvine
November 17, 2009 10:45am
For Orange County residents and visitors, access to our country’s third-busiest airport has just gotten a little easier. This week, a new nonstop FlyAway bus service began carrying passengers between Los Angeles International Airport and the Irvine Metrolink Station.
The new service on a 22-seat bus running on compressed natural gas is available to travelers six times daily in each direction. The earliest and latest departures from Irvine are 4:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m, and, upon arrival at the airport, passengers are dropped off at their terminals on the departure level.
Buses headed to Irvine depart from the arrivals level of LAX between the hours of 9:45 a.m. and 9:45 p.m. See the LAWA website for the schedule. Read the rest of this entry »
Santa Barbara: Third night free at 22 hotels with ‘24 More’ promotion
November 17, 2009 5:55am
Who can’t use an extra 24 hours in Santa Barbara? Whether you’re heading to this popular vacation destination to get pampered in a B&B or anonymously relax in a larger resort, have a look at the following promotion. It provides great incentive to take a longer-than-usual weekender away.
Deal: With the new “24 More, Compliments of Santa Barbara” offer, you can take advantage of a third night free when you book two nights at one of 22 participating properties in and around the city.
Venues featuring the offer include Hotel Oceana Santa Barbara, Four Seasons Resort, Inn by the Harbor and Franciscan Inn. You can see your full list of options here online.
You must book directly with the hotel or other venue, referring to the promotion code cited in the respective place on the “24 More” page.
When: Valid for stays now through March 31, 2010. Read the rest of this entry »
Leonid meteor shower 2009 to peak early Tuesday morning
November 16, 2009 12:34pm
Sky-watchers in North America can expect to see up to 30 meteors hourly tonight as the annual Leonid meteor shower peaks in the wee hours of Tuesday, Nov. 17. Earth will cross the first meteor-producing stream on this date starting at around 1 a.m. PST, experts predict.
This shower, consisting of debris from Comet Tempel-Tuttle, may not be as grand as the Perseids of this past summer (a recent year’s meteor is pictured above, in Joshua Tree National Park), but the show should still be worth watching.
And it’ll be unusual. “A remarkable feature of this year’s shower is that Leonids will appear to be shooting almost directly out of the planet Mars,” said Bill Cooke of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office on a NASA blog.
Your best vantage point is a remote, dark place. That means that, yes, you’d do well to pack up your warmest sleeping bag and camp out in the desert or mountains. In the past, Los Angeles Times staff members have recommended Joshua Tree National Park, Red Rock Canyon State Park and Mount Piños. Read the rest of this entry »
