Archive for the 'Sports' Category
California state parks plan weekday closures, cutbacks in Inland Empire
October 27, 2009 10:09am
If you’re planning a fall, winter or spring outing to California state parks or recreation areas in the Inland Empire region, make sure your destination will be open on the dates you want to go. And that advice may soon apply to other regions too.
Starting next week, five state sites, including Mt. San Jacinto, Chino Hills, Lake Perris, Silverwood Lake and the California Citrus State Historic Park, will either close to the public on certain weekdays or reduce services. In some cases, parks will be open for day use for fewer hours each day. These steps are being taken because of budget reductions.
My colleague Pete Thomas has the full rundown in his Outposts blog, along with a head’s-up that parks elsewhere may take similar steps.
Dodgers fans: For food, follow the stars in Philly
October 17, 2009 10:04am
Now that the Dodgers will be in Philadelphia at least until Wednesday (thank you, men in blue), Dodgers fans may be headed back to the City of Brotherly Love. And that means only one thing: cheese steaks.
OK, not really. And not anymore. Philly’s come up in the food world, which means the Dodgers and the Phillies aren’t the only game in town.
During the filming of an a James L. Brooks comedy (reportedly called “How Do You Know?”), some of the glitterati have been frequenting the best of Philly. Starring in the love-triangle flick and in the city the last few months: Owen Wilson, Jack Nicholson, Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon. Not known (to me anyway) whether they’ve tried Pat’s King of Steaks (although Barack Obama ate there in April 2008 when he was a presidential candidate) and Geno’s Steaks, the best-known cheese steak places in town, but we do know where the elite have deigned to eat. So take a tip, Dodgers fans, if you’re back there, and keep fingers crossed that any meals might be celebratory dinners.
Philadelphia Inquirier Inqlings columnist Michael Klein says Witherspoon has been seen at Jones at 7th and Chestnut streets (American, modestly priced), and Alma de Cuba (Latin American/Caribbean/Cuban) and POD (pan-Asian/Pacific Rim), and Wilson is said to have dined regularly at Parc at Rittenhouse Square (French). Nicholson, meanwhile, dined at 10 Arts at the Ritz-Carlton (regional American) , said Howard Gensler in the Philadelphia Daily News.
But, really, fans, can anything beat the taste of a Dodger dog?
— Catharine Hamm, Times Travel editor
Photo: Juan Pierre, left, Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp do the chest bump to celebrate the Dodgers’ 2-1 win over the Phillies on Friday at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times
Kijubi launches at TechCrunch50: 6 outdoor activities you wouldn’t expect from a travel site
September 14, 2009 12:02pm
Most travel websites sell you the essential parts to a vacation — how to get there and where to stay once you do. Many also offer destination travel guide information and attractions to visit once you get there — but Kijubi enters the travel Web space with a refreshing angle focused on selling outdoor activities. Originally known as CalActive, the Web effort is being relaunched by its founders this week at TechCrunch50 in the DemoPit with the new name Kijubi. As in: What “could you be” (say it really fast) doing right now? Lucky for us SoCal travelers, most of the activities archived so far are in California, but they have some activities in Nevada, Maryland and Florida, with plans to fill out Florida, New York and Hawaii within the next six months.
There are travel activities that you might expect to know about when traveling like discounted tickets to theme parks, whale watching tours, mountain biking tours, hot air balloon rides and even a ropes course in Anaheim. Kijubi also has hundreds of options divided by what you can do on land, air or in the water, including some outlandish things to do on your vacation like:
> Flying a historic WWII “Kittyhawk” airplane in Sonoma (starting at $949)
> Polo lessons for beginners in Los Angeles ($150)
> Stock car racing 10 laps in a real NASCAR racer in Los Angeles (starting at $249)
> Zero-gravity flights in several California locations ($5,197)
> Driving a Maserati Quattroporte in Newport Beach (from $850)
> Helicopter flying lessons in Long Beach (Starting at $135)
Even if you don’t see yourself participating in extreme outdoor sports or entertainment opportunities, there are plenty of options to consider for less adventurous travelers in their family, luxury, romantic and kids categories. And at a wide variety of prices too, don’t let the options above scare you off.
– Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel & Deal blogger
[Photo: Screenshot of the Kijubi homepage; Courtesy of Kijubi.com]
Four Seasons Bora Bora: Teens chill out at Chill Island, a South Pacific paradise
September 13, 2009 2:00pm
To combat the “I’m bored,” syndrome that often strikes young travelers, Four Seasons Bora Bora has devoted an area of the French Polynesian resort to teens’ trip survival: Chill Island.
The facility has its own private beach, an indoor-outdoor lounge, Internet cafe and special activities such as al fresco nightclub dancing and snorkeling with the resort’s marine biologist. For the holidays, it will offer special programs: a movie night on the beach, a teen tapas dinner, and a party where teens can boogie in a sea of bubbles.
The Four Seasons, a newcomer to Bora Bora that is away from the main tourist region on Motu Tehotu, includes over-water suites and beachfront villas with pools.
Besides snorkeling, activities include kite-surfing across the lagoon and getting to know some of the island’s most treasured residents: sea turtles. Room rates start about $900 per night for an over-water suite, but specials are available.
Contact: Four Seasons Bora Bora , (800) 819-5053 (Four Seasons reservations)
—Rosemary McClure, Special to The Times
[Photo: Teens paddle boarding at Chill Island; Photo credit: Barbara Kraft/Four Seasons]
Las Vegas: Emeril’s new Legasse Stadium aims to be a luxe sportsbook lounge in the Palazzo
September 4, 2009 4:03pm
Calling all sports fans. Now you can make your Las Vegas sports bets in extreme style. Emeril Lagasse— yes, that Emeril Lagasse of the mega-culinary business, including restaurants, TV shows, cookbooks and more—has opened a new sportsbook-sportsbar hybrid inside the Palazzo hotel-casino. Lagasse’s Stadium opened Thursday, Sept. 3. As if the 100 HD TVs and stadium sofa seating weren’t a big enough draw, check out their happy hour menu—Bam!
Tailgate Lagasse: Enjoy happy hour 3-7 p.m. Monday through Friday or until 30 minutes before a pro-football game through Sept. 30. The happy hour menu includes $5 appetizers such as two mini chili & cheese hot dogs, potato skins and spinach and artichoke dip with tortillas. On the liquid side, enjoy $3 beers, $15 buckets of beers and $20 pitchers of specialty cocktails.
Tip: You can make your sports bets from inside this venue.
Where is it? Lagasse’s Stadium is inside the Palazzo below Morels and across from Dal Toro Italian restaurant. Use the escalators near LAVO restaurant and at the Las Vegas Boulevard corner and Sands Avenue patio entry.
Note: This space was renovated after the Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club was closed and sold back to the Palazzo last summer.
Are you going there this Labor Day weekend? Tell us about your experience. Did you recognize any celebs in the luxury boxes?
—Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel & Deal blogger
Photo: Lagasse’s Stadium. Credit: Courtesy of the Palazzo
Fitness is just a phone call away at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
September 4, 2009 5:55am
Road warriors who want to stay in shape while they travel won’t have to worry about packing their sneakers and sweats anymore.
The new Fairmont Fit program, sponsored by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, has more than 5,000 pairs of Adidas sneakers, thousands of T-shirts and shorts and complimentary MP3 players loaded with hundreds of brassy exercise tunes. The program is available to members of the chain’s loyalty program, the Fairmont President’s Club.
The President’s Club, which has free membership, keeps members’ workout gear sizes on file, or participants can list their sizes when calling for a hotel reservation. The fee is $10 per stay, or is complimentary for those who stay five times or 10 nights per year.
In addition to having clothing available, the program issues yoga mats and stretch bands for those who prefer exercising in their rooms to a visit to hotel fitness centers. Clothing and footwear are delivered to the room upon a guest’s arrival. Workout gear is available for the duration of the stay and can be replenished at any time.
Dodger fever: Glam up your day at Dodger Stadium with a night at the historic Los Angeles Athletic Club
September 2, 2009 8:51am
Baseball season is coming to a close. There are 14 more home games left in regular season. Make sure you go see the Dodgers one more time in case these are Manny’s last at bats in Dodger blue. The legendary Los Angeles Athletic Club in downtown L.A. has a Los Angeles Dodgers package that extends a day at the ballpark into some sweet overnight digs perfect for celebrating a win.
Deal: $199 L.A. Dodgers package includes:
> Deluxe accommodations for one night
> Two MVP Loge tickets at Dodger Stadium ($90 for a pair of tickets for other hotel guests)
> Complimentary American buffet breakfast
> Complimentary overnight parking at the Club (normally $8.90 per night with in/out access)
> Complimentary Wi-Fi (free to all hotel guests)
> Use of LAAC legendary Athletic Facilities (used only by hotel guests and members)
> Complimentary baseball-themed room amenities
For sale: North Korea holiday, no Clintons necessary
August 5, 2009 2:14pm
OK, so now are you ready to take that trip to North Korea?
Klaus Billep, president of Santa Monica-based Universal Travel Systems, thinks you might be. Now that journalist-hostages Euna Lee and Laura Ling have been released after crossing into North Korea from China and being seized on March 17, Billep is reminding Americans that there’s a legal way to visit the hermit kingdom. And he can arrange it, no Clinton contacts are necessary.
“Most Americans don’t realize that it’s legal,” Billep says.
Here is what the State Department says about travel to the country, formally known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The key, says Billep, is the country’s Arirang Festival — this year, from Aug. 2 to Oct. 7 — which features something like 100,000 gymnasts, dancers, singers and other performers in a stadium that holds about 100,000 spectators. During the festival, Billep says, North Korea grants visas to American tourists. In fact, he says, the North Koreans are allowing Americans to stay four nights this year, up from three nights in previous years.
But the trip is not everybody’s cup of tea. Even if you’re not put off by the idea of visiting an “Axis of Evil” nation (the words of President George W. Bush in 2002) or encouraging a rogue government that’s eagerly building nuclear weaponry, the itinerary might give you pause.
Father’s Day – Take dad golfing on the cheap in Southern California
June 15, 2009 4:12pm
You might have all the best intentions to splurge on a big gift for dad this Father’s Day -– but don’t feel bad if you don’t have the budget to back you up. Sometimes the best gift you can give is to spend time together. I had a look at the Southern California Golf Guide and there are lots of local public golf courses in Los Angeles County, San Diego County and Santa Barbara County with green fees that won’t break the bank.
Some of the best-loved public golf courses in Los Angeles include Griffith Park ($26-$39) and Rancho Park ($26-$39).
If you’re looking for more of a day trip, try:
Dhani Jones tackles the globe for new Travel Channel show
March 16, 2009 5:32pm
As far as armchair vacations go, the Travel Channel’s hosted guide shows have hit the sweet spot of R&R and indulgence — Andrew Zimmern’s “Bizarre Foods” and Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations” introduce new foods and cultures, Adam Richman’s “Man v. Food” gets to pig out spots and Samantha Brown and newcomer Bridget Marquardt show you how to let loose and relax a bit.
Now it’s time to take on adventure sports — the cable channel’s new series “Dhani Tackles the Globe” airs at 9 p.m. today.
The hourlong program follows Dhani Jones, a Cincinnati Bengals linebacker, out of the stadium and into foreign countries as he spends 10 episodes trying his hand at some of the more challenging sports that may not get a lot of screen time on ESPN (think Thailand’s muay Thai boxing; Switzerland’s Schwingen, a type of wrestling; and Spain’s jai alai, “the game of dodging death,” or at least avoiding speeding rock-hard balls to the head).
Whew! As if the NFL isn’t strenuous enough, Jones filmed six episodes before the football season started and four after it finished — mostly to countries he hadn’t visited on his own dime. We sat down with Jones when he was at the W Los Angeles-Westwood hotel last week to find out why he’d put himself through this. Here’s a bit of our Q & A: Read the rest of this entry »
