Happy Hour Links: State parks fees to increase; Santa Cruz fire threatens Big Basin; Hotels.com Labor Day sale

Most of the newsy tidbits we’re serving up at today’s end aren’t so happy, unfortunately. But, be assured, we’ll leave you with something cheery to consider: budget-friendly vacation planning for Labor Day weekend.

> Starting Monday, fees at many California state parks will be increasing. You might pay $2 to $5 more than you’re accustomed to for day-use parking, and $10 to $21 more for camping, as reported by the Times’ Greenspace. Of course, higher fees or no, it looks like days are still numbered for some parks. The park-closures list is expected to be revealed by Labor Day.

> In Santa Cruz County, a state of emergency has been declared due to the large Lockheed fire, which has forced over 2,000 people in the Bonny Doon area from their homes. Because of fire danger, the popular Big Basin State Park is closed at Waddell Creek, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

The Santa Cruz County Conference and Visitors Council announced in a statement earlier today that Hwy 1 and Hwy 17 remain open, as do attractions including Roaring Camp Railroads, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the Seymour Marine Discovery Center.

> In and near the Los Padres National Forest, in Santa Barbara County, a fire that began last Saturday is still blazing, reports the Associated Press.

> Are you thinking of skipping Labor Day weekend travel due to inflated hotel rates? You might want to reconsider, given some rather reasonable price tags being advertised. Hotels.com’s Labor Day Sale, for instance, offers up to 40% off on accommodations in 100 destinations. The sale rates are bookable between now and Sept. 7 for stays Sept. 1 to 15. I found a three-night stay during the holiday weekend at the Stratosphere in Las Vegas for less than $300 total, pre-tax, and a Labor Day weekend stay at the Dana on Mission Bay in San Diego for less than $200 per night.

— Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times

Photo: An air tanker drops fire-retardant chemicals on the Lockheed fire near Santa Cruz. Credit: Associated Press / San Francisco Chronicle / Paul Chinn

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This entry was posted on Friday, August 14, 2009 at 5:11 pm by Susan Derby and is filed under California, Deals, Hotels, News, Tips & Advice, Northern California, Santa Barbara. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.