August 2009 Archives

Evergreen Lodge, an historic Yosemite resort that completed a major expansion earlier this year, is offering a 25-percent room discount on weeknights now through September. Located on the western border of Yosemite National Park near Hetch Hetchy Valley, the resort offers the opportunity to experience one of America's premier national parks in its most popular season.

The 25-percent discount is available for new bookings in all cabin types Aug. 23 - Sept. 30, Sunday through Thursday. Advance booking is required and restrictions apply. Details of the offer are available at http://evergreenlodge.com/latesummerspecial.html.

  

The resort's recreation program and guide service offers a featured hike every month, among other seasonal hiking, biking and sightseeing trips. The September featured hike is the High Country Naturalist Hike to Mono Pass, a 9.4-mile trip with spectacular eastern views past the park boundary and an elevation range of 9,700 to 10,600 feet. This five-hour hike is recommended for active guests and costs $110 for adults or $65 for youths 12 to 14.

 The Evergreen's experienced recreation staff can also advise guests interested in planning customized adventures. They offer maps and guides and an array of rental equipment such as mountain bikes, mountain strollers, trekking poles and GPS units.

Guests may also enjoy the lodge's many free activities such as s'mores over the campfire, horseshoe tournaments, kids' crafts, naturalist presentations, live music and more. The resort's guided activities offer guests the opportunity to experience both Yosemite's most famous attractions and its hidden gems.

 This past spring, the Evergreen completed an expansion and many upgrades. Twenty-four new family and couples cabins were added, bringing the total to 90. The renovated recreation hall now includes a 25-seat movie theater, parlor games and a toddler play area.

Other upgrades include a new outdoor event area, outdoor dining area, plaza sun deck, kids play area, expanded restaurant and open-air massage cabana.

 All cabins have forest views and are furnished with beds with feather pillows, heat, fans, private bathrooms, scenic decks, SIRIUS satellite radio.

 Room rates for the cabins range from $99 to $299, depending on the season and type of cabin. The Evergreen also offers custom camping, where fully furnished campsites include tents, sleeping bags, mattresses and lanterns. Rates start at $55.

 For more information about Evergreen Lodge or to make reservations, visit http://www.evergreenlodge.com/, call (209) 379-2606 or email info@evergreenlodge.com.

Resort at Squaw Creek at Lake Tahoe has put together a Labor Day Family Bed & Breakfast Package that includes gourmet breakfast for up to two adults and two children (12-and-under) with nightly accommodations.  Starting at $199 per night, per room, the package is available from Sept. 4 - 7. 

 

During the holiday weekend, guests will find a wide array of activities planned, from bocce ball and croquet to tie-dye T-shirt making and s'mores roasts at the outdoor fire pits.  Movies for children take place daily over the holiday weekend. 

Mountain biking, golf, which are offered on-property, and kayaking are popular during this time of year at Lake Tahoe too. 

 For more reservations visit www.visitsquawcreek.com and utilize promo code LDPRRSC or call 800.401.9501. 

California State Parks day-use and camping fees will increase and begin to help offset recent budget reductions and help keep more parks open. Partners in the public and private sectors are still being sought, as the fee increase will help keep some parks open, but not all.

             "In these dire economic times, we can no longer afford to keep our fees at their current levels," said State Parks Director Ruth Coleman. "The people of California understand that by charging more, we will be able to keep more parks open and preserved for these and future generations."

 Beginning Aug. 17, day-use parking fees will increase by $2 to $5, and camping fees will increase by $10 - $21 a night. Camping reservations made prior to that date will be honored at the lower price.

Annual Passes will go back on sale immediately at the existing price of $125. In future months, additional fee and pass increases are possible as State Parks assesses how the partnership program stretches the reduced budget funding to help keep parks open.

A list of specific parks where fee adjustments will occur will be made available when they go into effect. In deciding which parks will receive a fee increase, and by how much, park managers are evaluating attendance, with higher fees charged where demand is greatest. In that way, the fee increase will have the least effect on attendance, resulting in a revenue gain. Managers will watch revenues closely, and may make adjustments to particular fees throughout the year.

 It should be noted that these increases do not raise park revenues to the level of self-sustainment for the system.  Doing that would require steep increases that would price people out of their public park system.  These increases are another tool in the efforts being taken by California State Parks to keep more parks open during this time of budget cuts and employee furloughs.   

The department continues to seek support from cities, counties, corporations and nonprofit organizations who may want to sponsor or operate particular parks to help keep them open. Further, park managers have been reducing services and modifying their operations by closing portions of parks and reducing operating hours.

            "We have loyal visitors who truly love our parks," added Coleman.  "We will do our best to maximize the use of additional funds so that parks continue to be available for public enjoyment."

Planes mark the entrance to the San Diego Air and Space Museum in Balboa Park (Photo courtesy of Air and Space Museum)

By Richard Irwin, Staff Writer

Bridal parties were scattered around Spreckels Organ Pavilion posing silently like the little grooms and brides you find atop fancy wedding cakes.
The newlyweds were enjoying the sunny skies and beautiful gardens at Balboa Park for their wedding pictures. They picked the beautiful pavilion in San Diego for its classic architecture.
No one seemed to mind when the giant outdoor organ began to play. Many probably didn't even know they were standing next to the largest outdoor pipe organ in the world. In fact, it has 73 ranks with more than 4,518 pipes.
But then everything about Balboa Park is big. Really big. This 1,200 acre urban park may be the cultural heart of San Diego, home to many wonderful gardens and interesting museums.
There's the Museum of Man, Museum of Art, Museum of Photographic Arts, Natural History Museum -- well, you get the idea.
Most are located along El Prado, a long promenade running through the center of the park. The museums are housed in Spanish Revival style buildings. Be sure to take some time to enjoy the detailed ornamentation on the beautiful facades.
But this time, I was visiting with my two younger brothers and a sister-in-law, so we each picked a museum that we really wanted to see.
With so much to see, we started at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and worked our way down El Prado.
Our first stop was the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. Located in the basement of the Casa De Balboa, this is billed as the largest indoor model railroad exhibit in the world.
Having built many model railroads in our home in Pittsburgh, we wanted to see this world-famous layout.
They didn't have just one model railroad, this museum featured huge model layouts in different scales.
One 2,700-square-foot layout represented the rail route from San Diego to Sacramento in the large O scale. My favorite was the 4,500-square-foot HO layout based on the rail line from San Diego Union Station east through spectacular Carriso Gorge to the desert floor at El Centro.
The detail on the moving trains and scenery was amazing. Just watching the freight trains wend their way through the miniature world brought back childhood memories.
Children seemed to enjoy the toy train gallery, where a camera car gives the little visitors an engineer's view of the layout. There's also a coal mine at the kid's level, where children can push buttons to run the trains.
As we walked down the main boulevard, we stopped to visit some of the extensive gardens maintained by the park. These include Alcazar Garden, Cactus Garden, Casa del Rey Moro Garden, Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden, Japanese Friendship Garden -- well, you get the idea.
My brother wanted to stop at the San Diego Automotive Museum next. He's a car and motorcycle buff.
The car museum had a very nice collection of antique cars and motorcycles. It also some hot rods and one-off vehicles.
We'd never seen a 1924 Ford Model T Speedster before. It was a racing version of the 15 million Model T's that put the world on the road.
Exhibit placards provided many fascinating facts. We learned that Model T's didn't have fuel pumps; gas flowed to the engine by gravity. This worked well unless drivers encountered long, steep hills. Resourceful motorists turned their Fords around and drove up the hills backwards to avoid stalling.
We also enjoyed the 1948 Tucker Torpedo, a car of the future built by Preston Tucker. Tucker cars featured advanced safety elements like a padded dash, pop-out windshields and a "safety chamber" for passengers in case of a crash.
Tucker was immortalized in the 1988 movie "Tucker -- The Man and His Dream."
I wanted to visit the Aviation and Space Museum next door. This museum has a nice range of vintage aircraft.
The different galleries highlight not only the planes, but also the spirit of the time. The brooding World War I exhibit has Sopwith Camels battling German biplanes over sandbagged trenches.
Another exhibit traces Pacific Southwest Airlines, the world's first low-fare airline. PSA was founded in San Diego in 1949.
The World War II section has a German Messerschmitt looping over a colorful American Mustang and British Spitfire.
An interesting carrier exhibit honors San Diego's long history as a naval town. Climb up into the control tower to see how the war was fought in the Pacific.
Jet aircraft in the collection include the Skyhawk, Hornet, Phantom and Mig 15.
Unfortunately, time had run out before we had run out of museums. But everyone had enjoyed their day in the cultural center of San Diego.
Admissions range from $6 for an adult at the Railroad Museum to $8 at the Auto Museum and $15 at the Air and Space Museum. Children are free with an adult admission at the railroad, $4 at the car and $6 at the plane museums.
Or try the Passport to Balboa, a one-day pass good for adult admission to your choice of any 4 of the 13 museums on the same day. The $29 passports may be purchased online at www.balboapark.org or at the Visitors Center.

Santa Catalina Island offers a new Unlimited Activities Package - www.VisitCatalinaIsland.com <http://www.VisitCatalinaIsland.com>  -- ideal for families.

For the price of a room and boat transportation, families receive admission to tours and activities offered by the Santa Catalina Island Company, free of charge. The offer is effective through Nov. 1.

This package begins at $133 a person per night midweek and $185 a person per night on weekends, with a two night minimum based on double occupancy.  Kids aged 2 - 11 stay free in parents' room and get activities free.

Their only cost is the boat ride at $47 round trip - www.CatalinaExpress.com <http://www.CatalinaExpress.com> . 

Family friendly activities include miniature golf, Undersea Tour, Flying Fish Tour, Seal Rocks Tour, Avalon Scenic Tour, first run movies in the Avalon Theatre and access to Descanso Beach Club.
 
The package also includes lodging at Pavilion Lodge or Hotel Atwater and round trip transportation aboard the Catalina Express. The Pavilion Lodge is just 14 steps from the beach and the historic Hotel Atwater is located in the center of town. Boats depart frequently from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point.
 
Guests have unlimited free access to the following activities on a space available basis:
 

• All Discovery Tours Offerings. (Each normally priced between $17 and $80!) The Cape Canyon Tour and Sundown Isthmus Cruise are excluded but may be purchased separately.
  

• Behind The Scenes Casino Tour - New! Get an unprecedented look at the off-limits rooms and backstage areas of this history rich building and feel what it was like during Avalon's Golden Age.
• Avalon Scenic Tour - The highest customer rated tour takes you through the heart of Avalon and into the surrounding hillsides where our knowledgeable guides tell you the stories of Avalon's past and present.
• Skyline Drive - A scenic 2-hour tour into the island's interior along impressive vistas to the Nature Center at Catalina's Airport-in-the-Sky.
• Classic Inland Motor Tour - Journey deep into the island's rugged interior to see native plants and wildlife, incredible scenery, and the Wrigley's Rancho Escondido Arabian Horse Ranch.
• Flying Fish Boat Trip - Take an unbelievable night-time cruise aboard the "Blanche W" to see Catalina Island's famous flying fish leap and glide above the water.
• Glass Bottom Boat - Visit the Lover's Cove Marine Preserve, where colorful fish and marine plants thrive among the kelp forests.
• Undersea Tour - Cruise five feet below the surface of the ocean in our spacious semi-submersible to get up close and personal with the aquatic wildlife in Lover's Cove.
• Night-time Glass Bottom Boat and Undersea Tours - Experience the ocean world in a new light as nocturnal sea creatures come out from hiding.
• Seal Rocks Cruise - Cruise to the east end of the island to get a first-hand look at a California Sea Lion colony and watch them play, feed and sun in their natural habitat.
• Casino Tour - Tour the world-famous Casino Ballroom and Theater with its fabulous murals and art-deco elegance.
• GPS Ranger Walking Tour - Stroll through the streets of Avalon at your own pace with your own handheld multimedia guide.
  

• Unlimited rounds of golf at the historic 9-hole Catalina Island Golf Course located in Avalon Canyon. (Club and cart rental additional)
  

• Unlimited hourly tennis court rental at the Catalina Country Club.
  

• Unlimited rounds of miniature golf at the newly renovated Golf Gardens miniature golf course in the heart of Avalon.
  

• Unlimited admission to the Descanso Beach Club, Avalon's only beachside restaurant and bar, located just past the Casino Building.
  

• Unlimited admission to nightly showings of first run movies at the beautiful Avalon Theatre located in the Avalon Casino, as well as weekend organ recitals on the antique Page Theater Organ.
  

Tours or activities are booked space-available, and reservations must be made at the hotel front desk on the same day or no earlier than 6 p.m. of the day prior to the tour or activity. Hotel and transportation reservations are subject to availability. To book this package or for details call 800-322-3434 or visit online http://www.VisitCatalinaIsland.com
 

By Claudia S. Palma, Staff Writer

After taking a six-hour drive to Yosemite last year for some good old-fashioned camping, I itched for another outdoor retreat this summer.
But I wasn't looking forward to another long trek, so instead, my friends and I decided to head back to our old stomping ground -- Dogwood -- a little over an hour's drive away up in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Dogwood is a 93-site campground just past the quaint city of Bluejay and minutes away from Lake Arrowhead. It is operated by the California Land Management Bureau.
At 5,600 feet in elevation, this little piece of the forest is surrounded by tall pine and oak trees. It's inhabited by various forest and mountain creatures -- birds, lizards, squirrels and bears, oh my!
After last year's up-close encounter at Yosemite, (a bear visited in the middle of the night to help himself to the forgotten bag of marshmallows at the bottom of an ice chest), I was not too worried about bears at Dogwood.
The furry beasts aren't as comfortable with people here as in Yosemite, so we didn't see any during our three-day stay. But, it's very important not to give them reason to stop by. Forget the marshmallows!
Each site varies in size. The big ones can hold 16 people with picnic tables, a fire ring and parking spot. Our site, which we called Troop 50, was one of the double-sized spots and sat in a cul-de-sac, secluded from other sites.
We had an entire forest behind us to play around in. We even had our own little hiking trail to explore.
During the day, the sun was bright and warm, with temperatures hovering in the low 80s, though it was cooler in the shade.
A full moon brightened the night sky as we gathered around our campfire to keep warm and share stories. The temperature dropped to about 50 once the sun set.
Fires aren't permitted when the fire danger is high.
"Quiet time" is from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. We didn't go to bed, but we kept our voices and music low during "quiet time."
We didn't need an alarm in the morning, thanks to a determined woodpecker drilling away at a nearby tree.
Plus once the sun is up, your tent is like a sauna.
The map shows one light trail, The Enchanted Trail, but there are plenty outside the campground. We entertained ourselves by taking a little hike on our private trail, which led to an open area of fallen and chopped down trees.
Here's where we found lots of creatures, such as the lizard that crawled up my sister's leg.
The campground offers special family programs on weekend nights.
Next time, I plan on heading to nearby Lake Gregory where there is boating, fishing and a waterslide park.
Only minutes away, Lake Arrowhead Village offers lots of dining and shopping.
Water sports require a permit because it is a private lake. But boat tours of the lake are offered.
Don't worry about bathrooms, there are restrooms and showers spread throughout the campground. Be sure to bring your own toiletries.
Dump/trash stations are located around the campsite. Trash should be thrown away before calling it a night. Food and any other scented items should be kept locked in the car.
The peak camping season is from early May to late October. Fees range from $28-$58 a night. Early reservations are strongly recommended for weekends and holidays. Holiday weekends have a minimum night requirement. All other reservations should be made at least one day in advance. Same day reservations may be available.
Some sites are handicap accessible, others have recreation vehicle hookups.
The camping fee includes entry for one vehicle and one legally towed vehicle. There may be an extra fee for extra vehicles. There is no ATV/OHV allowed on the campground and no usage of firearms, chainsaws or fireworks. Pets must be leashed at all times.
For more information and reservations, go online to www.recreation.gov or call (877) 444-6777.
We had our site booked for one more day but we couldn't sleep on nature's bed one more night so we packed up early.
If you plan it right you can enjoy plenty of nature in just a few days.

The San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau has announced the eight finalists from the more than 170 "Escape to the City" online videos that capture local San Franciscans sharing their personal "only in San Francisco" experiences.

 

The eight finalists are: Ian Anderson (South Park),  Steven Blum (Westfield Mall), Stannous Flouride (The Haight), Tim Floyd (the Warming Hut), Julie Cummins (Ferry Building Farmer's Market), Brent Podesto (Yerba Buena Garden), Mike Salcido (AT&T Park) and Sabrina Foss and Geena Dabadghiv (SF Pride). Videos can be viewed at onlyinsanfrancisco.com/escape/contest.

 

Each video was rated on a scale of 1 - 5 (with 5 being the highest) for the following criteria:

 

1. Number of views per video
2. Originality of content
3. Most unique/creative "Only in San Francisco" experience
4. On-camera enthusiasm for topic
5. Entertainment value

 From the announced finalists, the SFCVB will select the grand prize *winner based on the number of votes received per video. 

 

Each person who visits the Escape to the City micro-site through Aug. 14, and votes for their favorite video, will also be eligible to win the following 'Only in San Francisco' "Escape to the City" prize package:

 

·         A two-night stay at the Hyatt Regency along the Embarcadero waterfront

·         A Champagne cruise on Hornblower Yachts

·         Two tickets to Beach Blanket Babylon

·         A $100 dining certificate to Sens

·         Two San Francisco CityPasses (which includes complimentary Muni and Cable Car passes; admission to the new California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park; the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Aquarium of the Bay; the Exploratorium; or the deYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park and the Legion of Honor; and a Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise)

·         A gift certificate for a pound of See's Chocolates

 

*Please note that participants must be 18 or older to win.. 

 

The videos may be viewed on http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/escape/ and voting concludes on August 14, 2009. The Grand Prize winner will be announced August 17, 2009 via Facebook www.facebook.com/onlyinsf and Twitter http://twitter.com/onlyinsf