Winter whale watching at Sheraton San Diego

the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina has partnered with Adventure RIB Rides, a Rigid Inflatable Boat tour company, to offer a one-of-a-kind holiday getaway with a Winter Whale Watching package. 
From
December 15, 2011 – April 15, 2012, guests will have the opportunity to
enjoy one of nature’s most extraordinary events as over 15,000
California grey whales pass through San Diego to make the trek from the
chilly Alaskan seas to the warm water breeding lagoons of Baja
California. 

As part of the
package, guests will have the opportunity to experience up-close
encounters and breath-taking views of these majestic creatures, aboard
the Adventure RIB Rides, a fast-paced whale watching excursion. 

The package also includes:

       Overnight accommodations at the waterfront hotel
       Two-adult Whale Watching Excursion tickets, departing from Sheraton Marina Dock
       Breakfast for two at the hotel’s signature Harbors Edge Restaurant (one per stay)
       Disposable waterproof camera to capture the experience

       4pm late-checkout (based upon availability)

       Rates from $349 per night

Guests and adventure-seekers alike can book online or call 866-716-8134 and ask for rate plan SIWHALE.  Whale watching excursion must be made 72 hours in advance by calling 619-808-2822.

Make holiday memories in downtown Los Angeles

Holiday memories can last a lifetime, and Downtown L.A. is
the perfect place to enjoy time-honored holiday traditions and make new holiday
memories. This year, the Downtown Center Business Improvement District has
pulled together a list of a dozen holiday favorites in Downtown L.A. for the
whole family to enjoy, many of which are free or low-cost.

 Downtown L.A. sparkles during the winter holidays, with
breathtaking light displays, towering Christmas trees, angelic musical
performances and spectacular seasonal festivities. With activities for every
budget, it offers the chance for family and friends to experience the
joy of the holidays and share the experience for years to come.

 Take a look at the activities at www.DowntownLA.com/holidays for complete details, holiday shopping and
dining suggestions, and a chance to win a holiday-themed prize for
sharing your favorite holiday experience.

Whale watching continues in Dana Point

Even
as Dana Wharf passengers continue to see Blue Whales in the best season
ever for the huge mammals off Dana Point, the season for 
magnificent
Gray Whales begins Nov. 25 and continues until the end of
April. Dana Wharf offers daily excursions during the whales’ migration
south to view and learn about the huge creatures as they journey toward
the waters of Mexico. 

 

Dana
Point is known as a landmark for whale sightings, and Dana Wharf
provides an unforgettable experience to passengers for viewing Gray
Whales during their natural migration.  


The “Grays” have
been known to spy hop, breach, and fluke as they make their way toward
warmer waters for the winter. Dana Wharf’s two-hour whale watching
cruises provide the chance to see these beautiful creatures as well as
large pods of dolphin, sea lions, birds and other exciting marine life. 
Unlike other marine mammals Gray Whales are only here for a short few
months.

 

Expert
captains narrate each excursion, detailing the whales’ movements
through their natural migration path.  Every trip is a new and different
adventure, but all showcase the beauty of the Pacific Ocean world right
here, off the coast of Dana Point.

 

Excursions depart at 10AM, 12Noon and 2PM daily.  Prices
for adults are $32, seniors 55 years and older $27, $19 for kids (ages
3-14), and Children 2 and under are free.  Most trips are aboard the
impeccable 95′ Dana Pride, featuring indoor seating and upper deck
viewing areas, a full cash bar and galley snacks served with a smile. 



Two hour cruises to view marine life aboard the newest addition to our
fleet, the Ocean Adventures Catamaran, at $42 per adult.   Those looking for a deal can come on Tuesday for half price all year long.  For reservations, visit or call http://www.danawharf.com/, 
(800) 979-3370.

Mendocino offers Festive Fortnight this holiday season

This Holiday Season in Mendocino County, CA, the “Festive Fortnight”
will showcase Twinkling Lights, Sparkling Events, Dazzling Deals,
Glittering Galleries and Fabulous Food & Wine. From Dec.1 – 14,
lodging properties, wineries, retail stores, restaurants and local
attractions will offer incredible, holiday-themed deals and
special incentives. 

These 14 days were chosen to
coincide with the extremely popular Candlelight Inn Tour, held all along
the Mendocino Coast, and the Festival of Lights celebration at the
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens.

Other events of note that happen
every year during the first half of December include the Tree Lighting
at the Kelley House and the Guest House Museum, the Lighted Truck
Parade, the Winter Concert of the College of the Redwoods Community
Chorus, the Ukiah Holiday Trolley, the Sing-a-long Messiah at the
Mendocino Presbyterian Church and many more.

San Diego Zoo introduces new 4D theater for Jungle Bells

In December, the San Diego Zoo
will introduce a new 4-D theater to coincide with the start of
Jungle Bells, the Zoo’s holiday celebration.

The 50-seat theater will
combine the visual drama of a 3-D film with a variety of sensory effects
that are built into the seats and theater environment, such as water
mist, blustery wind, snow, bubbles, scents, seat vibrations and more.

The theater is located near the Conrad Prebys Polar Bear Plunge exhibit.
Entertaining and educational films, each about 15 minutes long, will
show throughout the day. The cost of a film is $6 per person in addition
to Zoo admission.

Whale watching in San Diego expanded

Whale watching season in San Diego has traditionally occurred from
December through April when California gray whales journey from the
chilly Alaskan seas to the warm water lagoons of Baja California.
Recently, however, several whale watching companies have expanded the
range of sea outings, and visitors to San Diego have the unique
opportunity to glimpse marine life including several species of whales
and dolphins year round on cruises out of San Diego’s harbors.

The peak of whale watching season is still December through April
when tens of thousands of California gray whales come within a few miles
of the San Diego coast on their 5,000-mile southern voyage, the longest
known distance any mammal migrates on an annual basis. Guests on a
winter cruise may witness this passage as these “peaceful giants of the
sea” swim to warmer climates to birth and rear their young, one of
nature’s most extraordinary events.

Whale watching excursions now tote the opportunity to see humpback,
fin and minke whales in fall and summer, along with frequent year-round
sightings of bottlenose, pacific white-sided and common dolphins. With
70 miles of coastline, San Diego makes an ideal location for viewing
this impressive parade of marine life.