Tagged: california

New Free Trolley Rolling in Palm Springs

Palm Springs has launched a free trolley service, Palm Springs Buzz, enabling visitors to more easily visit without a car—or after more sangrias.Buzz runs Thursday through Sunday…

The Sometimes Hokey, But Still Potent, Charms of Monterey, California

The towns along the California coastline are somewhat like that line-up of starlets that was featured in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “That’s Entertainment” movies. Each one is…

A Major Celebration in San Diego Makes It the Californian City to Visit This Year

In 1909, San Diego was a little city with really big ambitions. It decided to throw a world’s fair in 1915 to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal, which would make it the first…

Minions, Mayhem and Universal’s Godzilla-Sized “Footprint”

Universal Studios Theme Parks & Resorts, flush with funds from its gajillionaire owner Comcast is going mano a mano with Disney in an all out bid to own the theme park…

You Only Live Once, But You Get to Serve Twice: The Low Down on Tennis Vacations from An Expert

Billie Jean King once said “Tennis is a perfect combination of violent action taking place in an atmosphere of total tranquility.” And for many it’s that dichotomy, grace vs.…

Disney Raises Prices Past the $90 Mark, So Your Summer Vacation to the Mouse Will Cost More Cheddar

The Mouse has roared again. Each year it raises prices on us, and it did it again. A one-day, one-park ticket to its Magic Kingdom park now costs $6 more, or $95, and kids (which in…

San Francisco's Bay Lights Are a New Tourist Attraction and Hotels Take Notice

Since March, San Francisco's Bay Bridge has been bursting with light nightly from dusk to 2am. At 1.8 miles long and in places 500 feet tall, the Bay Lights is now the largest LED…

Zipcar is Zipping Home From the Airport

Getting home from the airport may just have gotten cheaper and easier. Last week, car-sharing firm Zipcar (www.zipcar.com) announced that it will parking vehicles at major…

The Able Traveler: Factory Tours for Everyone

In these days of rising prices and shrinking budgets, factory tours are still are a great travel value. Besides being easy on the wallet, they're also very educational. As an added…

10 Ways to Avoid Being That Annoying Airline Passenger

Everyone loves the holidays, but before you belly up to the table for turkey and pie, you'll have to suffer through the flight home. And while there's not much you can do about long…

12 Reasons to Visit New York's Finger Lakes with Kids

Within an imaginary triangle of Upstate New York between Syracuse, Rochester and Elmira-Corning, there are 11 long, narrow lakes lying roughly parallel to each other. According to…

Family Travel: 3 Summer Steals in Vacation Hot Spots

Even though we're now in July, it's still not too late to find a bargain on a summer getaway with the kids. Here are three ways to find sizzling savings between now and the…

Lodging Options for Girlfriend Getaways

Not sure where to start? Read our complete guide to planning a girlfriend getaway. Need some inspiration for your next trip? Read about 15 top girlfriend getaways. From renting a…

Deal or No Deal? Do the Math Before Booking Hotel Packages

One of the biggest travel myths is that a package that bundles components will always save you money. Our rule of thumb: Always do the math. When you compare what the package…

Eight-Night Costa Rica Vacation, from $1,149 with Air

Costa Rica seems to be one of those places our readers can't seem to get enough of, and Friendly Planet (tel. 800/555-5765; www.friendlyplanet.com) knows it, too. The company…

Last-Minute Travel Deal: Three Nights in Hawaii from $459 With Air

Dying for a Hawaii vacation? This week's Smart Deal comes from Pleasant Holidays (tel. 800/742-9244; www.pleasantholidays.com) and starts from just $459 for three nights and airfare.…

10 Tips for an Affordable Family Vacation

School's almost out, which means that families are gearing up for their upcoming summer vacations. Here are 10 tried-and-tested money-saving tips from the readers of WeJustGotBack.com…

Hotels Try to Kick the Smoking Habit

After President Obama's negative comments about Sin City and his subsequent mea culpa ("I love Vegas -- always have!"), I realize that this might not be the most prudent way to start…

Accidental Tourist? Tips for Maximizing Happy Coincidences, and Avoiding the Bad Ones

Accidents happen when you travel. The bad accidents -- the fender-benders, the missed airline connections the unfortunate food-borne illnesses -- are the ones that come to mind first,…

Bundle Up to Fill Your Belly: Winter Restaurant Weeks are Back in North America

It's that time of year again -- or at least one of those two times of year. Restaurant weeks are upon us once the holidays are long gone. They get you out of the house in the dead of…

Slope Specs: In October, a Young Skier's Fancy Lightly Turns to Thoughts of Loveland

With apologies to Alfred, Lord Tennyson, savvy Colorado skiers and snowboarders of both genders and all ages start thinking about Loveland (tel. 800/736-3SKI or 303/569-3203…

Big City Hotels Cater to Families for Under $200 a Night

This time of year, everyone in the family is antsy and hot and arguing about who gets to use the Wii next. Get out of the house and explore what a city has to offer before school…

It's a Smaller World After All: 6 Tot-Size Family Parks

Bigger isn't always better when it comes to planning a great day out with the kids. Although you may think that the huge mega-theme parks of Orlando, California, and elsewhere may be…

Spring Break on a Modest Family Budget

The family budget is tight this year but that doesn't mean that you have to deprive yourself or your kids of a little spring getaway to bid this long winter a fond farewell. There…

Park of the Week: Virgin Islands National Park

The Virgin Islands National Park on St. John isn't the only U.S. park that can be reached just by ferry, but I believe it is the prettiest. Proving again that even robber barons (or…