In a recent post about California cheap vacations, the focus on cheap beach vacations offered a synopsis of what's available on the 1000 miles of California coastline. Lodgings this summer appear to be a mixed bag of cheap to normally inflated summer prices, depending on where you look. The report offered some deals I was not aware of, but certainly worth checking out if you can go the distance or look right under your nose in areas you wouldn't suspect.
Here's the full report.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The earthquake was great... now that it's over.
The L.A. / Orange County Earthquake:
Our household didn't handle the earthquake real well on Sunday night (May 17, 2009). We jumped off our computers and ran to look at each other in dismay. It was not totally unexpected nor unpredictable. It's just that when an earthquake happens, you forget the routine. The scary shaking, the unknown, and the waiting to see if that's all that will happen. When you get a shaker, you think, is this it? Is it finished?
I looked on the internet as the local TV stations that will cut into tv programming for most anything at all didn't even flicker and say hello. I went to the radio, which was slow to spring to action as well. So I went to the Internet and my favorite source, a map with reports of who felt the quake, where did they feel it, and how strong was it.
I heard the report come trickling in mentioning Lynwood, a city near Inglewood. Oh great! It's the Newport-Inglewood fault, the very one my house sits on, I thought. They say this fault line has not been active for a long time and should start to get busy shaking any time from now till the next few decades. They just don't know when. Because it partially sits on a wetlands and houses built on liquefaction areas (former swamps), the tsunami signs and possibility of houses sinking are just one more reason to feel unassured that we're living in the right place. Yet the houses are cheaper than the $2 million houses on the hill (also on the fault line), and as the crow flies, the ocean is just a short breeze away.
We survived another quake and nothing broke. However, this wasn't the big one that we all know is overdue and expected to come any time now.
Our household didn't handle the earthquake real well on Sunday night (May 17, 2009). We jumped off our computers and ran to look at each other in dismay. It was not totally unexpected nor unpredictable. It's just that when an earthquake happens, you forget the routine. The scary shaking, the unknown, and the waiting to see if that's all that will happen. When you get a shaker, you think, is this it? Is it finished?
I looked on the internet as the local TV stations that will cut into tv programming for most anything at all didn't even flicker and say hello. I went to the radio, which was slow to spring to action as well. So I went to the Internet and my favorite source, a map with reports of who felt the quake, where did they feel it, and how strong was it.
I heard the report come trickling in mentioning Lynwood, a city near Inglewood. Oh great! It's the Newport-Inglewood fault, the very one my house sits on, I thought. They say this fault line has not been active for a long time and should start to get busy shaking any time from now till the next few decades. They just don't know when. Because it partially sits on a wetlands and houses built on liquefaction areas (former swamps), the tsunami signs and possibility of houses sinking are just one more reason to feel unassured that we're living in the right place. Yet the houses are cheaper than the $2 million houses on the hill (also on the fault line), and as the crow flies, the ocean is just a short breeze away.
We survived another quake and nothing broke. However, this wasn't the big one that we all know is overdue and expected to come any time now.
Friday, May 15, 2009
California Vacation Plans are Heating Up
The troops on the homefront are starting to rally. The foot soldiers of California vacations, millions of tourists, are beginning to look, book and hit the road. In one week alone, we saw the prices skyrocket from available rooms at Yosemite National Park to availability nearly gone on many in-park hotels during the height of the season.
San Francisco stats came in with reports that tourism (hotel rooms booked) has barely been impacted during this down cycle. That's simply amazing! Many cities are doing great. But not all are weathering the storm and that includes the likes of Huntington Beach, which had close to a 30% drop in hotel rooms bookings from Apr. 2008 compared to Apr. 2009. That city is requesting (like many destinations) extra money from the city coffers to promote their destination offerings.
Here are some great places to look for deals this summer: San Diego...prices won't be cheap, and they won't be great everywhere you look. But there are some soft spots on smaller hotels and some deals to be had on packages.
Best advice: Look at prices before you go. Sometimes a big event can really take up the hotel rooms. Also, with the gas prices half of last year's prices (not quite, but almost), there are going to be a lot more people driving on vacation. This means that you should expect crowds everywhere. Californians, alone, will be scouring the state for things to see & do. Then add the foreign travelers recognizing their money is worth a lot here, and you'll find that this is going to be one of the busiest summers in California travel.
San Francisco stats came in with reports that tourism (hotel rooms booked) has barely been impacted during this down cycle. That's simply amazing! Many cities are doing great. But not all are weathering the storm and that includes the likes of Huntington Beach, which had close to a 30% drop in hotel rooms bookings from Apr. 2008 compared to Apr. 2009. That city is requesting (like many destinations) extra money from the city coffers to promote their destination offerings.
Here are some great places to look for deals this summer: San Diego...prices won't be cheap, and they won't be great everywhere you look. But there are some soft spots on smaller hotels and some deals to be had on packages.
Best advice: Look at prices before you go. Sometimes a big event can really take up the hotel rooms. Also, with the gas prices half of last year's prices (not quite, but almost), there are going to be a lot more people driving on vacation. This means that you should expect crowds everywhere. Californians, alone, will be scouring the state for things to see & do. Then add the foreign travelers recognizing their money is worth a lot here, and you'll find that this is going to be one of the busiest summers in California travel.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Vacations in California in Mariposa County
Having just returned from a wonderful vacation to Mariposa County, I can honestly say that I knew very little about this place, but I sure found out!
What is a Mariposa, and where can you find this place? Mariposa in Spanish means "butterfly". Mariposa, the town, and Mariposa, the county are both in California's gold country and are considered the Gateway to Yosemite National Park. Have I lost your attention? Yosemite National Park is the place with huge waterfalls, Half Dome rock and a valley where bears, birds, bees, butterflies and deer roam, along with tons of people.
Getting there: Head for Central Valley, Calif., and outside of Fresno you are on your way (roughly takes about 6 hours to get there from L.A.)
What's the pay-off? Mountains, waterfalls, butterflies, beautiful scenery, and pure escape!
How much does it cost? There's rustic camping, and hotels start around $150 in the summer season upwards (the hotels outside the park). Hotel availability in the park is limited in the summer months.
What is a Mariposa, and where can you find this place? Mariposa in Spanish means "butterfly". Mariposa, the town, and Mariposa, the county are both in California's gold country and are considered the Gateway to Yosemite National Park. Have I lost your attention? Yosemite National Park is the place with huge waterfalls, Half Dome rock and a valley where bears, birds, bees, butterflies and deer roam, along with tons of people.
Getting there: Head for Central Valley, Calif., and outside of Fresno you are on your way (roughly takes about 6 hours to get there from L.A.)
What's the pay-off? Mountains, waterfalls, butterflies, beautiful scenery, and pure escape!
How much does it cost? There's rustic camping, and hotels start around $150 in the summer season upwards (the hotels outside the park). Hotel availability in the park is limited in the summer months.
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