CA Travel Guide

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What Christina Aguilera, Courtney Cox and Rihanna Have in Common: The 'Immortal' World Tour

February 2, 2012 at 2:53 PM | by | Comments (0)

Last week, celebs flocked to see Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour during the show's three day stop at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Courteney Cox took her daughter Coco to see the show, Christina Aguilera and her boyfriend Matthew Rutler brought her son Max, Rihanna was there for the Friday's opening night performance, as were Michael Jackson's kids, Prince, Paris, and Blanket.

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A Boeing 727 Will Soon Be Buried in the Mojave Desert, in the Name of Art

February 1, 2012 at 9:03 AM | by | Comments (0)

The Mojave Desert is literally a hot spot for aviation. There's Virgin Galactic based out there, the Paul Allen-funded "biggest airplane" project, and soon, something odd enough to attract even more attention. Christoph Buchel—he’s a Swiss artist—is getting ready to install his latest masterpiece into the middle of the sand in the Mojave Desert. Best of all, the thing he’s planning to bury in the sand is a whole freaking airplane.

Some will argue the benefits of this art installation, but as aviation geeks we’re obviously a little intrigued about seeing the project from beginning to end. The plan is to submerge a Boeing 727 into the desert as part of an exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. Those wanting to take a peek will have to take a ride out from Los Angeles, but it sounds like the road trip might be worth it.

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Three Minutes, Twenty Seconds to Fall in Love with San Francisco

January 31, 2012 at 5:41 PM | by | Comments (0)

Like anyone really needs more of a reason to fall in love with San Francisco, the tourism board has developed a cute, heartwarming video showcasing all the little bites of life that make SF...well, SF. And there literally are bites, of pancakes.

The video is titled "A Day in the Life," but all the different neighborhoods, landmarks and little social experiences make it more of a week, or several weeks if you're an average visitor trying to hit them all.

It's definitely no ">time-lapse, tilf-shift Lisbon, but it is a nice watch if you're trying to convince yourself to hit the City by the Bay in 2012, or if you already live there and want to fall back in love with the city.

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Allegiant Air's Big News? Oakland.

January 27, 2012 at 1:04 PM | by | Comments (0)

We were all in a tizzy to hear what Allegiant Air had in store for us this week, as they were teasing some news on their Facebook page. It wasn’t exactly like waiting for Santa to arrive, but we kind of thought they would finally reveal some new details about their plans for Hawaii. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case—we’ll continue to wait—but they did announce information on their plans for another pretty decent location.

Allegiant Air is ready to boost service to and from the Bay Area of California, as they now have Oakland on their radar. Folks looking for some cheap options in the East Bay will probably welcome the addition, and the airport is only a traffic-filled bridge away from the rest of the area’s residents. Allegiant has named Oakland their newest focus city, so that means like seven new nonstop options for everyone from Raiders fans to MC Hammer.

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Sonoma County Airport Upgrades to Make Flying into Wine Tasting Easier

January 19, 2012 at 8:32 AM | by | Comments (0)

One of the best slices of the nifty fifty is getting an airport upgrade, and if everything goes through as planned you’ll soon be flying right into California wine country—get your corkscrews ready. Officials in Sonoma County are kicking around an idea to upgrade and update things at the area’s airport, and hopefully that’ll bring in a few more flights. Right now there’s just one option thanks to Alaska Airlines, so that means your weekend of wandering through the vineyards usually starts by driving from San Francisco or Sacramento.

In total it looks like they’re thinking about spending around $84 million—give or a take a few bucks—on all the improvements and expansions at the Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport. The board of supervisors has already approved the spending, but it sounds like there’s a few more stamps, seals, and signatures needed before the hardhats and bulldozers arrive on site. The final decision is expected within the next week or so, and then it might just be full speed ahead.

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Our Kind of History Lesson: In-Flight Cocktails Through The Years

January 17, 2012 at 4:10 PM | by | Comments (0)

We're not the only ones who like to sip on in-flight cocktails. The San Francisco International Airport is also a bit of a boozehound as evidenced by this SFO Museum exhibit at Terminal 1 which centers on in-flight cocktail service during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

The small display features glassware, swizzle sticks, coasters, drink menus and even cocktail napkins served by old-timey airlines like Pacific Southwest Airlines, National Airlines and Pan American Airlines as well as from still alive airlines like United, American and KLM.

Of course, the winner of the coolest glassware in the case award belongs to KLM for their ceramic Bols gin Delftware containers which are shaped like Dutch houses and filled with Bols Jenever gin. These ones here were given to first-class passengers in the 1980s. But if you're flying World Business Class today, you can score a Delft house of your own.

The exhibition is titled "Hydration, Libation, and Lift: Airline Inflight Beverage Service" and can be found in Terminal 1 at the A3 Entrance lobby from now until July 2012.

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Celebs Take Over the Beverly Hilton for the Golden Globes

January 16, 2012 at 3:07 PM | by | Comments (0)

Last night it seemed of all of Hollywood was roaming around The Beverly Hilton, where both The Golden Globes, and most of the show's after-parties, were held.

After the red carpet arrivals and the ceremony—where Michelle Williams, George Clooney, and Meryl Streep, were among the big winners—the stars hit parties at the hotel's pool, on the garage rooftop, and in the Hilton's conference areas. It's almost impossible to miss out on the action in The Beverly Hilton on Golden Globes weekend, and there is a way for the public to be a part of it.

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Booking Flights for Coachella 2012: Yikes.

January 10, 2012 at 11:54 AM | by | Comments (0)

Without a doubt, the one huge travel story today is the scramble to plan for Coachella 2012, the music festival in the desert outside Palm Springs, CA. For the first time, the massive 3-day party will be split in two—two weekends, that is. If you can't make it April 13-15, there's now the option of catching the same acts, on the same stages, with a different crowd around you, on April 20-22.

Headliners of the fest are: The Black Keys, Radiohead and, most anticipated by far, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg who will close each weekend with a Sunday performance. Other acts due to hit the many stages include Bon Iver, Cat Power, The Arctic Monkeys, Feist, La Roux, Girl Talk, Santigold and really so many others we don't feel like typing them out. (But here's a Spotify playlist to get you in the mood).

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George Clooney Heads Back Up in the Air Following the Palm Springs Film Fest

January 9, 2012 at 12:49 PM | by | Comments (0)

George Clooney had his two favorite travel accessories with him at LAX yesterday, a full-size garment bag and his girlfriend Stacy Keibler.

Clooney, who showed his hometown pride by sporting a Cincinnati Bengals Junk Food t-shirt, was returning from Palm Springs, CA where he was awarded the Chairman's Award at the Palm Springs Film Festival.

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The Most Improved Airport of 2011 Is...

December 29, 2011 at 12:05 PM | by | Comments (0)

It's that time of the year again, the time when the year just plain ends. Alas, we can't just let 2011 go that easily, especially since travelers spent it both up in the air and up in arms over a crazy range of topics, encompassing everything from nudie scans to tarmac delays. Needless to say, we're ready for 2012, but first we're taking a brief look back at the best of 2011 with the Jaunted Travel Awards,—or as we fondly refer to them—The Jauntys.

Plenty of new airport restaurants arrived in terminals and concourses this year, and some airports are even getting brand new television shows once 2012 rolls around. However, there’s one airport that stands above the rest as the most improved. It’s not Minneapolis-St. Paul—although we do love us some MSP—nor is it Reagan National Airport despite its addition of a nine-foot tall statue of its namesake.

We’re picking San Francisco International Airport as the most improved airport of 2011.

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Driving California's Steep and Scenic Pines to Palms Highway

December 21, 2011 at 5:34 PM | by | Comment (1)

Tis the season to head for sunnier, warmer climes. For many this means the Caribbean and Mexico while for others, they're keeping it closer to home in Palm Springs, CA. Since we know many who'll head to the desert on Virgin America's new route to Palm Springs, we're thinking it's time to let you in on a few of our own personal favorite PS secrets.

This story will be in the first-person because...I have a confession. Actually, two.

1: I watch too much of the BBC's Top Gear. Typically I just fast-forward through the interviews and in-studio car talk to get the meat of the program, where Jeremy, James and Richard are off driving exotic, winding roads and stopping to have mugs of tea at shady petrol stations.

2: I don't drive that much at all anymore. Living in NYC negates the need for a car, and though I'll occasionally Zipcar to help a friend move apartments, my behind-the-wheel dalliances are mostly limited to long weekends of rental car release.

For these two very important reasons, sometimes an excellent, leisurely drive figures at the front of my vacation. I have had two mindblowing drives this year. First, on the TT racecourse on the Isle of Man (read all about that here), and, second, on the Pines to Palms Highway from Orange Country to Palm Springs, California.

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Inside the New Cathay Pacific Lounge at San Francisco International Airport

Where: San Francisco International [map], San Francisco, CA, United States
December 21, 2011 at 9:35 AM | by | Comments (0)

Finally. Finally! Cathay Pacific has finally opened a lounge of their very own on US soil, at San Francisco International's International Terminal. This is huge news for frequent flyers on Cathay to Hong Kong, but even for design buffs as the lounge includes the specially designed Solus Chair, first introduced at their Cabin lounge at HKG.

Because Cathay actually enjoys making their lounges somewhere you want to hang out, we'd recommend getting there early enough before your flight to relax in the fresh space. It opens up four hours before the first Cathay departure. All in all there's several seating areas, three shower rooms, seven private workstations (with printer), a snack center and noodle bar. Plus free WiFi of course.

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