Solo Caribbean & California beach vacations

If you want to go it alone in California, here’s a fantastic solo package at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica. The illustrious property is, as Gayot.com claims, “a place of legend” that “does a fine job of maintaining its historical ambiance while keeping up with the times, most recently to the tune of a $16-million renovation.” Their Single & the City package for $399/night covers lodging, continental breakfast and a kit with maps and info about Santa Monica, encouraging single visitors to explore the city on their own. Guests receive a complimentary class at Exhale Mind Body Spa overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Based on a two-night minimum stay, the price is good through March.

Hundreds of big-rigs were stranded in a snow-covered mountain pass north of Los Angeles

Overnight, the storm dumped nearly 7 inches of rain in some areas of Ventura County, and 4 inches or 5 inches elsewhere. Santa Barbara's airport got 4.16 inches of rain, breaking the record of 2.45 inches for the day set in 1943.

About an inch of rain fell in downtown Los Angeles, bringing the total for the rainy season to 7.09 inches and surpassing the average of 6.14 inches to date. However, the city had a long way to go in order to meet the average seasonal total of 15.14 inches for the season, which began on July 1 and runs through June 30.

Taking the train to West Coast

Would you give us some general advice on whether to do train/bus travel? Any hints on when/whom to call would be appreciated. Neither of us has been out West yet so we are really excited about the wedding invitation and location.

I will be watching and reading. Thank you in advance,

Ruling allows wilderness trails to stay open

A federal government decision that will allow back-country trails for Jeeps and other off-highway vehicles to remain open in a national forest in northern California is being seen as a precedent that could have implications for other such disputes now developing, a trail advocate says.

The recent decision came from Smith River National Recreation Area Road Management and Route Designation Project on the Six Rivers National Forest, according to Don Amador, the western representative for the Blue Ribbon Coalition.

On the Move

Terry Selk has been named director of tourism for the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. He will oversee the tourism department and promote travel and leisure for the city and county of Sacramento. Selk worked 18 years for the California Division of Tourism and the California Travel and Tourism Commission. Most recently, he was the director of trade travel development for the commission. Selk also started a marketing company, Tasmark Enterprises, in 2006.

Disneyland Park Update

As has been the case frequently over the past few weeks, high winds meant that Believe... In Holiday Magic and both performances of Fantasmic! were canceled altogether on New Year's Eve, and the midnight fireworks were scaled back quite a bit—reportedly down to just a few low-level pyro shots in both Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure (DCA) parks. One-day admissions for Disneyland were no longer available by 1:00 pm., but the park never reached capacity and was still allowing entry all day. This was also attributed to very high winds and chilly temperatures.