February is Museum Month in San Diego

Throughout February 2011, visitors to San Diego have the opportunity to experience the region's rich cultural offerings at half-price during San Diego Museum Month. Guests can participate by picking up a free San Diego Museum Month Pass at any area Macy's location; with the pass, they can receive half-price admission for up to four guests per visit at 40 of San Diego's museums, cultural attractions and historical sites.

Visitors can take advantage of San Diego Museum Month at facilities located throughout the region; for example:

The USS Midway Museum, Maritime Museum of San Diego and The New Children's Museum in downtown San Diego;
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla;
LUX Art Institute and the San Diego Botanical Garden in Encinitas;
13 world-class facilities like the Mingei International Museum, the Museum of Photographic Arts, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park, which is often referred to as the "Smithsonian of the West."
 
Visitors can pick up a San Diego Museum Month Pass, valid February 1 to 28, 2011, at any Macy's store location in San Diego County or neighboring Temecula and El Centro. 

San Diego Museum Month was created in 1989 by the San Diego Museum Council to promote the region's museums, historical sites and cultural offerings. In 2010, nearly 24,000 visitors used Museum Month Passes to explore San Diego museums at half-price.

For more information about top events in California take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in California.

For more information on San Diego offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.sandiego.org

Free Entry Weekends at California’s Gateway to Yosemite

Yosemite National Park will again be offering free entry weekends in 2011, with the first one this week as a celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 17). Tourism officials say the free entry days are not only the perfect chance to explore the scenic park, but the surrounding gateway region as well.

“Yosemite is obviously the main attraction in the region, but it brings people here where they find much more,” said Jarrod Lyman of the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau which represents Madera County, California’s Gateway to Yosemite. “When they discover things like Bass Lake, the Madera Wine Trail and other popular attractions, they realize there is much to see in the gateway region.”

MaderaCounty surrounds Highway 41, the most traveled entrance in to Yosemite. Located at the south entrance to the park, the entrance is the closest to popular spots like the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias, Glacier Point and tunnel view.

Madera County is also home to numerous art galleries and history museums. The region claims more artists per capita than any other in the country, and the rich history stemming back to Native American tribes, the gold rush and logging industry are on display throughout the county.

Organizations such as the Madera Arts Council and Sierra Art Trail hold numerous events to acquaint visitors with the galleries and works of Madera County, while the Consortium of Southern Yosemite Museums represents nine museums showcasing everything from clothing dating as far back as the 1700’s to gold panning, logging and even a working 100 year old steam engine, on which you can ride through the Sierra National Forest.

For more information about top events in California take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in California.

For more information visit www.YosemiteThisYear.com

Experience the California Wine Country Lifestyle for Less

Need a break from the so-called "lazy days of summer?" The California Travel & Tourism Commission (CTTC) has what you need - more than 80 accommodation packages that invite you to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures of the wine country lifestyle during California Wine Month this September.

Whether you're looking to explore California wine country on a bike or in a Bentley, there are packages to indulge your fantasy getaway no matter how big your wallet. Established or aspiring oenophiles can access great budget or extravagant getaways while saving up to 35 percent on overnight packages in premier and emerging wine regions such as Napa, Sonoma, Lodi, Monterey, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara and Temecula Valley.

"Whether you're a passionate wine lover or just a dabbler in our state's signature beverage, there's nothing quite as exciting as visiting California wine country just before and during harvest time," said Caroline Beteta, CTTC president & CEO. "The beautiful valleys are abundant with the fragrance and colors of grapes and vines, and the bustle of vintners getting ready to create their next great vintage. With these great California Wine Month offers, there's no better time to visit our wine country – whether you want the ultimate bargain or luxury experience."

California is the leading destination for wine and food travel in the U.S., producing 90 percent of American wine and nearly 400 different crops, inspiring a playground for the culinary arts, which translates to a gourmet paradise for foodies yearning for a deeper connection with California's great wine and fresh produce.

For more information about top events in California take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in California.

For information on special accommodation deals for California Wine Month, check out www.visitcalifornia.com/winemonth.

Variety of Special Events in San Diego

Throughout the year, San Diego plays host to a variety of annual special events, ranging from the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition, the largest event of its kind in the world, to Comic-Con International, the largest comics and pop culture event in the United States.

Here are some unique and colorful special events that visitors to San Diego can enjoy in the upcoming months.

Visitors can be Super Man or Wonder Woman for a day at Comic-Con International this week, July 22 to 25, at the San Diego Convention Center. Comic-Con is a signature summertime event for San Diego, attracting thousands of artists, celebrities and fans of comic books, movie memorabilia and all things related to pop culture.

Guests can wiggle their toes in the sand and view hundreds of sand sculptors at work during the Annual U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition, August 6 to 8, at Imperial Beach Pier.

The San Diego International Film Festival returns September 29 to October 3 to downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter with a full slate of films showcasing the best in American and international full-length features, documentaries and shorts. Extra activities include Q&A sessions with the directors, workshops, panel discussions, guest appearances by film and video artists and more.

Part of San Diego’s annual Fleet Week celebration, the annual MCAS Miramar Air Show, October 1 to 3, showcases several types of aircraft, including vintage biplanes, Air Force Thunderbirds, a Navy Super Hornet and numerous stealth fighter jets. The event includes simulated combat demonstrations, a Twilight Show with the Great Wall of Fire and a firework grand finale.

For more information about top events in California, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in California

For more information on events in San Diego visit www.sandiego.org

Rare Aircraft at Madera Air Show in San Joaquin Valley

Dabuco, Inc. will bring a 2-day air show event back to Madera, California at the Madera Airport May 22 and 23 with many aerobatic performers and rare WWII bombers & fighters.



Madera is rich in military history and is situated perfectly in the San Joaquin Valley to host the Madera Air Show 2010.

Each day the show will feature several top performers such as Bill Cornick, John Collver, Spencer Suderman, Tim Decker, Greg Colyer in his T-33 jet, Silver Wings Walking Team, Doug Jardine, Dr D’s Old Time Aerobatics, and many more.

Complementing these world class aerobatic performers is a display of flying & static warbird aircraft. These are some of the finest restored aircraft in the world today and many of them will be flying. There will be several different WWII aircraft including (but not limited to) the B-25 Bomber, P-51 Mustang, Yak-11 & Yak 55, P-40E, and many other rare aircraft.

“Ground Activities” will include an Ultra light aircraft display, the Madera modelers will demonstrate the capabilities of their beautiful R/C aircraft in a brilliant aerial display show center during each day of the air show. There is a kid’s zone with several bounce houses and face painting can be enjoyed too. Many exhibitors, vendors, and, of course, lots of food and drink will be available throughout the show site.

For more information about top events in California, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in California at http://www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-california.html

For more information visit www.maderaairshow.com.

AMERICA’S PREMIER SPRING ROWING REGATTA

The 37th annual San Diego Crew Classic – on March 27 and 28 on San Diego’s beautiful Mission Bay – has matured into the largest regatta in the world exclusively held for eight-oared rowing shells.

The race begins near Sea World and heads north along Mission Bay for 2,000 meters finishing at Crown Points Shores. The protected waters and green lawns of Mission Bay Park offer a perfect setting for this San Diego institution.

Over 3,400 athletes from more than 100 clubs, universities and colleges from across the United States will be taking part. For rowing events, the Crew Classic has been the marquee regatta on the West Coast for many years and has been on the rowing scene with many esteemed regattas such as Head of the Charles.

The Crew Classic has been the competitive site of both future and current Olympians. The Crew Classic is also an event for rowers of all levels and from ages 14-84 competing each year in various divisions. Some are novice rowers, while others are reliving their college and club experiences. The masters level is the fastest growing segment of the sport.

In addition to the outstanding racing, the San Diego Crew Classic features a trade show, great food and and alumni tents along with great viewing of the racing from Crown Point Shores or on the massive Jumbotron.

Crews will be on the water for practice throughout the day on Friday, March 26 adjacent to the merchandise and alumni areas.

For more information about top events in California, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in California at www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-california.html

Or, take a look at the official web site of the San Diego Crew Classic at www.crewclassic.org

TWO UPCOMING FILM FESTIVALS IN SACRAMENTO

Sacramento is rich in film production locations so there is no surprise that California’s capital is also home to two regular early-year film festivals.

The 13th Annual Sacramento Jewish Film Festival (this year February 6 and 7) takes place at the Crest Theatre every February. Celebrating a Bar Mitzvah year, the 2010 Sacramento Jewish Film Festival brings feature films from around the globe to the Crest Theatre.

Filmmakers world-wide will descend on Sacramento for the Sacramento International Film Festival (March 21 to April 4) for a host of uncompromising documentaries, shorts and feature films.

Peacefully located in a leafy valley of scenic rivers and canopies of trees, Sacramento is a cosmopolitan convergence of tall, gleaming buildings, hearty Victorians, splendid restaurants and shops, a vibrant arts scene, and a virtual cornucopia of state of the art meeting facilities. Sacramento has been called a snapshot of Wild West history in a modern, world-class city.

Its amenities, combined with the rich history of California's Wild West, help visitors once again Discover Gold. If you really want to visit the past, step back in time to the California Gold Rush era in Old Sacramento, a 28-acre town of historic buildings, museums and monuments. With strong preservation efforts, the wooden sidewalks, horse-drawn carriages, Pony Express monuments and Mississippi-style riverboats reflect the nostalgic appeal of early American history.

For more information about top events in California, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in California at www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-california.html

Or, take a look at the official web site for Sacramento events at www.sacramento365.com/

CRAB AND WINE DAYS IN MENDOCINO COUNTY

Got your bib and tucker packed for all-you-can-eat crab feeds, passport wine tastings, winemaker's dinners, wine competitions, crab cruises, cooking classes, family-style cioppino feeds, crab cake cook-offs and lots of seafood?

Mendocino's Crab and Wine Days (from January 22 to 31) is rated one of America's Top 10 Seafood & Wine Festivals by Coastal Living Magazine. Many restaurants and Inns are celebrating with specials and events throughout the county, from the coast to the inland valleys.

To make the trip more fun, Mendocino County is hosting a Crab & Wine Days Passport Wine Tasting. Visit participating wineries for a chance to win great prizes. Tasting runs from January 22 - 31st.

Mendocino County has something for everyone. From ancient forests and wine country to spectacular coasts and romantic inns, hotels, and B & Bs, Mendocino County is one of Northern California’s best kept secrets. Whether you are interested in an outdoor adventure with kayaking, hiking or horseback riding or if you want to visit a lush, primarily organic wine country, filled with family-owned wineries, or if you are a collector of art or a fan of fine dining, this is a great destination.

Mendocino County, part of California's famous North Coast wine region, begins about 90 miles north of San Francisco and is located directly north of Sonoma County.

For more information about top events in California, take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in California at www.topeventsusa.com/state-events-california.html

Or, take a look at the official web site for Mendocino County at www.gomendo.com

Whether we want to think of Christmas before Halloween is done or not - prepare yourself for lots of blogs here about top events and festivals about the Christmas season - this will be the best place to find out about the best in Christmas events coming your way. For the top Christmas events in the USA visit http://www.topeventsusa.com/christmas-events.html

DECK THE HALLS IN CALIFORNIA

There is no typical way to spend the winter holidays in California. Chalk it up to a variety of natural terrain, but you’re just as likely to find yourself building a “snowman” on the beach as creating one in a snowy wonderland.

The authentic Danish city’s village streets of Solvang , for example, are decked out for the entire months of November and December with seasonal adornments and more than 150 boutiques and specialty shops hosting open houses as part of the town’s Annual Julefest Celebration. Highlights include the tree lighting ceremony December 4 with dance performances and musical entertainment in Solvang Park, the Julefest Parade December 5 and the Nativity Pageant December 12.

You would expect twinkling lights during the holidays – but on a boat? That’s just how they celebrate in Oxnard with the annual Parade of Lights, when vessels, illuminated with thousands of lights, sail and motor throughout Channel Islands Harbor. Visitors can catch all the action this year December 12 from the harbor, as well as restaurants and the water. Huge displays with creative themes will also be displayed along Christmas Tree Lane on F and G Streets in Oxnard’s historic district, where travelers can drive or leisurely walk through the neighborhoods to take in the creative shows.

They may have boats in Oxnard, but they’ve got tractors in Calistoga. The 14th Annual Lighted Tractor Parade is the ultimate in small-town Christmas experiences. On December 5, vintage and modern tractors, antique trucks, human-powered vehicles and construction equipment bedecked with dazzling lights will roll down Calistoga’s main street to celebrate the season and the town’s agricultural heritage.

In Santa Cruz, Old Saint Nick ditches the sled and opts to hang ten November 28, when the jolly old fellow and his reindeer ride the waves to shore on surfboards at Capitola Beach, then pitch a lawn chair on the sand to take wish list requests from kids while Donner and Blitzen break out the candy and holiday cheer.

San Francisco’s Union Square may be one of the most celebrated shopping districts in the country. In addition to its variety of shops offering unique gifts and wares, visitors can don a pair of skates at the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square for 90-minute sessions from November 11 to January 18, 2010.

Celebrate an old-fashioned Christmas at the Rancho Guajome Adobe in Vista, a hacienda and National Historic Landmark that depicts Anglo-Hispanic architecture. Guests can wander through the 28 decorated rooms, designed to replicate the holiday décor in the 1800s using natural materials to make wreaths, garlands and centerpieces November 25-26.

In San Diego, travelers can share the holidays with creatures of the ocean at SeaWorld’s Holiday Celebration with special shows and distinctive joyful experiences, such as “Shamu’s Holiday Night” and “Clyde and Seamore’s Night Before Christmas,” along with The Polar Bear Express 4-D Experience that features snow, fog and wind effects at the park’s Mission Bay Theater.

It’s not often – if ever – that you see a 30-foot LEGO Christmas tree. But the annual Holiday Block Party December 19-31 at Legoland in Carlsbad is back, with tree, a life-sized Santa and reindeer built entirely from LEGO blocks.

It’s a miner’s Christmas – literally – at Columbia State Park in the Gold Country Region, when costume interpreters recreate the mining camp of the 1850s as homesick miners roast chestnuts, drink cider and perform live music for park visitors. This year, the festivities take place the weekends of December 12-13 and 19-20.

Get your holiday shopping done early this year while enjoying the spirit of a small-town Christmas at the 35th Anniversary of the Sonora Christmas Festival November 27-29, when more than 200 artisans present their crafts, along with performances by carolers and costumed elves.

They are going Swedish in Kingsbury with the Santa Lucia Festival and Parade. It’s all part of this Swedish village’s annual Christmas tradition. The day starts early on December 5 with a traditional Swedish breakfast, an arts and crafts festival and later a gingerbread house contest. In the evening is the Festival of Lights Parade.

Also in the Central Valley Region is Christmas Tree Lane on Fresno’s Van Ness Boulevard, where the street is transformed into a magical Christmas wonderland with light displays adorning trees, lawns and homes making up a mile-long Yuletide homage December 5-26.

Tis the season to leave the sweater, scarf and gloves at home when you’re escaping to Palm Springs. With temperatures hovering in the 70s, visitors are in for a balmy visit that might include the Festival of Lights Parade December 5 on Palm Canyon Drive with its lighted floats, equestrians and celebrities.

The magic and the sparkle of the holidays shine bright at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. The resort transforms November 13 through January 3, 2010, with the return of popular holiday versions of It’s a Small World and the Haunted Mansion, along with colorful décor and a nightly snowfall on Main Street. The Disneyland Christmas Tree is also specially designed to present a nightly merry light show like no other with more than 62,000 energy-efficient LED lights.

The shopping mecca Fashion Island in Newport Beach hosts a massive 115-foot Christmas tree, which becomes illuminated with more than 17,000 lights and ornaments during the Fashion Island Tree Lighting Ceremony November 21-22.

Ferndale, possibly the best preserved Victorian town in the country, turns on the lights of its 160-foot high Siska spruce December 6 in a holiday tradition that dates back to 1934. For three evenings (December 9-11), historic inns, rustic retreats and modern motels on the coast are alit and abuzz with holiday cheer for the Annual Mendocino Coast Candlelight Tour. Innkeepers and strolling carolers welcome guests, along with those bearing spiced apple cider and sweet treats, as visitors stroll through the decorated properties.

They deck the “hills” in Beverly Hills, home to star-studded events and glamorous abodes. This year, festivities kick off November 21 with a UNICEF holiday lighting ceremony featuring a fireworks show behind the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The West Coast home to the UNICEF Snowflake is lit by top celebrities every year. A total of four blocks of Rodeo Drive is closed off to this family-friendly celebration with its variety of festivities, including face painters, stilt walkers, musicians and caricature artists. Who hasn’t watched the televised Tournament of Roses Parade the first of the year? But being there in person is so much more powerful, as you and more than one million of your new friends soak up the magnificent floats, marching bands and equestrian units. This year’s theme is “A Cut Above the Rest,” and promises to be as exceptional as ever as the event cruises the 5.5-mile parade route.

Old Town Temecula in the Inland Empire Region welcomes Santa Claus November 27. Dressed in his Christmas red velvet, Santa traditionally arrives on a horse-drawn sleigh. Old Town is also adorned in the holiday spirit with lights and festive displays. You can also head to Snow Summit Ski Resort in Big Bear Lake for a New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade as skiers and snowboarders glide down the mountain in a steady stream of torchlights.

For more information about California go to www.VisitCalifornia.com.

For the top Christmas events in the USA visit http://www.topeventsusa.com/christmas-events.html