Contact: Kathryn Burnside, CTTC
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Jennifer Sweeney, CTTC
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Naureen Kazi, Publicist
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For Immediate Release
DISCOVER WHAT’S NEW THIS FALL IN CALIFORNIA
New flights, week-long package deals and signature events
SACRAMENTO, CA, August 31, 2010 – With more direct flights into California, it’s never been easier for Canadians to escape to the Golden State. The good news comes just in time for a variety of fall events about to get underway.
“California welcomes more visitors from Canada than from nearly any other country in the world,” said Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of the California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC). “With new non-stop service and the diversity of experiences the state has to offer, California is a perfect fall destination for our northern neighbors.”
Air Canada and Virgin America are launching new non-stop service between Toronto and the Golden State. Air Canada now offers non-stop service between Toronto and San Diego as well as Orange County, joining its non-stop service to Los Angeles and San Francisco. Virgin America also recently launched new daily service connecting Toronto, the Canadian film epicenter, to its U.S. counterpart, Los Angeles. WestJet continues to offer easy connections from Eastern Canada to California via Calgary, Edmonton or Vancouver. Starting February 2, 2011, WestJet will offer new non-stop seasonal service between Toronto and Palm Springs.
Fall Travel Deals
Air Canada Vacations:
Five nights in San Francisco from CA$999 ex Toronto/ CA$1,029 ex Montreal
Experience San Francisco! Over five days, become immersed in this city’s beauty, bountiful culinary options and world-class culture. Visit the de Young Museum, featuring two consecutive special exhibitions, “Birth of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay and Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne” and “Beyond: Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay,” or head over the Bay Bridge to Berkeley and explore the new Oakland Museum of California.
Package includes:
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Round-trip flights Toronto Pearson (YYZ) or Montreal Trudeau (YUL) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
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Five nights’ accommodation at four-star Hilton San Francisco
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Valid travel dates: September 23 through October 5 and October 19 through November 15, 2010
For more information on the Toronto package, call 1-866-529-2079 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-866-529-2079 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or visit:
http://bit.ly/AirCanadaVacations-YYZtoSFO
For more information on the Montreal package, call 1-866-529-2079 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-866-529-2079 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or visit:
http://bit.ly/AirCanadaVacations-YULtoSFO
Prices are per person based on double occupancy, unless otherwise stated, from Toronto International Airport or Montreal International Airport. Taxes and Fees not included. Vacations to the USA include return flight and hotel as described. New bookings only. Subject to availability. Not applicable to group bookings. Sale prices reflect applicable reductions, are subject to change without notice and cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion.
About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada’s largest full-service airline and the largest provider of scheduled passenger services in the Canadian market, the Canada-U.S. transborder market and in the international market to and from Canada. Together with its regional partner Jazz, Air Canada serves over 32 million customers annually and provides direct passenger service to over 170 destinations on five continents. Air Canada is a founding member of Star AllianceTM, the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network. For more information, visit: www.aircanada.com
WestJet Vacations:
Get five nights for the price of four in Anaheim from CA$819 ex Toronto
Stay at the four-star Hilton Anaheim and spend five nights in the famed O.C. For kids and kids at heart, visit Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure. Head out to the region’s famous beaches – learn to surf at Huntington Beach or mix with the stars at Laguna Beach. Or, search for the elusive “real housewives of Orange County” in the region’s leading shopping precincts at Newport Beach boutiques or Fashion Island.
Package includes:
- Round-trip flights from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) to Los Angeles (LAX)
- Five nights for the price of four at the four-star Hilton Anaheim
- Valid September 7 through October 24, 2010
Get four nights for the price of three in Palm Springs from CA$1049 ex Toronto
Escape to sunny Palm Springs for a desert getaway. Play the region’s world-class golf courses, enjoy some spa therapy or just relax by the pool. The Hyatt Grand Champions Resort, Villas and Spa provides the perfect base for a Palm Springs escape. Over this 45-acre oasis in the desert, swim in one of the resort’s seven pools, tee off on the championship golf course or improve your serve with the staff tennis pro.
Package includes:
- Round-trip flights from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) to Palm Springs International (PSP)
- Four nights for the price of three at the four-star Hyatt Grand Champions
- 2010 Departure dates: September 5, 12, 19, 26; October 3, 10, 17, 24
Note that WestJet Vacations packages quoted must be booked by September 15, 2010 (11:59 p.m. MT). Flights from Toronto to Los Angeles require a connection in Calgary, Edmonton or Vancouver. Until WestJet’s non-stop seasonal service from Toronto to Palm Springs begins, flights offered will connect via Calgary. Other departure cities and dates available, but prices may be higher. Price is per guest, based on double occupancy. Fares on other days may be higher. Taxes and fees not included. Advance booking required. Offer limited and subject to availability. New bookings only. Visit www.westjetvacations.com for details.
For more information on the above packages, contact your preferred travel agent, call 1-877-737-7001 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-877-737-7001 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or visit www.westjetvacations.com/
About WestJet Vacations
WestJet Vacations provides guests with affordable, reliable and easy-to-book travel experiences to destinations in Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. Leveraging WestJet’s fun and friendly image, extensive network and world-class guest experience, WestJet Vacations offers guests a personalized, once-in-a-lifetime vacation experience. For more information, visit www.westjetvacations.com.
What’s New
For a complete list of what’s new and news in California, visit the California Travel and Tourism Commission’s official media page: http://tourism.visitcalifornia.com/industry/pressroom.
A selection of what’s new in California includes:
In the Shasta Cascade Region, Paul Bunyan’s Forest Camp at Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding sports a brand new water feature, thanks to months of hard work from Turtle Bay’s exhibits team and generous donor support. Visitors can also join the many GPS and geocaching enthusiasts celebrating the opening of the new GPS Adventure exhibition. Earlier this year, the Chico area welcomed the Gateway Science Museum, located in a chic modern building, which is surrounded by a unique landscape. Visitors will find five separate eco-regions, including a paleo flora area, riparian zone, buffer zone, delta and northern lower mountain region.
In the North Coast Region, there’s wine tasting in unusual places – including Safari West in Santa Rosa. The new Wines over Watusi program launches in October to coincide with the grape harvest in Sonoma and Napa Valley. This unique offer includes a private safari for 10 people with one of Safari West’s knowledgeable guides, touring their 400-acre Sonoma County preserve, with the addition of a private wine tasting somewhere along the trail. Famed vintner Mike Draxton, who has produced wines for a number of labels including El Roy, Heliodoro and Henry Bronson, is opening a tasting room in Geyserville’s Alexander Valley. All of his wines are made from estate-grown or purchased grapes from the Alexander Valley.
In the San Francisco Bay Area Region, travelers coming to Oakland for business or pleasure now have even more options for downtown accommodations. The newly-opened Clarion Hotel Oakland, located at13th Street and Franklin, offers easy access to BART, the Fox Oakland and Paramount Theatres, the Oakland Museum of California, Old Oakland Chinatown and the many fine restaurants in the area. Two consecutive special exhibitions, “Birth of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musée d’OrsayVan Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne” and “Beyond: Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay” are at the de Young Museum in San Francisco through January 2011.
Delta Discovery Cruises, a family-owned business, has expanded its operations to include the City of Stockton in the Central Valley Region. Their newly acquired vessel, Island Girl, is a luxurious 149-passenger motor yacht based out of the Stockton Waterfront Marina. Hyatt Place UC Davis recently opened, conveniently situated on the beautiful University of California, Davis college campus.
In the Gold Country Region, Mark Twain’s “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” short story catapulted Twain and Calaveras County into fame. Today, Mark Twain is celebrated in Angels Camp, where there are numerous sculptures, statues and events honoring the author. The most recent tribute to Twain is a new permanent exhibit at the Angels Camp Museum.
It’s pure luxury in the High Sierra Region, as the Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite National Park recently opened the 10,000-square-foot Ascent Spa, as well as 15,000-square-foot enhanced comprehensive conference facility. The new spa increases the AAA four-diamond resort’s wellness offerings with new treatment rooms, dry saunas, steam rooms and health classes for guests to enjoy. After much anticipation, the Truckee Railroad Museum opened its doors May 8, on National Train Day. Situated right next to the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks and the downtown train depot, the museum is housed in a caboose and features displays of models, historic photographs and artifacts representing the area’s rich railroad heritage.
In the Central Coast Region, Santa Barbara Adventure Company paired two favorite treats to create a new, mouthwatering adventure: the Tasty Cupcake & Wine Tour. Guests tour the Santa Ynez Valley tasting wine and learning the difference between a pinot blanc and a pinot gris, as on a typical wine tour. But the icing on the cake is a stop at Enjoy Cupcakes in Solvang, where guests sample six miniature wine-infused cupcakes with incredible flavors, such as Pomegranate Mango Chardonnay and Chocolate Blackberry Syrah. Situated on Moonstone Beach in Cambria, the Blue Dolphin Inn offers 20 newly designed guestrooms, including six specialty hotel rooms inspired by locales from all over the world that are home to dolphins, the results of an extensive $1.2 million renovation.
The Los Angeles County Region is packed with new developments, including Santa Monica Place, where SoHo meets South Beach, featuring Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Hugo Boss, Burberry and Kitson. These famous retailers and others highlight the brand new Santa Monica Place Mall, which opened August 6, an outdoor shopping haven with a beachside setting and ocean breezes, unique meetings and event space, stellar ocean-view dining on a rooftop deck, and more. King Kong 360 3D, a new attraction based on the Oscar®-winning 2005 Peter Jackson film, is Universal Studios Hollywood’s new signature attraction. Riders on the Studio Tour tram are transported, via a darkened soundstage, back to King Kong’s home – Skull Island. The action, which takes place before King Kong ever makes his way to the modern world, culminates in a ferocious battle between the world’s most famous ape and a 35-foot dinosaur.
In the Orange County Region, the Discovery Science Center’s newest permanent exhibit, “Rocket Lab,” launched in July in Santa Ana. Located inside the museum’s famous cube, this Lab highlights the history and science behind rocket travel. Experience a rocket launch by surrounding yourself by video screens, blasts of fog and state-of-the-art sound effects. “World of Color” debuted earlier this summer as the first major milestone in the expansion of Disney’s California Adventure Park in Anaheim. “World of Color” brings Disney animation to life with powerful fountains that become stars of the show as they create the world’s largest projected water screen by combining hundreds of magnificent fountains, dazzling colors and an all-new kaleidoscope of audio and visual effects.
Two new boutique hotels have opened in Palm Springs in the Deserts Region. The Pool House is a mid-century boutique hotel that opened in May. The intimate six-room property is embraced with stunning mountain views, and rooms that open onto the pool deck with plush cabanas. Its onsite restaurant, The Blue Pear, features a full-service menu. Another recently-opened boutique hotel is POSH Palm Springs. The 1930s Art Deco architectural gem is an 11-room property that offers all-inclusive complimentary three-course gourmet breakfast, light poolside lunches and evening happy hours with appetizer.
In the Inland Empire Region, Lorimar Winery has announced the grand opening of its tasting room in Old Town Temecula next to the Old Town Temecula Community Theater. It offers a relaxing atmosphere with premium wines and a friendly, well-trained staff. While a Tuscan-style winery is being built a few miles away in Temecula Valley wine country, the tasting room is open and bursting with activity in a charming brick building located in the center of Old Town Temecula at Front & Main Street.
In the San Diego County Region, the three-year, multimillion-dollar restoration of Old Town San Diego’s Cosmopolitan Hotel has been completed; the “crown jewel of the State Park system” is now open. The Cosmo enjoys a prime location in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, surrounded by museums, historic landmarks and quaint shops, overlooking a grassy plaza. The Cosmopolitan includes an indoor and outdoor restaurant by the same name, boutique hotel with 10 rooms on the second level, along with private dining rooms for special occasions. Paradise Point Resort & Spa along Mission Bay is also open, with a fresh new look to its 462 bungalow-style guestrooms and expansive bay front meeting facilities following a $20-million renovation. Featuring an exotic South Pacific motif, guestrooms were transformed into airy and sophisticated retreats with sleek hardwoods, handcrafted Batik-style bed throws, expansive windows, and contemporary artworks and furnishings.
Sampling of Signature Events September through October 2010
The Taste of Beverly Hills, presented by Food & Wine magazine, September 2-5, 2010, will showcase top chefs and restaurateurs from throughout the area, including “Top Chef” season six winner Michael Voltaggio. http://thetasteofbeverlyhills.com
Lake Tahoe Restaurant Week puts the spotlight on High Sierra fine dining, giving local food aficionados and visitors an opportunity to enjoy three-course, prix fixe menus at participating restaurants for $20, $30 and $40 per person during September 5-12. www.tahoerestaurantweek.com
In Dana Point, the Italian Opera Festival, September 10-19, offers 10 days of opera productions and concerts under the stars at Lantern Bay Park.
www.iaof.org/Italian-Opera-Festival.html
Don’t miss Sunset magazine’s Savor the Central Coast Weekend from September 30 to October 3 in San Luis Obispo, when Food Network chef Tyler Florence will charm his way into the hearts of foodies as the official celebrity chef of the event, providing cooking demonstrations and hosting book signings. www.savorcentralcoast.com
Fort Bragg hosts the scrumptious Abalone Cook-Off & Festival October 2 with wine tasting, clam chowder and live music. www.mendoparks.org/abalone
The inaugural Anaheim International Film Festival (AIFF) will debut October 13-17, marking the addition of a world-class cultural event to Orange County and showcasing the latest independent feature and student films. www.anaheimfilm.org
Visit www.visitcalifornia.com/events to search California’s diverse range of events from art and film to outdoors, performances, sports, and wine and dine celebrations.
About CTTC
The California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC) is a non-profit organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing programs – in partnership with the state’s travel industry – that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel destination. According to CTTC, travel and tourism expenditures total $87.7 billion annually in California, support jobs for 881,000 Californians and generate $5.3 billion in state and local tax revenues. For more information about the CTTC and for a free California Visitor’s Guide and California Road Trips 2010, go to www.VisitCalifornia.com.