| This state opens the way for exploration | | | | San Franciscos Maritime Museum has |
| of its newest sights while celebrating | | | | closed for a major rehabilitation and |
| many historic events and traditions. | | | | redesign. The projected completion and |
| San Diego has one of the fastest growing | | | | re-opening is slated for fall of 2007. |
| cruise ports on the West Coast. It is | | | | In California, water is more precious |
| homeport to Carnival Cruise Lines and | | | | than gold. Most of the states |
| Holland America Line, and an embarkation | | | | agricultural lands and metropolitan |
| debarkation port for Celebrity and Royal | | | | areas are dependent on the flow of water |
| Caribbean ships. During its primary | | | | from the California Water Project, built |
| cruise season, September-May, ships | | | | in the 1950-60s. This facility consists |
| docking at San Diego travel to the | | | | of 33 water storage lakes and reservoirs |
| Mexican Riviera and Sea of Cortez, | | | | and 20 pumping plants, nine of which are |
| Hawaii, Vancouver and to the Panama | | | | hydroelectric and generate power. It |
| Canal, Central America and Caribbean. | | | | also has more than 700 miles of canals, |
| Because of this, San Diego is one of the | | | | pipelines, tunnels and siphons which |
| most popular destinations for both shore | | | | deliver water throughout the state and |
| excursions and pre and post-cruise | | | | includes 444 miles of the route that |
| tours. Its port is located at the citys | | | | parallels Interstate Hwy. 5. Two |
| Embarcadero, adjacent points of | | | | important storage facilities, Lake |
| interest. It is only a few blocks from | | | | Oroville near the town of Oroville, and |
| downtown, the Gaslamp Quarter, PETCO | | | | San Luis Reservoir near Los Banos, have |
| Park, Little Italy and many other | | | | visitor centers. Each offers exhibits |
| popular areas. Cruise passengers not | | | | and information about the Water Project |
| familiar with San Diego will want to | | | | and its respective facility. In |
| visit the International Visitor | | | | addition, there are guides and maps to |
| Information Center located across the | | | | other area sights and points of |
| street from the Cruise Ship Terminal. | | | | interest. At the Oroville Center, there |
| Another option for an overview of the | | | | is a 47-foot tower with an observation |
| city highlights is with Old Town Trolley | | | | deck that offers panoramic views of the |
| Tours. It stops at the Cruise Terminal | | | | lake, Sierra Nevada Mountains, its |
| every twenty minutes and offers a | | | | foothills and the Sutter Buttes. The |
| narrated two-hour tour of the city with | | | | Feath r River Fish Hatchery is nearby |
| on-and-off privileges at Seaport | | | | and has visitor services. The San Luis |
| Village, the Gaslamp Quarter, Horton | | | | Reservoir center has interpretive guides |
| Plaza, Coronado Island, Balboa Park, the | | | | for groups to learn about the dam |
| San Diego Zoo and Old Town San Diego | | | | project and the areas natural history. |
| State Historic Park. | | | | The Reservoirs fore bay is a popular |
| Universal Studios Hollywood has added | | | | area for windsurfing and nearby is the |
| several enhancements to its studio tour. | | | | Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge, an |
| New attractions showcase King Kong and | | | | important winter nesting area for |
| the new movie, The Fast and Furious: | | | | migrating birds. |
| Tokyo Drift, which uses advanced | | | | The Folsom Powerhouse State Historic |
| robotics to thrust guests into the | | | | Park has completed its extensive seismic |
| movies underground world of street | | | | and structural improvements and has |
| racing. Also new is a lively video | | | | reopened for public view. Its massive |
| narration by Whoopie Goldberg, Al Roker, | | | | transformers are capable of conducting |
| Nancy O Dell and Billy Bush, who are the | | | | from 800 to 11,000 volts of electricity. |
| studios virtual tour guides. The tour | | | | Displays describe the working of the |
| that visits filming and production | | | | fore bay and canal system which carried |
| locations now highlights the shows, | | | | water from area dams and delivered |
| Crossing Jordan and CSI: Crime Scene | | | | electricity to Sacramento. Group visits |
| Investigation. | | | | and interpretive guides for tours are |
| Shakespeare Santa Cruz concludes its | | | | available with advance reservation. |
| 25th anniversary season with the world | | | | What is in in LA? |
| premiere of Sleeping Beauty, Nov. | | | | Cupcakes and Bowling! |
| 17-Dec.10. This lively and witty musical | | | | LA has become a cupcake capital with its |
| rendition of the classic fairy tale is | | | | many specialty bakeries including |
| done in English plano style, and is | | | | several that have achieved celebrity |
| performed at the University of Calif. | | | | status. Introduce your travelers to |
| Santa Cruzs Mainstage Theater. | | | | these tasty cupcake experts. |
| Mountain Mandarin Festivl, Nov. 18-19, | | | | Sprinkles in Beverly Hills, Oprahs |
| is at Auburns Gold Country Fairgrounds. | | | | favorite, has a café, restaurant and a |
| The area boasts more than 50 Mandarin | | | | daily cupcake menu that features a |
| growers and the festival is held at | | | | selection of its more than 20 signature |
| harvest time. There are recipe contests, | | | | favored treats. The cake flavors range |
| a cook-off and all types of mandarin | | | | from chocolate and vanilla to chai-latte |
| flavored foods ranging from BBQ pork to | | | | and gingerlemon. The topping confections |
| milkshakes. There are fruit themed arts | | | | are also exotic and varied. |
| and crafts, music and entertainment. | | | | |