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'Carmageddon' 405 shutdown: 50% off Amtrak trains to Bob Hope Airport

'Carmageddon' 405 shutdown: 50% off Amtrak trains to Bob Hope Airport

As 'Carmageddon' approaches, other cities offer incentives to avoid Westside

As 'Carmageddon' approaches, other cities offer incentives to avoid Westside

'Carmageddon': Try the train to Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo

'Carmageddon': Try the train to Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo

JetBlue offers 'Carmageddon' flyover: Long Beach to Burbank for $4

JetBlue offers 'Carmageddon' flyover: Long Beach to Burbank for $4

Readers Corner
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Reader photos: Summer vacation 2011

Send us your 2011 summer vacation photos

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Your photos of Hawaii

Your photos of Hawaii

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They're celebrating what? Odd cultural events around Europe

They're celebrating what? Odd cultural events around Europe

By April Orcutt, Special to the Los Angeles Times

Looking for an odd festival to attend in Europe? Celebrate the pig in France, build a sand sculpture in landlocked Berlin, attend a Viking Festival in Iceland or launch yourself off a pier to see how far you can 'fly' in England.

On a pilgrimage to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest

On a pilgrimage to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest

By Dan Blackburn

Some of the remarkable trees in this White Mountains forest are nearly 5,000 years old. The colorful, twisted trees draw photographers and offer clues to scientists studying climate change.

Tweets from the Los Angeles Times Travel staff.

Spotlights from the Los Angeles Times

46% off pool cleaning

46% off pool cleaning

$59 for a pool cleaning from Gentili Custom Pools (reg. $110).

See Giada De Laurentiis

See Giada De Laurentiis

Get tix to The Taste where Giada will host Picnic in the Hills.

Save over $616

$450 in coupon savings

Cut your weekly expenses with the Sunday Times.

Magic Johnson live

Magic Johnson live

Be there when Bill Plaschke talks with the Laker legend.

Today in Events »

Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo
Long Beach Convention Center
Open Borders summer music and art festival
Borders Books and Music
Hollywood Forever Cemetery walking tour
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
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Travel calendar of the West

Summer events include the Vancouver Pride Parade and Festival, the Courtland Pear Fair, Santa Barbara's Old Spanish Days Fiesta and the Bluesapalooza in Mammoth Lakes, Calif.

July 17, 2011

VANCOUVER, CANADA

Vancouver Pride Parade and Festival

When, where: July 31, downtown

Highlights: This exuberant street party draws more than 650,000 to see floats, dancers and musicians.

Cost: Free

Info: (604) 687-0955, http://www.vancouverpride.ca/vancouver-pride-parade

COURTLAND, CALIF.

Courtland Pear Fair

When, where: July 31, Primasing and Washington avenues

Highlights: Vendors sell an array of pear-infused edibles, including fries and cider. Other offerings include a parade, live bands, a circus and petting zoo, kiddie-train rides, a pie-eating contest, art booths, a classic-car show and historical displays.

Cost: Free; parking $10

Info: (916) 775-2000, http://www.pearfair.org

SANTA BARBARA

Old Spanish Days Fiesta

When, where: Aug. 3-7, throughout downtown

Highlights: Since 1924, what is now Santa Barbara's largest annual celebration has honored Spanish, Mexican and Native American traditions with parades, a rodeo, ethnic foods, a marketplace and dance performances.

Cost: Varies by event; check website for details.

Info: (805) 962-8101, http://www.oldspanishdays-fiesta.org

MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIF.

Festival of Beers & Bluesapalooza

When, where: Aug. 5-7, Sam's Wood Site

Highlights: America's top microbreweries head to the pines to dole out their ales. Attendees enjoy outdoor adventures and musical performers; Blues Traveler headlines.

Cost: Concert tickets start at $30; a three-day party package is $135.

Info: (888) 992-7397; http://www.mammothbluesbrewsfest.com

—Avital Binshtock

travel@latimes.com

Travel letters

Readers write in about an Italian getaway, LAX upgrades, hidden airline fees, driving California 99 and more.

July 10, 2011

A beautiful Italian getaway

It's not often an article can transport me from my Tarzana kitchen to the seaside hills of Taormina, Italy, but "Oh, Go Ahead, Indulge Yourself" [July 3], by Janis Cooke Newman, did just that. What a beautifully written piece.

For a moment I was able to escape and breathe in all the beauty that is Italy. Thank you for painting such a scrumptious picture … and for my mini-getaway.

Janine Sharell

Tarzana

In your excellent survey report "Foreign Tourists' Favorite Places to Visit in the U.S.," [July 3], you left out Washington, D.C. Foreign tourists watch news on their local TV, of course, and Washington seems to be always covered, especially Capitol Hill, the White House, Lincoln Memorial. While the visitors are in U.S, many want to connect with our action-filled capital!

Akhtar H. Emon

Rancho Palos Verdes

Regarding "Travelers Aid Society Is Grounded at LAX" by Chris Erskine [July 3].: It boggles my mind that on the same day I read that the Board of Airport Commissioners decided to cut the $400,000 stipend to Travelers Aid Society, I learn in "Upscaling Their Flight Plans," by Dan Weikel [California section, July 3] that LAX is spending "at least $4 billion" to upgrade its facilities. It's nice to keep up to date, but it's also nice to have that human touch, something that is sure to disappear fast as the city takes over the duties of Travelers Aid.

David Tulanian

Los Angeles

Regarding "Pay Up, but DIY ["On the Spot," June 26], by Catharine Hamm: In my letter to "Spot," I chose to write in about the airlines because their dishonesty is particularly jarring: They hide their price hikes behind unspecified "fees," implying in their ads falsely that all those "fees" are government-related.

Americans do not get value for purchase price. The "new" corporate model is to produce less, hike the price to maximum and cut the cost of employee salaries and benefits. The maximized profits are used for the benefit of the smallest group: the chief executive officers.

The majority of the cost or loss that we pay as customers-taxpayers goes to speculators hidden by corporate titles.

It affects life everywhere, including healthcare, education, transportation and food.

We can correct this. President Franklin Roosevelt did so through tax on speculations and profiteering. President Richard Nixon froze the price of fuel. Published wages and salary schedules will do the same for public servants.

Linda Bolard

Brea

We were thrilled to read "99 places to see," by Laura Randall [June 26] on sights along California 99. We had recently returned from a San Francisco trip. On our way up we took the 99 route to Sacramento and stopped at Bravo Farms for the cheese.

Lo and behold, there was a picture with the story, and the memory it evoked was priceless.

Bill and Sylvia Blush

Downey
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Highlights

Airline travel then and now

Airline travel then and now

Travel news from around the world

Travel news from around the world

Share your memories of flying

Share your memories of flying

Photos

Southern California Close-Ups: Long Beach, San Pedro and Santa Catalina Island

Southern California Close-Ups: Long Beach, San Pedro and Santa Catalina Island

Jungles of Guyana

Jungles of Guyana

Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport

Southern California Close-Ups

SoCal Close-ups: Your guide to downtown Los Angeles

Part 1: Downtown Los Angeles
SoCal Close-ups: Your guide to inland Orange County

Part 2: Inland Orange County
Southern California Close-ups: Los Angeles' park neighborhoods

Part 3: Los Angeles' park neighborhoods
Guide: San Fernando Valley

Part 4: San Fernando Valley
Travel guide: Coastal Orange County

Part 5: Coastal Orange County
Part 6: Long Beach, San Pedro and Catalina Island

Part 6: Long Beach, San Pedro and Catalina Island

California

Hiking where locomotives once chugged

Hiking where locomotives once chugged

San Francisco's Valencia Street on bicycle

San Francisco's Valencia Street on bicycle

11 micro-itineraries for Long Beach, San Pedro and Catalina Island

11 micro-itineraries for Long Beach, San Pedro and Catalina Island

The West

Eccentrics, dreamers and seekers flock to Crestone, Colo.

Eccentrics, dreamers and seekers flock to Crestone, Colo.

Far from the crowd in Yosemite

Far from the crowd in Yosemite

Yosemite's back-country hikers have seen the light

Yosemite's back-country hikers have seen the light

Shop: Travel Offers & Deals

Travelzoo: 55% off Cayman Islands 4-night getaway w/air

Travelzoo: 55% off Cayman Islands 4-night getaway w/air
Travelzoo: $149 for Trendy 'Hot List' Chicago hotel

Travelzoo: $149 for Trendy 'Hot List' Chicago hotel
Travelzoo: Fall fares to Europe on sale starting at $284

Travelzoo: Fall fares to Europe on sale starting at $284
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Custom Publishing: Travel Guides

Beyond the Luau

Beyond the Luau
All you need is love

All you need is love
Something wild

Something wild
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Travel Briefs

Films & programs

TOURISM

Calendar

SANTA PAULA

Films and travel programs: Backpacking for women

BACKPACKING FOR WOMEN

Your Scene: Taking liberties with the angle

The Statue of Liberty has been photographed countless times from all directions, but Jill Bowker, who had tickets that allowed access to the icon's crown, took a fresh look. The result is a bird's-eye view of the tablet in Lady Liberty's...

Tours & Cruises

ECUADOR

Films & programs

SOUTH AMERICA

Letters to the editor

Regarding "No Junk in the Trunk" by George Fuller, June 26: You can find healthful choices at almost all fast-food joints — get the grilled chicken sandwich, feed the bun to the birds, skip the fries, etc.

Calendar

BIG BEAR

Travel: Films & programs

EUROPE

Travel calendar

COCHISE COUNTY, ARIZ.

Travel: Letters to the editor

Jane Engle missed an obvious and overwhelmingly important point in her story ["Are We There Yet?," June 12].

Letters

I enjoyed Christopher Reynolds' article on Orange County ["A Swell Time," May 29]. He covered it well, in an entertaining way, but failed to mention Newport's Back Bay. I guess he thought there was nothing of interest there for travelers....

Tours & cruises

VANCOUVER ISLAND, CANADA

Travel calendar

IRVINE

Travel films and other activities

ALASKA

Travel letters

Thanks for the Indy memories

Calendar

SANTA FE, N.M.

Tours & cruises: California and Nevada

CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA

Travel calendar

SAUSALITO, CALIF.

Letters: Recalling Cambodia's killing fields

I read Susan Spano's "After the Killing Fields" [May 15] with much emotion. I am a survivor of the killing fields. I remember precisely the event that had me clinging to my grandmother's hand and my older brother holding steadfast to my...