Few California getaways offer the variety of easy-to-see attractions that you find on the San Diego waterfront. From the Gaslamp District to historic Navy ships, there will be plenty to see and do.

If you don’t have much time to spend, but want to pack your getaway with memorable experiences, the San Diego waterfront should be right at the top of your list.

Of course most people will spend more than a night once they’ve driven down to California’s southern-most city and the San Diego area will offer up more than enough fascinating experiences to last for an extended vacation. The consistently sunny weather and beaches alone are enough to convince most vacationers this is a good place to be.

But a “quickie” to San Diego also has its rewards and may be more in line with the dwindling vacation allowances we see today as companies push harder for productivity. A lot of people don’t have a lot of time, so zero in on the San Diego waterfront and Gaslamp District – it’s all within close proximity and the area offers a high concentration of fun visitor attractions that, for the most part, are cheap and easy.

We headquartered at the new Omni Hotel which was built in conjunction with the city’s new Petco Park and opened in April 2004. It goes without saying that the Omni would be the perfect location to stay while you’re in town for a Padres game – the ballpark is right next door and even connected by a skybridge – but it’s also an excellent choice to take full advantage of San Diego’s historic Gaslamp District, the 14-square-block area that has been dressed up to become the heart of San Diego’s nightlife.

The gleaming new Omni represents the best in downtown hotels – our spacious suite was like a home away from home with the most stylish of modern décor and furnishings, warm tones, a big comfortable king bed, a handy desk and seating area, and an oversize bath area, which seems to be a trend in modern hotel layouts. The large picture windows afforded us a picture postcard view of the Coronado Bridge and the city’s South Bay. This could have been one of those accommodations we would be content to just lounge around all weekend in a bathrobe but, with San Diego right outside, we were anxious to begin exploring.

The Omni is at the southern tip of the Gaslamp District so with just a little walking we quickly came upon dozens of dining opportunities – literally all types of cuisine, each restaurant offering a twist to bring people in the door. Options here run the gamut from the messy ribs at Dick’s Last Resort to the impeccable presentations offered at George’s on Fifth, from exquisite Persian cuisine at Bandar to the bar food at Moose McGillycuddy’s. Sidewalk cafes are big in the Gaslamp – even on this Thursday night the streets were alive with groups of party people, X and Y generation couples and even many families. The best place to observe all of this was from our table right out on the sidewalk, where we enjoyed scrumptious Mexican food prepared by La Fiesta.

Fashion boutiques, trendy stores and, yes, a few tacky tourist shops are interspersed between the restaurants and nightclubs. Many of the ornate historical buildings have been refurbished and, just to keep things interesting, the merchants in the Gaslamp bring out re-enactors dressed in period garb to help explain the history of the Gaslamp Quarter. As we strolled through the Gaslamp, groups of costumed re-enactors were positioned on several of the street corners where each of the actors assumed the role of a historic San Diego citizen. Staying in character, the re-enactors then dispensed a good measure of San Diego history while staging a kind of mini-play for fascinated visitors.

The energy of the Gaslamp Quarter is undeniable and staying in a downtown hotel allows the visitor to take full advantage of the nightlife – no worries about driving home, no concern about even driving from club to club. The Gaslamp Quarter is all right there within easy walking distance and, even late at night, seems remarkably safe for visitors.

The next morning, we walked to the San Diego Maritime Museum. The Omni is several blocks from this part of the waterfront so we drove – but parking on the waterfront is plentiful and reasonably priced. For those interested in things nautical, this part of the San Diego waterfront will make you feel like a kid in a candy store. Among other historic vessels on display, the Maritime Museum includes a 1962 Soviet submarine, the 1863-vintage Star of India — one of the world’s oldest working ships – the 1898 steam ferry Berkeley, and the H.M.S. Surprise, a replica of an 18th Century Royal Navy frigate that was used in the filming of the movie Master and Commander – the Far Side of the World.

Visitors can stroll through each of these ships and view historic displays, photos and information panels that help give one a sense of how everyday life really was on board one of these historic vessels. The submarine is cramped beyond imagination and actually requires some physical dexterity just to walk through it. The H.M.S. Surprise features many exhibits relating the ship to its use in the movie and will be especially entertaining for anyone who has seen Master and Commander. With the largest interior space, the Berkeley offers even more variety of exhibits based on the history of maritime activity and how these vessels do what they do. The Star of India can be toured at the dock and, periodically, the ship will take visitors sailing.

Maritime history of another sort is featured in the new USS Midway museum, also located along this general part of the San Diego waterfront. Just visiting an aircraft carrier, for one thing, is a treat unto itself. But in the Midway’s case, there is a 47-year history that is good to keep in the back of your mind as you get a real sense of what it’s like to live and work on an aircraft carrier.

This emphasis on the military didn’t end with our tour of the USS Midway. Next it was time to take a harbor cruise on the 150-foot Adventure Hornblower, where we were treated to some great views of sea lions and other sea life and where we again got a close-up look at U.S. Navy firepower. The captain on our cruise boat told us that our one-hour cruise was the best he’d had all week – it included a great view of the USS Shilo (“the most powerful warship on the planet”) as well as a nuclear submarine returning to base. Sprinkle in a military jet or helicopter buzzing by every now and then and you could not forget the importance of the U.S. military in San Diego.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: San Diego is about 125 miles south of Los Angeles and easily reached by freeway. In addition, there are excellent air and rail connections.

WHAT: San Diego’s downtown/waterfront area is an amazing collection of activities and attractions all relatively close to one another and blessed with the nation’s best weather.

WHEN: Any time of year. San Diego’s climate is sunny and comfortable year-round with the possible exception of May and June, which sometimes are more overcast – but still quite comfortable.

WHY: A great getaway for a night, or for an extended vacation.

HOW: To book a room at the new Omni Hotel San Diego, call 800-THE-OMNI or visit www.omnihotels.com.

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Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites focused on regional getaway travel. Among the sites currently offered by GMC are http://www.californiaweekend.com , which will help you travel California, and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com , covering NW beach vacations and other travel destinations in the Pacific Northwest .

Copyright © 2009 Linda Rivero

Planning your vacation but wanting to save the environment, too? These 9 easy-to-follow tips will simplify—and speed up—the process.

1. Understand sustainable travel and what it means to you. Responsible travel simply means traveling with not only your own needs in mind, but also the needs of your destination. Responsible travelers realize that when they travel, they are entering someone else’s home, whether they literally visit someone or not. When you travel responsibly, you treat others as you want to be treated, and you respect their surroundings as you would your own.
2. Think: What exactly do you want to experience? You’re about to travel, and you’re looking at an array of possibilities: new people, intriguing places, and the hope of memorable experiences. What are you interests? What do you love to see, feel, do, taste? Why have you chosen your particular destination? Whom would you love to meet? What would make this trip really memorable for you? Once you know that, you can create ways to get the most of those very special experiences out of your trip.
3. Go surfing – and read! Do some searching online for resources specializing in sustainable travel, or responsible travel, in your destination. You can seek out resources on ecotourism, too; just be aware of the pitfalls of “greenwashing.” (See Number 4, below.) Some guidebooks can be very helpful in your planning, as well. Rough Guides and Lonely Planet guidebooks (as well as others) are oriented toward sustainable travel, and they give you a great overview and starting point for your planning.
4. Reach out and ask key questions. Once you know where you’d like to stay and what you’d like to do, get in direct touch with the people providing the services. It’s ok to tell them sustainable travel is important to you, so you’d like to learn more about their service. Have they received any eco-awards? Do they have an eco-rating? What is their environmental policy? You can also ask if they’ve received any “green” certification. There are several certification programs such as Green Globe and the EcoGreen Award; many more have been created by communities and countries around the world. The standards of these programs vary, and as yet, there are no universal “eco” standards. However, just by seeking out a hotel, restaurant or tour operator who has taken some steps toward sustainability, you’ll be making a better choice. But watch out for “greenwashing,” the whitewashing of goods and services that are not environmentally sound to make them look as if they are. Remember: Although a tour company may seem responsible, its practices may not be environmentally or culturally responsible. You can find out whether a business is environmentally and socially responsible by doing a little research — and asking questions.
5. Choose carefully! Your decisions are important. All your travel decisions are important: they add up to your total impact on your destination, both environmentally and socially. Choose carefully. Look for certified businesses, or if the business you’re interested in isn’t certified, understand their stated sustainability policies.
6. Plan with the environment in mind. Carbon emissions are a natural by-product of travel powered by anything other than ourselves or animals. This contributes to excessive carbon dioxide in the environment and thus to global warming. Responsible travel is your priority. So think about offsetting the carbon emitted by your trip by purchasing carbon-offset credits. In fact, think about offsetting the energy you use in everyday living. You”ll be supporting programs that neutralize our use of fossil fuels, thus helping to reduce global warming. One such well-rated program is My Climate. Others include Native Energy and terrapass. Check them out and see which you prefer. For more information on carbon offsets and how they work, visit the FAQ page of Sustainable Travel International by clicking here. And don’t forget the local ecology. For example, will you be hiking through natural areas? Of course, you’ll want water to drink. How about bringing just one water bottle and a supply of water purification tablets? They work just fine, and your thoughtfulness will be a significant help to a local area that may not have the infrastructure to take care of the thousands of plastic water bottles left by visitors.
7. Prepare yourself: Learn some lingo If you’re visiting another place, whether at home or abroad, you’re visiting someone else’s home. That’s the fact. And the more you remember that, the easier it’ll be for you to make friends and contacts. So learn some expressions in the local language. You don’t need to be fluent. But there’s no doubt that your trip will be far more exciting, and people you meet will be far more interested in you, if you speak some of their language. For tips on learning language for travel, check out my 5 Sure-Fire Tips for Learning a Foreign Language, available at www.peacethroughtravel.net.
8. Prepare yourself: Learn the basics of the local culture How do people prefer to be addressed in the country you’re visiting? Do they shake hands? Do they bow? Do they drink alcohol? How do women carry themselves? How are you expected to behave toward a woman? These are all questions that are worth taking the time to answer. Your understanding of how local people behave and interact will add fun, adventure, and plenty of social interaction to your travel experience. A note on clothing: We all like to be comfortable when we travel, and as Americans we’re particularly used to dressing as comfortably as we like. Abroad, however, responsible travelers keep local mores in mind. As a rule, particularly in developing countries, dress conservatively. If you dress like those around you, you’ll find local people more likely to approach you; they both scream “Tourist!” Wear lightweight shirts (not T-shirts), lightweight slacks, and comfortable walking shoes, instead. Women, for travel in rural developing areas, think long skirts and covered shoulders. At the very least, be sure to have a shawl. It’s important to balance comfort with respect – and avoid the blatant tourist tip-offs.
9. Prepare yourself: Rev up your sense of adventure! Use the web, use your books, contact professionals – and then tap into your own passions and creativity. Venture off the beaten path. Get yourself thinking the way local people think. Leave your usual routine at home. After all, that’s why you traveled, isn’t it? And always expect the unexpected! Yes, the a/c might break down. You may not like the meal you ordered. You might get lost. But if you’ve done your homework – you know the lay of the land, you know what safety precautions to take, you have your maps and books, and you know what to expect from the people you meet – you’ll be fine.

And just think: Oh, the stories you’ll bring home with you!

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Linda Rivero, president of Peace Through Travel® Radio and Women Travel for Peace, publishes Responsible W.O.R.L.D. Traveler, a FREE e-zine on culturally authentic and responsible travel. Want to be a mindful traveler and help your planet as you explore it? Enjoy free tips and resources on responsible travel worldwide with your FREE subscription at http://www.peacethroughtravel.net . Linda is at lrivero@peacethroughtravel.net.

If California theme parks conjure up images of long lines for attractions and food, visitors to the San Francisco Bay area will find nirvana with a stop at California’s Great America, a Santa Clara sister park to famous Knotts Berry Farm. Even in August, the lines were short for what any theme park junkie would consider a high-quality product.

During our formative years in the Pacific Northwest, we relished the opportunity we had every few years to visit California and, in particular, Disneyland. In grade school – before the jocks or rock and roll musicians would take over – the coolest people in our class were those who had been to Disneyland. The pampered rich kids who had been there multiple times were our fourth grade heroes.

Such was the fascination with Disneyland and other parks like Knotts Berry Farm that one of our first road trips that a friend and I took as freshly minted high school graduates was to Disneyland where, interestingly, we ran into a person from our small Washington town right in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. We checked out the beaches, too, but it is telling that Disneyland was still high on the list for a couple of 18-year-olds.

Gradually, of course, we fell out of love with Disneyland. Not that we don’t still like to take our families there, but one’s tolerance for inconvenience seems to grow in direct proportion to one’s age. Back in the day, it was no problem waiting an hour for Space Mountain. Today, as over-the-hill adults, our time just seems a little more precious. For some reason, the prospect now of spending a 12-hour day at any park waiting in line for everything from rides to pretzels to bathrooms – well it just doesn’t have the same allure it once had.

Enter California’s Great America. Here we were, a pleasant sunny Monday in August, and we’re making our way through this major theme park spending no more than five or 10 minutes in any one line. Sure, you say, there must be something wrong with this park if they actually have plenty of space to walk without being jostled by other visitors. You say it just doesn’t compute that anyplace really good would not have long lines for the rides. We say we’d have the same healthy skepticism – except that it’s true. This place really was wide open, yet remarkably complete in its offerings.

It was a Monday so that probably had a lot to do with it. But still, have you ever been to Disneyland on a Monday in August? If school’s out, Disneyland’s in – and packed to the rafters.

Okay, we’ve established that the shorter lines and less crowded walkways make this theme park attractive for middle age adults who may not have the theme park buzz like they used to, but the true judges of any theme park have to be the kids. The 10- and 13-year-olds we brought along for the day were our testers – they were the ones who would strap it on and experience most of the rides that Great America has to offer.

We noticed right off that the 364-acre park appeals to literally all ages, with the roller coasters and thrill rides for the teens and ‘tweens, and Kidzville and Nickelodeon Central for the little guys. For those adults who want to pretend they’re not really at a theme park, Great America even has a sports bar with real adult beer. Restaurants seem to appeal to all tastes, with lots of funnel cakes, churros and other sweets, but also fast food and even some sit-down restaurants such as Maggie Brown’s where you can enjoy fried chicken, mashed potatoes and corn.

Another thing you notice right away is that California’s Great America is actually two theme parks – the original park and a water park that was added a few years ago called Boomerang Bay. Guests get into both areas of the park – a total of 55 rides — for the same general admission price.

Troy, the 10-year-old, made a beeline for the roller coasters – of which there are eight — while his older sister Ashlea offered to accompany him with certain restrictions: she would not, she declared, ride on anything that made her go upside down. Since most of the roller coasters and thrill rides do that, Troy became the primary test pilot on several of the more aggressive roller coaster rides such as the Demon and the Vortex. He did get some companionship on the Grizzly, the parks’s “old fashioned” roller coaster made from lumber back in the good old days.

Troy’s verdict after trying out a number of roller coasters and other thrill rides: “Awesome.”

Troy and Ashlea also enjoyed the Survivor ride that is quite unlike anything you’ve seen before and manages to dip and twirl you in a way that seems designed to deeply disturb that fried chicken meal you got back at Maggie Brown’s. The kids cooled off by sampling several of the waterslides in Boomerang Bay, and we adults even got into the act with rides on the Rip Roaring Rapids and Loggers Run.

Along the way, Troy and Ashlea picked out a few of the gentler rides like Barney Oldfield’s Speedway, the Flying Eagles and the Celebration Swings. The point is there was no shortage of rides and attractions and, in fact, our day was so busy we didn’t even get a chance to take in the magic or BMX shows, both of which looked like they would be fun experiences.

According to the park’s PR Department, California’s Great America has improved quite a lot in the past few years since it was purchased by Cedar Fair, the company that owns Knotts Berry Farm. More family attractions and shows have been added and gone is the emphasis on movies that the park had when it was owned by a movie studio and called Paramount’s Great America. There is also a tremendous emphasis on safety, part of the Cedar Fair culture. Just count the number of lifeguards at the Barrier Reef wave pool and you’ll see what we mean.

Our trip to Santa Clara was all the more enjoyable because we stayed overnight very close to the park at the Biltmore Hotel and Suites. Arriving at the Biltmore mid-day, we learned that shuttles to the park ran every hour, which proved a convenience and also a cost savings because parking at Great America is $12 per day. Then at park closing time, we phone for pickup and the van was at the front gate of the park in just a few minutes, ready to take us back to our hotel.

The visually attractive Biltmore proved to be a good selection because the rooms are set up nicely for a family, with our suite having a bedroom separated from the living room area where the kids slept on a couch that rolled out into a bed. While we didn’t get time to use it, there is a heated outdoor swimming pool that would be quite refreshing after a day at theme park.

Also great for families was the excellent hot breakfast included with the room. The breakfast included bacon, eggs, potatoes, cereals, breads, pastries, coffee and orange juice. The hotel doubles as a business hotel – not only is it close to California’s Great America, but it’s located in the heart of the Silicon Valley where the list of local companies is like a Who’s Who of major internet and software developers. So, whether you’re a family or in town on business, you’ll get free high-speed internet, a fitness center and a business center.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: California’s Great America is located in Santa Clara, about 45 miles south of San Francisco. The park is in the heart of the Silicon Valley, where many famous software and internet companies make their home.

WHAT: This park is an excellent all-ages park that offers plenty of thrills for the teens and ‘tweens, but lots to do for grade schoolers and adults as well.

WHEN: Great America is open daily in the summer through August, but is open only on weekends during the shoulder seasons and is closed in winter.

WHY: California’s Great America is top-notch, just like its sister park, Knotts Berry Farm, and will be fun for people of every age.

HOW: For more information on California’s Great America, phone 408-988-1776 or visit www.cagreatamerica.com. For more information on the Biltmore Hotel and Suites, phone 866-469-9845 or visit www.hotelbiltmore.com.

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Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites focused on regional getaway travel. Among the sites currently offered by GMC are http://www.californiaweekend.com , which will help you travel California, and http://www.northwesttraveladvisor.com , covering NW beach vacations and other travel destinations in the Pacific Northwest .