Archive for December, 2009

Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

If you want to learn more about Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, then look no further than Sammy Hagar. He is the man who got it all started and has said: “The Cabo Wabo Cantina has generated enormous curiosity from the day it opened. At first, it was because of the time and place.” At first, in 1990, Cabo San Lucas was a small place for a nightclub of it’s magnitude, but since it has grown into a more popular vacation spot. Sammy was able to see into the future and foresee the destiny of his club. After time, many mistakes, some good people, and a lot of luck, Cabo Wabo has grown into what it is today.

Now Cabo Wabo Cantina is the place where land ends and the party begins. It is a lively place that also has a laid back side to it. Many in Cabo San Lucas consider it the best place to hear live music and it has a different band every week. In the daytime hours the restaurant provides some of the best food in the whole Baja peninsula, with menu items from seafood to authentic Mexican food and anything else a person could want. But, if you can make it all the way to Cabo San Lucas for the weekend, you can still experience Cabo Wabo Cantina at Lake Tahoe, Nevada. So, if you’re thirsty for good drinks and a good time, go experience the cantina that epitomizes the Cabo lifestyle.

Squid Row at Cabo San Lucas

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

Squid Row, located in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico is a fun in the sun party spot. It is a nightclub, dance club, and restaurant all rolled up into one. It has three stories of party energy and is getting more popular every day. On some nights it is difficult to make it from the entrance to the top floor bathrooms. You never know what you might experience along the way either. The waiters here possess spray tanks filled with tequila to dispense to party goers and have to make their way through the crowds of revelers that are moving to the loud dance music. The first floor has an open air dance floor that is encircles by crowds of spectators on all three levels. It can get pretty rowdy at times, making work as a waiter and a little scary at times.

There’s a lot to see and experience at Squid Row, and this is not a place for the calm or mild mannered. It is a place full of energy, color, friendliness, and complete fun. Squid Row will definitely liven your night up and keep you coming back for more.

The goal of Squid Row’s management is to keep the party going and make everyone there happy. The owner is the center of attention at this establishment. He stands on a special industrial platform in the middle of the main level. He raps, sings, and encourages visitors to dance and have a good time. It is a constant party at Squid Row.

Torrey Pines

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

Torrey Pines Golf Course is at the coastal cliffs of the Torrey Pines Mesa in La Jolla, California which is a coastal town about 20 minutes away from San Diego if you’re driving. Torrey Pines has two 18-hold golf courses that are the South Course and the North Course and both are played by PGA Tour pros at during the Buick Invitational that occurs every year in February or March. These two courses have breathtaking scenery of the Pacific Ocean at many of its holes making it known worldwide.

The South Course was created by William Bell Sr. in 1957 and was redone by Rees Jones in 2001. The South Course’s signature hole is the spectacular 3rd hole. The North Course was also designed by William Bell Sr. in 1957, but it has remained the same over the years. Its signature hole is hole six. The South Course is more difficult than the North Course and the final round of the Buick Invitational is played on it.

If you are a snowbird and want a beautiful place to visit and play golf, Torrey Pines could be the place for you. However, if you do decide to give it try you will need to reserve your tee time ninety days in advance. If not you may be forced to wait in line for the first come/first serve golfing availability during twilight hours. If order to do this you will have to get to Torre Pines Golf Course at 6 p.m. the evening before the day you want to golf and stand in line until 7:30 a.m. the next day when golfers with reservations begin playing. The choice is yours.

A Snowbird’s Guide to Torrey Pines

Monday, December 28th, 2009

If you’re looking for a winter getaway location, you may want to consider Torrey Pines Golf Course located in scenic La Jolla, California, which is about a 20 minute drive from downtown San Diego. This is a world class golf course that features two 18-hole courses, the North Course and the South Course. The weather is usually sunny and the courses are spectacular.

If you are a non-resident expect to pay a significantly higher amount than resident golfers. Also, you must schedule your tee time 90 days in advance, unless you want to golf during twilight hours and get to the course on the night before golfing and wait in line for the first come/first serve tee times. You will have to get there at 6 p.m. and stay till 7:30 a.m., before the golfers with reservations begin playing.

Effective 11/1/09 prices for non-resident golfers are: South Course: Mon-Thur $235, Friday-Sun $279, and for the North Course: Mon-Thur $156, Fri-Sun $180. All prices include green fee and cart. Torrey Pines also has Twilight Rates that are effective 11/1/09 that are as follows: South Course: Mon-Thur $115 and Fri-Sun $142 and the North Course: Mon-Thur $68 and Fri-Sun $82. Twilight tee times cannot be reserved in advance and are walk on only. Twilight starts at 2 p.m. between November and March and changes to 3:30 p.m. from April to October. In 2010 both course at Torrey Pines will be close for maintenance and the Century Club of San Diego Invitational from January 18th to February 2nd.

Torrey Pines Snowbirds

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Torrey Pines gold course is a world class golf course located in beautiful LaJolla, CA. It is open to the public and is well-known to golf enthusiasts all over the world. It sits on top of cliffs looking down at the Pacific Ocean at sunny San Diego, California. Visitors are amazed at the scenery of the coastline and rocky cliffs. Wildlife can be seen all around the course and the indigenous Torrey Pines trees populate the area.

Torrey Pines has two beautiful 18-hole gold courses, which are the North and South Courses. Not only does it provide you with a great golf experience, it also has one of the biggest on-site golf shops in the country. In the surrounding area there is expert golf instruction, driving ranges, fine dining, and top of the line lodging.

Torrey Pines is well known as one of the countries most prestigious golf courses and offers beauty and an experience that is hard to surpass. It is surrounded by mountains to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west. There are a variety of weather conditions at the course from sunny, rainy, foggy, to windy.

Because of Torrey Pines stunning scenic backdrop and often sunny weather, it is a popular golfing destination for snowbirds who want to escape the winter months. However, if snowbirds want to experience this golfer’s paradise they have to make their reservations in advance. At Torrey Pines golfers have to schedule their tee-times ninety days in advance, but it is a golfing experience like none other and will be well worth the wait.

Canadian Travel to U.S. More Inviting

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Americans are losing international tourists and their money to other countries. Not only are we losing money, but we are also losing thousands of jobs. International travelers, which include Canadians, make up only a tenth of visitors to Florida, although they stay longer and spend more money than American visitors to Florida.

In an attempt to bring in more international tourists, United States tourism officials are pushing to pass the Travel Promotion Act. This bill, which is in Congress, is meant to spread advertising campaigns all over the world, and bring relief to the difficult processes off getting into the country, thus making foreigners feel more welcome. We need to balance security measures with the need to make traveling to the United States less complicated.

There is a very good chance the new bill will get passed. Forty-eight senators are co-sponsoring the Travel Promotion Act, which means they have a lot of confidence in it and are willing to attach their names to it. Once some controversial amendments are dealt with, the Senate and the House is expected to pass the bill. The Travel Promotion Act will pay for itself by applying a $10 charge to every foreign visitor, and will bring in $100 million per year. This money will also be matched from private gifts from the tourism industry, and will include services such as free ads and brochures. Most of the supporters of the bill believe that international travelers that spend thousands of dollars wouldn’t notice an extra $10 fee.

Canadian Visitors to the U.S.

Monday, December 21st, 2009

Many small businesses in the United States are dependant on travel and tourism to be successful. Travel and tourism is a $740 billion dollar industry that provides employment to seven and a half million Americans. Just like everything else it has been hit hard by the recession. The U.S. Department of Commerce reported that visitors to the United States in 2009 have dropped 9% from 2008. Crowds, a shaky structure, and airport delays are discouraging travel to the United States.

In order to draw more international tourists to America we need to make it more inviting to outsiders to visit and do business. One positive course of action would be to pass the Travel Promotion act. Passing this act would promote interaction between the private and public sectors that would increase travel to the United States. Most countries have already put this coordination effort into effect. There are estimates that say a successful program could attract $1.6 million new international visitors per year. Also, the Travel Promotion Act would help to bring about changes in U.S. travel policies to relieve a lot of the hassles that are associated with traveling to the United States, such as invasive security measures that give foreigners a feeling that they are not welcome. If more effort was put in to improving America’s travel infrastructure, it would create jobs as well as bring in more international tourists to our country. In order to accomplish this end, America needs to do a better job of making outsiders feel welcome and safe.

U.S. More Alluring to Canadians

Friday, December 18th, 2009

Other than the increase in the value of the Canadian loonie, musical concerts have been arranged in recent years that highlight Canadian musicians that have caused more Canadians to cross the border and visit the U.S. One such concert was the band Tragically Hip, which is a band that sells out stadiums in Canada. The band performed at the Grand Ballroom located in Manhattan and numerous venues in New York City.

Other efforts have been made to make visiting the United States more attractive to Canadians. Officials for New York business promotion have increased their attention on Canadians while the loonie is strong. Around $1 million was spent in 2007 on ads focused on potential tourists in the Toronto area and plans were made to spend another million to increase Canadian visitors.

Visitors to the U.S. have increased in recent years because of the buying power of the Canadian dollar and the cheaper local sales tax on the U.S. side of the border. Although many Canadian visitors come across the border for a day of shopping, the goal of the U.S. side is to have Canadian visitors stay overnight. Bonuses have been put in place to encourage Canadians to stay overnight in the U.S. The bonuses for overnight visitors are the privilege of bringing back $400 in purchases without having to pay duty at the border, compared to $50 for day-shoppers. U.S. businesses have noted that the lower exchange rate has helped increase the amount of overnight stays by Canadians.

U.S Travel by Canadians

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

In the past most Americans haven’t paid much attention to what goes on in Canada. It has largely been due to the chasm between U.S. and Canadian currency. However, things have changed with Canadian currency and it is causing Americans to take notice. The Canadian dollar, the loonie, has gained ground and has given Canadians more cross-border purchasing ability, which has improved by more than half in the last five years.

New York tourism officials admit they have taken Canadian visitors for granted in past years, and are making plans to draw more of them to the U.S.. New York is putting ads in Toronto newspapers and on Canadian web sites to invite Canadians to visit on fall weekend getaways. There are also plans to open a New York tourism agency in Toronto. It would be the first in Canada.

The Canadian dollar, nicknamed the loonie, passed the American dollar in 2007 when it hit $1.01. In 2002, it was only worth around 62 cents. Now, since Canadians are wielding a more powerful dollar, U.S. tourism representatives are paying more attention to our northern neighbors and are inviting them to visit and shop in the state of New York. Like most Americans it doesn’t take much encouragement to go shopping. Even though some Canadians are still hesitant to plan trips to the U.S. to shop, usually the reality of the improved exchange rate will push them over the edge to visit the U.S., which is pleasant turn of events for many U.S. businesses.

Glass Bottom Kayaks at Cabo San Lucas

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

A Glass bottom kayak is a wonderful way to provide tourists with a unique view of Cabo San Lucas. You can gently paddle your way to one of the area’s most famous attractions, El Arco, and the popular Land’s End, where two oceans intersect. The intersection consists of the warm waters of the Sea of Cortez and the cool waters of the great Pacific Ocean. As you quietly glide through the water, you will see sights such as beautifully colored tropical fish, and many other various marine life such as dolphins, sea lions, manta rays, and eels through the glass bottom kayak.

When you arrive at Land’s End you will have the unique opportunity to experience Lovers Beach, which is the most well known beach in Cabo. There you can swim in two oceans, which can only occur in few places on the planet. The scenery here is beautiful and picturesque. You can get great views of the Sea Lion Colony, where sea lions play and swim about in the water. The opportunities for great photos here are endless, so don’t forget your camera. Another popular location at Lover’s Beach is Pelican Rock, which is known for providing guests with an excellent snorkeling experience.

Glass bottomed kayak tours last for about 3 hours and include a glass bottomed kayak, English speaking guide, snorkeling equipment, a wetsuit(optional), a shaded camp, refreshments, snacks, and a life jacket. Kids ages 4 and up are permitted on glass bottom kayak tours and kids ages 4-7 must be accompanies by an adult.