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Archive for 2007

Pet-friendly Travel

November 9th, 2007 by susan j

boomer.jpg
Photo by Morgan Sullivan

Go Card USA has just welcomed a new member to our team. We love his enthusiasm for exploring new places and the way he has instantly bonded with his officemates. He hasn’t quite mastered his typing or telephone skills yet, since he’s a four month old golden retriever, but we think he adds a lot to the office.

In honor of Boomer (the gorgeous golden retriever pictured above), I’d like to share a few pet-friendly resources for visiting Los Angeles in case you’d like to travel with your cat or dog. BringFido.com lists pet-friendly hotels in all 50 states and outlines pet policies on several major airlines. Click here for their LA travel guide. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau also lists pet-friendly hotels in an article called “LA Offers Something to Meow and Bark About.” With dozens of pet-friendly hotels to choose from, you and Fido (or Fifi) can travel in style.


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LA’s Cultural Side, Part 1

November 7th, 2007 by susan j

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Courtyard at the J. Paul Getty Museum
Photo uploaded by Allan Ferguson

Los Angeles is perhaps best known as one of the movie meccas of the world. But did you know that LA and the surrounding area also have some excellent art museums, too? Here are some of our picks for art museums to visit on your next Los Angeles vacation.

The J. Paul Getty Museum: This museum has two locations: the Getty Villa in Malibu and the Getty Center in Los Angeles. Both focus on American European art, including paintings, drawings, sculpture, and photographs. Current exhibitions include Medieval Treasures from the Cleveland Museum of Art at the Getty Center and Reflecting Antiquity: Modern Glass Inspired by Ancient Rome at the Getty Villa.

The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA: Housing one of the country’s finest collections of American and European art created since 1940, the Geffen’s displays range from abstract expressionism and pop art to new works by emerging artists. Current exhibitions include a multimedia display of art by Takashi Murakami.

Museum of Contemporary Art Grand Avenue: MOCA’s building itself is a work of art, as evidenced by the American Institute of Architects listing it as one of the “10 Best Works of American Architecture Completed Since 1980.” Inside, you’ll find exhibits like Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas and Gordon Matta-Clark: You Are the Measure.

Hammer Museum: This UCLA-affiliated museum encourages cross-cultural understanding and examines the impact of art on society. The collection includes works by classic artists like Monet and van Gogh, as well as more recent contemporary works in painting, sculpture, and media arts.

Check back next week for a round-up of historical museums to continue our exploration of Los Angeles’ culture.

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4 Reasons to Visit LA in the Fall

October 30th, 2007 by susan j

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Photo uploaded by Californian Em

  1. The weather is gorgeous. With clear skies and temperatures in the mid-70’s, this is the perfect time of year for a segway tour.
  2. Since the kids have gone back to school, the lines are shorter at attractions like Pacific Park and the Hollywood Museum.
  3. Special fall festivals including Dia de los Muertos and the Fall Festival at the LA Farmer’s Market.
  4. Fall sales at The Grove, The Beverly Center, and The Third Street Promenade.

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Fire Update for 10/29

October 29th, 2007 by susan j

If you’re planning a trip to southern California, then you’ll be happy to hear that fire crews managed to contain all fires within San Diego city limits this weekend. The air quality has improved and tourist attractions have reopened for business, so you should be set for a great trip.

To help travelers whose travel plans have already been impacted by the fires, several airlines including American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and US Airways have decided to waive their flight-change fees, saving passengers up to $100 each.

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Fire Update for 10/26/2007

October 26th, 2007 by carrie t

10262007-fires.jpg California sunset
Photo by Carrie T.

As of Thursday, October 25, the California wildfires are slowing down and, fortunately, many are already contained. There are still plenty of places in the region that have not been affected at all.

Most of the fires in Los Angeles have already been contained, and since the fires are northeast of most towns in LA, tourists can still enjoy the main tourist areas such as Long Beach, San Pedro, Manhattan Beach, Venice Beach, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Downtown, and even Santa Monica without any problems. It’s actually a beautiful day today in Los Angeles.

Since thousands of Californians have been evacuated and many have lost their homes, help is needed to rebuild communities in Southern California. You can volunteer or donate money through the American Red Cross.

Of course, another way to help rebuild the region is to plan a vacation in Southern California! Look for travel specials online through Expedia and other online operators.

Right now Socal has amazing sunrises and sunsets due to the fact that the ash and smoke in the air scatters out the light from the sun and magnifies the hues. It’s quite beautiful and if you’re up close to the ocean you’ll see the waves sparkling with a rainbow of colors. (See above for a photo taken on Manhattan Beach on Tuesday evening.)

Visit the LA Times for more updates.

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LA Weather Report for Week of 10/24

October 24th, 2007 by susan j

According to Weather.com, it’s going to be going to be another warm and sunny week in LA (no surprise for Southern California!). Whether you’re headed to the beach or just want to take a break from your daily routine, you’ll be interested in this week’s weather report:

Friday, October 26
Sunny with a high of 71

Saturday, October 27
Partly cloudy with a high of 73

Sunday, October 28
Sunny with a high of 73

Monday, October 29
Partly cloudy with a high of 80!

Tuesday, October 30
Party cloudy with a high of 78

Wednesday, October 31
Sunny with a high of 75 - Happy Halloween!

Thursday, November 1
Partly cloudy with a high of 75

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Everybody’s a Critic

October 22nd, 2007 by susan j

10162007-beach-journal.jpg
Photo uploaded by kiwanja

If you’re the type of traveler who likes to share their best and worst of adventures on sites like Trip Advisor and Virtual Tourist, then listen up. We can’t promise you a job alongside Wendy Perrin at Conde Nast Traveler, but you could be the next winner of our Go Review Contest.

Review any of our attractions in Los Angeles or our other destinations–a rave review or a not-so-nice one– and you could win Best Overall Review with a prize of an Amazon.com gift-card valued at $300! Just think how many books, DVDs, or gadgets you could get with an extra three hundred bucks.

The submission deadline is November 1, so get out there and go review!

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Halloween Horror Nights

October 17th, 2007 by susan j

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios is back and better than ever! Get ready for some major thrills at this night event held through the month of October starting on select weeknights (and Halloween) at 7 pm. Be prepared for face to face interactions with the likes of Freddy, Jason, and Leatherface!

If that’s not enough to give you the chills, you’ll definitely be screaming through the Terror Tram, Mazes, and Scare Zones.

Visitors are encouraged to buy tickets in advance to avoid the long lines at the gate. Universal also offers a “front of line” pass for those who would rather cruise right into the event.

In addition, Universal will be running food specials at their restaurants. This is a great place for couples or even groups of singles to come and enjoy a great Friday night event!

This event is recommended for children over the age of 13.

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Low Budget LA

October 15th, 2007 by susan j

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UCLA’s campus
Photo uploaded by AsianjournalUSA.

If you’re headed to Los Angeles, then one of your best resources for low cost entertainment (aside from buying a Go Los Angeles Card, of course) is to check out the local college event calendars. Chock-full of concerts, lectures, film screenings, and more, these calendars list tons of events that are low cost and open to the public. Here’s a list of some of the college calendars in the LA area:

  1. UC-Los Angeles (pictured above)
  2. University of Southern California
  3. California Institute of Technology (aka CalTech)
  4. Occidental College

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Making the Most of a Layover

October 10th, 2007 by susan j

I generally spend airplane layovers catching up on reading (I highly recommend the travel memoir Eat, Pray, Love for airport reading) or browsing the duty-free shops. After all, I’d hate to lose track of time or get caught in traffic and miss my flight!

But Tracy Barnett, travel editor for the San Antonio Express-News, is a bit more adventurous. Tracy recently spent a 5 hour layover exploring Los Angeles. I’m amazed by how much she did and saw in such a short time, so check out Tracy’s blog to read about her adventures in LA.

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