SeeCalifornia.com

Photos left to right: Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Mindi Abair / Catalina JazzTraxx, Whist at Viceroy Hotel Santa Monica, Moscone Center in San Francisco, and Independence Hall in Buena Park.  When destination management organizations, visitors bureaus and travel destinations tell us there’s something new going on, we like to pass it along. Here are a few items from this week’s news:

• BUENA PARK – 5 Free Things to Do: Twice-daily free tours at the Nutrilite Health Institute Center for Optimal Health; free tours by appointment at Whitaker-Jaynes House, the Bacon House and the Tice House and the Stage Stop Hotel (California Welcome Center); Knott’s Independence Hall; Knott’s Marketplace next to theme park; Los Coyotes Paleontology Museum in Ralph B. Clark Regional Park with a 9 million year old baleen whale skeleton– one of the only complete ice age whale fossils in existence. Supplied by: VisitBuenaPark.com
• CATALINA ISLAND – Catalina’s remarkable fall weather continues to bring sunshine and warmth to the Island.  Catch the final week of Catalina’s JazzTrax Festivaland enjoy what has been voted as the Best Jazz Festival in America. Upcoming Special Events on the island include Triathlons to Swing Dances to New Year’s Eve Galas. Supplied by: catalinachamber.com
• MENDOCINO–  Beer, Wine & Mushroom Festival showcases craft beers & breweries of Mendocino County, in conjunction with 500 types of local edible mushrooms and wines produced in  many diverse wine regions. Enjoy signature Mushroom Train event, winemaker and brewmaster dinners, mushroom tasting menus, educational workshops, foraging excursions, lodging specials and more. Supplied by: visitmendocino.com
  
• SAN FRANCISCO –Moscone Center is the first convention center on the West Coast to attain LEED Gold for Existing Buildings. Supplied by: sanfrancisco.travel
• SANTA BARBARA – Book through Expedia Extra program to receive a two-for-one admission to Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara Zoo, and Ty Warner Sea Center. The program runs from November 1st through the end of January, 2013.  Supplied by: santabarbaraCA.com
• SANTA MONICA – Whist at Viceroy Santa Monica Thai menu two-part celebration begins October 21, 2012 with the Hops ‘N Spice Tour.  Whist’s Chef de Cuisine Chris Crary and his fellow traveler Jo Stougaard take diners on a culinary adventure, highlighting some of the cuisines they encountered on their trip. Thai Feast on October 28 includes five courses served family style, cost $40 per person. Reservations: (310) 260 7511.  Supplied by: viceroyhotelsandresorts.com