Lots to see in San Diego for free
It’s no secret that the weak Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar is making it more expensive for Canadians to enjoy their time in the United States. But the exchange rate doesn’t matter when it’s free.
San Diego has come up with a list of 50 Fun and Free Activities (sandiego.org/campaigns/summer-insanYou can certainly spend time on the area’s 33 beaches (sandiego.org/what-to-do/beaches. aspx) but there’s also the 16½-block downtown historic Gaslamp Quarter to explore. The legendary Wyatt Earp had a gambling hall here (after the dust-up at the O.K. Corral) but now you’ll find stores, restaurants, nightclubs and bars housed in the Victorian architecture.
Thursday nights from June through August, you can see the vintage cars on display at the La Mesa Car Show in the village of La Mesa. On Monday evenings in July and August, you can enjoy free organ concerts during the Annual International Summer Organ Festival at Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park.
Something completely different is the grunion run. On warm summer nights with a high tide and full moon, you can see thousands of small grunion fish swimming ashore to mate and bury their eggs in the sand before heading back out to sea.
Fresh mountain air
Whistler Blackcomb will be celebrating World No Tobacco Day on May 31 with a new smoke-free policy for both staff and guests. It will prohibit smoking anywhere on Whistler Blackcomb property from lift lines, chairlifts, gondolas and ski runs to hiking trails, valley base areas, parking lots, Whistler Mountain Bike Park trails and all Whistler Blackcomb bar and restaurant locations, including the patios. There will be an information booth in Skier’s Plaza on May 31 to launch the new policy (whistlerblackcomb.com/smokefree).
sunday sleeps
Save on your stay at the Riverhouse Hotel (riverhouse.com) on the Deschutes River in Bend, Ore., with the Seize Your Sunday promotion. When you book a Friday and Saturday night stay, you’ll receive 20-per-cent off of your Sunday night stay. Plus, you’ll get a complimentary bottle of Oregon wine, late checkout on Monday and more. Rates start at $159 US per room, per night. It’s available through the Labour Day weekend and must be booked seven days in advance.
off peak savings
BC Ferries brings back its Size up the Savings promotion for selected sailings June 17-Sept. 13. With the offer, those with vehicles longer than 20 feet will pay $2 per foot additional length charge — it’s normally $6.35 — on the TsawwassenSwartz Bay and the TsawwassenDuke Point routes. Reservations are recommended (bcferries.com).