Cool fall cruisin' in San Francisco

My pal Molly alerts me that San Francisco's Red And White Fleet has some cool fall specialty cruises coming up for Fleet Week, when San Francisco briefly becomes a Navy town again. "Over the weekend of October 8-10, Fleet Week takes over San Francisco with a series of Navy-inspired events, entertainment and the legendary Blue Angels air show," says Molly's note. And for a ringside seat on all this action, you can't do better than hopping aboard a Red And White Fleet vessel. You'll get the best views of the daily air shows from the bay. But they do book up, so plan ahead for these popular trips.

Details: Departing at 2 p.m. on both Saturday, October 9 and Sunday, October 10, the Fleet Week cruise price includes appetizers and one complimentary beverage. Additional snacks and beverages are available on-board for purchase. Cost is $58 per adult (18+); $36 for youth (5-17); and $52 per person for groups of 15+ adults. For more info and reservations, visit http://www.redandwhite.com/seasonal_fleet_week_cruise.asp. Oh, and just for fun, check out the cool Blue Angels website.

A hot summertime deal in Sonoma

Summer is a lush, warm, and laid-back time in California's fabulous Sonoma Wine Country, and when you can get there on a free tank of gas, why wouldn't you go? The inns of Wine Country Inns are offering a neat way to make it easy (especially for Bay Area and Central Valley vacationers) to take a quick, close-to-home vacation to stroll the cool gardens at Ferrari-Carano Winery (at left) or sip local vintages. Here's the hot summertime deal in Sonoma: From August through October 31, stay two nights on the weekend or one night mid-week with any of their WCI member inns at the normal rate and you'll receive a $50 gas card.

What's to do in summer: enjoy tasting wine or walking in the ripening vineyards, wander bountiful farmers’ markets, kayak on the river, hike along the many local trails, splash in an inn’s pool or hot tub, or just blog about the natural beauty of the area. The warm, sunny days and cool romantic nights make Sonoma a real getaway for Bay Area and Central Valley vacationers, without the hassle of a long plane trip (and those sometimes cuckoo flight attendants who want you to 'take this job and shove it').

Details: This package is available immediately and through October 31, 2010, and includes breakfast. It is based on availability for two persons in one room for consecutive nights; must be requested at time of booking and may not be paired with any other offer. Call the WCI line at 800/946-3268; you must mention the following code WCIFREERIDE.

Top choice for a fall visit: San Francisco

Just heard about some annual travel-search data put out by by one of those 'cheap flights' comparison sites, an outfit called Skyscanner. I've never used them, but their press release revealed the most popular destinations for US travelers and the best time to avoid crowds. What I thought was funny was that they call folks who travel a lot "Power Travelers" (aka PTs), which makes some of my family members very powerful indeed (cousin John, are you listening?). And of course, savvy PTs know that the best time to visit a popular destination is in the “off season” when there are fewer crowds. (So I guess they publish all this info on the best times to visit popular destinations for us non-power- travelers, who don't know when the off-season is for these places. I think my feelings are hurt!)

Jonesing for a little sun, sand, surf, and a last-of-summer blast? Check out Honolulu. SkyScanner says it's the seventh most popular destination in the spring, but then by summer it falls to 11th most popular. Translation: the number of tourists drop, too. How come? Lots of factors, but one theory is that we folks in the lower 48 don't need a warm weather haven like Hawaii in summer as much as we do in winter. So summer's the time to look for bargains in flights and hotels in Aloha-land.

Anyway, I was kinda surprised to read that fall is their idea of off-season for San Francisco, since as a local, I've always known that's when SF gets it best weather. But in terms of flight site searches, SF drops from ninth most popular destination in summer to 17th in the fall. However, what the PTs know (and even some non-PTs), its that weather-wise, fall is San Francisco's best of all seasons: the fog disappears, and days are warm and sunny, with a hint of bay breeze to keep things comfy. So check out the city by the bay in September for good airfare, hotel and restaurant deals in fall. And don't forget to pick up a sourdough baguette!

California's kid-friendly Truckee River rafting

It’s one of North Lake Tahoe’s most popular family activities: rafting or tubing on the Truckee River. And in the midst of July's heat, we can't think of a better way to cool off. Take a raft trip on California's mild Truckee, and you'll find it is a good river for a kid's first raft trip, or for a grownup who doesn't want to work too hard and chill out on a hot, lazy summer day.

The timing is perfect: we just heard from our pal Pettit Gilwee that the dam gates have flung open, the river is flowing, and rafting along Lake Tahoe’s scenic Truckee River is now underway. Two outfits— Tahoe City-based Mountain Air Sports and the Truckee River Raft Company—have opened for the season, offering self-guided, leisurely five-mile float trips down the Truckee River. North Lake Tahoe is just a 45-minute drive from the Reno Tahoe International Airport, two hours from Sacramento International Airport and just over three hours from San Francisco International Airport.

Details: With either the Truckee River Raft Company or Mountain Air Sports, most trips take two to three hours; you pull out at River Ranch Lodge near Alpine Meadows Road along Highway 89. Park in Tahoe City and take a free shuttle back to the car vehicles after the float (any time before 6 p.m). Hours: 8:30 —3:30 daily (weather permitting). Trips include parking, shuttle, paddles, life jackets and commercial rafts for 2-20 people; footwear is mandatory. Group rates are available. To watch a video of the trip, go to this link. For lodging reservations, recreation and event details, call North Lake Tahoe at 1-877-949-3296 or visit www.GoTahoeNorth.com.

California secret: Lake Tahoe's best beaches

When most of California is baking in triple digit heat, what better time to go to the beach? But no, not the crowded coastline—it's so crowded, nobody goes there anymore (our apologies to Yogi Berra). You should head for the sublime beaches of California's North Lake Tahoe. We got some great ideas from locals about their beach faves:

Best beaches to dip your toes in the water: Moon Dunes Beach in Tahoe Vista, an open sandy beach guarded by a grove of tress and sand dunes or Sand Harbor in Incline Village, with a scenic granite outcroppings and long sandy beaches.

Best beach playground: Tahoe City’s Commons Beach has a big playground and expansive lawn area, perfect for resting in between dips.

Best beach for families: Kings Beach State Recreation Area is one of the area’s most popular spots for families, where a wide stretch of sand is ideal for picnics and playtime (with adjacent playground and barbeques). Parasailing, kayak rentals and paddleboats are also available from a number of shops in and around the recreation area.

Best beach for pooches: Have a canine in your clan? Then head to Patton Beach, just west of the marina in Carnelian Bay or Kaspian Recreation Area on the West Shore, just south of Sunnyside.

Details: North Lake Tahoe is a 45-minute drive from the Reno Tahoe International Airport, two hours from Sacramento International Airport and just over three hours from San Francisco International Airport. For lodging reservations, recreation and event details, call North Lake Tahoe at 877/949-3296 or visit www.GoTahoeNorth.com.

PHOTO CREDIT: GoTahoeNorth/Zikas