Sherman's Travel

The City by the Bay is also known as a second home to many business travelers, with a huge swath of conventions and events hosted in San Francisco each year. It’s also ludicrously pricey, almost always “chilly” to visitors from the south, and packed full of amazing opportunities for enjoyment… if you know where to look. In an effort to get you outside of the boardroom and into the wilds of SF, we’re offering up two restaurants, two attractions, and one bar that you can hit with just a few extra hours between meetings.

While San Francisco is busy enough to offer a smattering of convention center options, Moscone West is undoubtedly the king of the city. Thankfully, the Mission Bay Conference Center and Fort Mason Center aren’t too far away, so even if you find yourself at one of those, these recommendations will still apply – albeit with a little more legwork. Just a few blocks away, you’ll find the Hilton Union Square. Chances are, it’ll be a recommended hotel for you to stay at if you’re spending most of your time at Moscone. Beneath, there’s a place called Urban Tavern, and while the hours are a little weird, the food is superb. It’s a pretty laid back place, and the prices are really reasonable for downtown San Francisco. I rarely recommend hotel eateries, but this one is a cut above. Read more

Los Angeles may be home to Hollywood, but it also holds a healthy amount of conventions each year. It’s one of the more sprawling cities that your boss could ship you to, but the upside is obvious: the weather’s hardly ever bad, and you can access a mean chicken ‘n waffles plate at any hour of the day. In an effort to get you outside of the boardroom and into the wilds of LA, we’re offering up two restaurants, two attractions, and one bar that you can hit with just a few extra hours between meetings.

Los Angeles can be a hugely daunting place, even for those who frequent it a few times per year. Ask someone on the edge of Long Beach what to do in Grenada Hills, and you may get some pretty blank stares. The Los Angeles Convention Center is actually one of the more ideally located conference venues. It’s smack dab in the middle of downtown, right beside the famed Staples Center. That makes parking a nightmare, but it also makes side trips entirely more practical. Read more

Updated on November 13, 2012: Snowflakes have already started to fall in parts of the country, and many ski resorts, including Colorado’s Copper Mountain (Nov. 2) and Mammoth Mountain in California (Nov. 8), have already celebrated opening day. The hum of anticipation from the skiing and snowboarding community is almost palpable.

And there’s good reason for that excitement: According to the 2013 Old Farmer’s Almanac, this season should bring with it higher-than-average snowfall to several resort areas, including the Utah mountains, the Great Smokies in the southeastern United States, and British Columbia. Along with that much-hoped-for gift from nature, there are some pretty cool man-made happenings at several major resorts, too. Here, a few noteworthy tidbits to get you geared up for the 2012/2013 ski season. Read more

Summer is great for enjoying nature, but there’s just something about fall – the crisp weather, the scent of a wood fire burning, the frenzy of college football – that seems to fire up the adventurous spirit. Fortunately, festivals abound this time of year that cater to those of us who’d rather enjoy the brilliant foliage from the saddle of a bike than the backseat of a car. Here, some picks for fall festivals with adventure front-and-center.

Moab Ho-Down Mountain Bike & Film Festival, Moab, Utah, October 25-28
Extended to four days this year, this gathering at one of the country’s top mountain biking meccas encompasses all the essentials of the sport: biking, beer, and revelry. Sponsored by the local Chile Pepper Bike Shop, the festival also features a film component, with evening showings of movies featuring independent mountain biking footage. Rounding out the action is a Hot Pepper Eating Contest and Ridiculous Costume Party that promises plenty of photo ops galore – all for the bargain price of just $35 for a festival pass.

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Already anticipating your holiday vacation? Get away to the luxurious 4.5-star Milliken Creek Inn & Spa in Napa Valley this winter. This elegant hotel in California’s renowned wine country is tucked away overlooking the Napa River, and you can take advantage of its Scents of the Season package for bookings this holiday season. With rooms starting at $199 per night for stays from November through January, you’ll save 40 percent on current rates.

Stay in a luxurious guestroom that features a king bed, a spa bathtub, a plasma television with DIRECTV, complimentary Wi-Fi, and evening turndown service.  Select rooms also feature one-touch gas fireplaces and private balconies. Read more

Give yourself the gift of travel this holiday season with a stay in a classic hotel in San Francisco’s Union Square for $147 to $175 per night. This offer saves 30 percent (or $60 per night) on current rates and provides complimentary breakfast.

Travel is available November 1 to December 30, including weekends, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Stay in a Deluxe Queen Room at The Inn at Union Square, ranked fifth best hotel in San Francisco by TripAdvisor readers. Accommodation includes a plush queen bed, a flat-screen TV, an iPod docking station, and Wi-Fi. Each room is warmly decorated with classic furnishings that have a modern feel. The hotel also provides a nightly wine reception, and offers discounted access to nearby fitness center.

This boutique, 3.5-star hotel provides an ideal location for taking in all of San Francisco’s highlights. The iconic Powell Street Cable Cars are only steps away, as well as Macy’s Union Square, the American Conservatory Theater, and Curran Theater. Within the neighborhood, you’ll find decadent restaurants and cafes, dozens of shops, and an array of entertainment venues.

To book, visit the Inn at Union Square’s website by clicking here and use the promo code “SP7″ to receive the discounted rate. The following dates are not available at a discount: November 6-10, 12-16, and December 2-6. Book by October 10.

See our San Francisco destination guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rate on flights, hotels, packages, and more travel deals.

See San Diego’s luxurious side for less – stay at a 4.5-star boutique hotel in the city’s chic Gaslamp Quarter for $175 per night. This offer from the eco-friendly Hotel Palomar San Diego cuts advance bookings made at least twenty days prior to your stay by 20 percent (a savings of $44 per night). Travel is available through December 31.

Stay in a Deluxe Guest Room with a plush king bed. Accommodations provide modern comforts such as an MP3 alarm clock, HD cable TV, an organic mini-bar, and a glass rainforest shower. Don’t forget to bring pets along – the hotel is as pet friendly as can be, with no fees or size restrictions.

The Hotel Palomar San Diego’s sleek decor is woven throughout each room and the hotel’s many onsite facilities, which entertain locals and tourists alike. Cool off in an outdoor swimming pool, then dry off on the pool deck with a cocktail from the rooftop bar and lounge. Workout in a state-of-the-art fitness center, or indulge in a rejuvenating treatment at the hotel spa. Try an appetizer or a full meal of innovative cuisine at the Saltbox restaurant. Palomar guests are also treated to nightly wine tastings. Read more

Some hotels are merely a place to rest your head at night, but others hold fascinating tales of wartime refuges, remarkable wildlife, valuable art, and ghostly spirits that refuse to let go. Sign up to be amazed and maybe learn a thing or two on these exceptional hotel tours.

Until recently, most people had forgotten there was an air raid shelter underneath the Hotel Metropole in Hanoi, Vietnam. When staff discovered it during some routine work on the pool area, however, the hotel decided to excavate the bunker and restore it to its original state. Now, hotel guests can participate in nightly tours that highlight the shelter’s famous past residents – including Joan Baez, who recorded “Where Are You Now My Son” there in 1972 – and Hotel Metropole’s role during the Vietnam War.

An in-house historian leads groups through the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Florida, each Wednesday through Saturday to reveal such nuggets as the unlikely origins of the hotel and President Calvin Coolidge’s preference to dine with the hotel staff during his visits. The tour costs $5 for guests, $10 for non-guests; alternatively, book the tour and a three-course lunch at Marchand’s Bar & Grill for $25.

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This summer, relax in the spa haven of Palm Desert in Southern California with a stay at the 4.5-star JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa. Rooms start from just $118 per night with this deal, which saves 40 percent on seasonal rates at this luxury hotel.

The JW Marriott Desert Springs features 23 acres of man-made waterways, making for an island feel in the middle of the desert. The resort also boasts two 18-hole championship golf courses, a luxurious full-service spa, four swimming pools, three spa tubs, six restaurants, tennis courts, a Starbucks, and a nightclub. The resort is just a twenty-minute drive from downtown Palm Springs.

All rooms at the JW Marriott Desert Springs include private balconies or patios, marble and granite bathrooms, HDTVs, and high-speed internet.

Book online by June 25 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa website and enter the promo code D59. This deal is valid on select Sundays through Thursdays from July 1 through September 25.

For more trip-planning information, check out our Palm Springs destination guide, and then use our TravelSearch price comparison tool when booking flights.

Disney‘s new food advertising standards, announced yesterday, aim to ban junk food ads on its television channels, radio stations, and websites that reach children. In addition, the company intends to reduce the amount of sodium and sugar in food sold at its stores and theme parks, with nutritious products receiving a “Mickey Check” seal of approval. While these guidelines won’t take effect until 2015, here are some dining options at Disneyland that Walt would approve.

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