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| Unique Visitors: 0 |
| Total Unique Visitors: 0 |
| Visitors Out: 2554 |
| Total Visitors Out: 2662 |
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| Sleep Under the Starry Skies on a California Camping Trip |
| 2008-07-10 15:44:00 |
Camping is more popular than ever, especially with families. With summer right around the corner, there is no better time to explore the outdoors than on a California camping vacation. With hundreds of beach, mountain, desert and lake campgrounds to choose from, visitors of all ages can easily find their perfect campsite in the Golden State.According to the Adventure Travel Report (as referenced by the Travel Industry Association), camping is the number one outdoor vacation activity in America, with one-third of U.S. adults having gone on at least one camping vacation in the past five years. And, it's not a solo experience. According to the report, most of these camping travelers are married with children who are also...
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| Eco-travel options are abundant |
| 2008-07-02 16:33:00 |
Santa Barbara's air pollution district has a little challenge for you: Leave the car at home.The district, in cooperation with the city's tourism office, is trying to make it easier to travel green. Hop on an Amtrak train and you could qualify for cheap hotel rates. And, once you're in town, there are ferries, a 25-cent electric shuttle and bike rentals."On a vacation, if you drive somewhere, you're not just going to be driving there, you're going to be driving all around when you get there," said Mary Byrd, manager of the program. "You can get here without a car and you'll be fine."Wherever you're going, taking mass transit, such as a bus or a train, is the best transportation choice if you want to minimize harm to the environment (and it's almost always cheaper than driving or flying).
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| Cali’s wedding season |
| 2008-06-22 02:54:00 |
The California Travel and Tourism Commission is rolling out the red carpet for same-sex couples after legalization of same-sex marriage, with suggestions of spots for ceremonies and honeymoons. A few of them: the gay-owned and -operated bed and breakfast Chateau de Vie in Napa Valley’s Calistoga; Viceroy Palm Springs, with an "I Do for Two" package that includes a wedding, commitment or vow renewal starting at $449 midweek; Casitas Laquita in Palm Springs, a lesbian-friendly, private resort that has offered commitment ceremonies for years. Details and more listings all over the state:
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| The California Travel and Tourism Commission posted a special gay wedding page |
| 2008-06-11 02:44:00 |
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The flowers have been selected, the Veterans' Memorial Center has been booked, and the three-piece band has been chosen. The e-invitations have gone out and relatives are flying in. The brides — and there will be two of them — might not have time to buy something new to wear, but that's OK.Shelly Bailes and Ellen Pontac, who have been together for 34 years, do not want to wait a day longer than necessary to tie the knot now that California's Supreme Court has legalized gay marriage. They had five weeks to plan a June 21 reception for 250 people.
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| The American Riviera by train |
| 2008-05-20 14:56:00 |
The Pacific Surfliner skims the Southern California coast. Tip: If you're traveling north, sit on the left side for a view.I look out from the Pacific Surfliner at Pacific surf riders: longboarders and shortboarders, paddle surfers and surf kayakers. There are dolphins too, glowing in sunlit waves.I imagined that the train would race by unnoticed, but the surfers turn toward the tracks. One straddling his board raises his arms, both hands splayed in an enthusiastic shaka salute.
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| It's official: Salmon fishing season is a bust |
| 2008-05-10 16:24:00 |
MONTEREY - Wildlife regulators on Friday canceled most of the salmon fishing season in the Central Valley, a potential $20 million hit for the state's already struggling economy.The unprecedented restrictions make it illegal to fish for salmon with one exception: a stretch of the Sacramento River from north of Woodland to Red Bluff, and only in November and December.Even then, limits will be strict: just one fish per person per day. A normal season would see up to six months of fishing with two fish per day.
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| Ski, hike and surf: It's all in a California day |
| 2008-05-03 03:09:00 |
The slopes above looked treacherous with a thin layer of icy snow worn brown in patches. The sun was rising from behind the peaks, the temperature was in the low 50s and it would only get hotter. I decided to ski in a T-shirt. I got on my first lift about 9 a.m., 30 minutes after the resort's opening. Climbing higher on the lift, I felt the wind bite into me and regretted my cockinessHeadwall, an ultra-tough black diamond run, was not too icy, and it was empty. It was mine for the rest of the morning. A brief detour to Silver Springs, however, proved a bad idea. It was rocky, dirty, and precipitously icy.
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| Solana Beach - California Man Dies in Great White Shark Attack |
| 2008-04-29 02:44:00 |
A 66-year old Solana Beach, California man, Dr. David Martin, was attacked by a shark while swimming with a group of 9 others Friday morning at 7:21 AM. The AP reports that the man was bitten across both thighs as the group swam north from Solana Beach.It is reported that some of the other swimmers realized what was happening and looked back to see the man under attack come up out of the water after initially being pulled under.
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| Natural beauty and cultural richness of Central California |
| 2008-04-24 18:31:00 |
There are many good general guidebooks to California travel including: "The Unofficial Guide to California with Kids and Fun With the Family in Northern California." There is even a book called "Weird California" that will let you in on some of our states strangest destinations and best kept secrets.We are lucky to have access to many city, county, state and national parks in our area. Day hikes and camping can help you get in shape and experience the unparalleled natural beauty around us. The Foghorn Outdoors series of books include: "California Camping," with listings of 1,500 tent and RV campgrounds, "California Waterfalls," with maps and descriptions of more than 200 waterfalls, and "250 Great Hikes in California's National Parks." The library has trail guides to local parks like Henry Coe too. If you do decide to go hiking, check out field guides to help you identify the birds, trees and wildlife you might see.
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| Will Rogers State Historic Park |
| 2008-04-20 09:14:00 |
Who doesn’t love California’s parklands? For many of us, it’s why we live in the Golden State.So when the California Travel & Tourism Commission sent me a news release Tuesday titled “Experience California’s Beauty at State and National Parks,” I eagerly read on.“California State Parks alone owns or manages 1.52% of the total area of California,” Caroline Beteta, president and chief executive officer of the commission, said in the release. “That is a considerable amount of land that has been put aside for residents and visitors to enjoy…”
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| Free California Travel Guide |
| 2008-04-15 10:37:00 |
USATravelPal.com is slowly becoming a player in the online traveling world because of their free state traveling guides. At the point of this article, the website owner has confirmed the completion of 15 state guides; including California. Laid out much like any other traveling guide, the state of California guide is split up into distinctive geographic regions: Northern California, Wine Country, San Francisco, Greater San Francisco, Gold Country, High Sierras, Deserts, Central Coast, Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles, Disneyland, and San Diego.Within each of the geographic regions are the specific details of the destinations of interest to travelers. Some destinations have just an overview page but others, by virtue of being more popular, are more thorough. For example in the Greater San Francisco article, Berkeley, Oakland, and San Jose have more thorough traveling guides while Angel Island, Bay Bridge, and Sausalito have just one article.
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| California hotels up to 30% off |
| 2008-04-08 18:20:00 |
CheapTickets turned me on to an assortment of California hotel deals going on this spring. Choose from four- and five-star hotels in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Jose, Anaheim and San Diego.Deals: A few hotel discount examples include $60 off per night at Sofitel Los Angeles or 30% off three nights at the Westin St. Francis, W Hotel or Palace Hotel in San Francisco. There are also 15%-25%-off stays for three nights or longer and I found two fourth-night-free deals in San Jose.When: Deal dates differ at each hotel. You can find the dates near the bottom of each page when you click on the link for the individual hotel.
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| Sonoma County's tourism business is getting a boost |
| 2008-04-01 15:44:00 |
Most of the new visitors are from Europe, she said. "They're all staying at very high-end properties," Buffo said.Visitors from other countries are finding their money is buying more U.S. goods and services than it did a year ago.After slipping for months, the dollar fell to record lows against six major currencies this month, reflecting the nation's weak economy.The county's hotel tax receipts for the third quarter of 2007 were 9 percent above 2006. The exchange rate might not be the entire reason, but it's a factor, said Michelle Heston, who handles public relations for Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa.
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| California hotel deals for hybrid drivers |
| 2008-03-26 05:38:00 |
Bedandbreakfast.com is running a free gas promotion, in which B&Bs and hotels all over the country are offering fuel-related discounts. A handful of these venues is giving special deals to visitors who drive hybrid vehicles.Here are two such deals in California:The Colonial Terrace: Arrive in a hybrid, and you’ll get $25 off your total bill at this hotel a block away from the beach in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Rooms regularly cost $139 (pretax) and up.
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| Travel authors from California |
| 2008-03-23 19:56:00 |
Hi, its Tam Tree here, hope you like the California travel news blog.I need travel authors from California to help me coverage the areas of Sonoma, Mendocino and Yosemite .Please send email if you like to participated in this effort. Thanks !tamtree@gmail.com
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| Motel 6 Is Opens In Marysville, CA |
| 2008-03-22 11:21:00 |
Accor North America, one of the nation’s largest owner/operators of economy lodging, announced the opening of a new Motel 6 property in Marysville, California. The property is located at 803 “E” Street in Yuba County along US Highway 70, and was converted from a Red Roof Inn. The franchised property is owned and operated by Norcal Hospitality, Inc., and Andy Patel has been named the new General Manager overseeing the property.Motel 6 offers a low price and great value without sacrificing comfort at more than 880 locations in the United States and Canada. Standard amenities include free local phone calls, no long distance access charges, free morning coffee, data ports, Wi-Fi Internet access and a channel line-up including HBO, ESPN/ESPN2, and CNN. All Motel 6 properties welcome pets,...
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| California Adventure Experiences |
| 2008-03-18 15:00:00 |
Adventure travelers are everywhere, including the Golden State, which naturally provides a perfect venue for exciting activities.And the statistics back up this travel trend. According to the Travel Industry Association of America, one-half of U.S. adults, or 98 million people, have taken an adventure trip in the past five years. This includes 31 million adults who engaged in more rigorous adventure activities, such as whitewater rafting, scuba diving and mountain biking.“As travelers continue to push the envelope, what was once considered extreme is now packaged under adventure travel,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Caroline Beteta of the California Travel and Tourism Commission.
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| The Lodge at Sonoma, a Renaissance Resort and Spa |
| 2008-03-15 13:06:00 |
Most recently Perez spent time at Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa, a premier property in Sacramento, CA. Under his direction, the resort hosted in excess of 400 weddings a year among many other on-site events. Like Scheller, Perez has excelled in the Marriot Corporation, having held the Director of Food & Beverage position at both the Oakland Marriott Convention Center and at the Renaissance Parc 55 Hotel in San Francisco, overseeing all convention services.
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| Balboa Park, San Diego |
| 2008-03-10 17:41:00 |
You know how it is. A few hours under the scorching California sun and your eyes start playing tricks. Even so, an enormous black rabbit in a pushchair was the last thing I expected to cross my line of vision. But then, this was San Diego's Balboa Park.It's a place that offers surprises at every turn. And what a lot of turns there are. For this is the largest urban cultural park in the USA. I could give you some idea of its scale by prattling on about its 1200 acres, 85 cultural institutions, 15 museums, and so on. But let me put it this way: after entering the park at its northwestern frontier, by the time I reached its eastern exit I was back in Scotland.
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| Sonoma Restaurants: Early-Spring Daytrips |
| 2008-03-04 16:58:00 |
The hills up and down California are greening: March, the emerald month, is around the corner. It’s time to start thinking about short hops to Sonoma—before the tourists arrive. Though current room rates are a steal, you don’t have to stay overnight. It’s only 45 minutes from the city. Go for the day. (But not this weekend: plan San Francisco rainy-day activities instead.)Build your afternoon road trip around a good meal. You can leave at noon, drive through sublime electric-green landscapes, maybe hit a winery, then kick back over an early dinner and be home in time to catch a movie. Trust me: you’ll feel like you’ve had a mini-vacation. Here’s my short list of favorite dining rooms, along with some good cheap eats for budgeteers.
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| California Tourism Web Site |
| 2008-03-01 03:01:00 |
Potential travelers to the Golden State want to be Californian, if only for a week or weekend, and they are turning to California Tourism's redesigned Web site, http://www.visitcalifornia.com/, to learn how to do just that.The California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC), the state's official organization for promoting, marketing and increasing travel and tourism to the state, recently launched an improved and redesigned central Web site, based on recent findings from focus groups that visitors to the Golden State want to be "honorary Californians" and experience fully the state's easygoing culture and lifestyle like a local resident.
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| Coasting in California |
| 2008-02-22 15:18:00 |
PISMO BEACH, Calif. — I awoke at 7:30 a.m. to the pat-pat-pat of a jogger's feet in the coastal fog outside the window of our vehicle-turned-hotel room.My previous night's camping fiasco had ended in the parking lot of a health spa, and I was feeling anything but healthy. My neck hurt, my head ached, I was sweaty, and I desperately needed a bathroom.I stepped out into the fresh, salt-tinged breeze and a wave of early-morning exercise enthusiasts in all their glowing cardiovascular fervor swept by, making a mockery of my sleep-deprived debilitation. I imagined the wonderful warm soapiness of the showers in the women's locker room and contemplated making a run past the girl at the front counter, but thought better of it. This would not be seemly for a travel editor.
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| Tour of California coming through Napa Tuesday |
| 2008-02-17 17:07:00 |
It consists of a 650-mile, eight-day stage race which is modeled after the Tour de France and considered the biggest and most important race in the United States.Day 2 is Monday when riders will travel from Sausalito to Santa Rosa.It will pass through Napa County on Tuesday during Stage 2 on its way to Sacramento. Stage 3 will travel from Modesto to San Jose before a Seaside to San Luis Obispo ride for Stage 4 on Thursday. Stage 5 will remain in Solvang on Friday then move from Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita on Saturday.
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| Free California Travel Guide Traveling Books |
| 2008-02-14 00:46:00 |
The website has split California into 12 separate sections: Northern California, Wine Country, San Francisco, Greater San Francisco, Gold Country, High Sierras, Deserts Central Coast, Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles, Disneyland and San Diego. Within each of these sections are the details of many destinations. With the website being split up into so many sections, there's a travel destination just around the corner no matter where you may be situated. This makes the website an incredibly great resource for residents of California as a means of exploring in their own backyards, something that can be easy for folks to overlook.
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| Baja California Reports Tourism Down — but Not Boating |
| 2008-02-08 10:52:00 |
Ensenada, in Northern Baja California, is the first city south of the border with large pleasureboat harbors. Here, boating tourism is booming, thanks in part to the return of the California state sales tax exemption for boats delivered offshore and kept out of state for more than 90 days.When asked if the number of U.S. boaters using Marina Coral has gone down recently due to fears of attacks on tourists, Dockmaster Fito Espinosa said, “No, not in our case. In fact, our occupancy rate is growing, not shrinking. … For the larger yachts, we have a waiting list for slips.”
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| Wine Country Travel Tips |
| 2008-02-03 16:51:00 |
One of the best ways to have a fun and memorable trip to California wine country is by examining all of your options. This is particularly true where wine tours are concerned. Do you want to visit wineries on your own or would you like to take a guided tour? If you would like to be a part of a guided tour, you will want to make your plans well in advance, especially if you will be visiting during peak tourism times.
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| Solo Caribbean & California beach vacations |
| 2008-01-29 15:19:00 |
If you want to go it alone in California, here’s a fantastic solo package at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica. The illustrious property is, as Gayot.com claims, “a place of legend” that “does a fine job of maintaining its historical ambiance while keeping up with the times, most recently to the tune of a $16-million renovation.” Their Single & the City package for $399/night covers lodging, continental breakfast and a kit with maps and info about Santa Monica, encouraging single visitors to explore the city on their own. Guests receive a complimentary class at Exhale Mind Body Spa overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Based on a two-night minimum stay, the price is good through March.
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| Hundreds of big-rigs were stranded in a snow-covered mountain pass north of Los Angeles |
| 2008-01-24 16:12:00 |
Overnight, the storm dumped nearly 7 inches of rain in some areas of Ventura County, and 4 inches or 5 inches elsewhere. Santa Barbara's airport got 4.16 inches of rain, breaking the record of 2.45 inches for the day set in 1943.About an inch of rain fell in downtown Los Angeles, bringing the total for the rainy season to 7.09 inches and surpassing the average of 6.14 inches to date. However, the city had a long way to go in order to meet the average seasonal total of 15.14 inches for the season, which began on July 1 and runs through June 30.
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| Taking the train to West Coast |
| 2008-01-20 16:29:00 |
Would you give us some general advice on whether to do train/bus travel? Any hints on when/whom to call would be appreciated. Neither of us has been out West yet so we are really excited about the wedding invitation and location.I will be watching and reading. Thank you in advance,
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| Ruling allows wilderness trails to stay open |
| 2008-01-16 01:50:00 |
A federal government decision that will allow back-country trails for Jeeps and other off-highway vehicles to remain open in a national forest in northern California is being seen as a precedent that could have implications for other such disputes now developing, a trail advocate says.The recent decision came from Smith River National Recreation Area Road Management and Route Designation Project on the Six Rivers National Forest, according to Don Amador, the western representative for the Blue Ribbon Coalition.
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| On the Move |
| 2008-01-09 18:38:00 |
Terry Selk has been named director of tourism for the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. He will oversee the tourism department and promote travel and leisure for the city and county of Sacramento. Selk worked 18 years for the California Division of Tourism and the California Travel and Tourism Commission. Most recently, he was the director of trade travel development for the commission. Selk also started a marketing company, Tasmark Enterprises, in 2006.
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| Disneyland Park Update |
| 2008-01-03 02:45:00 |
As has been the case frequently over the past few weeks, high winds meant that Believe... In Holiday Magic and both performances of Fantasmic! were canceled altogether on New Year's Eve, and the midnight fireworks were scaled back quite a bit—reportedly down to just a few low-level pyro shots in both Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure (DCA) parks. One-day admissions for Disneyland were no longer available by 1:00 pm., but the park never reached capacity and was still allowing entry all day. This was also attributed to very high winds and chilly temperatures.
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| California Visitor's Guide Features Inspiration Section |
| 2007-12-28 13:51:00 |
Take a fresh, new look at the beauty and diversity of the Golden State -- and the California lifestyle -- in the newly redesigned 2008 California Official State Visitor's Guide and Travel Planner. The annual guide includes an expanded "inspiration" section, which incorporates large, compelling photos to illustrate more than a dozen feature articles showcasing the California experience. Produced by the California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC), and distributed around the world, the entire guide is designed to connect with visitors on an emotional level, motivating them to plan a trip to California.Published by Sunset magazine, the publication features a cover shot of culinary entrepreneur, designer and vintner Pat
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| High costs squeezing travel |
| 2007-12-20 02:53:00 |
In Southern California, 5.6 million people are expected to travel, up 0.2%. Considering that the region's population is greater now than last year at this time, that statistical uptick might be misleading, said Marie Montgomery of the Automobile Club of Southern California. "It might be an indicator that [travel] is slowing down a bit."Some people are adjusting their plans, choosing closer destinations or looking for bargains, Montgomery said. Higher costs affect travel around Christmas and New Year more than Thanksgiving, she added, because the November holiday is much shorter and people tend to take long vacations at the end of the year, not just quick visits to see friends and family.
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| Creative Holidays announce exclusive USA free car hire deal |
| 2007-12-13 04:24:00 |
Agents looking to get their clients the best possible deal for their American holiday should recommend taking advantage of Creative Holidays’ exclusive deal in conjunction with Air New Zealand and Alamo car hire.Book your clients return economy airfares with Air New Zealand to Los Angeles, San Francisco or Las Vegas with two nights accommodation through Creative Holidays to receive seven days Alamo car hire with unlimited mileage absolutely free!
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| The Renaissance Hollywood Hotel Gives Back |
| 2007-12-13 04:18:00 |
Christmas is coming early this year, with Hollywood showing the world it knows just how to celebrate right. And no one’s been more center stage than the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel.On Sunday, November 25th, the annual Hollywood Santa Parade marched its way down the world-famous Hollywood Boulevard for its 76th consecutive year, delighting the thousands of children (and adults) in attendance.
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| Rains set to soak Southland |
| 2007-12-06 12:27:00 |
A significant rainstorm is expected to barrel into Southern California late today, dumping up to 3 inches of rain over two days and prompting the National Weather Service to issue flash-flood warnings.The storm has been whipping up 15-foot waves along the coast, drawing surfers and prompting a National Weather Service surf advisory in parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties until 10 a.m. today.
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| One thing we're not thankful for: holiday travel |
| 2007-11-21 04:12:00 |
The nation's highways and skies will once again be packed with holiday travelers undeterred by high gasoline prices and long lines at the airports. In California, 4.9 million people are expected to spend the long Thanksgiving weekend at least 50 miles from home, according to AAA of Northern California. That's a 1.3-percent increase over last year.Wednesday is traditionally the nation's busiest travel day of the year, with an estimated 38.7 million Americans set to up and go.
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| Travelers may not feel very thankful |
| 2007-11-16 03:36:00 |
If you're flying for Thanksgiving, brace yourself.Beginning today, the busiest period for holiday air travel will be busier than ever, with a record 27 million passengers, up 4% from last year, jamming airports and stuffing planes over a 12-day period.
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