Above: Calling itself the Airbnb of boat rentals, GetMyBoat connects boat owners and boat renters. Courtesy photo
Visit South County?
Get acquainted with Chula Vista Harbor (did you know it had one?) during the free HarborFest, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 17 at Bayside Park. There are tacos and more at Food Truck Alley; three concert stages with live music; kayaking and fishing; and a Discovery Zone for kids. Pets welcome. www.cvharborfest.com.
Destination weddings
Good deal for hosts, but for guests, not so much
Wedding guests probably won’t tell the bride and groom to their faces, but if they are planning a cruise-ship wedding or one on an exotic island, chances are that one in three guests will not be thrilled to be there. The cost of plane tickets, hotel rooms and other travel expenses, and having to use vacation days are some of the reasons.
These and other findings are the result of a survey conducted by travel insurance company Allianz Global Assistance in late April via an internet survey.
Additional findings: More than half (53.6%) said destination weddings cost too much to attend, and two-thirds said that couples who plan a wedding far from home should not expect a gift.
In actuality, three in four Americans have never attended a destination wedding or a destination bachelor/bachelorette party.
Surprisingly, destination weddings cost an average of $28,000, while close-to-home weddings run $35,329. The price difference may be due to a smaller guest list for destination weddings.
Airbnb for boats
Owning a boat comes with a lot of responsibility and expense, but what if you want a boat for just a day, week or month? Check out GetMyBoat (www.getmyboat.com), which calls itself “the Airbnb of boats.” It connects owners and renters, and yes, there’s an app for that (available for both iOS and Android). There are 130,000 boats listed in 184 countries, including plenty in California (Lake Tahoe, Sausalito, Big Bear Lake., Newport Beach and more.)
Accessible park trails
Where in the National Park System can you find the best wheelchair-accessible trails? According to National Geographic, the best trails (read paved) are found in Sequoia, Zion, Grand Canyon and Everglades national parks. Others choices include Yellowstone, Glacier, Denali and Bryce. It was the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which became law in July 1990, that spurred the building of wheelchair-friendly trails and other accommodations in the national parks.
Kid-friendly airports
Traveling with kids? It’s challenging, but at least some airports understand this. USA Today has chosen 10 airports for their kid-friendly features. Among them are:
Nashville International Airport — Has multiple play areas and stages with scheduled entertainment.
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport — Kids can listen to live communications between the control tower and pilots on a phone.
Dulles International Airport, Washington, D.C. — Has a space-themed kids’ area (designed by NASA), and Wings for All, a program for those with special needs kids and their families to help relieve the stress of flying.
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport — Offers complimentary Wi-Fi and a 700-foot tunnel illuminated by 9,000 feet of LED lights.
Boston Logan International Airport — “Kidsport” play areas in three terminals include climbing structures that look like vintage airplanes and a carpet that looks like an airfield. Also offers “Wings for Autism” program that helps families with autistic children manage the stress of flying.
