Travel: Keep it lean and green for 2009

Breathtaking view: Visitors view Half Dome from Glacier Point at Yosemite National Park. (AP file photo)

SAN FRANCISCO — It probably comes as no surprise that value will be a major theme in travel for 2009. With a sour economy, people will likely be staying closer to home, planning ahead to save money and visiting National Parks instead of five-star resorts.

With that said, don’t expect people to stop traveling altogether. An American Express Travel study published this month identified travel trends for 2009 such as: visiting smaller, lesser-known cities; returning to destinations that are “tried and true;” staying closer to home (“staycations”); and value vacations, such as all-inclusive resorts and cruises.

In terms of transportation — planes, trains and automobiles — going green remains a growing trend. According to Amtrak, train travel within the U.S. continues to grow. In November, the agency announced that annual ridership set an all-time record for the sixth consecutive year; the largest increases were seen in New England. To save on costs — as well as trees — many airlines are slowly going paperless. Air France has already achieved this goal and American Airlines is close behind. E-boarding passes — like e-tickets — will be the trend for 2009.

Finally, even though you are away from home, comfort food will be popular this year. Even at luxury hotels, such as the Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, expect breakfast and lunch to make big comebacks this year. You read it here first: breakfast will be the new dinner in 2009.

Alternate destinations

Get a taste: For more affordable travel, consider lesser-known areas in the Bay Area. For wine enthusiasts, for example, visit Santa Cruz County or Mendocino County — both with excellent wines, affordable hotels and just two hours from San Francisco.
Santa Cruz County: www.santacruzca.org
Mendocino County: www.gomendo.com

Return to comfort: Instead of checking out a new hot spot, people may be returning to places that they enjoyed in the past — and where they can get a grip on what it really costs. So that trip to Costa Rica may be put off for a year; a return trip to San Diego may be a less-stressful, value-oriented experience.
San Diego: www.sandiego.org

Hiking, camping and national parks: More people will hike, bike and camp at national parks this year than expected. Popular parks, such as Yosemite and the Grand Canyon in Arizona, will require even more planning this year. Lucky for us, the Bay Area has so many national parks from which to choose — such as Pinnacles, Muir Woods and Point Reyes.
Yosemite National Park: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit
Grand Canyon National Park: www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit
Pinnacles National Park: www.nps.gov/pinn/planyourvisit
Muir Woods National Park: www.nps.gov/muwo/planyourvisit
Point Reyes National Seashore: www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit

Staycations: With more hotels then you will ever experience — a weekend at home just a Muni ride away — staying in The City or Peninsula may be more affordable and luxurious than going away. The luxurious Intercontinental San Francisco is offering a California Staycation Package starting at $159 a night and the resort-style Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, is offering a Reconnect Package starting at $369 per night, which includes full American Breakfast for two in the resort’s award-winning restaurant and a $100 resort credit.
S.F.: www.intercontinentalsanfrancisco.com.
Half Moon Bay: www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/HalfMoonBay

Renting a vacation home: In lieu of resorts, travelers can opt to rent a house — which enables family, extended family and friends to enjoy a destination with the comforts of home and share the cost. A week-long stay on the Russian River in Sonoma County, in Truckee near Lake Tahoe or a beach cottage near San Luis Obispo will be popular this year.
Russian River: www.russianriver.com
Truckee: www.gotahoenorth.com
San Luis Obispo: www.visitslo.com

Bargain: Mushroom walks at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden

Free

Join a staff mycologist on a weekly Monday walk for mushrooms throughout the garden. Staff naturalist-gardener, Mario Abreu, or plant recorder-gardener, Kristi Van Wert, will lead mushroom walks every Monday through Jan. 26. Mushroom identification, biology, edibility, myths and the good times that all come along with a mushroom walk will be included. For more information, visit www.gardenbythesea.org.

Splurge: Annual National Park Pass

$80

The America the Beautiful — National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is available to the general public and provides access to, and use of, federal recreation sites that charge an entrance or standard amenity fee for a year, beginning from the date of sale. The pass admits the pass holders and passengers in a noncommercial vehicle at per vehicle fee areas and pass holder plus three adults, not to exceed four adults. For more information, visit store.usgs.gov/pass.

Life by numbers

National historic sites: 77

National monuments: 74

National parks: 56