Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PRACTICALITIES
DVDs
coded for region 1 (USA and Canada only)
Electricity
110/120V AC, 50/60Hz
Newspapers
Los Angeles Times(
www.latimes.com
)
, San Francisco Chronicle
(
www.sfchronicle.com
)
, San Jose Mercury News(
www.mercurynews.com
), Sacra-
mento Bee(
www.sacbee.com
)
Radio
National Public Radio (NPR), lower end of FM dial
Time
California is on Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8). Clocks are set one hour ahead dur-
ing Daylight Saving Time (DST), from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday
in November.
TV
PBS (public broadcasting); cable: CNN (news), ESPN (sports), HBO (movies),
Weather Channel
Weights & Measures
Imperial (except 1 US gallon = 0.83 gallons)
Discount Cards
'America the Beautiful' Annual Pass
(
http://store.usgs.gov/pass
;
12-month pass $80)
Admits four adults and all children under 16 years for free to all national parks and feder-
al recreational lands (eg USFS, BLM) for 12 months from the date of purchase. US citizens
and permanent residents aged 62 years and older are eligible for a lifetime Senior Pass
($10), which grants free entry and 50% off some recreational-use fees such as camping.
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American Association of Retired Persons
(AARP; 800-566-0242;
www.aarp.org
; annual membership $16)
This advocacy group for Americans 50 years and older offers member discounts (usually
10%) on hotels, car rentals and more.
American Automobile Association
(AAA; 877-428-2277;
www.aaa.com
; annual membership from $57)
Members of AAA and its foreign affiliates (eg CAA) qualify for small discounts (usually
10%) on Amtrak trains, car rentals, motels and hotels, chain restaurants and shopping,
tours and theme parks.
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