Photo: Fish Creek Ponds, New York

Sunrise over First Pond at Fish Creek Ponds, New York

I shot this photo around 7 this morning from my campsite at Fish Creek Ponds in the Adirondacks.
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Feeling Old In Las Vegas

You would think that as a recent college graduate I would fit right in with the new Las Vegas, an endless spring break party with pounding music and overwhelming shows of cleavage.

Sadly, this is not the case.

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Midtown Manhattan Hotel: $129

Travelzoo has a very nice deal this summer on what looks like a pretty decent hotel in midtown Manhattan. The $129 rate for the Hotel Thirty Thirty comes out to $152 with all taxes, a very low rate indeed for midtown.

This rate must be booked by June 9 for stays between July 1 and Sept. 6, with some last-minute availability between June 17 and June 30. It applies Sunday through Thursday.

The reviews on Tripadvisor are generally favorable but include some complaints about the size of the rooms and the quality of the service. (Welcome to New York.) Keep in mind that those travelers reported paying, on average, twice as much as this special rate.

Fun For $3 At The Wild Animal Park

My rule is never to pay for the extras at an attraction: the tram ride, the photos, the special exhibits. But I made an exception for the $3 lorikeet feeding at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, and I wasn’t sorry — as this low-res video demonstrates.

I don’t know why but there’s something hilarious about a little squawking bird walking around on you. I have to recommend it.

Free Embassy Tours In D.C.

The embassies of nations from around the world will offer free tours, cultural programs, entertainment and refreshments in Washington on the first two Saturdays in May. (Thanks to Arthur Frommer for the heads up.)

On May 1, embassies from Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas will participate in the Around the World Embassy Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can hear live didgeridoo music at the Embassy of Australia, for example, or learn to prepare African cuisine at the Embassy of the Republic of Botswana.

On May 8 it’s the European Union’s turn. Embassies of its member nations will host the European Union Embassies’ Open House Day. Try some port wine at the Embassy of Portugal or listen to Hungarian folk music at the Embassy of Hungary.

And it’s all available at my favorite price — free.

An Old Favorite Departs My Price Range

About 20 years ago I paid about $1.50 to get into the Balneario Tabacón hot springs in La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica. Today, daily admission costs $85.

And today I got an email announcing that in celebration of being designated the best international spa in the Luxist Reader’s Choice awards, the Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort is offering three-night spa packages for $1,487 per person, double occupancy. Ayurvedic meals are included.

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Photo Gallery: Palm Springs Area

This photo, with a massive California fan palm in the foreground and the snow-capped  San Jacinto Mountains in the background, was taken in March 2010 at Palm Canyon near Palm Springs.  (See the entire gallery.)

My daughter, Kate Symmonds, and I got a nice Priceline deal on a resort in Rancho Mirage and spent a few days exploring the area around Palm Springs. We were surprised at how beautiful and varied the western Mojave Desert can be, and we ended up spending a lot more time in the great outdoors and a lot less time poolside than we had expected.

 Many of the pictures in the photo gallery were taken in and near Palm Canyon, which is among the Indian Canyons near Palm Springs. Admission is $8, and well worth it. Some of the others were taken at The Living Desert zoo and gardens in Palm Desert, which costs $12.50 per person, a great bargain.

Boston To Costa Rica: $330

Here’s a pleasantly low fare between Boston and San Jose, Costa Rica: $330. I’d even call it astonishing if I hadn’t seen a fare of $275 just a couple of months ago.

That’s round-trip, with all taxes and fees included, by the way.

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The Living Desert: Good Fun, Great Price

Bighorn sheep at The Living Desert.

The Living Desert in Palm Springs could charge the $12.50 admission for each of its three attractions: zoo, botanical gardens or model train display.

But you have to pay only once for all three. It’s a pretty good deal and a nice way to round out a trip to swinging Palm Springs.

Besides, it’s only $11 per person with the discount for seniors, AAA members and military personnel. Admission is $7.50 for children 12 and under, and free for children 3 and younger.

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Ski Time: Low Fares To Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Fares to Jackson Hole from northeastern airports typically run over $600 during ski season, but there is a limited opportunity in March to get a round-trip fare of $329, taxes and fees included, from Bradley.

Alerted by Airfarewatchdog, I checked out the fares on Kayak and FareCompare, and here’s what I found:

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