If you're cool when the Travel Gods challenge you, rewards such as Waikiki can await.

My friend called with a tempting offer.

He was in Waikiki on business, had a few days off for the long Memorial Day Weekend and invited me to fly over and join him. (Let’s be clrst, he wanted a pal with him to go kayaking, snorkeling and, of course, partying, and i was only too happy to oblige,)

Since this was last minute, airfares would have been sky-high but when you live in Los Angeles, as we do, that’s never a problem. That’s because we have lots of friends who are flight attendants and flight attendants have buddy passes!

So I called Luau Larry, who works for Hawaiian Air. He has me on his highest priority standing and he arranged for flights the exact day I desired, Wednesday to Wednesday. And to make things even better, by chance he was scheduled to work both flights!

The Travel Gods, it seemed were shining on me.

Then I got to the airport. Buddy passes – which are not free, by the way; this one was close to $200 – do not guarantee you a seat. You are a stand-by passenger, which means you show up and hope they have a seat for you. Often, you don’t know until the moment they are ready to shut the door.

The flight attendants can check the passenger loads beforehand and the night before the flight and on my outbound, there were some 30 open seats. Our only issue, or so it seemed, was whether or not I would get first class.

Well, a bizarre set of circumstances happened that morning and I missed getting on the flight. By two people! I could try again that evening but the airline had reduced the size of the plane and my odds were slim at best. The Party Gods, it seemed, had decided that I should stay in L.A.

Not wanting to pay $25 for a taxi to go the six miles to my home, and another $20 go to back a few hours later, I used public transportation. And waiting for the LAX bus took nearly half an hour. There’s usually one every couple of minutes. I could not figure out what I had done to upset the Travel Gods.

But sometimes, the Travel Gods are just testing you. They are seeing how you react to certain situations. If you cuss and yell and pitch a fit like a teenager wanting a video game, then they will really punish you in the future.

When I returned to the airport that evening, I was given virtually no chance of getting on the flight. If not, my plan was to return home and come back in the morning for one last go at it.

And frankly, I really didn’t care all that much if I made it or not.

I had an invitation to be wined and dined at the South Bay’s Most Romantic Restaurant, BALEENKitchen, for a special tasting of food and wine the next night. Since it’s Memorial Day Weekend that also means Fiesta Hermosa in Hermosa Beach. A friend was having a house party on the Strand on Saturday and somewhere along the way, I was going to go hang out with the hippes at Topanga Days in Topanga Canyon.

So imagine my surprise when my name was called to get on the flight some 45 minutes before it departed. It was a middle seat but hey, it was a seat.

And imagine my further surprised when I discovered that one of my seatmates was a gorgeous blonde! The Travel Gods were rewarding me for my coolness and patience earlier in the day!

The gorgeous blonde turned out to be very pleasant, a Swiss girl who lives in San Francisco and was headed to Maui for a wedding.

So this blog is being written in Waikiki Beach, and I’m hopeful the Travel Gods will keep up the positive spirits during my stay in this island paradise.

Aloha!

If piers are a Surfrider contest theme, thiing this one from Hermosa Beach could win?

Do you have a great photo of the beach, ocean, waves, or surf and environment?

If so, share it with the Surfrider Foundation and you could win a Fireware surfboard.

It’s the Surfrider Foundation’s “Thirsty Thursday” Instagram photo challenge. The Surfrider Foundation will announce a photo theme on Wednesday via its Facebook page and on Thursday, post a pic on Instagram with the tag @Surfrider and #ISD. That serves as your entry.

The contest kick offs May 30th and runs through International Surfing Day on June 20. There are weekly prizes leading up to the grand prize. Photos need to be submitted on Thursdays between 6 a.m.-3 p.m., Pacific Time. Each Friday, the top three challenge winners will receive an “awesome prize pack” from the Surfrider Foundation.

Following the final “Thirsty Thursday” of the series, one grand prize winner will be selected from the 12 weekly winners to receive a Firewire surfboard.

“When thinking of International Surfing Day activations that would encompass the international community, we decided to go mobile,” said Laura Lee, Surfrider Foundation Director of Marketing & Communication.  “By hosting an Instagram contest, we’ll be able to get a glimpse into the lives of supporters worldwide and see how they are getting pumped for ISD.”

The International Surfing Day Website is:  www.intlsurfingday.com.

RELATED STORY

• International Surfing Day 2013

Protectiing turtles and coral reefs are a main mission of Reef Relief.

We all know about Duval Street, Mallory Square and all the other key stops in Key West.

But there’s more to explore in the Conch Republic and on Saturday, May 25, here’s a great way to experience it. And on a bicycle, and to help raise environmental awareness, too.

The organization Reef Relief has organized a bike ride through an area most people don’t know exists. It visits the Fran Ford White Crowned Pigeon Park, Little Hamaca Park, the Hawk Missile Site and Paintball Park. Meeting on Government Road (just off Flagler), the tour highlights the area’s history and ecology of the area.

Leading the ride is City Commissioner Tony “Fat” Yaniz.

“It’s a way to explore and learn, as well as a chance to interact. I’ve got some ideas for taking better care of this special area, and I want some feedback,” says Yaniz.

Yaniz also wants to hear from fellow bicyclists from his district.

“We’re working on a Bicycle Master Plan and we need input for this area,” he said. “Where are there safety issues? Connectivity issues? Where do we need amenities? Let us know.”

The Salt Ponds Bike Ride is part of the City of Key West’s sustainability campaign: Preserve Island Life.

To sign up, call (305) 294-3100.

Reef Relief’s website is: http://reefrelief.org/

It doesn't take much to pack in order to enjoy Waikiki Beach.

I packed for Waikiki Beach in 15 minutes.

And spent a half hour unpacking what I did not need.

That’s the way it is when going to this Hawaiian island paradise. You don’t need to take much and in fact, you could show up naked and buy enough to survive for a week at the ABC Store.

My suitcase consists of the following:
• Two swimsuits
• Half a dozen t-shirts
• One tank top
• Two Aloha shirts
• Flip Flops
• Running shoes
• Underwear
• Three pairs of shorts (hey, I splurged!)
• Beach towel (another splurge; you can buy one from the ABC Store for 10 bucks and just leave it)
• Mask and snorkel (another kind of splurge; you can buy this from the ABC store for 15 busks and just leave it)

So I’m ready to roll. Waikiki, here I come and I’m looking forward to seeing you again!

San Diego's Coronado Beach will be sunny like all of San Diego on Memorial Day.

Beach weather for Memorial Day Weekend at America’s shorelines show one thing to Surfside Sam: Be in California.

From San Diego to San Francisco and beyond, it’s sunny up and down the coast. At other beaches around the country have their Memorial Day moments, but there are clouds and, in the case of South Florida, rain the entire week.

In California, San Diego is sunny and perhaps a bit cool with highs in the mid-60s and lows in the lower 60s. Going up the coast, Manhattan Beach and Santa Monica are super-sunny with the same temperatures. Continuing north, Monterey is sunny in the low 60s and lows around 50 (so drink plenty of wine!), and San Francisco is mostly sunny with highs in the mid-60s and lows in the mid-50s.

Further north in the state, in Mendocino County, the temperatures are cool with highs in the upper 50s and lows in the mid-40s, but the gorgeous coastline will glisten in the sunshine.

As always in California, when you go out in the daytime, be sure and have a jacket or sweatshirt handy. You can spot a Californian because one of these items is wrapped around their waistline.

The second-best weather is likely to be in Gulf Shores, Alabama, original home of Jimmy Buffett. The forecast calls for sunny skies thru the weekend with temperatures in the mid-80s. There will be some clouds on Sunday but Friday, Saturday and Monday are bright and beautiful.

In Texas, San Padre Island is warm – temps in the mid-80s – and is partly sunny before becoming full sunny on Memorial Day.

In Florida, the best weather is on the Gulf Coast, and even that’s not perfect. St. Pete is warm and sunny on Friday and Monday but it’s raining on Saturday and Sunday. Destin is mid-80s and party cloudy the entire weekend.

Miami has temperatures in the upper 80s, but it’s raining all week. The same is true in Ft. Lauderdale. In Key West, it’s good early with sunshine and temperatures in the upper 80s on Thursday and Friday. But thunderstorms will roll in on Saturday and Sunday.

Up the coast in Daytona Beach, the best weather is party cloudy on Saturday and Sunday.

In Hawaii, the weather in Honolulu is nice Friday thru Sunday but expect rain leading into the weekend and on Memorial Day. There is rain due in Maui on Saturday and Monday.

Wherever you are and what beach you are on, Surfside Sam hopes you have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

Pigeon Key at the 7-mile bridge hosts camps for kids in July and August.

This sure is a great way to spend a week if you’re a kid – going to an island everyday to learn about marine animals and go snorkeling.

It’s all a part of the Marine Science Camp at Pigeon Key in the Florida Keys. The 2013 dates have been announced as July 1-5, 8-12, 15-19 and Aug. 5-9. There’s a choice of a day camp or, for kids 10 and older, overnight camp. Early registration is suggested, as space is limited and slots fill quickly.

Pigeon Key Marine Science Camp includes daily workshops on marine mammals, reef fish, coral reef systems and invertebrates as well as hard and soft corals found in Florida and Caribbean waters.  Specimens are gathered in the tidal waters that surround Pigeon Key and contained in touch tanks for students to view. An educational team member is available to monitor and explain their role in the ecosystem.

Underwater obstacle courses, fishing, snorkeling, campfires and day excursions are all part of the camp sessions.

Day camp includes daily ferry trips to the island, water bottles, lunch, snacks, marine program workbooks, snorkel gear rental and a trip to Sombrero Reef aboard a 40-foot catamaran. Cost is $350 per child.

Overnight camp includes the aforementioned as well as breakfast, dinner, staffed overnight housing on the island and additional marine science programs. Cost is $950 per child.

For those at least 10 years of age, there’s a scuba certifications available. The cost is $550 per child for day camp with a PADI refresher course, $800 for day camp with a PADI scuba certification class or $1,400 for overnight camp including a scuba certification class.

Pigeon Key is located beneath the Old Seven Mile Bridge at mile marker 47 bayside.

To sign up or for inquiries, call (305) 509-0345, or send an e-mail pigeonkeyed@gmail.com.

Casa de Campo is celebrating local cuture with a festival in May.

Dominican Republic culture is the theme at the inaugural Spring Festival at Casa de Campo hotel.

Set for May 23-26 at Altos de Chavon, it features Dominican Folkloric dances workshop and folkloric dance exhibitions, street theater plays demonstrating the pirate-infused history of Santo Domingo; string and poetry recitals accompanied by classical music from the Mirabal String Quintet and  performances by the National School of Dance and the National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro José Antonio Molina at Altos de Chavón’s  5,000-seat Grecian style amphitheater.

To encourage tourists to attend, the hotel is offering  special room rates for Festival guests start at $295 per person/ per night, a third night free and 20% off golf tee-times and spa appointments.

Casa de Campo is a resort modeled after a 16th-century Mediterranean village with an art gallery, an archeological museum with one of the largest collections of Taino Indians artifacts on the island, arts and crafts workshops, restaurants, bars and shops, as well as Altos de Chavon School of Design, affiliated with New York’s Parson’s School of Design.

To book a room, the hotel’s website is: www.casadecampo.com.do.

The sandwiches at Old Fisherman's Grotto are filling and delicious.

It’s easy to spend a fortune on food when traveling, so I’m always looking for good deals when I’m on the road.

I found one in Monterey, CA, and it’s so good it’s become part of my daily routine when I’m in this beautiful city on the California coast. And it only costs me six bucks.

It’s on Fisherman’s Wharf, which is lined with restaurant after restaurant – and for dinner, I highly recommend the sand dabs at Abalonetti’s, although the owner Kevin says they make calamari that tastes like abalone –but I pass on the sit-down choices.

Instead, I discovered a very tasty alternative. I grab one of the sandwiches on sale outside of Old Fisherman’s Grotto and take it to a bench by the bay to enjoy it.

The blogger always goes for the turkey but there are also tuna salad sandwiches.

Start out by sampling all the chowders; Isabella's is tops in this blogger's opinion.

The sandwiches are huge. In fact, those looking for a light meal could share it with two people.  I always opt for the turkey, which is piled high like those day-after-Thanksgiving sandwiches. It’s on a thick, delicious bread and is a full, satisfying meal.

And as a side dish, you don’t need to buy a bag of chips or small fruit bowl. Just walk down the pier and try all the free samples of the clam chowder people are handing out in front of the restaurants. The chowder at Fisherman’s Grotto is very good, it’s outstanding at Abalonetti’s but the best, in my opinion, is Isabella’s.

There are picnic tables with a view next to Fisherman's Wharf.

Lunch with a view; there are many places to sit and look out onto Monterey Bay.

As for where to eat the sandwich, I go around the corner to a small park. It has picnic tables and benches and has a view of the boats on the bay and the back side of the Fisherman’s Wharf restaurants. Keep walking and there are several more picnic tables and benches, and even a large grassy park just before you enter Cannery Row.

This is the ultimate Monterey Bay picnic!

for six bucks and

Waves crashing on rocks by the shore make Pacfic Grove the most scenic location.

Of all the beautiful places in Monterey Bay – Monterey itself, the wide beach at Carmel, Pebble Beach, Big Sur, Carmel Valley among them – the most gorgeous of them all is Pacific Grove.

I know, it’s like trying to choose the best looking beauty queen between Miss America and Miss Universe. You’re not going to go wrong with either, but if you had to pick one, then which would be at the top of your list? Or heart?

And as scenic as all those other places are, Pacific Grove is the most stunning of them all.

It has to do with the deep-blue Pacific crashing onto those rocks by the shore.  The small cover with water so clear it makes you want to run into it even though you know it’s probably only 50-something degrees. And, above all, the rock formations at Lover’s Point, where you can indeed fall in love.

I’m ashamed to admit that, despite spending a considerable amount of time in the Monterey Bay area the past few years – thanks to my friend having a boat in Monterey Bay where I can stay – it had been several years since I went to Pacific Grove. And what kind of fool am I!?

It's easy to spend hours just staring out into Monterey Bay from Pacific Grove.

The land makes an "L" right here at Lover's Point Park.

The water at Lover's Point is so clear you want to run in, even though it's 50 degrees.

Walking the rocks and feeling the breeze is a Titanic "king top of the world" moment.

Beach House Restaurant at Lover's Point is open for casual diniing with a view.

The place is not just gorgeous, it’s time-stopping gorgeous. (Fortunately, the street parking is free so you don’t have to worry about losing track of time and returning to your car and having a ticket.) I can just stare out to the sea for hours. Walk up and down the path or, as I did one time with a person of some significance, climb the rocks feeling as if I was starring in a romantic movie.

The most gorgeous part of this most gorgeous part is Lover’s Point Park, where the land makes an “L” shaped turn. It’s here you get a full, huge view of the entire bay. Walk out onto the big rocks, feel the wind blowing in your face and, well, it’s a “Titanic” moment.

I look forward to going back and trying out the new restaurant that just went in on the corner in late spring 2013, Beach House. It’s run by Kevin Phillips of the fantastic Abalonetti’s on Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf, and it’s going to be less formal than the previous occupant of that prime property.

You can bet the next time – and every time – I’m in Monterey Bay, I’ll stop by Pacific Grove to soak in the most gorgeous view in Monterey Bay.

The summertme heat price is just one way to cool down at the Miami Conrad.

Miami gets pretty hot but this can keep you cool.

The Conrad Miami is setting setting deluxe room rates according to the highest temperature for the day of booking. So if  the day’s high is 95 degrees  when you book your room rate is $95.

The Conrad calls this it’s “Stay Cool” package and it’s good for July and August.

Rooms must be booked between June 30-August 31 for stays during those days. The rates are determined by the highest temperature as shown on the Conrad Miami website under the weather section of the hotel’s homepage.

To book, call the hotel’s “cool” specialists at (305) 503-6557 and request the “Stay Cool” package.

The Conrad Miami ls located on fashionable Brickell Avenue in downtown Miami. It’s address is: 1395 Brickell Avenue, Miami, FL.

You can learn more about the hotel – and be sure and browse its vast photo gallery – at its website: www.conradhotels3.hilton.com.