CONFERENCE EXTRAS
CATCH A RIDE ON THE CAMMY COACH - NEW!
CAM is providing attendees with a new and unique transportation option that is both fun and eco-friendly* — the CAMMY Coach! Chartered buses will pick up conference attendees in Los Angeles and San Francisco, deliver them to the Fresno conference hotel, and provide a return trip. The “party” on the bus will feature “speed-networking” (networking, speed-dating style) and stops along the way to have lunch and enjoy Central Valley agricultural and cultural offerings. You will arrive to the conference in style, reduce your carbon footprint, get to know your fellow museum professionals, and experience the best the Central Valley has to offer.
For travelers from San Francisco, CAM has planned visits to several tasting venues, including Ficklin Vineyards, the Birdstone Winery, Nick Sciabica & Sons’ Olive Oil tasting rooms, and the Beekman and Beekman Farm and Apiary for honey and honey wine. Travelers from Los Angeles will enjoy a complimentary visit to the Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture, including a tour of the collection of Japanese art dating from the 10th century and their new bonsai garden. CAMMY Coach participants will need to pay for any tasting room fees (if applicable), lunch, and daily parking rates at the departure locations separately. Departure locations were selected for their proximity to commuter train service (BART and Metrolink). Specific information on the activities and parking options will be provided to registered participants closer to the conference.
| Sunday, February 24, 2008 Itinerary |
Departure |
Arrival |
| Union Station, Los Angeles to Radisson Hotel, Fresno |
10:00 am |
4:30-5:30 pm |
| Park & Fly Lot, SFO, San Francisco to Radisson Hotel, Fresno |
10:00 am |
4:00-5:00 pm |
|
|
|
| Thursday, February 28, 2008 Itinerary |
Departure |
Arrival |
| Radisson Hotel, Fresno to Union Station, Los Angeles |
10:00 am |
4:30-5:30 pm |
| Radisson Hotel, Fresno to Park & Fly Lot, SFO, San Francisco |
10:00 am |
4:00-5:00 pm |
Early Bird Registration Fees: $120 Los Angeles/Fresno/Los Angeles and $115 San Francisco/Fresno/San Francisco. Fee includes round-trip bus transportation, gratuity, on-board activities, and transportation to tasting rooms and other interesting stops along the way.
*According to the American Bus Association (ABA), motorcoaches are the most fuel-efficient transportation mode in the United States (according to a study released March 20, 2007 by Nathan Associates). The motorcoach industry provided 148.4 passenger miles per gallon of fuel in 2004, the study reported, more than double the second most fuel-efficient sector, inter-city (i.e. Amtrak) trains at 74.1 passenger miles per gallon. Airlines achieved 40.9 passenger miles per gallon, and automobiles achieved 35.4 passenger miles per gallon. In another study, the ABA reports that motorcoaches cover 32.5 miles per gallon, while passenger automobiles only deliver (on average) 27.7 miles per gallon. In addition, motorcoaches produce carbon emissions of only 56 grams per passenger, compared to 371 grams for a passenger car. CAM acknowledges inherent biases in any carbon-impact study and based conclusions on a broader research base than presented here. CAM believes motorcoaches to be an eco-friendly way to transport conference delegates.
TIPS FOR GREENING YOUR TRIP TO FRESNO
The 2008 CAM Conference is a GREEN Conference. Here are some tips on ways you can help reduce our ecological footprint even further:
- Before you leave your home, turn down the thermostat and water heaters; most have a vacation setting. Use a timer for your lights instead of leaving them on. Put your newspaper delivery on hold.
- Take a ride on the fun-filled CAMMY Coach (see above) or use Amtrak for your travel to Fresno. Using shared transportation will reduce the amount of greenhouse gases created by your travel.
- The Radisson Hotel, Fresno currently provides a towel and sheet reuse program only by request. When checking in, let the front desk know that you would prefer this system. Towels on the floor are replaced; those on the rack are left to dry. You can also request that the hotel refrain from using chemical air fresheners and cleaning products in your room.
- Carry a reusable drink container.
- Recycle your materials in appropriate bins.
- Go secondhand – prepare for the evening event at the Fresno Art Museum, “Groovin’ to the Art Beat 60’s Style,” by browsing your local thrift store for your favorite 60’s themed outfit. Don’t be shy!
- Turn off your hotel room lights, heat/air, and television when you leave the room.
- Make a charitable donation of carbon offsets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by your travel.
- Pass along your newspaper to someone else or make sure it’s recycled.
- Walk or make use of the public transportation available in Fresno to visit the area’s cultural, historical, and agricultural landmarks. See HERE for details on mass-transit and Fresno's pedi-cab services.
- Say “no” to Styrofoam. When purchasing meals during your trip, avoid Styrofoam packaging. Ask restaurants to switch to another container. Styrofoam cannot be recycled, and it never biodegrades.
For additional information, visit the Green Museums Initiative resource table at the CAM conference or go to the GMI webpage HERE.
"THE WATERCOOLER" AND BURNING QUESTIONS
A major benefit of attending the CAM conference is the opportunity to talk with fellow museum colleagues, share stories, and discuss challenging topics. Two new programs will be launched at the 2008 CAM conference to foster dialogue and push boundaries. The “Watercooler” will provide a designated space in the Exhibit Hall for colleagues to sit down to discuss conference topics. Meanwhile, attendees will be surrounded by “Burning Questions” as they make their way to sessions or the Exhibit Hall – designed to pose challenging questions and illicit responses. Come to Fresno ready to explore new horizons!
FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION AND TOURS FOR CONFERENCE ATTENDEES
The following museums are offering free admission to 2008 CAM conference attendees when they present a name badge or conference registration receipt between Sunday, February 24, 2008 and Thursday, February 28, 2008! Please be sure to check their website or call for hours of operation, directions, and other information. Transportation is not provided.
Fresno Art Museum
Since its inception as a regional arts center in 1948, the Fresno Art Museum has grown into an important museum of contemporary and modern art. Exhibitions include a wide range of contemporary as well as modern works by local, national and international artists. With additional emphasis on Mexican art from pre-Columbian times to the present, and with the planned bequest of significant collections of pre-Columbian ceramics and French post-impressionist graphics, the Museum is working to serve as both an educational facility and a repository for important collections from the Central Valley. Please note: the Museum is closed on Mondays. Fresno Art Museum, 2233 N. 1st Street, Fresno, CA 93703; 559-441-4220; www.fresnoartmuseum.org.
Fresno Chaffee Zoo
Fresno Chaffee Zoo is your central valley destination for outrageous adventure! Journey to the Sunda Forest, territory to our tigers, orangutans, and siamangs. It's an experience of a lifetime, every day at Fresno Chaffee Zoo! Drop in on Monday, February 25, 2008 between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm for special animal encounters and behind-the-scenes tours. Fresno Chaffee Zoo, 94 W. Belmont Avenue, Fresno, CA 93728; 559-498-5910; www.fresnochaffeezoo.com.
Fresno Metropolitan Museum’s Reeves ASK Science Center
For the first time in its history, the Fresno Metropolitan Museum is undergoing an interior upgrade of its historic 1922 building. The Fresno Metropolitan Museum is entering a new phase in exhibition development with the debut of Crossroads: The Meeting of Art and Science at the Reeves ASK Science Center’s Temporary Location (933 Van Ness Avenue). Crossroads was developed by the Met and features hands-on, interactive stations exploring the intersections between art and science. 933 Van Ness Avenue, Fresno, CA 93721; 559-441-1444; www.fresnomet.org.
Kearney Mansion Museum
Kearney Mansion was home to one of California’s premier agribusiness pioneers, M. Theo Kearney. When visitors tour the Mansion, they learn more about this extraordinary man, his home, and his role in organizing the first raisin grower co-operative. Drop in between 10:00 am and 4:00 for special tours offered on Monday, February 25, 2008. Kearney Mansion Museum, Fresno Historical Society, 7160 W Kearney Blvd, Fresno, CA 93706; 559- 441-0862; www.valleyhistory.org/KearneyMansionMuseum.html.
LOCAL AREA MAPS, ATTRACTIONS, AND ACTIVITIES
TOURS OF FRESNO'S HISTORICAL AND AGRICULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS
Fresno Fulton Mall Walking Tour
The Fulton Mall is a centerpiece of Fresno’s downtown revival. It is widely regarded as one of Garret Ekbo’s master works. The Fulton Mall is also an exhibit space for one of the finest public art collections anywhere. Alongside the major art works, the mosaics on the bench backs were designed by two local artists, as well as the ceramic pipes that soften the angular pools. The design of the Fulton Mall puts Fresno on the cutting edge of the 20th Century in architecture, art and landscape design. Download the walking tour brochure HERE.
Blossom Trail Driving Tour
This self-guided, 67-mile driving tour affords views of the beautiful spring blossoms of the Central Valley's fruit and nut orchards. The season is between February and May; blossoms usually peak during March. Several historical points of interest are located along the driving tour, including a vintage general store in operation since the 1920's, and some of the county's oldest Victorian homes, dating form the 1880's. Explore the old ghost town of Centerville, founded in 1853, or discover historic Sanger. You'll see the Friant-Kern Canal, which provides the water that sustains the valley's orchards. Fishing and picnicking are popular at lovely Whispering Waters Lakes. Brochures and a map are located at the visitors bureau, 808 M Street south of Kern Street, and at the Chamber of Commerce, 2331 Fresno Street at N Street (559-233-4651) or available for download through the Blossom Trail website HERE.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Yosemite National Park
http://www.nps.gov/yose/
Located on Highway 41, 92 miles north of Fresno, Yosemite is open year round and offers a wide range of activities: snow skiing, ice skating, swimming, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, rock climbing, golf, picnicking and sightseeing. Admission is $20 per car. For more information, call 559-252-4848 or visit the website listed above.
Bald Eagle Tours at Millerton Lake
Millerton Lake State Recreational Area
Every winter a population of majestic Bald Eagles escapes the severe cold of northern Canada for the winter paradise of Millerton Lake. Park Rangers offer 3-hour guided tours on weekends in February. Reservations are required, call for ticket prices: (559) 822-2332.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Forestiere Underground Gardens
5021 W. Shaw Avenue
Fresno, CA 93722
(559) 271-0734
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/forest.htm
The Forestiere Underground Gardens’ story began in 1905, when Baldasare Forestiere, a Sicilian immigrant who arrived in the San Joaquin Valley by way of New York and Los Angeles, bought a parcel of land upon which he intended to grow trees and vines. Unfortunately, Baldasare's dreams were dashed when he discovered that his land was a solid plate of hardpan rock, utterly useless for agriculture. Undaunted and inspired by images he saw in his mind's eye, Baldasare began to dig. Whether, as legend holds, he was wooing a sweetheart back in Sicily, or whether he remembered architecture from his childhood, Baldasare bored down through the hardpan. Over the next forty years, he created a subterranean network of over a hundred niches, courtyards, patios, rooms and passageways. Contrary to what the name implies, the Underground Gardens are full of life and light. Skylights and courtyards let in sunlight and rainwater, and fruit trees and grape vines abound, lit by the sun from above, and protected from heat and frost below. Call for tour times and admission prices.
Simonian Farms
(559) 237-2294
S. Clovis and E. Jensen Aves.
A historical valley landmark since 1901, this third-generation family farm located along the Fresno County Blossom Trail grows and sells more than 100 varieties of fruits and vegetables. A fruit stand and produce market are located at the farm. Inside the market, visitors can view an antique bicycle collection and fascinating memorabilia, such as old mannequins, porcelain signs, antique gas pumps and turn-of-the-century model train. Outside is a large collection of antique farm equipment--covered wagons, tractors, plows, cultivators and a Santa Fe caboose. Open daily, 8:00a.m.- dusk.
The Tower District
http://www.towerdistrict.org
Sophisticated, progressive and with its feet firmly rooted in the arts and entertainment, the Tower District is Fresno's own unique version of similar neighborhoods of culture in New York, San Francisco and Seattle.
