A golden time for eagle viewing

The eagles have landed in California, and some parks and recreation areas are starting tours. Rangers and staff at the Millerton Lake State Recreation Area, about 20 miles northeast of Fresno, are taking tourists in boats around the water for viewings of the birds of prey. Tours are at 8 a.m. the first three weekends in December and weekends in January and February. The $15 tour price includes park admission. Info: (559) 822-2332, www.parks.ca.gov. (Wear warm clothes and take binoculars.) Two-hour eagle tours at Big Bear Lake (above, a bald eagle at the lake) begin at the Big Bear Discovery Center, 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays from Dec. 22 to March 1, with extra tours on Dec. 28 and 30. Tours are $30 for adults (snacks, water, telescope and binoculars provided). Reservations: (909) 866-3437. Cachuma Lake Recreation Area in Santa Barbara County also has two-hour lake tours through February. Reservations: (805) 686-5055, weekends. Cost: $15 for adults.

-- Josef Molnar

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Neat, petite

With gas prices at near-record levels and mortgage rates giving homeowners ulcers, the only ray of sunshine in our cost-conscious world seems to be the sinking prices of electronic gadgets. The latest bit of happiness: a 10-megapixel digital camera, with lots of bells and whistles, including face-recognition software, for only $170. The camera, the DXG 110, is made by city of Industry-based DXG. Never heard of it? Probably because DXG has been making cameras under other brand names for more than 20 years. The palm-size camera takes high-resolution photos right out of the box. Drawbacks: no viewfinder, a long shutter lag and a petite size that makes it hard to hold without accidentally squeezing a button. (626) 839-6528, www.dxgusa.com.

-- Hugo Martin

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Megabus expands

The bargain bus company Megabus launched service last week to San Ysidro, the border town at the end of Interstate 5. Fares run $1 to $15.50 (plus a 50-cent booking fee) depending on how early you book and the demand on the route. Last month, the company also added daily service from Los Angeles to Phoenix and the Bay Area city of Millbrae. (877) 462-6342, www.megabus.com.

-- Vani Rangachar

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Planet Vegas

Magic lamps? Moroccan waterfronts? All dead. Today’s Aladdin is Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Vegas (a lobby view, above), which just had its grand opening. The genie’s touch can be seen in flowing floor-to-ceiling Swarovski-crystal designs, clean clubby lines in the casino and a celluloid celebrity focus (think your own private memorabilia museum by your bed) plus the icons of mid-Wilshire as your sustenance -- Koi, Pink’s, Trader Vic’s and a “Miracle Mile” mall. Room rates start at $99. (866) 919-7472, www.planethollywood resort.com.

-- Lark Ellen Gould