BUSINESS Sales start cracking in Costa Mesa...

BUSINESS

Sales start cracking

in Costa Mesa

In the week leading up to the Independence Day holiday,

firecracker buyers headed to Costa Mesa for the hardware.

It turned out, the city was also a popular spot for the Fourth of

July, even with the wild West Newport scene, the return of a popular

fireworks show at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and a boat

parade in Newport Harbor.

A survey by Priceline.com showed that Costa Mesa was the 30th most

popular travel destination in the nation, beating out such hot spots

as Miami’s South Beach, the Las Vegas Strip and San Francisco’s

Fisherman’s Wharf.

The company released a list of the top 50 areas, in terms of

booked hotel rooms.

Civic leaders and local tourism professionals couldn’t explain the

survey results, whether it is its proximity to the beach, its central

location or the affordability of its rooms -- which range between $89

and $129.

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

paul.clinton@latimes.com.