ATwo discount airlines -- JetBlue from Dulles and Southwest from BWI -- serve Oakland, so fares are generally cheap. JetBlue, which flies nonstop, was recently offering a round-trip fare of about $258, while Southwest's fare was $224, with one stop. Many of the major carriers, including American, Continental and Delta, routinely match the discounters' fares.
The new $8 million Children's Zoo at Oakland Zoo (510-632-9525, www.oaklandzoo.org) is scheduled to open this spring. The kids also will enjoy the Children's Fairyland amusement park (510-452-2259, www.fairyland.org) in Lakeside Park on Lake Merritt. The Museum of Children's Art (510-465-8770, www.mocha.org) may appeal to your older child. If you're there March 27, Dunsmuir Historic Estate (510-615-5555, www.dunsmuir.org) will have an Easter egg hunt.
As for lodging, the Best Western Inn at the Square (510-452-4565, www.innatthesquare.com) and Courtyard by Marriott (510-625-8282, www.marriott.com/oakcd) both offer reasonable rates. For food, try Fenton's Creamery & Restaurant (510-658-7000), an old-fashioned malt shop.
Contact the Oakland Convention & Visitors Bureau (510-839-9000, www.oaklandcvb.com) for more info.
Q What is there to do in Salzburg, Austria, during the holiday season?
J. Kikendall
Bethesda
ASalzburg embraces the Christmas season in a big way, although most of the organized events end Dec. 24.
The Christmas Market on Mirabell Square and the Salzburg Christmas Market on Cathedral and Residenz squares run through Dec. 24. About 150 creches will be displayed through Dec. 24 at the Salzburger Heimat- werk. Choirs and wind instrument ensembles will perform daily at 5 p.m. in front of the Salzburg Cathedral through Dec. 23. The "Christ Child Salute," where marksmen shoot their muskets to herald the birth of Jesus, will be held at noon Dec. 24 at the Hohensalzburg Fortress, which also offers an interesting medieval museum. Several organized city tours are available: Bob's Special Tours (011-43-662-849-511, www.bobstours.com) offers a Christmas Tour, for example, for about $45 per person.
Active pursuits include ice skating on Mozart Square. The city also has a snow shuttle, which takes you to outlying winter resorts for skiing, tobogganing, etc. The shuttle leaves daily at 8:30 a.m. from Mirabell Square; cost is about $17 per person.
Details: 011-43-662-889-870, www.salzburg.info.
Send queries by e-mail (travelqa@washpost.com), fax (202-912-3609) or U.S. mail (Travel Q&A, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington D.C. 20071).
