Travel geeks and science junkies alike have been buzzing about the Zeppelin NT07 aircraft scheduled to arrive in California this month from Germany and promises an entirely new sight-seeing medium for travelers in the months and years to come. While the above photograph is an artist’s composit, it’s not far off from reality. The ship has already taken its maiden test voyage and should be floating through Bay Area skies by year’s end.

Owned and operated by Airship Ventures, which will use Sunnyvale’s Moffet Field hangars to house the giant, the airborne marvel will transport up to 12 passengers on trips over the Bay Area once it is up and running later this fall. Inflated with inert helium gas, the ship doubles as a massive roving billboard that will no doubt hold much allure for advertisers.

The big question for travelers is, of course, how can I get tickets? Expected to fall in the range of $500 a piece, according a story in New York Times earlier this year, tickets certainly won’t come cheap. But the real problem will be finding them in first place. The company estimates that it will only offer a few thousand in its first year of operation. Luckily, those in the know can queue up for tickets before the masses find out by signing up for the reservations mailing list in advance. When the company is ready to start signing people up for flights, you’ll be among the first to know…

Good news (and extra good news if you happen to have twins): In 2009, Disney theme parks in Florida and California will offer free admission on birthdays. Guests may register their birthdays, and those of their children, in advance, and proof of age is required to score the discount.

Since it opened earlier this year, I’ve been keeping an eye on Cavallo Point, a new lodge built at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge across from San Francisco. Mainly, I’ve been wondering how I can justify a vacation to a place that’s just a few miles from my house.

I may have found the answer: Cavallo Point’s Adventures & Learning Vacations. The ongoing series of adventure, well-being, arts and culinary programs let guests hole up in this idyllic setting for a few days while exploring those topics with Northern California experts - among them, the art of handcrafted cheese with Cowgirl Creamery cheesemakers, animation with artist Packard Jennings, bootcamp fitness for women with Joanie Greggains and wine country cooking with Joanne Weir.

Through the end of the year, the programs come with free lodging when you and another person share a room and participate in the program together. Solo travelers will receive one night of free lodging at the inn.