Fires foul up the air, travel plans and tourist attractions

Wildfires raging in Southern California have caused some major tourist attractions to close, particularly around San Diego, and hampered travel because of road closures. In both San Diego and the Los Angeles area, air quality has become unhealthy because of the smoke and dust, and authorities are urging even healthy adults not to exert themselves outdoors.

In San Diego, hotels, the airport and some attractions in the heart of the city are operating normally and not threatened by the fires. However, a smoky haze is shrouding downtown and the harbor, and city hotels are packed with residents who have been forced to evacuate their homes. Those who must travel to San Diego should phone their hotels to double-check reservations.

Some airlines, including Seattle-based Alaska Airlines, are allowing travelers booked on flights to Southern California through Thursday to postpone or cancel their flights without the usual change fees or penalties.

Many museums and other attractions in and around San Diego have closed because of the transportation congestion caused by the massive evacuations of some neighborhoods and the threat of fires. While the city's renowned San Diego Zoo was open Tuesday, its rural sister, the San Diego Wild Animal Park, was closed because of a nearby wildfire.

Other attractions closed include SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Cabrillo National Monument. In the city's sprawling Balboa Park, many museums are closed.

Updates are posted at www.sandiego.org, the Web site of the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau.

In Los Angeles, none of the major attractions have yet been closed. The Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park in Valencia, which is being hit by wildfires, normally is closed weekdays at this time of year.

The Los Angeles Convention and Visitor Bureau is posting updates at www.visitlosangeles.info.

Kristin Jackson: kjackson@seattletimes.com