|
Reunion Date: Wed., Aug 16 to Sun. Aug 20. This (year) is the 40th anniversary of the Re-Commissioning of TOPEKA. Let’s dedicate this reunion to the Plankowners onboard TOPEKA at her Re-commissioning! Hotel: Town and Country Resort and Convention Center, 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, CA 92186. Rates: $89/night (single or double occupancy- additional children are free, but additional adults are $20 each) (plus 10% room tax)- rates good Sunday Aug 13 through Tuesday Aug 22 for those who want to come early or stay longer. Rooms have 1 king-size, or 2 queen-size beds. Advise hotel of handicap requirements on reservation. Parking at the hotel is $1/day (unrestricted in and out). Deadline for reservations: July 23, 2000. Toll-free phone for reservations: 1-800-772-8527. Be sure to say your reservation is for the USS Topeka Reunion. Internet information on the Hotel may be found at www.towncountry.com. The hotel is 6 miles from the airport ($8.50 per person airport shuttle, or $12-$15 taxi fare for 2-4 people); 3 miles from Sea World, 3 miles from Zoo. The hotel is adjacent to the Riverwalk Golf Course, and also adjacent to Fashion Valley Mall, one of San Diego’s premier shopping malls. The San Diego Trolley and Bus terminal is adjacent to the hotel grounds. The major attractions in San Diego are easily accessible by Trolley/Bus, and the fares are extremely economical, especially for Seniors. Trolley/Bus information is available on the internet: www.sdcommute.com. Reunion Schedule. We recommend you plan on arriving Tuesday, because there will be plenty of things you will want to do Wednesday through Saturday. There are plenty of easily accessible shopping malls. Golfers, bring your clubs - we have many Golf courses, including the one adjacent to the hotel and the nearby Navy golf course at Admiral Baker Field. The world-famous Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, The Fleet Aerospace museum, The Automotive Museum, are all a short trolley/bus ride away. For the international experience, take the trolley to Tijuana, Mexico, and try the shopping and bar hopping on Revolucion Ave. See the Navy "grays" from the Harbor Cruise, or by a visit to the 32nd St. Naval Station. We are getting discount tickets for the popular attractions through the Navy Base for your use, and we will provide details on how to get there, using the public transportation, or driving your own vehicle. Wednesday. Open day for check-in, golfing, doing the attractions on your own. For the evening; Visit Historic Old Town, the original "downtown" of San Diego offering tours of historic homes and buildings, arts and crafts shops; dinner at the Casa de Bandini Mexican Restaurant (voted San Diego’s best Mexican Restaurant) or one of the other fine restaurants in Old Town, followed by a great musical comedy "Forever Plaid" in the Old Town Theatre. "Forever Plaid"is in it’s
third year at the Old Town Theatre, and still "packs them in". (We have
seen it 3 times, enjoyed it every time, and are looking forward to seeing
it again.) It’s a fast paced musical comedy about four irresistible
harmony singers who finally realize their dream. Includes 29 hits from the
‘50s and ‘60s. Showtime 8 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets at our group rate of
$24. "Harbor Dinner Cruise is a 2 1/2 hour evening cruise of the beautiful San Diego Bay on a luxury boat with a full service "white-linen" sit-down dinner. This dinner cruise is highly recommended by friends and other reunion groups (USS Tucson) who have taken it. The dinner entree is Grilled Tenderloin Filet AND Boneless Breast of Chicken with Vegetable and Garlic Whipped Potato, preceded by Caesar Salad, and followed by Cookies and Cream Cheesecake. (Vegetarian Plate is also available). Coffee, tea, or sodas are included with the meal. A Boarding glass of Champagne is offered, and a Full Service No-host Bar is available. Music by D.J., and dancing, available. Bus provided, leaves hotel at 6:30 P.M. Boarding at 7:00 P.M. Cruise 7:30 P.M. to 10 P.M. Bus returns to hotel. Price: $56 adult, $30 children 14 and younger. Friday. Open day for Golfing (am tee times TBD) and doing attractions on your own. Visit theViejas casino and shopping
outlet mall. On an Indian reservation, it offers gambling, restaurants,
bars, "Dancing Waters" for the kids to play in, a unique outlet mall with
50+ shops, set in a valley surrounded by mountains. About 30 miles east,
free bus transportation is available if we have at least 35 going
(otherwise a "nominal" charge for the bus transport). Plan to depart the
hotel at 9am, return to the hotel by 3pm. For the evening, a Cocktail Hour at 6 p.m., followed by a "Picnic Buffet" at 7 p.m. (at the Hotel). The menu will include Western Chili, Salads, Hamburgers and Hot Dogs, BBQ Chicken, Corn on the Cob, Fries, Fresh Rolls, Dessert, and Coffee or Tea. Full service No-host Bar available. Picnic Buffet" at 7 p.m. (at the Hotel). The menu will include Western Chili, Salads, Hamburgers and Hot Dogs, BBQ Chicken, Corn on the Cob, Fries, Fresh Rolls, Dessert, and Coffee or Tea. Full service No-host Bar available. Picnic Buffet " at 7 p.m. (at the Hotel). The menu will include Western Chili, Salads, Hamburgers and Hot Dogs, BBQ Chicken, Corn on the Cob, Fries, Fresh Rolls, Dessert, and Coffee or Tea. Full service No-host Bar available. Saturday. Reunion Business Meeting at 9 a.m., followed by Group Pictures. "on your own" the rest of the day. For the evening, Cocktail hour at 6 p.m., followed by a sit-down banquet and short program at 7 p.m. The Banquet menu: Salad, Choice of Roast Prime Rib, or Herb Crusted Halibut, or Vegetarian Plate for the entree, Baked Potato, Vegetable. Dessert. Coffee or Tea. Choice of Wine served at Table. No-host Full Service Bar available. Child’s (12 and younger) menu: Chicken Strips, fries, fruit cup, milk, cookie. Mark your choices for the entrees on the Registration Form. The banquet will be preceded by Presentation of Colors, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The short program, MC-ed by Jerry Judge, will include remarks by our President, recognition of the Plankowners present, and an exhibition of competition-class Western Swing Dancing. Sunday. Check out and "Aloha" until next year. Hospitality Room - Focal point of the Reunion. Our Hospitality Room, on the top floor of the East Tower, was formerly one of the hotel’s bars/lounges. Large, light and airy, it’s surrounded by glass on 3 sides, and doors we can open for fresh air ventilation. The full bar, with all it’s stools, and behind the bar storage, etc., is still there. It is well-decorated and furnished, making for a very comfortable and relaxing room. It will be open at 7 a.m. every morning with fresh coffee, donuts, bagels, juice, milk, and toast. Will be open every day until midnight except during the hours of the Friday night mixer/buffet, and the Saturday night cocktail hour/banquet. Alcoholic, non-alcoholic beverages, coffee, and snacks will be provided. Registration will be there; the "Ship’s store" will be set up, and tables will be available for display of TOPEKA memorabilia, photos, cruise books, etc. Information on San Diego attractions, and "how-to-get-there" will be available. Golfing. Ron Smart, our golf "gourmet", will select one of San Diego’s fine golf courses and arrange tee-times. For those who "just want to golf" inexpensively, Jerry Judge will arrange tee-times at the Admiral Baker Field golf course, which is just "down the road" from the hotel. Indicate your golf preference on the Registration Form. Tickets for Selected San Diego Attractions. Sea World. Our last San Diego Reunion
was in ‘94. Several attractions/rides have been added since then. The
Shamu show (killer whales) is still one of my favorite shows. The shows
are scheduled such that if you get there early, you can see all the shows
in a day - and you will enjoy them all! The Budweiser horses (Clydesdales)
are pretty, and impressive. And Budweiser has a "beer-tasting" set up
where you can sample all their brews. If you haven’t been to a Sea World,
don’t miss this opportunity. A city bus from the stop right behind our
hotel will take you directly to Sea World. Our discount ticket prices: $35
for adults, $25 for children 3-11. 2 Hour Daylight Harbor
Cruise. A narrated tour of San Diego Bay . See downtown San Diego,
Coronado, 32nd Street Naval Station, and all the way out to the entrance
of the Bay at Point Loma. Great for photographers, and those who want to
see more of the "Navy Grays" (including Carriers and Submarines). Don’t
forget a light jacket for those cool breezes, and hats and sunscreen for
sunburn protection. Discount tickets: $9. . Take the Trolley downtown to
the Santa Fe station - then walk 1 block. RV Parks If you want space in a RV park, make your reservations early! Some of those available include: Admiral Baker Field (Navy retired with ID card). $17 per day. 2-3 miles east of the reunion hotel. Phone (619) 556-5525. KOA Chula Vista. $37.50/day. About 10 miles south of the reunion hotel. Phone (619) 427-3601. C.V. J St. Marina. On the bay. About 10 miles south of the reunion hotel. $38-$53 per day depending on space. (619) 422-0111. DeAnza Cove. On Mission Bay. About 3-4 miles west of the reunion hotel. $40 weekdays, $54 weekends. Phone (858) 273-3211. San Diego Weather in August. Dry. Temperature 70s-80s daytime - 60s at night. 10 degrees warmer inland. Although cool, the sun is fierce. Wear sun protection if you plan on being out in the sun - touring, Sea World, the zoo, etc. A light jacket or sweater may be needed at night. |
