Thursday Travel Ticker: Win trip to D.C.

The U.S. Forest Service invites all Californians between 5 and 17 to participate in a drawing to win an all-expense paid trip to participate in the 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting in Washington. Entry forms must be postmarked by Oct. 7 . . . . In a touch Jean Shepherd might’ve appreciated, Hotel Palomar San Francisco offers a holiday package that includes pie and a bottle of Wild Turkey; (866) 373-4941 . . . . Ventura is touting “holiday sleigh rides” aboard the good ship Dreamer, Dec. 4-31. Each cruise offers a full bar, including a concoction called “reindeer milk” (an adult beverage). Cruises are $20 for adults and $10 for children 2; (805) 642-7753 . . . . For reasons understood only by branding experts, California Travel and Tourism has renamed itself Visit California . . . . The Tahoe Maritime Museum will hold an open house displaying its Truckee vessels Oct. 8. Admission $5, (530) 525-9253 . . . . Everything from fly-fishing trip to free beer is up for grabs in the Idaho Tourism’s Great Idaho Getaway sweepstakes. Sign up here through Friday . . . . The Groveland Hotel (near Yosemite) is holding a “Dinner with Mark Twain,” with actor Pat Kaunert Saturday. Dinner tickets $49 . . . . Travel fact of the day: Since 9/11, the TSA has confiscated 4,600 firearms during checkpoint screenings.