Jerry Brown is on vacation this week, apparently in Arizona. And we have some ideas about what California's governor-elect could, should and shouldn’t be doing there.

Passengers disembarked Thursday morning from their ill-fated cruise on the Carnival Splendor, full of survivor stories, quips and -- generally speaking -- a fairly upbeat attitude about their experiences. They were greeted by a horde of media, as well as relatives, friends and even strangers.

Veterans Day may be best spent outdoors because national parks and forests offer free admission Thursday and state parks are marking the day with some special events.

Some people show great courage in the face of adversity; some just get silly. Here's what happened when the Carnival Splendor cruise ship finally returned to San Diego on Thursday after being left powerless at sea by an engine fire:

Even before this week’s fire and power loss aboard the Carnival Splendor off Mexico, the last two years had been rotten for the cruise business in Southern California. As the U.S. economy soured and the Mexican drug war raged, demand for West Coast Mexican cruises has fallen steeply since 2008.

Carefree RV Resorts has a Veterans Day special that lasts far longer than the holiday. Active, retired and veteran military servicemen and women will receive 50% off the cost of renting recreational vehicle sites year-round at the company's chain of parks.

Passengers' reports from the stranded Carnival Splendor cruise ship, which was being towed Wednesday toward San Diego after an engine fire left it powerless, are starting to reach the outside world. Onboard life  is either hell or just unpleasant, depending on who's talking.

• Pictures: Stranded Carnival Cruise Ship

• Carnival Splendor cruise wasn't magic, even for the magicians

Those with the Veterans Day holiday off might want to consider heading to Mammoth Mountain ski area, which on Thursday will be celebrating opening day of their 2010-11 skiing and snowboarding season.

No, it’s not a Chicago tavern, though the name of the new bar at the Langham Huntington, Pasadena may suggest one. The Tap Room is the latest update at the luxury hotel, once a member of the Ritz-Carlton chain.

Boeing Co halted test flights of its long-delayed 787 Dreamliner on Wednesday, a day after smoke in the main cabin forced an emergency landing in Texas. "We have decided to not fly the other airplanes until we better understand the incident," said Boeing spokeswoman Loretta Gunter.

As the sun rose Wednesday morning, tugboats continued the slow process of pulling the powerless cruise ship Carnival Splendor into San Diego. The ship that lost power Monday because of an onboard fire is not expected in San Diego until Thursday night.

Free stuff I like: no-fee checked bags on planes, hot hotel breakfasts, Wi-Fi anywhere. Free stuff I don’t like: a re-gifted Chia Pet (unless it’s SpongeBob). It took half a nanosecond to decide I also like the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego's holiday gift tucked in a package deal for December: a free hybrid car for a day with your stay.

A cruise ship left powerless by an engine fire is expected to be towed into Ensenada on Wednesday morning, and buses will meet passengers for the trip back to Southern California, the cruise ship company and the U.S. Navy announced Tuesday. Tugboats are scheduled to bring the ship, with its 3,299 passengers and 1,167 crew members, into Ensenada, where it will undergo emergency repairs before returning to its home port of Long Beach.

No matter what kind of trip you plan, you’re going to encounter more than beaches and palm trees when you reach Hawaii. Chances are you’ll bump into Pleasant Holidays, Aston lodgings or TS Restaurants. In fact, you may wind up doing business with all three, as I did on a Hawaii trip in late October.

Legoland Florida will open in October 2011 with 50 rides, attractions and shows at the former Cypress Gardens theme park in Winter Haven, about 40 miles from Disney World.

• Top 10 Legoland California rides and attractions