Northern California News By Kathy Chin Leong Heading to the upper lands of California this summer? Here’s the latest on hotels and attractions. Shasta Lake Known for hosting fleets of houseboats every summer, Shasta Lake welcomes the granddaddy of them all. The Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association has announced that the Jones Valley Resort is launching the Titan, a mega, triple-deck houseboat that can sleep up to 22 people. This 65-foot vessel is the epitome of luxury with a widescreen TV, home theater system, tracking satellite, fireplace, and full wet bar with temp –controlled wine cabinet. The main desk features four private staterooms, two full baths. The second level comes with one private stateroom and one master suites with tie own entertainment system, frigde, microwave and private deck area. All rooms come with a flat screen TV, DVD. Guests can indluge in a sunken 8-person hot tub or take a run down the spiral tube waterslide. Cost? Ain’t cheap. After May 26, the rates run $6,497 for a weekend until September 3. An entire week will run $11,995. Rates vary, according to dates and seasons. Call 877-4-SHASTA or log onto www.houseboats.com. Redding Hampton Inn and Suites is opening is opening a new three-story, 80-guest room hotel with a Spanish Mediterranean theme. Some 36 are stuido suites, including a wet bar and a few with whirlpool tubs. Each is eqiupped with cofee maker, frig, microwave, iron, haridryer, and high—speed Internet access. Amentities include excise room, heated pool and spa, business center, and a hot breakfast. Many rooms feature exquisite views of Mt. Shasta and Lassen Peak. Hampton Inn & Suites 530/224-1001 or log onto www.reddingsuites.hamptoninn.com. Sonoma Back in 2001 inventor Dean Kamen unveiled to an amazed world his Human Transporter...the Segway. Now, five years later the common tourist can explore around Sonoma on one of these fun, cool looking, futuristic scooters. Well you can and the folks at Sonoma Segway, is happy to show you how. Three-hour tours start at $99 and include hands-on instructions on the use of the Segway. After mastering the controls, off visitors go scooting in and around Sonoma,checking out the historical sites, stopping at a winery or two and having an experience they won't soon forget. For more information contact hunt@sonomasegway.com, log on to www.sonomasegway.com or call 707-938-2080.