ASAP GETAWAYS : SAN DIEGO BEACHFEST FETES GRUNION.

Byline: Daily News and wire services

Want to go grunion hunting? San Diego plans a big bash for the little fish Aug. 16 with the 1996 Grunion Festival at Pacific Beach, near the west end of Grand Avenue, south of Crystal Pier.

The festival, built around the small fish who swim up on shore after dark to lay their eggs, runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with music, storytelling, dancers, American Indian games and lore, and a slide presentation on grunion.

The serious stuff begins about 11:30 p.m., when the grunion run is expected to begin, and lasts until about 1 a.m. (State law requires grunion to be caught by hand, not with nets or poles.) Admission is free. Information: [phone].

Mammoth Lakes: You don't have to wait for ski season to head to Mammoth. Westfest, an Aug. 16-18 festival of music, art and culture of the old and new West at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area features a variety of entertainers, a barbecue and dance, art exhibition, mountain man rendezvous and wagon train rides. One-day and two-day passes are $28 and $50 at the gate or $25 and $44 in advance from TicketMaster or Bass Tickets, or through the ski area at [phone].

Napa Valley: The Napa Valley Wine Train has expanded its schedule of rolling dinners, brunches and luncheons to include the Grgich Hills private tour package, which includes a visit to the winery and tastings of its products. A series of vintner's luncheons in August will feature meals prepared by chefs from boutique wineries in the region. The train travels 36 miles past 26 wineries as guests dine aboard 1915-era Pullman cars pulled by 1950s locomotives. For price and schedule information, call [phone].

Orick: If you're roaming around Redwoods State Park in this Northern California community Aug. 17, you may want to take in the Banana Slug Derby from noon to 3 p.m. Admission is free and slugs are provided for racing. Information: [phone].

Colorado: Glenwood Springs, west of Vail, will host the Doc HolliDays Festival Aug. 9-11, featuring a chili cookoff and a re-enactment of the famous shootout at the O.K. Corral, in which Doc Holliday participated, complete with real horses and fake blood. Information: [phone].

Breckenridge's No Man's Land Celebration, Aug. 7-11, includes a wood carving competition, gold panning championships, an ice cream social, historical walking and mine tours, mountain bike races and music from classical to rock. Information: [phone].

Utah: Brian Head, a community known for its winter skiing, will reach for the sky Aug. 17 with a star-gazing party. An orientation and slide show begins at 8 p.m. at the Brian head Hotel; then participants will caravan to the 11,000-foot level of Brian Head Peak, where telescopes will be set up to view the skies. Information: [phone].