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Valentine's Day


Happy Valentine's Day(2008)
From 101lifeStyle.com

Valentine's Day Romantic Destinations:

Valentine's Day Romantic Cities:

10.Los Angeles - The Capital Of Fantasy:

Los Angeles is the largest city in the state of California and the second-largest in the United States. The city and its immediate vicinity lead the world in producing popular entertainment — such as motion picture, television, video games and recorded music — which forms the base of Los Angeles' international fame and global status. There are few cities that offer as much entertainment, excitement and diversity as do the attractions in Los Angeles. It will engulf you into a world of fantasy as you visit its diverse attractions with your Valentine on a romantic sojourn. Los Angeles is all ready on Valentine's Day. Ocean view dinners at Geoffrey's in Malibu. A spa for two at the romantic Ojai Valley Inn and Spa. Candlelight picnics in the park (any park). A private chef-catered meal for the boudoir.

Things To Do / See:

A.Visit The Hollywood Boulevard:
Hollywood Boulevard. Here you can find some of the biggest tourist attractions in the city - The Walk of Fame for its stars, Grauman's Chinese Theatre for its hand and foot prints, the Hollywood/Highland plaza for shopping and entertainment, The Wax Museum, and Ripley's Believe it or Not. All of these attractions are accessible from the Hollywood/Highland Metro Red Line station. The Walk of Fame, located in Hollywood honors stars that have made significant contributions in categories such as radio, television, motion pictures, recording and live performance. The Walk of Fame is a permanent monument of the past, as well as the present. The Walk of Fame is located on both sides of Hollywood Boulevard from Gower to La Brea, and also both sides of Vine Street, from Yucca to Sunset and to this day remains as one of the city's most visited tourist attractions.

B.Mulholland Drive:
Mulholland Drive offers spectacular views of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, both during daylight and evening hours. Mulholland extends from Pacific Coast Highway, all the way to Hollywood, however not all of it is paved. The best views are between Encino and Hollywood. An early evening drive along this winding road high up in the Santa Monica Mountains will bring back all sorts of memories of Hollywood films and shows you've seen over the years. And the various roadside look-outs offer some of the best views in Los Angeles.

C.Beach Cities:
has more than 50 miles of coastline and 33 public beaches, so you can always find your perfect romantic stretch of sand. The beaches are also famous attractions in LA. Just a 30-minute drive from Downtown LA, the entertaining Santa Monica Pier is within walking distance of the Third Street Promenade, which is filled with restaurants, interesting stores, outdoor cafes and all sorts of live entertainment on the streets. Further south of Santa Monica is the Venice Beach Boardwalk, famous for the eclectic people, unique shops and tattoo parlors. The famous Muscle Beach gives passersby's the opportunity to watch hunky men working out. For a more relaxing beach experience locals drive down to the trendy Zuma beach in Malibu, the Pacific Palisades and even Manhattan Beach. Long walks along the beach enjoying the salty air, sunsets and low tide make Malibu one of the more relaxing romantic getaways in Los Angeles.

D.Naples Island Gondola Ride:
A visit to Naples isn't complete until you've taken a gondola cruise through its miles of canals. A gondolier dressed in stripes and wearing an Italian cap will be your guide! Your hour long adventure includes a basket of French bread, cheese and salami. Bring your sweetheart and a bottle of champagne. And don't forget: it's customary to kiss your partner under each bridge. You'll glide under five arched passageways as you sail through the Naples canals.

E.Romantic Dinner:
Los Angeles offers a wide variety of cuisines for a romantic couple - Asian, Mexican, Contemporary American, European and others can be found in the traditional style, or given a Californian twist by cutting edge chefs who enjoy cooking “on the edge”.
Sprazzo: Not just romantic, but Sprazzo has also been called one of the best Los Angeles restaurants going. Terrific Italian dishes, including fresh seafood, and the house specialty, gnocchi. 1389 Westwood Los Angeles, CA (310)479-3337
26 Beach Café: No review of romantic restaurants in Los Angeles would be complete without mentioning a classic American burger place! Great location on Venice beach, where you can relax on the patio, enjoy a hamburger (even with sprouts if you like!), wash it down with an iced tea, feel the Pacific breeze, and watch the world of Venice beach stroll by. 3100 Washington Blvd, Venice, CA (310)823-7526
Josie: Josie LeBalch delivers sophisticated American-French cuisine; pair it with chocolate bread pudding for dessert. Go for a drink in the cozy back room or have dinner at a table next to the fireplace and let romance take things from there---with a little help from the swift service staff.2424 Pico Blvd (25th St.), Santa Monica, CA 90405

F.Griffith Park:
It is situated in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. You can attend concerts under the stars at the magnificent Greek Theatre, which was built to resemble a Greek amphitheater. You can study the stars at the newly renovated Griffith Observatory and planetarium. In addition to the observatory and Greek theater, Griffith Park hosts the Los Angeles Zoo, the Museum of the American West and a merry-go-round. The Hollywood Sign is located on the southern flank of Griffith Park's Mount Lee. The William Mulholland Memorial Fountain, which is dedicated to the engineer who built the first aqueduct that supplied water to the city, is located opposite the park entrance. At the Travel Town Museum, one can ride on a miniature railroad operated by the Los Angeles Live Steamers and see retired railroad locomotives, passenger cars and street cars from bygone eras. The park also has a swimming pool which is open during the summer months. The park is laced with many hiking and equestrian trails deep within the mountains away from neighboring residential districts.

G.Get A Lavish Spa Treatment:
From extravagant and luxurious to homey and cozy, the City of Angels has the perfect spa for your needs. Le Petite Retreat Day Spa - Le Petite Retreat day spa is a quiet, inviting space: a true retreat in the city. If you have time to linger before your treatment, you can enjoy the beautiful sitting room with its thatched ceiling, gurgling fountain, fireplace and soothing fish tank. With a cup of tea snuggle into a couch by the fireplace, leaving the traffic jam far behind and anticipate the lavish spa treatment in store. The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Pasadena, The Spa at the Four Seasons, The Beverly Hills Hotel Spa by La Prairie are some of the best spas in LA.

H.Go For An LA Dinner Dance Cruise:
As the sun goes down, enjoy picture-postcard views while indulging in delicious food prepared by one of the on board chefs. After dinner, dance to the live music or simply take in the breathtaking views from the outdoor decks. This evening cruise offers the ultimate waterfront dining experience! The distance between the Marina Del Rey and Newport Beach locations is 50 miles. This tour must be booked at least 48 hours in advance of your travel date. It does not operate on Valentine’s Day.

I.LA For Art Lovers:
The Getty Center In the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, the Getty Center unites the J. Paul Getty Trust's museum, institutes, and grant program. The 110-acre complex is home to a great collection of pre-20th century European paintings, drawings, manuscripts, sculpture, decorative arts, and photographs. The museum consists of five connected pavilions surrounding a landscaped courtyard, and visitors are encouraged to choose their own route through the galleries. Gallery and garden tours are offered daily. Los Angeles County Museum Of Art houses paintings, sculpture, costumes, and world-renowned textile and decorative art. American and European art comprises the bulk of the museum's holdings, but they have a vast collection of Asian and ancient art as well. In fact, noteworthy collections of Latin American and Japanese art are exhibited in their own separate buildings. A regular schedule of events includes music, films, and family programs. Page Museum – La Brea Tar Pits is One of the world's richest fossil sites, La Brea Tar Pits is the setting for this intriguing museum. Visitors get a look at life in Southern California during the Ice Age. Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum Of Tolerance are also worth a visit.

J.Go For The California Sunset Romantic Flight:
Nothing is more spectacular than enjoying the sunset from the vantage point of a mile above California's magnificent coastline. Take off from world-famous Van Nuys Airport, airport of the stars, aboard a four-seat high-wing airplane, in which every seat affords fantastic views. Just as the sky turns amber, you'll head west over the San Fernando Valley. Fly out along the beautiful Santa Monica Mountain range and soon you'll see the Santa Monica Pier and Malibu's million-dollar homes ahead as the sun makes its descent below the horizon. Return to Van Nuys Airport just as the city lights begin to glow.

K.Other Tours:
If you have ample time you can head for The Sea World, San Diego Tour and touch and feed dolphins, count the teeth on a shark and come face-to-face with a polar bear. Brave the waves on Shipwreck Rapids. Venture into the tail-chasing, ruckus-raising world of your pet in Pets Rule! And just try to stay dry when world-famous Shamu comes a-splashing Universal Studios and Homes Of Movie Stars Tour is also pretty popular. At Universal Studios immerse yourself in the action of blockbuster films - with pulse-pounding, full-sensory rides, shows and attractions that bring your favorite movies to raging life. Face the danger and thrills of Jurassic Park and Terminator. Watch out as Spider-Man swings into action overhead. Dare to face the terror of Revenge of the Mummy- The Ride, the world's first blockbuster roller coaster. Then, top off your day of big Hollywood thrills with over 67 cool things to do at Universal CityWalk®. Universal Studios® Hollywood, the world's only movie thrill park. Newport Landing provides multiple whale watching trips daily departing from Newport Beach. Newport Landing is centrally located in Orange County and minutes from Los Angeles in the heart of Southern California.

L.Los Angeles Shopping:
Los Angeles has a well-known, diverse and unique shopping traditions and destinations. Strip malls and shopping malls will dominate your shopping trip as they are nearly inescapable in many of your destinations. For example, the Hollywood & Highland mall is a popular meeting point for those gazing at the Walk of Fame and Mann's Chinese Theater. Other malls you may bump into are the Grove (next to the Farmer's Market) and the Beverly Center, which is quite unlike other shopping malls as it is multilevel with a nice view of Los Angeles from its food court patio. Broadway in Downtown will take you out of the comforts of overly manicured shopping centers and drop you onto its chaos. For a similar experience in a less-polished but even livelier environment, try Alvarado Blvd around Wilshire & 6th in the Westlake District.

M.Out Of City Tours:
Catalina Island (whose official, but rarely used, name is Santa Catalina Island) is near the southern end of the Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California. It's technically in Los Angeles County and is a popular day trip and vacation destination for locals and tourists. You can also visit Orange County in Southern California. The county's main tourist draws are its beaches and of course its two theme parks, Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm. San Gabriel Valley and San Fernando Valley are also worth a visit.

How To Get To Los Angeles:

By Air:
The Los Angeles area is served by six major commercial airports and more than a dozen private airports. Los Angeles International (IATA: LAX) is the major gateway. The airport is huge, with nine terminals, and the only way to get from terminal to terminal (other than walking) is to use the free "A" shuttle buses that run in a loop between the terminals. The others are Long Beach Airport (IATA: LGB), Bob Hope (Burbank) Airport (IATA: BUR),Orange County/John Wayne Airport (IATA: SNA) and far flung LA/Ontario Airport (IATA: ONT) east of L.A and LA/Palmdale Airport (IATA: PMD) to the north.

By Train:
The main Amtrak station is at Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St. next to the Hollywood (US-101) freeway in downtown Los Angeles. The train station also has a Metro Red Line subway station (platforms in station's basement) and Metro Gold Line light rail station.

By Bus:
The Greyhound terminal is at 1716 East 7th Street, near I-10 along South Alameda Avenue, in the heart of the city's vast, notorious skid-row district. Fortunately, other terminals are in far safer areas and have better access to public transportation.
Megabus stops outside of Union Station between the Amtrak terminal building and the Metropolitan Water District building. Buses travel to and from San Diego, Las Vegas, San Jose, Oakland, and San Francisco.

Getting Around:

By Bus: The L.A. bus system is extensive but takes a little bit to learn. The website www.mta.net or 1-800-COMMUTE are the best way to plan trips in advance.
By Metro: The Metro Rail subway and light rail system has grown considerably over the past 15 years and is increasingly useful in getting around. The Metro Rail system is composed of 2 subway lines and 3 light rail lines:
Red Line, a subway that runs from Downtown (Union Station) to the Hollywood area, then on into the San Fernando Valley. From there (North Hollywood Station) you can take the Orange Line (Busway system) to the west end of the valley.
Purple Line, a subway that runs from Downtown (Union Station) to the Mid-Wilshire area, also known as Koreatown. Blue Line, a light rail line that runs from a subway connection with the Red and Purple Lines Downtown at 7th and Figueroa Streets at street level or higher (with some interesting views) through South Los Angeles, southward to Long Beach.
Gold Line, a light rail line that runs from a subway connection with the Red and Purple Lines at Downtown's Union Station northeast to Pasadena.
Green Line, a light rail line that runs from the South Bay (near LAX) east to the city of Norwalk along Interstate 105, connecting with the Blue Line at Rosa Parks Station in Watts.
Also often included in the Metro Rail system:
Orange Line, a busway across the San Fernando Valley, using special sleek articulated "bus-trains" on rubber tires.
By Car: In order to fully experience LA, you need to bring or rent a private car. Although L.A.'s traffic jams are legendary, the freeway grid provides for an effective movement of traffic and a variety of alternatives.

Los Angeles Hotels:

A.The Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows: A beloved hideaway for celebs, sybarites and lovers of old-fashioned luxury some of the suites in this hotel even feature pianos, Jacuzzi tubs, kitchens and private patios. At the Fountain Coffee Room you can relish your coffee in your favourite seat. Get pampered by The Beverly Hills Hotel Spa by La Prairie, in your own hotel suite itself.
B.Four Seasons Los Angeles: With European Grace Beverly Hills Style And A Relaxed California Attitude The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles Invites You To Experience A Little Bit Of Paradise. Relax At The Tropically Landscaped Rooftop Pool And Jacuzzi And Enjoy The Seasonal Specialties At The Pool Grill. Immerse Yourself In The Luxurious Full-service Spa Complete With Steam Sauna And California-flavored Spa Treatments. Savor A Leisurely Dinner At The Award Winning Gardens Restaurant. And When Your Day Is Complete Snuggle Into One Of The World-famous Four Seasons Beds. The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles Is Waiting To Welcome You.
C.Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles: Nestled in the Bel-Air Estates neighborhood of Los Angeles, Hotel Bel-Air is a sprawling oasis, only minutes from Century City, Beverly Hills and Westwood. The hotel's 12-acres of lush gardens, fountain courtyards and towering palms provide the ultimate atmosphere for an urban hotel. Each of the 91 guestrooms and suites at Hotel Bel-Air were decorated with custom fabrics, exquisite furnishings and luxurious Italian linens. The French-Country interior design features the highest standard of luxury, where the lush atmosphere of the property is brought inside the guestroom or suite, providing visiting guests with the ultimate in residential comfort. All accommodations feature private entrances from the gardens or fountain courtyards, plus romantic touches like fireplaces, french doors and intimate tiled patios with private outdoor spas.
D.Casa Del Mar: Santa Monica's landmark on the sand has become a pure jewel by the beach. Casa Del Mar has been lavishly restored to the opulent grandeur it exuded. the hotel features luxurious guest rooms, suites and penthouses, many of which offer private views of the beach. Freshly cut flowers, arrangements of seashells and gauzy curtains accent such lavish room amenities as state-of-the-art sound systems and white marble bathrooms complete with tubs featuring computer-programmed massaging water jets.
E.Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive: Nestled along the most famous street in the world in the lavish heart of Beverly Hills, this prestigious boutique property, designed by Vicente Wolf, offers bold style that combines contemporary California and classic continental, a modern fitness center and 88 lavish guestrooms and penthouse suites that feature private sundecks, Frette linens, CD players, signature plush robes and business necessities like DSL, data ports and multi-line telephones. The hotel's Café Rodeo and bar offers contemporary California cuisine and expertly mixed cocktails in an intimate designer setting. Just steps from this private enclave, enjoy the world's best shopping, including Harry Winston, Louis Vuitton, Valentino and Fendi.

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