MONTEREY FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

December 13, 2010

By Holly Wong Looking for a place to relax and decompress this holiday season?  Consider taking a drive towards the Central Coast where California’s scenic shores can work wonders for clearing one’s mind.  And once you arrive at the sunny seaside city of Monterey, you’ll know you picked a fantastic destination to unwind. Artsy and bohemian, yet sophisticated too, Monterey is akin to OC’s own Laguna Beach with the distinct advantage of being home to the world-renowned Monterrey Bay Aquarium – a destination that makes this seaside locale excellent for family trips.  Site of the famous aquarium, the all-encompassing Cannery…

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AHWAHNEE FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

December 12, 2010

By Carolyn Burns Bass Say Yosemite and images of Half Dome and camping along the Merced River fill the minds of most people. The concept of comfort and luxury rarely combine when discussing California’s spectacular National Park to the north. Yet tucked away in Yosemite Valley, just down the lane from the rustic cabins of Camp Curry, is the Ahwahnee Hotel. An eclectic mix of Arts & Crafts/Craftsman, Art Deco and Native American design, the Ahwahnee is palatial both in scope and soul. The Miwok people who once flourished in Yosemite Valley called the site where the hotel now sits…

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GET AWAY 2 GIVE!

December 08, 2010

By Sheryll Alexander Want to give your friends and family a cool seaside vacation for the holidays AND give to others? With the “Getaway 2 Give” package from Orange County’s OCeanfront resort properties, you can give and give again! Here’s how it works. Book a “Getaway 2 Give” package through Mar. 31, 2011, at one of the OCeanfront’s seven fabulous resorts and 10 percent of your purchase goes directly to four major charities (Lupus LA, Make-A-Wish Orange County and Inland Empire, Oceana and Special Olympics Southern California). Packages start at $205 per night (rates vary by property) and include a…

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LAGUNA RIVIERA FOR THE HOLIDAYS

December 03, 2010

By Sheryll Alexander South Laguna Beach is one of the best places in the world to spend the holidays with family. Why? Because once you get to this artsy seaside town, you don’t need a car. Quality time spent with family includes walks on the beach, playing in the pool, shopping at hot boutiques, browsing art galleries and dining everywhere from casual eateries to indie coffee shops to fine dining at some of OC’s best restaurants. Plus, if you stay at our family’s favorite South Laguna pad, Laguna Riviera Hotel, you can cook meals and heat up leftovers as some…

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OJAI FOR THE HOLIDAYS

December 02, 2010

By Joanne Tucker Seeking a close, but out-of-the-way place to celebrate the holidays with family in nature, luxury and complete relaxation? Only a 90-minute drive north of OC, there’s a picturesque valley surrounded by majestic snow-covered peaks and acres of citrus groves. Where is this idyllic spot? Ojai Valley draws holiday visitors each year to enjoy its seemingly never-ending wintertime sunshine, pristine air, natural springs, lush foliage, old oak trees and the foot-friendly town of Ojai. Where to Stay in Ojai for the Holidays Are you seeking a healthy holiday? Once a 1920s historic hotel, the Oaks of Ojai was…

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