Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/12999
AREA GUIDES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SO MANY SUN-DRENCHED CITIES, SO LITTLE TIME BY VICTORIA HEAD California is a year-round travel destination, with weather that will please everyone from snowbirds to sun worshippers. The Southern California region is the economic hub of the state as it is home to Hollywood and the motion picture industry, world renowned nightlife, entertainment and cultural events, the Rose Bowl, Queen Mary and miles of famous beaches. With California being the Nation’s most populous state, it offers a diverse cul- ture along with an abundance of cul- tural events and historic neighbor- hoods perfect for sightseeing and shopping, as well as eateries specific to various nations worldwide. PASADENA Pasadena is probably best known as the host of the annual Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl foot- ball game. Also known as “The Crown of the Valley,” Pasadena offers numerous cultural amenities, fine restaurants, top retailers and an array of sightseeing opportunities, includ- ing the city’s lively cultural scene and elaborate historical buildings. Within the 1.5-mile downtown core, you’ll find quaint clothing shops, cobble- stone court-yards, sidewalk bistros, and nightlife within three alluring shopping and entertainment districts: Old Pasadena, The Playhouse District and South Lake Avenue. Old Pasadena is a bustling urban center with streets and alleyways that reflect the traditions of early California; the Pasadena Playhouse District is an eclectic mix of art, the- 78 Photo Credit: Gary Ferguson Two of the most recognized Pasadena, California landmarks, the Vista del Arroyo Hotel but now hous- es the U. S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. It was built in 1903 and restored by the federal government in 1985. The arch is one segment of the famed Colorado Street Bridge (1913) . atre, literature and retail with numer- ous restaurants. At its center is the Pasadena Playhouse, the official State Theatre of California; South Lake Avenue is a mixture of an active business community and thriving retail center. Many locals frequent this tree-lined avenue featuring an array of well-known eateries. Pasadena’s Convention Center recently completed a $150 million expansion which nearly doubles its original space, providing a total of 108,000 square feet of flexible meeting and exhibit space. The 25,000-square- foot Grand Ballroom can be divided into 10 meeting rooms or, can be com- bined with the adjacent exhibit hall creating a flexible event space of up to 80,000 square feet. Travelers can choose from over 2,500 guestrooms within luxury hotels, motels and inns, 1,200 of which are within walking dis- tance of the Convention Center. The Bob Hope Burbank Airport is just 16 miles from Pasadena with non-stop flights to west coast cities, mid-conti- nent hubs and New York. STATS HOTEL ROOMS Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles Pasad- ena/Old Town 314 The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa, Pasadena The Hilton Pasadena The Westin Pasadena West Way Inn EXHIBITION FACILITIES PASADENA CONVENTION CENTER total exhibit space largest hall meeting rooms 108,000 sq. ft. 80,000 sq. ft. 10 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Pasadena – (626) 795-9311 www.visitpasadena.com 380 296 350 61 Black Meetings & Tourism May/June 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com