CALIFORNIA.ANAHEIM AND ORANGE COUNTY After 45 years as a major tourist destination A tourist destination is a city, town or other area the economy of which is dependent to a significant extent on the revenues accruing from tourism. It may contain one or more tourist attractions or visitor attractions and possibly some "tourist traps". , Anaheim has a whole new look. The dramatic $4.2 billion transformation that began in 1996 is now complete, and the Anaheim Resort complex is ready for business. The two major cornerstones of the renaissance are Disney's California Adventure Disney's California Adventure is a theme park in Anaheim, California, adjacent to Disneyland Park and part of the larger Disneyland Resort. It opened on February 8, 2001. The park is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. and the redesigned and expanded Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim Convention Center is a major convention center in Anaheim, California. It is located across from the Disneyland Resort on Katella Avenue. Much of the Anaheim Convention Center has been renovated in recent years with state-of-the-art facilities. . Disney's newest theme park celebrates the fun, diversity, and pioneering spirit of the great Golden State. Located on the park's grounds is the Grand Californian Hotel, an elegant 750-room hotel, which offers more than 20,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space. The Anaheim Convention Center is 40 percent bigger, making it the largest facility on the West Coast with 1.6 million square feet of function space. An impressive inventory of more than 48,000 guest rooms in Anaheim and Orange County area makes the bigger, more beautiful convention center an ideal location for groups of all sizes. FREE-TIME FUN A trip to Anaheim wouldn't be complete without a visit to world-famous Downtown Disney Downtown Disney is the name of two outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complexes located at two Disney resorts:
CARLSBAD Just 30 miles north of San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. , Carlsbad continues to please as a tourist destination and a convenient meeting place. Known as the "village by the sea," Carlsbad's two world-class resorts-- La Costa
The La Costa Resort and Spa Resort and Spa and Four Seasons Resort, Aviara-- oceanfront lodges, and business hotels offer meeting attendees and group organizers a variety of venues to explore. Since new properties and facilities are continually being developed, the Carlsbad Convention and Visitor's Bureau has created two tools to help simplify the planning process--a comprehensive 16-page meeting planners guide minimizing the time to obtain rates and availability from the various facilities in the area and an interactive CD ROM CD ROM Compact Disk Read Only Memory featuring "virtual tours Virtual Tours The phrases panoramic tour and virtual tour are often used to describe a variety of video and photographic based media. The word panorama indicates an unbroken view, so essentially, a panorama in that respect could be either a series of photographs or panning video " and over 40 Internet links to local attractions. FREE-TIME FUN Take in the fragrances at Carlsbad's Flower Fields. From March until early May, stunning fields of spring flowers spring flowers a token of Christ’s resurrection. [Christian Tradition: Jobes, 487] See : Easter bloom along Interstate 5, confirming Carlsbad's status as a leading supplier of commercial flowers in California. LONG BEACH The Queensbay Bay Project is well underway, redeveloping 300 acres of oceanfront land and turning Long Beach into one of the most popular waterfront destinations in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . The first phase of the project introduced Rainbow Harbor, home to famed tall ships and as many as 50 commercial vessels offering dinner cruises and various tours for groups of all sizes. The harbor is surrounded by a multilevel mul·ti·lev·el adj. Having several levels: a multilevel parking garage. Adj. 1. multilevel - of a building having more than one level , 2,000-foot public esplanade, and is the first modern U.S. harbor to be situated within a landscaped park. The second and third phases of the project will break ground shortly and involve the development of a 500,000-square-foot entertainment and retail area. This entire $100 million project is expected to reach completion later this year. In other news, the Queen Mary Queen Mary, Queen Marie, or Queen Maria may refer to: Queens Britain England
FREE-TIME FUN You won't want to miss the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific The Aquarium of the Pacific is located in the city of Long Beach, California at the mouth of the Los Angeles River. The aquarium features a collection of over 12,500 animals representing almost 1,000 different species. , home to more than 12,000 ocean animals representing 500 species--all indigenous to the Pacific. LOS ANGELES Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. L.A. is the city that constantly reinvents itself, and over the next few years several major developments and renovations will once again change the face of this dynamic downtown destination. With so many new hotels proposed or under construction, Los Angeles is expected to add 3,000 guest rooms to its already impressive inventory of 93,000 by 2004. A massive new project proposed for downtown will feature an outdoor plaza, restaurants, retail space, and a new headquarters hotel for the Los Angeles Convention Center The Los Angeles Convention Center (abbreviated LACC) is a convention center in downtown Los Angeles. The LACC hosts annual events such as the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, and was best known to video games fans as host to E3 until its cessation in 2006. . The center offers 867,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, five exhibit halls, and 64 meeting rooms, as well as 29,000 square feet of registration space and general-session seating for as many as 23,000 convention-goers. Nearby hotel news includes a face-lift for the 485-room Hyatt Regency Los Angeles and a new look for the landmark Biltmore Hotel Biltmore Hotel is the name of a hotel chain created by hotel magnate John McEntee Bowman. The name evokes the Vanderbilt family's Biltmore Estate, whose buildings and gardens within are privately owned historical landmarks and tourist attractions in Asheville, North , which offers 683 rooms and suites and 70,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space. To accommodate the growing demand for air transportation services, Los Angeles International Airport “LAX” redirects here. For other uses, see LAX (disambiguation). “KLAX” redirects here. For other uses, see KLAX (disambiguation). Los Angeles International Airport (IATA: LAX, ICAO: KLAX, FAA LID: LAX (LAX) is currently assessing modernization plans and will release a long-range blueprint of proposed changes later this year. FREE-TIME FUN Filling free time in the City of Angels is easy, with so many wonderful activities and attractions from which to choose. But this is home to Hollywood, after all--so for a change of pace, meeting participants may want to consider joining the studio audience of their favorite television show. Those interested can contact studios directly for advance tickets, or pick them up in person; the convention center keeps some on hand, as well. MONTEREY The lure of the links in California's Golf Capital is just one reason to consider Monterey, although it's the area's quality and convenient meeting sites that make this city a top pick for planners. The Monterey Meeting Connection is a formal association of the award-winning Monterey Conference Center and three premier hotels: Doubletree Hotel, Hotel Pacific, and Monterey Marriott; the Marriott recently completed a multimillion renovation of its 341 rooms. Acting as one full-service facility, the Connection offers a total of 800 guest rooms and suites, 61,000 square feet of function area, and 30,000 square feet of exhibit space, as well as joint convention servicing and charging privileges. With its unmatched location at the edge of Monterey Bay, you'll find the conference center to be both comfortable and convenient. The award-winning facility features a 19,000-foot ballroom and a number of meeting spaces from the spacious Steinbeck Forum that seats 494 guests to smaller settings and elegant executive boardrooms with inspiring bay views. FREE-TIME FUN A quick trip to Cannery Row This article is about the street in Monterey, California. For the novel by John Steinbeck, see Cannery Row (novel). Cannery Row is the waterfront street in the New Monterey section of Monterey, California, site of a number of now-defunct sardine canning will refresh the minds of the meeting-weary. Immortalized by Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist john Steinbeck Noun 1. John Steinbeck - United States writer noted for his novels about agricultural workers (1902-1968) John Ernst Steinbeck, Steinbeck , the area is home to more than 200 galleries, specialty shops, restaurants, hotels, and the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium The Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is located in a former sardine cannery on Cannery Row in Monterey, California, is one of the largest and most respected aquariums in the world. It has an annual attendance of 1.8 million and holds 35,000 plants and animals representing 623 species. . NEWPORT BEACH Newport Beach, residential and resort city (1990 pop. 66,643), Orange co., S Calif., on Newport Bay and the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1906. It is a popular seaside resort and yachting center. Manufactures include electrical and medical equipment, computers, boats, and adhesives. Newport Beach's coastal location, growing corporate community, and endless recreational opportunities are piquing the interest of planners nationwide. The area, which offers more than 130 meeting rooms ranging in size from 600 to 25,000 total square feet, can accommodate a small, private meeting or a major event. For a change of pace, planners may prefer a sail on the high seas high seas In maritime law, the waters lying outside the territorial waters of any and all states. In the Middle Ages, a number of maritime states asserted sovereignty over large portions of the high seas. or some of Newport Beach's more nontraditional settings. The historic Balboa Pavilion The Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach, Orange County, California, is a state landmark. Established on July 1, 1906, the Balboa Pavilion played a prominent role in the development of Newport Beach by attracting real estate buyers to an area formerly designated as “swamp and features floor-to-ceiling windows, room for 500, and stunning views of the harbor, while Roger's Gardens, with 7.5 acres of lush botanicals, makes a spectacular site for your special event. Larger groups will appreciate the Bren Events Center The Bren Events Center is the on-campus multipurpose indoor arena in Irvine, California. It is home to the University of California, Irvine Anteaters basketball and volleyball teams. It seats 4,984 for basketball and up to 5,608 for concerts. , a 22,000-square-foot arena located on the University of California The University of California has a combined student body of more than 191,000 students, over 1,340,000 living alumni, and a combined systemwide and campus endowment of just over $7.3 billion (8th largest in the United States). at Irvine campus and just right for meetings, banquets, exhibitions, and trade shows. The seaside community has nearly 3,000 hotel rooms ranging from classic to casual. The more popular picks include the 121room Balboa Bay Club The Balboa Bay Club & Resort is in Newport Beach, California on 15 waterfront acres and was founded in 1948. It is on the Newport Harbor. See also
FREE-TIME FUN Winter, spring, summer, and fall are all perfect times to visit Sherman Library and Gardens The Sherman Library and Gardens (2.2 acres) are botanical gardens located at 2647 East Coast Highway, Corona del Mar, California. They are open to the public every day but major holidays; an admission fee is charged most days. Today's garden began in 1955 when Arnold D. , a horticultural and historical research facility located in the village of Corona del Mar Del Mar is the name of several places in the United States of America:
PASADENA As expected, everything's coming up roses in this city, host of the world-famous New Year's Day parade The New Year's Day Parade is parade of 10,000 performers through the streets of the West End of London which takes place annually on 1 January. The first year the parade took place was 1987 as the Lord Mayor of Westminster's Big Parade. . The Pasadena Conference Center The Pasadena Conference Center is a convention center in Pasadena, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. It consists of three buildings. Pasadena Civic Auditorium The Civic Auditorium, also known as the Pasadena Civic Center recently completed a $1.3 million renovation that includes a new look for the 32,000-square-foot, column-free Exhibition Building and upgrades to all audiovisual amenities. Coming soon are several more projects that promise to add to the appeal of this distinctive meeting destination. Work is winding down on Paseo Colorado, a three-block, open-air urban village conveniently located across from the conference center, set to open this fall. Neighboring hotel Holiday Inn Pasadena is now officially the Sheraton Pasadena Hotel, and brings with its new name a whole new look for the lobby, 317 guest rooms, and 12,000 square feet of meeting space. In other hotel news, the Hilton Pasadena has completed a $5 million renovation that brings its guest-room count to 296 and creates additional meeting space for a total of 23,000 square feet. Many of the city's grand hotels have been restored to their original splendor, and make excellent meeting spots. They include the Ritz-Carlton; the Huntington Hotel Huntington Hotel may refer to:
FREE-TIME FUN Between 1885 and the 19305, Pasadena became a favorite winter retreat for the wealthy, including chewing-gum magnate William Wrigley and Proctor & Gamble's David Gamble. Pasadena's magnificent mansions are favorite shooting locations for feature films, television, and commercials--and many are open for touring throughout the year. SACRAMENTO California's modern history began in Sacramento with the discovery of gold--and today there's still genuine treasure to be found when you bring your meeting here. Already one of California's fastest-growing, most affordable, and attractive cities, Sacramento now offers several updated and expanded meeting locations. In the heart of the city, the state-of-the-art Sacramento Convention Center The Sacramento Convention Center is the main center for events happening in Sacramento, California, USA, which encompasses three venues: The Exhibit Hall, The Community Center Theatre and the Memorial Auditorium. External links
In other news, the Julia Morgan Home and Garden opened in September 2000 after a $1.7 million renovation, and is available for private functions. East Coast travelers will be pleased to know that as of next month, Delta Air Lines will offer nonstop flights between Sacramento and New York's JFK International Airport. FREE-TIME FUN California's Gold Rush era remains alive and well in the Old Sacramento historic district, a 28-acre national landmark and state park along the Sacramento River. Boardwalks, cobblestone streets, and horse-drawn carriages transport visitors back to this exciting chapter in history. SAN DIEGO Thanks in part to the San Diego Convention Center The San Diego Convention Center is the main convention center for the city of San Diego, California. It is located in the Marina district of downtown San Diego near the Gaslamp Quarter, at 111 West Harbor Drive. expansion, downtown San Diego is evolving into an exciting urban center with new hotels, major shopping and entertainment complexes, and continuing renewal of the historic Gaslamp Quarter. When completed this fall, the convention center will offer 2.6 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space, including 40 new meeting rooms, and more than 170,000 square feet of public and pre-function areas. To keep pace, many of the area's fine hotels are also in the process of making improvements. * The Four Points Hotel Rancho Bernardo (formerly the DoubleTree Club Hotel) has added 2,000 square feet of meeting facilities. * The Hyatt Regency Islandia Hotel & Marina just completed a two-year, $12 million renovation to guest rooms and meeting facilities. * The luxurious La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla is celebrating its 75th anniversary by adding first-class amenities to its 117 rooms. * The Bristol Hotel just announced plans for a $3 million interior and exterior transformation. One of the hotel's most unique features is its Starlight Ballroom, a 5,100-square-foot room featuring a retractable roof ideal for entertaining day or night (thanks to San Diego's perfect year-round weather). FREE-TIME FUN A visit to this city wouldn't be complete without a stop at the world-famous San Diego Zoo San Diego Zoo One of the world's largest collections of mammals, birds, and reptiles, located in San Diego, Calif., and administered by the Zoological Society of San Diego. The 100-acre (40. . This 100-acre Zoo filled with tropical gardens features more than 3,900 animals, including such rare and exotic species as giant pandas currently on loan from China. Meeting participants will undoubtedly go wild over exhibits like the Rain Forest Aviary aviary Structure for keeping captive birds, usually spacious enough for the aviculturist to enter. Aviaries range from small enclosures to large flight cages 100 ft (30 m) or more long and up to 50 ft (15 m) high. Enclosures for birds that fly only little or weakly (e.g. , Polar Bear Plunge, Hippo Beach, and Gorilla Tropics. SAN FRANCISCO The Moscone Center, San Francisco's premier meeting facility in the heart of downtown, will soon have a sister site just a half block away. The new building, Moscone West, will face the existing center and offer 300,000 additional square feet of exhibit space on three floors, bringing Moscone's total convention center space to 900,000 square feet by 2003. Area hotels are following suit with expansions and renovations of their own. The Fairmont Hotel recently completed an $85 million renovation that included updates to all of its 591 guest rooms and restoration of the building to its historic architectural origins. The exterior of the Sir Francis Drake Hotel has a stylish new look following interior improvements to all 417 deluxe guest rooms, meeting areas, and public spaces. Across town, several Fisherman's Wharf properties owned by Marriott, Hilton, Sheraton, and others have undergone major renovations and reflaggings this year, as well. Meanwhile, getting in and out of the city just got a whole lot easier. San Francisco International Airport “SFO” redirects here. For other uses, see SFO (disambiguation). For the television series, see . recently completed a $2.4 billion expansion that includes the addition of a 2 million. square-foot main terminal building, two new international concourses, a light-rail system connecting all terminals, new entrance roadways and parking facilities, a consolidated rental car center, and a subway station linking the airport to downtown and beyond. FREE-TIME FUN Have fun on foot with a walking tour. A range of routes celebrate everything from San Francisco's literary legends and Chinese culture to the city's Victorian homes and great Golden Gate Park This article is about the park in San Francisco. For the US National Recreation Area just north of there, see Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Golden Gate Park, located in San Francisco, California, is a large urban park. At 1017 acres (4.1 km², 1. . SAN JOSE If you know the way to San Jose, you certainly won't have trouble finding a place to stay once you get there. By 2002, the city will boast more than 7,700 guest rooms, with at least 2,000 within three blocks of the San Jose McEnery Convention Center's 425,000 square feet of flexible function space. Work has begun on a new Marriott property adjacent to the center, which will include nearly 500 guest rooms, 35,0000 square feet of meeting space, and 25 floors, making it the tallest building in San Jose. Nearby, the four-star Fairmont Hotel is spending $45 million to build a 10-story annex. Adding 264 guest rooms by the end of this year; the annex will feature 20,000 square feet of additional meeting space. The spirit of innovation is alive and well in the heart of Silicon Valley, and the San Jose Conference Center is the area's newest and most technologically advanced meeting facility. Located just five miles north of downtown, the center features 38,000 square feet of meeting space, as well as multipoint video conferencing, T1 Internet access, and more. FREE-TIME FUN Convention-goers will be both inspired and entertained at the Tech Museum of Innovation, which brings to life the spirit of invention for which this area is famous. Visitors can see how computer chips are made, design a roller coaster, or make their own movie in the museum's digital studio. Planners will be particularly pleased to know the museum is available to accommodate groups from 25 to 2,500. SANTA CLARA Located just south of San Francisco, this Silicon Valley city's reputation for leading-edge technology and relaxed lifestyle come together in more than 400,000 square feet of meeting space. The Santa Clara Convention Center, with its elegant yet versatile grand ballroom, accommodates groups from 200 to 2,500. This state-of-the-art complex is the only complete resort-style convention center in the Bay area, featuring tennis facilities and an 18-hole championship golf course. Right next door is the Network Meeting Center at Techmart, built exclusively for daytime meetings up to 250 people. Each meeting room features controlled lighting, integrated sound systems, and ergonomic chairs, and the facility also boasts a five-story atrium for special events. The Santa Clara area has more than 3,700 guest rooms available for your Silicon Valley visit. The new Santa Clara Hilton boasts 280 rooms with high-speed Internet access plus over 5,400 square feet of meeting space. FREE-TIME FUN You'll find world-class thrills at nearby Paramount's Great America, as well as great dining, shopping, and museums from the hot, high-tech Intel Museum to the de Saisset Art Museum's collection of 19th century works. |
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