Los Angeles: the ultimate resort for all seasons city neighborhoods add urban chic to Southland metropolis.

From the laid-back coastal charm of Ventura County, most southbound visitors will get their first look at Los Angeles from the San Fernando Valley that runs across the northern end of the L.A. basin just below the Los Padres and Los Angeles national forests. Once a sleepy suburban area, the Valley has become a diverse mix of businesses and residential communities. Communities like Westlake Village perch at the edge of the Santa Monica Mountains, while Woodland Hills adjoins the Topanga State Park.

This is where visitors get their first chance to choose between heading for the urban resorts of Beverly Hills, Century City and downtown or veer west toward the ocean.

Drivers who love to hug the coast can take any of several roads between U.S. 101 through the hills to Highway 1 into Malibu. Long known for surfing and celebrities, today the town also boasts several vineyards. The Saddlerock Ranch on Mulholland Highway, once a part of the Spanish Land Grants, has been used as a set for more than 100 TV shows and films. In 2000, it produced its first wine--Semler Malibu Estate Wine. Another vineyard, the Rosenthal Estate established more than a decade ago, debuts a visitor center this month.

From Malibu, it's a short drive to the crown jewel of Los Angeles beach cities: Santa Monica, where celebrities and surfers alike feel at home. The city has more than 400 restaurants, one of the oldest piers in the country and was among the first in the Southland to embrace the outdoor shopping plaza with the Third Street Promenade.

Ocean Avenue is a blend of upscale shops, restaurants and nightlife within walking distance of the top-tier beachside resorts. Parking is at a premium, so there are always plenty of taxis and limo services available for those less inclined to stroll.

When the American Film Market comes to town, the city becomes a giant movie set. It's the largest film festival outside Cannes and fills the city. Organizers take over the larger hotels, moving out furniture and equipment to create editing bays, offices and screening rooms for the week.

Meeting planners in general enjoy coming to the city because of its eclectic menu of off-site events ranging from the Santa Monica Pier Carousel to Gotham Hall--an upscale pool hall.

"Santa Monica is more central (than downtown L.A.)." said Santa Monica CVB spokesman Steve Valentine.

"People want to stay at the beach and use it as a base (to explore)," he said.

Resorts like Loews, Shutters on the Beach, the Fairmont Miramar and Le Merigot offer plenty of spa options for groups and leisure guests alike. And each one has other unique attributes. Le Merigot offers surfing lessons and private beach access to guests, while the Radisson Huntley has joined the trend of dining with a view by adding a rooftop restaurant. The Fairmont Miramar remodeled its cottages in the past year and the boutique Viceroy provides in-room soaking tubs and beauty bars along with a full entertainment center and surround sound to lock out the world--if only for a while. Oceanfront resorts like Loews have a supply of bikes and in-line skates to keep you active along a bike path that runs from Santa Monica south about 15 miles to Redondo Beach.

Joining Santa Monica's parade of restaurants recently: Cinch Restaurant and Lounge, a two-level contemporary supper club; and Juliano's Raw Restaurant, a place to enjoy wholesome organic and vegetarian food.

Travelers who choose the other route into Los Angeles from Ventura will drive across the still-rural Route 126 from the coast to the inland planned community of Santa Clarita, home of Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor water park at the foot of the mountain pass known as the "Grapevine" on 1.5. On the way into the entertainment capital cities of Burbank, Universal City and Hollywood, there are sweeping views of the Los Angeles Basin that give travelers an inkling of just how diverse and vast the area is.

"We're fortunate to have such variety here," said Madeline Cruz, assistant vice president for client services at LA Inc.: The Convention & Visitors Bureau.

What most surprises people, Cruz said, is that visitors think of Los Angeles as a traditional city, a downtown city.

"They don't realize how (the cities) evolve into one another," she said.

It's intimidating to some--but it also dearly illustrates that there's something for everyone in Southern California. Leisure and group travelers alike can choose from the laid-back beach towns, the bustle of the entertainment capitals, the quiet elegance of Beverly Hills, an urban experience in downtown L.A. or the charm of a modern 'village' like Pasadena.

"There are different pockets within the city and region for everyone," said Maribel Denner, president of the Southern California chapter of Meeting Professionals International.

Those who drive right into the heart of the Los Angeles urban resort will find that a lot has changed in the past few years. Universal CityWalk--adjacent to Universal Studios theme park and near major hotels--continues to grow in popularity and has become a hot spot for watching favorite Los Angeles teams on its giant outdoor screen. Familiar full-service restaurants include Wasabi at CityWalk, Cafe Tu Tu Tango and Daily Grill and there are plenty more where munchies suitable to almost any diet can be found. Entertainment ranges from NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway to B.B. King's Blues Club, rock 'n' roll bowling and a Latin dance club.

Big changes have been afoot in Hollywood, the best-known entertainment capital. Hollywood & Highland--home to the Kodak Theater and the Oscars--is evolving into a first-rate indoor/outdoor urban center where you might see an outdoor concert in the central plaza or tour the Kodak Theater and learn about the history of the Academy Awards.

Meeting planners might consider a guided tour of the Hollywood Walk of Fame for family members who accompany meeting attendees. Red Line Tours also offers both packaged and custom tours of Hollywood Behind the Scenes as well as tours of historic and contemporary downtown.

Near Hollywood & Highland is the new Hollywood Museum that can be likened to a Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame for movie buffs, with everything from Hannibal Lechter's cell to sets, props and costumes from "I Love Lucy" or "Jurassic Park."

That's just one of dozens of museums spread across the region.

"We have the full range of fabulous museums," LA Inc.'s Cruz said.

The crown jewel of Los Angeles museums is the Getty Center, perched high on a hill-top between Universal Studios and downtown. But there's also a new Architecture and Design Museum in West Hollywood, a television museum, and several auto museums yon won't find in other cities.

West Hollywood is the pulse of social life in urban L.A. It's home to the Sunset Strip with both trendy and retro clubs and dining, including the new Central and RIKA restaurants at the Sunset Millennium complex.

Its Pacific Design Center hosts more than 200 designer showrooms--the largest such center in the U.S.--and is a favorite location for group receptions, as is the House of Blues nearby. The Sunset Marquis Resort in 'WeHo' is a favorite with the music crowd for its sound studio, garden setting and privacy.

Nightlife is great, but so is down time. In Beverly Hills, visitors can enjoy either. It has the most top-rated resorts anywhere in LA. with seven--but several are tucked away behind gardens and ordinary entryways to maintain the ultimate privacy for their big-name clientele.

Raffles L'Ermitage creates a home-away-from-home that includes special pet amenities and personalized business cards during your stay. Frequent guests will find their favorite flowers in their suites upon arrival. The personalized service extends to security and special entryways for those who want to maintain a low profile.

Conversely, the world-famous Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel is as high profile as they come to this day. The hotel, under new management, is embarking on a major overhaul of the entire property.

Other fans of urban resorts can enjoy daily fresh roses at Sofitel Hotel; a 2,000-square-foot presidential suite at the Regent; a personal butler at the Peninsula; an Olympic pool at the Beverly Hilton; or order kosher meals at the Four Seasons.

Most area resorts offer transportation to Rodeo Drive or Westfield Shoppingtown Century City and area restaurants.

In the hills adjoining Beverly Hills is the Hotel Bel Air, which regained its five-star rating after a complete renovation of rooms and public areas. Now some guests can take advantage of in-room hot tuba and fireplaces and then saunter down to the expanded wine room that features 19,000 bottles of wine.

Bordering Beverly Hills is Century City, home to Fox and other entertainment entities. In 2001, the Westin Century Plaza Hotel underwent a major overhaul that changed the entire look. The lobby is now urban chic with clean, sophisticated lines and natural light. What was once its second tower is now the St. Regis L.A., which exudes the quiet elegance the brand is known for.

Guests of both properties can use the Century Plaza's Spa Mystique--one of the city's top-rated spas with its own entrance for day-users. Just down the street, the Park Hyatt adds jogging trails to the fitness options.

Century Plaza's 90,000 square feet of meeting and function space gives planners flexibility in an urban setting that's closer to Los Angeles International Airport than downtown.

"Century City has the-most appeal for L.A. groups," said Dong Wheeler, a La Jolla-based conference planner.

Downtown L.A. has had its detractors in recent years--especially as Orange County and San Diego expanded their convention and meetings options. But those days are gone.

The downtown vicinity has about 14,000 hotel rooms for conventioneers, including a couple of top-rated urban resorts in its midst--the Hilton Checkers with its delectable rooftop pool and the Omni Los Angeles at California Plaza, a complex that includes the Museum of Contemporary Art. Across the street from Checkers is the venerable Millennium Biltmore, a historic property where savvy employees can show yon the entrance to a speakeasy from the 1920s.

An influx of residential lofts has infused downtown with new energy--especially after dark and on weekends at places like the new and trendy Standard Hotel where the rooftop pool and bar is the place to be seen. The Standard--an ultra contemporary hotel--plans to add meeting space and a spa in the fall.

Downtown planners envision creating an extensive pedestrian mall filled with European-style shopping, dining and entertainment to span the area between the new Walt Disney Concert Hall and REDCAT Theater and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center. That, they say, would add appeal as an urban destination.

Even now, people are using the new Our Lady of Angels Cathedral for special events and can visit a winery--the San Antonio--in the heart of downtown.

"We're seeing a fairly active urban travel market," said Brace Baltin, senior vice president of PKF Consulting, which tracks the hospitality industry. "That's been a big key for the past couple of years," he said.

In June, Denver-based Anschutz Entertainment bought out Fox Entertainment's share of Staples Center and announced plans to build a new $1 billion downtown hotel and entertainment center, partly on land where it already has development rights. The project would include a new 7,000-seat arena.

Fifteen miles to the east, Pasadena used to be a challenging drive in rush hour. Now, it's a quick train ride from downtown since the new Gold Line commuter train opened last summer.

Pasadena is a wonderful enclave of Arts & Crafts era structures, with places like the Gamble House and Castle Green providing an urban oasis for visitors to stroll or for groups to use for elegant receptions. The Huntington Library and Gardens has acres of land for walking, jogging or just sitting under a tree and reading. The Norton Simon Museum and Pacific Asia Museum also add to the city's unique nature.

Pasadena has a walkable downtown with both an Old Pasadena section and the newer open air retail, dining and entertainment complex of Paseo Colorado--both of which are a big draw for locals and visitors alike in a village atmosphere.

"We target scientific and engineering groups because of the proximity of Caltech and the Jet Propulsion Lab," said Leane Lampe, director of public relations for the Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau.

On the fringe of town is the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel & Spa, which includes a few private residences along with traditional guest rooms and suites in an almost rural setting.

"The Ritz is the lap of luxury," said Laguna Beach meeting planner Brett Jarvis. "It's very competitive for groups."

Travelers who want to be near both the water and the airport have resort options, too. Just three miles from Los Angeles International Airport is Marina del Rey--the country's largest man-made marina. Understandably, the city markets itself as the ideal place to be for those who want to do anything water-related: cruises on Hornblower Dining Yachts, fishing, sailing or just staring at the scenery.

Its top-rated resort property is the Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey, where boating, water skiing and fishing can be arranged right at the resort.

Those who end up staying at the full-service business hotels in the LAX area can easily avail themselves of a shuttle that runs to Manhattan Beach shopping areas.

The newest entry in the South Bay hotel market is the 175-room Ayres Hotel South Bay, at the edge of Manhattan Beach, about 15 minutes from LAX.

The new hotel carries a French/Italian Renaissance-inspired theme. Its 6,000 square feet of meeting space is well suited for corporate retreats and special events.

Next year, San Pedro will get a shot in the arm when the Disney Cruise Line brings its ship Disney Magic to the West Coast for a 12-week stint in honor of Disneyland's 50th anniversary. The ship will ply the waters between L.& and Baja California in what may turn out to be a test run for the popularity of the cruise market in SoCal.

Carnival Cruise Lines has proved to be a boon to the Queen Mary in Long Beach, which offers pre- and post-cruise packages aboard the venerable sailing ship that is part museum and part hotel.

Back on shore in Long Beach, the long awaited Pike, an entertainment and dining district debuted across from the Convention Center and Aquarium of the Pacific. The complex, named for a long-gone amusement park, includes mainstay names like P.F. Chang's, Outback Steakhouse and GameWorks and includes a pedestrian bridge in the shape of the park's old roller coaster.

Catamarans and shuttle boats ply Rainbow Harbor between the two areas and Seaport Village nearby, allowing visitors to commute like sea-borne locals during their stay.

The arrival of JetBlue to Long Beach Airport two years ago set off a growth spurt there like no other in the region just as regional airports were gaining favor with the public. Now, it's a selling point for groups coming to either Long Beach or parts of Orange County.

"2004 is a very good year for us," said Bob Maguglin, director of public relations for the Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

In addition to the convention center and adjoining Hyatt, Hilton Long Beach debuted its IACC-rated Executive Conference Center last month a few blocks away.

The city has 5,000 rooms within walking distance of the convention center at top brands like Westin, Hyatt and Hilton.

"Mid-size groups are treated like a star (here)," Maguglin said.

Long Beach is everyman's town: a college town, a major Southern California port, a tourist hub and a day trip for locals. It celebrates SoCal heritage at the Latin American Museum and sea life and environmental studies at the Aquarium of the Pacific--where groups can nosh under a replica of a giant whale in the Great Hall.

And when you're done in Long Beach, it's just a short drive to your next stop: Orange County.