Readers’ Choice 2012: Travel & Entertainment

Airport
Bob Hope Airport
2627 N. Hollywood Way
Burbank, 91505
(818) 840-8840
www.burbankairport.com
In a city bursting with traffic, Angelenos who want to get out of Dodge quickly know to head to Burbank. With 80-plus daily flights to 11 cities across the country, valet parking and a train station on-site, getting to — and flying out of — Bob Hope airport is (dare we say?) hassle-free.

Amusement Park, Aquarium, Zoo
Disneyland (tie)
1313 S. Disneyland Drive
Anaheim, 92802
(714) 781-4636
www.disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland
At Disneyland, imagination truly is the destination. Kids of all ages can tour the park’s seven “lands” of enchantment, twirl in teacups, fly over cities or rocket to infinity and beyond alongside their favorite Disney characters.

L.A. Zoo (tie)
5333 Zoo Drive
Los Angeles, 90027
(323) 644-4200
www.lazoo.org
For nearly 50 years, the L.A. Zoo has been home to creatures of all kinds — chimpanzees, tigers and, more recently, Asian elephants. Family-friendly shows allow for close-up encounters with exotic species like tarantulas.

Aquarium of the Pacific (tie)
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach, 90802
(562) 590-3100
www.aquariumofthepacific.org
Fun and education intersect at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Get up close and personal with creatures of the deep while exploring an astounding 11,000 animal exhibits.

Gallery/Museum
LACMA
5905 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, 90036
(323) 857-6000
www.lacma.org
With 100,000 objects spanning eras ancient and modern, LACMA is the largest art museum in the West, with collections from all over the globe.

Inland Empire: Millard Sheets Center for the Arts at Fairplex
Orange County: Bowers Museum
Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley: Norton Simon Museum
Westside: Getty Center

Cinema
ArcLight
Multiple area locations
www.arclightcinemas.com
With an in-house café and restaurant, you can enjoy dinner, drinks and a blockbuster comfortably situated in the heart of the entertainment capital of the world.

Inland Empire: Harkins - Chino Hills
Orange County: Edward’s, Long Beach
Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley: Gold Class Cinema
SF Valley/Foothills/Ventura: Laemmle’s Music Hall 3
South Bay/Southeast: AMC (Del Amo)
Westside: Landmark Pico

Comedy/Improv
ImprovCity
Irvine
(855) 624-6776
www.improvcityonline.com

ImprovCity has been performing family-friendly comedy on the fly since 2009. Shows feature professional comedians staging scenes, songs and games made up on the spot.

Inland Empire: Improv - Ontario
L.A. Central/Hollywood: Upright Citizens Brigade
Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley: Ice House
South Bay/Southeast: Comedy and Magic Club

Concert Venue
Hollywood Bowl
2301 N. Highland Ave.
Los Angeles, 90068
(323) 850-2000
www.hollywoodbowl.com

The iconic shell-shaped Hollywood landmark is the largest natural outdoor amphitheater in the country. The Bowl stages the best of Broadway, film and music on a Hollywood hillside.

Inland Empire: Citizens Business Bank Arena
L.A. Central/Hollywood: Disney Concert Hall
Orange County: Honda Center
Orange County: Angel Stadium
Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley: Rose Bowl
SF Valley/Foothills/Ventura: Gibson Amphitheatre

Dramatic Theater
Pasadena Playhouse
39 South El Molino Ave.
Pasadena, 91101
(626) 792-8672
www.pasadenaplayhouse.org

In a city full of stages, the Pasadena Playhouse has produced its share of stars. Actor Dustin Hoffman has graced its stage, and playwright Tennessee Williams staged premieres here.

Inland Empire: Lewis Family Playhouse
L.A. Central/Hollywood: Pantages Theatre
Orange County: South Coast Repertory
SF Valley/Foothills/Ventura: Repertory East Playhouse
South Bay/Southeast: James R. Armstrong Theatre
Westside: Kirk Douglas Theatre

Fair
L.A. County Fair
L.A. County Fairgrounds
1101 W. McKinley Ave.
Pomona, 91768
(909) 623-3111
www.lacountyfair.com
The L.A. Fair is the largest county fair in all of North America. Each summer, rock stars, monster trucks and daredevils sell out shows here.

Festival
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
USC Campus
Los Angeles, 90089
events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks
Southern Californians love to read — and the success of the Festival of Books proves it. It’s a free weekend-long event that attracts more than 140,000 visitors of all ages and from all walks of life. But the festival is about more than just books. It’s a family-friendly arts and entertainment celebration.

Getaway
Santa Barbara
www.santabarbaraca.com/visitor-info
Dining on a delectable lunch, leaning into the rounded bouquet of a pinot noir or strolling through sunny shopping paseos, Santa Barbara is a trip to the Riviera without the layovers.

Runner Up: Palm Springs
www.visitpalmsprings.com

Golf Course
The Resort at Pelican Hill
22800 Pelican Hill Road S.
Newport Beach, 92657
(949) 467-6800
www.pelicanhill.com
Designed by top architect Tom Fazio, the golf courses at Pelican Hill consist of 54 holes across 400 acres of stunning coastal land.

L.A. Central/Hollywood: Roosevelt Municipal Golf Course
Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley: Brookside
South Bay/Southeast: Terranea Resort - The Links
Westside: Rancho Park

Hotel
Terranea Resort
6610 Palos Verdes Drive S.
Rancho Palos Verdes, 90275
(310) 256-2800
www.terranea.com
The 102-acre Mediterranean-style resort is wrapped in lush gardens, a trio of pools, a nine-hole golf course and ample ocean-side dining options just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the busy L.A. streets. Escape to Terranea and experience luxury at its finest and feel worlds away from home.

Inland Empire: Terra Cotta Inn
L.A. Central/Hollywood: W Hotel Hollywood
Orange County: Pelican Hill Resort
Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley: The Langham
SF Valley/Foothills/Ventura: Ojai Valley Inn
Westside: Beverly Hills Hotel

Travel Service
TravelStore
Multiple area locations
(800) 850-3224
www.travelstoreusa.com
For more than 30 years, the TravelStore has been tailoring luxury trips to travelers who want to explore the world. The experienced staff doesn’t just book blindly — they’ve stayed at the top resorts and locales that they recommend.

Cruiseline
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
7323 Ventura Blvd.
Los Angeles, 91316
(800) 733-7820
www.uniworld.com
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, the world’s only authentic boutique cruise line, features luxurious boutique ships with an average capacity of 130 guests, included shore excursions fully hosted by local experts, world-class gourmet cuisine, and award-winning, personalized hospitality. Uniworld offers over 500 departures sailing on over 13 rivers in more than 20 countries throughout Europe, Russia, Egypt, China, Vietnam, and Cambodia.