Meeting News - October 6, 2008 - (Page 23) California Incentives Meanwhile, Back at the Rancho Long Beach’s historic ranchos offer meeting space with a 500-year-plus pedigree It may seem like something from an Antonio Banderas “Zorro” flick: a stable full of mustangs, a long, Spanish colonial villa owned by a prominent landowner, and miles of trails leading from here to Mexico. Ranchos, or Alta California land grants, were large tracts of land granted either by Spain, Mexico, or the U.S. to landholders from the 1830s through to the early 1900s. Some of these original ranchos still exist—two of them in Long Beach —and they allow meeting planners to stage events worthy of “Zorro.” Rancho Los Alamitos (Ranch of the Little Cottonwoods) was originally known as Povuunga. It was occupied for 500 years, first by Native Americans, then by Spanish colonizers, Mexicans, and early Californians. Today, it encompasses five agricultural buildings, including a working blacksmith’s shop, four acres of nationally significant gardens designed by preeminent landscape architects of the 1920s to 1940s, and a sprawling adobe ranch house circa 1800. The property is owned by the city of Long Beach but is privately managed. Meeting planners can contact Pamela Seager, pamela@rancholosalamitos.com, (562) 431-3541. The rancho can accommodate 1,000 people on its front lawn but uses parking facilities nearby. Events for 60 or less participants can be managed with the rancho’s existing facilities. A docent can lead your group through the property’s gunslingers, banditos, and all. Nearby, Rancho Los Cerritos (Contact Ellen Calomiris, executive director, at (562) 570-1755, Ellen_calomiris@longbeach.gov), also has a long history of habitation stemming from the early Native Americans and early Californians. The house is surrounded by terraces and famous gardens; the outdoor areas are available for groups of up to about 500. No inside access for meetings is permitted. The gardens are not just to look at; their bounty fills the museum gift shop with homemade jams and seeds. r —Gretchen Kelly Travel is more than just A to B. Travel should make you feel like a star A star filled destination located at the entrance to Universal Studios Hollywood and CityWalk. Blockbuster events start with luxurious accommodations, superb cuisine, 60,000 square feet of state of the art conference facilities and attention to every detail including red carpets. At the Hilton Los Angeles Universal City our outstanding crew will work with you to make your next event an award winner. 1-818-623-1405 Group Sales www.hiltonuniversal.com Travel should take you places www.meetingnews.com October 6, 2008 MeetingNews 23 http://www.hiltonuniversal.com http://www.hiltonuniversal.com http://www.meetingnews.com
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