Luxury Travel Advisor - January 2009 - (Page S8)

INSIDER’S Laguna Beach Galleries and Shopping Laguna Beach (www.lagunabeachinfo.com) has 100 art galleries and unique shops, making it the ideal playground for groups that want to experience an authentic destination on the Pacific coast. Getting Around Clients can fly into Los Angeles International Airport or John Wayne Airport in Anaheim. Shopping Virtually every art form is represented in Laguna Beach’s retail areas, providing wonderful shopping opportunities for gallery hoppers. Many artists even open their doors to visitors, providing the opportunity for fascinating conversations. The one-of-a-kind shopping that is available in boutiques, may make it difficult for your group to break away from their free time, but they’ll love you for the opportunity to purchase some truly unique clothing and jewelry. A must is a visit to Peppertree Lane (448 South Coast Highway), a favorite of locals for dining and shopping. Musts include La Rue du Chocolat for handmade confections (949494-2372); Sutton Place for unique women’s apparel and accessories (949-497-1133); Gelato Paradiso for Italian ice cream (www.gelato paradiso.net; 949-464-9255) and The Saloon, a great venue to cool down (949-494-5469). Dining C’est La Vie (www.cestlavierestaurant.com; 373 South Coast Highway; 949-497-5100) is known for its California French cuisine and its location mere feet from the Pacific Ocean. The indoor bistro has plenty of ambiance, but we say you’ll have friends for life if you reserve the outdoor patio for your group. Note: Live music on Saturdays starts at 7:30 p.m. You can buy out all of Hush Restaurant (www.hushrestaurant.com; 858 South Coast Highway; 949 497-3616) for dinner meetings and cocktail receptions; you’ll even be assigned a private event coordinator to help you select from the Contemporary American banquet menu. Up to 55 guests can enjoy passed trays of appetizers as they gaze out onto the Pacific Ocean from the outdoor heated patio. Contact Daniel Reyes (danielreyes@hushrestaurant.com) for details. Las Brisas (www.lasbrisaslagunabeach.com; 361 Cliff Drive; 949-497-5434) is another oceanfront option; it serves Mexican Riviera cuisine with a specialty in seafood. Note: Happy hour on the patio runs from 4-6 p.m., Monday through Friday (think nacho platters and quesadillas). Sunday brunch (think champagne and Mexican pastries) in the main dining room is another great option for your group. For quality bonding and team building, spend a few hours at the Laguna Culinary Arts (www.lagunaculinaryarts.com; 845 Laguna Canyon Road; 949-494-4006). The facility will customize hands-on cooking classes for your group, ranging from a selection of appetizers to a three-course meal. Contact Brenda at 949-376-0263; she can also tell you about their wine-and-cheese pairing classes at their Gourmet Cheese Shop Wine Cellar & Café. They’ll even call in a private sommelier to provide a more luxurious tasting experience. —Ruthanne Terrero 8 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR Guide to Meetings & Incentives | January 2009 http://www.lagunabeachinfo.com http://www.hushrestaurant.com http://www.lasbrisaslagunabeach.com http://www.lagunaculinaryarts.com http://www.gelatoparadiso.net http://www.gelatoparadiso.net http://www.cestlavierestaurant.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Luxury Travel Advisor - January 2009

Luxury Travel Advisor - January 2009 Contents Publisher's Letter Editor's Letter Lucca Egypt Provence Great Honeymoons Cover Story: Dan Flannery Girlfriend Getaways Croatia The Pulse Jetset Report Sightings Meetings & Incentives Supplement Aruba Turks and Caicos Los Angeles Laguna Beach, CA

Luxury Travel Advisor - January 2009

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