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Alaska Airlines Flights from Seattle (SEA) to Los Angeles (LAX)
Orbitz is pleased to offer airline tickets on Alaska Airlines, which operates 9 regularly scheduled daily non-stop flights from Seattle (SEA) to Los Angeles (LAX), departing between 8:00am and 9:50pm, and 4 additional non-stop flights, departing between 6:30am and 2:53pm on select days of the week. The average travel time from Seattle, WA to Los Angeles, CA is 2 hours and 35 minutes.
During your Los Angeles vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Pacific Design Center
The bold architecture and overwhelming scale of the Pacific Design Center, designed by Argentinean architect Cesar Pelli, aroused controversy when it was erected in 1975. Sheathed in gently curving cobalt-blue glass, the seven-story building houses more than 750,000 square feet of wholesale interior-design showrooms and is known to locals as "the blue whale." When the property for the design center was acquired in the 1970s, almost all of the small businesses that lined this stretch of Melrose Avenue were demolished. Only Hugo's Plating, which still stands in front of the center, successfully resisted the wrecking ball. In 1988, a second boxlike structure, dressed in equally dramatic Kelly green, was added to the design center and surrounded by a protected outdoor plaza.
J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center
Since opening in 1997, the Richard Meier-designed Getty Center has quickly assumed its place in the L.A. landscape (literally and figuratively) as the city's cultural acropolis and international mecca. Headquarters for the Getty Trust's research, education, and conservation concerns, the postmodernist complex -- perched on a hillside in the Santa Monica Mountains and swathed in Italian travertine marble -- is most frequently visited for the museum galleries displaying collector J. Paul Getty's enormous collection of art. Always known for antiquities, expanded galleries now allow the display of Impressionist paintings, truckloads of glimmering French furniture and decorative arts, fine illuminated manuscripts, contemporary photography, and previously overlooked graphic arts. The area that's open to the public consists of five two-story pavilions set around an open courtyard, and each gallery within is specially designed to complement the works on display. A sophisticated system of programmable window louvers allows many works (particularly paintings) to be displayed in the natural light they were created in for the first time in the modern era. One of these is van Gogh's Irises, one of the museum's finest and most popular holdings. Trivia buffs will enjoy knowing that the museum spent $53.9 million to acquire this painting; it's displayed in a complex that cost roughly $1 billion to construct.Visitors to the center park at the base of the hill and ascend via a cable-driven electric tram. On clear days, the sensation is of being in the clouds, gazing across Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean (and into a few chic Brentwood backyards). If you're like me and don't remember a thing from your college art appreciation class, plunk down $3 for a self-guided audio tour that gives a brief overview of the 250-plus works in the collection. The 45-minute architectural tours, offered throughout the day, are also worth looking into. Dining options include several espresso/snack carts, a cafeteria, a self-service cafe, and the elegant (though informal) "Restaurant" offering table service for lunch (Tues-Sun) and dinner (Fri-Sat), with breathtaking views overlooking of the ocean and mountains (reservations are recommended, though walk-ins are accepted; call tel. 310/440-7300 or make reservations online at www.getty.edu).Realizing that fine-art museums are usually dreadfully boring for kids, the center provides several clever programs for kids, including exploratory games such as Perplexing Paintings and The Getty Art Detective; a Family Room filled with puzzles, computers, picture books, and games; mythical storytelling sessions on weekends at 11am, noon, and 1pm; weekend family workshops; and self-guided audio tours made specifically for families.Entrance to the Getty Center is free -- they don't need your money -- but parking reservations are required weekdays (though we've heard of people getting in without one on slow days). College students with current ID and those arriving by public transportation, motorcycle, or bicycle do not require reservations. Reservations are not required after 4pm or all day Saturday and Sunday. Cameras and video cams are permitted, but only if you use existing light (flash units are verboten).
Sunset Boulevard & The Sunset Strip
Unless you were raised in a cave, you've undoubtedly heard of L.A.'s Sunset Boulevard. The most famous of the city's many legendary boulevards, it winds dozens of miles over prime real estate as it travels from Downtown to the beach, taking its travelers on both a historic and microcosmic journey that defines Los Angeles as a whole -- from tacky strip malls and historic movie studios to infamous strip clubs and some of the most coveted zip codes on earth. In fact, driving the stretch from U.S. 101 to the Pacific should be a prerequisite for all first-time visitors because it provides so perfectly what L.A. is all about: instant gratification.Bam! From the start, you'll see the original CBS Studios, where The Jack Benny Show emanated; the Hollywood Palladium, where Lawrence Welk and the Dorsey Brothers performed; the Sahara Hotel, of many a movie shoot; the Guitar Center's Hollywood RockWalk, where superstars like Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Santana, and the Van Halen brothers left handprints or signatures; the "Riot Hyatt," where The Doors, Led Zeppelin, and Guns N' Roses crashed and smashed from the '60s through the '80s; and Chateau Marmont, where Greta Garbo lived and John Belushi died.Phew! And you've barely even started. Once you pass the Chateau Marmont, you're officially cruising the Sunset Strip -- a 1 3/4-mile stretch of Sunset Boulevard from Crescent Heights Boulevard to Doheny Drive. The tour continues with The Comedy Store, where Rosanne, Robin Williams, and David Letterman rose to stardom; Dan Aykroyd's ramshackle House of Blues, where the rock stars still show up for an impromptu show; Tower Records, the largest record store in the world; the Argyle Hotel, where Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, and John Wayne once lived; the ultra-exclusive Skybar within the Mondrian hotel; Johnny Depp's Viper Room, where River Phoenix overdosed in 1993; Whisky A Go-Go, where The Doors were once a house band; and the Rainbow Bar & Grill, where Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Marley became legends.Once you emerge from the strip, things calm down considerably as you drive through the tony neighborhoods of Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Brentwood, and Pacific Palisades. By the time you've reached the ocean you'll have seen a vivid cross-section of the city and a pretty good idea of what L.A. is all about.
Make your reservations for discount hotel rooms in the
Los Angeles area, including:
Inn at Playa del Rey
A half-hour drive from L.A. proper, my favorite L.A. B&B is less than ideal for sightseers with packed itineraries, but great for those looking for romance, a relaxed small-town vibe, or airport convenience. Only 5 minutes from LAX, the pampering inn is as much a sanctuary from the city as the protected wetlands outside the back door. From the street, the contemporary structure looks like a set of condos; inside, it glows with its true character. Fresh salty breezes and the soft chatter of waterfowl fill a spacious yet cozy fireplace lounge, whose long veranda overlooks peaceful marshland. Hiking trails wind through the wildlife preserve; a wooden observation platform 50 yards out is ideal for contemplation, bird-watching, or spying on sailboats that pass through the channel. A beach suitable for swimming is a short walk away, and bicycles are on hand for cruising a coastal path.The impeccably decorated, amenity-laden guest rooms are outfitted in a classy-yet-casual, sophisticated style that evokes the best of Nantucket or Santa Barbara. Country-chic furnishings, snuggly comforters, and plush bathrobes and towels are on hand. Luxuries include DirecTV hidden in handsome armoires and bathrooms. Most rooms have balconies; other options include whirlpool tubs and fireplaces. The ultimate in romance are the spacious View Suites, whose two-sided fireplaces cast a heavenly glow on both the luxuriously made bed and the inviting double Jacuzzi. A garden hot tub is available for those booking simpler accommodations.
Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows
Behind the famous facade (remember the Eagles'Hotel California album?) lies this star-studded haven where legends were, and still are, made: The "Pink Palace" was center stage for both deal- and star-making in Hollywood's golden days. Today stars and industry hotshots, or as one member of the staff joked, "all the current rulers of the universe," can still be found lounging around the Olympic-size pool (into which Katharine Hepburn once dove fully clothed) or digging into Dutch apple pancakes in the iconic Polo Lounge, where Hunter S. Thompson kicked off his adventure to Las Vegas, and where Ozzy Osbourne has been known to sip his afternoon tea. I had the pleasure of staying here recently and was so impressed with the entire experience that the Beverley Hills Hotel has become my new favorite among every other hotel in Los Angeles. It is a truly world-class property, and improvements over the years have only added to its luster.Following a $100 million restoration a few years back, the hotel's grand lobby and impeccably landscaped grounds retain their over-the-top glory, while the lavish guest rooms -- each uniquely decorated in a subdued palate of pinks, greens, apricots, and yellows -- boast every state-of-the-art luxury, including extralarge bathrooms with double Grecian marble sinks and TVs. The management has assembled a refreshingly unpretentious, service-oriented staff who seem genuinely bent on guest comfort, and the best original touches have been retained, like butler service at the touch of a button. Many rooms feature private patios, Jacuzzi tubs, kitchens, and/or dining rooms. The 21 bungalows are more luxurious than ever, and the lush, tropical-like grounds are brimming with exotic trees and flowers that emit divine aromas. Even the outdoor pathways are carpeted, to keep noise to a minimum. Tip: The inexpensive and informal Fountain Coffee Shop, open daily for 7am to 7pm, is a great excuse to visit the hotel for an hour, and you never know who might be sitting on the stool next to you slurping down a chocolate malt.Facilities: 3 restaurants (Polo Lounge, Fountain Coffee Shop, alfresco Cabana Club Cafe); 2 lounges (Sunset Lounge for high tea and cocktails, bar in Polo Lounge); Olympic-size outdoor heated pool; 2 outdoor tennis courts (lit for night play); fitness center; whirlpool; concierge; car-rental desk; courtesy limo; business center w/computers; salon services; 24-hr. room service; in-room or poolside massage; babysitting; laundry service; dry-cleaning service; video rentals.
Le Meridien
It took deep pockets to hire renowned French architect Pierre Yves Rochon to orchestrate a multimillion-dollar renovation, but the result is a visual masterpiece of color, form, and function. Whereas the lobby, bar, and other public areas are replete with futuristic furnishings, busy patterns, and saturated colors, the rooms are given a contemporary European look that's both warm and relaxing. Thanks to amenities such as in-room fax machines, three two-line phones, and large counter/desk space, the rooms function equally well as sleeping quarters and work spaces. All things electrical (lights, TV, climate control) are operated by a bedside remote, and the subdued black marble bathrooms hold elegant Hermès products; after a long day on the job, the huge soaking tubs are perfect for unwinding. Even if you're not staying here, you might want to drop by to admire Pierre's talent.
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