Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
The Huntington Library is the jewel in Pasadena's crown. The 207-acre hilltop estate was once home to industrialist and railroad magnate Henry E. Huntington (1850-1927), who bought books on the same massive scale on which he acquired businesses. The continually expanding collection includes dozens of Shakespeare's first editions, Benjamin Franklin's handwritten autobiography, a Gutenberg Bible from the 1450s, and the earliest known manuscript of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Although some rare works are available only to visiting scholars, the library has a regularly changing (and always excellent) exhibit showcasing different items in the collection.If you prefer canvas to parchment, Huntington also put together a terrific 18th-century British and French art collection. The most celebrated paintings are Gainsborough's The Blue Boy and Pinkie, a companion piece by Sir Thomas Lawrence depicting the youthful aunt of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. These and other works are displayed in the stately Italianate mansion on the crest of this hillside estate, so you can also get a glimpse of its splendid furnishings. American art and Renaissance paintings are exhibited in two additional galleries.But it's the botanical gardens that draw most locals to the Huntington. The Japanese Garden comes complete with a traditional open-air Japanese house, koi-filled stream, and serene Zen garden. The cactus garden is exotic, the jungle garden is intriguing, the lily ponds are soothing -- and there are many benches scattered about so you can sit and enjoy the surroundings.Because the Huntington surprises many with its size and wealth of activities to choose from, first-timers might want to start with a tour. One-hour garden tours are offered daily; no reservations or additional fees are required. Times vary, so check at the information desk upon arrival. I also recommend that you tailor your visit to include the popular English high tea served Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4:30pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:45am to 4:30pm (last seating at 3:30pm). The tearoom overlooks the Rose Garden (home to 1,000 varieties displayed in chronological order of their breeding), and since the finger sandwiches and desserts are served buffet style, it's a genteel bargain even for hearty appetites at $15 per person (please note that museum admission is a separate required cost). Phone tel. 626/683-8131 for tearoom reservations, which are required and should be made at least 2 weeks in advance.

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
Completed in September 2002 at a cost of $163 million and built to last 500 years, this ultra-contemporary cathedral is one of L.A.'s newest architectural treasures and the third-largest cathedral in the world. It was designed by award-winning Spanish architect Jose Rafael Moneo and features a 20,000-square-foot plaza, more than 6,000 crypts and niches (making it the largest crypt mausoleum in the U.S.), Mission-style colonnades, biblically inspired gardens, and numerous artworks created by world-acclaimed artists. While most Angelinos admit that the exterior of this austere, sand-colored structure is rather uninspiring and uninviting (the church doors don't face the street, but rather a private plaza in back surrounded by fortresslike walls), the view from the inside is breathtaking: Soaring heights, 12,000 panes of translucent alabaster, and larger-than-life tapestries lining the walls create an awe-inspiring sense of magnificence and serenity. The bronze doors, created by sculptor Robert Graham, pay homage to Ghiberti's bronze baptistery door in Florence. The cathedral now serves as the Mother Church of the Archdiocese of L.A.

UCLA Hammer Museum
Created by the former chairman and CEO of Occidental Petroleum, the Hammer Museum has had a hard time winning the respect of critics and the public. Barbs are aimed at both the museum's relatively flat collection and its patron's tremendous ego. The Hammer is ensconced in a two-story Carrara marble building attached to the oil company's offices. It's better known for its high-profile and often provocative visiting exhibits, such as the opulent prerevolution treasures of Russian ruler Catherine the Great. In conjunction with UCLA's Wight Gallery, a feisty gallery with a reputation for championing contemporary political and experimental art, the Hammer continues to present often daring and usually popular special exhibits, and it's definitely worth calling ahead to find out what will be there during your visit to L.A. The permanent collection (Armand Hammer's personal collection) consists mostly of traditional western European and Anglo-American art, and contains noteworthy paintings by Toulouse-Lautrec, Rembrandt, Degas, and van Gogh. A $25 million renovation and expansion -- including four new galleries, a restaurant, and a 288-seat theater -- should be completed by the time you're reading this.

Best Western Dragon Gate Inn
'From: Highway 110. Exit on Hill Street; continue on Hill Street, the Best Western Dragon Gate Inn is on left side of the street. 'From: Los Angeles Intl Airport. Take Highway 105 East to Highway 110 North, exit Hill Street. 'From: San Fran. Intl. Airport. Take Highway 5 South to 110 South, exit Hill Street from San Diego, take Highway 5 North to Highway 101 North to Highway 110 North, and exit Hill Street. 'From: Arizona or Nevada. Take Highway 10 West to Highway 101 North to Highway 110 ...

Sofitel Los Angeles
Sofitel LA completed a 40+ million dollar renovation in 2006, the hotel is so different, so LA. Explore SIMON LA by Chef Kerry Simon, Stone Rose Lounge by Rande Gerber, Le Spa at Sofitel, and SO Fit, all at Sofitel LA. Sofitel LA is so close to everything that defines Los Angeles. Across the street from the Beverly Center, close to Rodeo Drive, Melrose Avenue and Sunset Boulevard, the best in shopping and entertainment is all around you. European elegance meets Hollywood glamour in ...

La Quinta Inn & Suites LAX
Conveniently located less than a mile from one of the world's busiest airports and within five miles of Manhattan Beach, the La Quinta Inn & Suites LAX is a welcoming oasis for travel weary guests. Just off the 405 Freeway, this full-service hotel features an onsite restaurant, free 24-hour airport shuttle service, an outdoor pool with sundeck, fitness center, and meeting/banquet facilities for up to 300 guests. Wireless high-speed Internet access is available throughout the hotel as ...