Terranea is proud to be the preferred hotel and resort of Lexus in Southern California. A fleet of luxury Lexus vehicles, including sedans, SUVs and hybrids, is available to guests for test drives and day adventures. Take advantage of this special offer and arrive in style. Please speak to the concierge for more information on making a reservation.
The Culture Vulture
Downtown > Pasadena > San Marino
From booming Downtown Los Angeles to historic Pasadena, experience thrilling arts and architecture—both old and new.
City of Contrast
While Downtown Los Angeles enjoys a long-awaited revival, there’s no better time to observe the shifting landscape of this unique metropolis. Olvera Street, a small but culturally rich piece of California-Mexico history, offers an early glimpse at California living.
Visitors to downtown may also partake in an art deco architecture tour, with the iconic City Hall as a centerpiece. Perhaps the most thrilling modern addition is Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, a symphony of stainless steel slopes and home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic (111 South Grand Avenue). Just next door, the city welcomes The Broad Museum, a new and equally intriguing contemporary structure with a stellar assemblage of contemporary art.
Enviable Collection
The Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino, an epic estate once home to railroad magnet Henry E. Huntington, recently enjoyed a makeover to its entrance pavilion and features a variety of exquisite gardens and fine art (1151 Oxford Road). Be sure to make a reservation in the popular tearoom for a traditional English tea.
Nearby Pasadena boasts the Norton Simon Museum, a distinguished private collection
with the most significant gathering of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art in Southern California (411 West Colorado Boulevard).
Everything Old Is New
Find plenty of family-friendly restaurants and shops in Old Town Pasadena, just up the street from the Norton Simon on Colorado Boulevard. One highlight includes Italian fare at the bustling Mi Piace (25 East Colorado).
The Scene Stealer
Beverly Hills > West Hollywood
Sometimes it’s not about what you see, it’s how you are seen. Nothing could be truer of the celebrity hubs in the shadows of the Hollywood Hills.
Ready For a Close-Up
One of the longest and most famous thoroughfares in Los Angeles, Sunset Boulevard makes for a scenic drive from the glitter of Hollywood all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, you’ll see such icons as the majestic (and infamous) Chateau Marmont, Whisky a Go Go and the fabled pink walls of The Beverly Hills Hotel.
Romancing the Retail
Rodeo Drive continues its reign as commercial royalty for all things en vogue. Here you’ll find all the top designers, including Tom Ford, YSL, Chanel, Prada and many more. If you’re looking to spruce up your abode, the design houses along La Cienega Boulevard between Melrose and Santa Monica feature some of the biggest trends in home décor. If your scene is more kitsch than couture, you can’t miss Melrose Avenue—the epicenter for trendy style and colorful culture.
Culinary Stars
In this trendy neck of the woods, it may be the chef who’s more famous than the diners. Top Chef Michael Voltaggio put a stamp on the LA food scene and made an indelible impression with the highly acclaimed Ink (8360 Melrose Avenue). Named after the grandmother who helped him realize his culinary dreams, Curtis Stone’s Maude offers a cozy, 25-seat dining experience with a seasonally savvy prix-fixe menu (212 S. Beverly Drive).
Tom Colicchio’s Craft serves impeccable steaks and other culinary crowd pleasers in the building also occupied by mega talent agency CAA (10100 Constellation Boulevard). The granddaddy of them all, Wolfgang Puck, still oversees Beverly Hill’s most recognizable eatery, Spago, where fine dining and million-dollar movie deals go hand in hand (176 North Canon Drive).
The Beachcomber
Venice > Santa Monica > Malibu
The northern section of Santa Monica Bay bustles with its own form of iconic beach culture—from colorful Venice with its charming canals to lively shopping and dining in Santa Monica and posh and pretty Malibu.
The Skinny on Abbot Kinney
Venice’s Abbot Kinney draws a hip crowd—and a hungry one. Try The Tasting Kitchen for their waffle and “clucks” (fried chicken) for breakfast, lunch or dinner (1633 Abbot Kinney Boulevard). If you’ve got too much on your agenda for a sit-down meal, try the Gjelina Take Away counter for a delicious lunch on the go (1427 Abbot Kinney).
The street also boasts some of the best Westside shopping, including cool art galleries and stylish boutiques. Celebrate the area’s love of modern décor at Burro, home to eclectic, contemporary house ware, gifts and more (1409 Abbot Kinney). Pet lovers should swing into The Modern Dog for the finest in canine and cat couture (1611 Abbot Kinney).
10 Brilliant Blocks
Montana Avenue, between 6th Street and 17th Street, offers 150 high-end boutiques and restaurants perfect for an afternoon outing. Highlights include San Francisco clothier Margaret O’Leary (1605 Montana Avenue) and Sweet Lady Jane (1631 Montana Avenue), purveyor of gourmet goods and satisfying sweets.
Shore Thing
If the beach calls, check out the sands just north of the Santa Monica beach pier or head a bit further up Pacific Coast Highway to Will Rogers State Beach for some quality time in the sun. If you’re up for the drive up PCH, Zuma Beach is always a sure bet for beauty.
Dining Your Way Up the Coast
In Santa Monica, the Tower 8 restaurant offers fresh fare from Michelin Star chef Josiah Citrin (849 Ocean Avenue). For something a little more casual, head up the coast to The Reel Inn, a local favorite with window order service, picnic tables and simple but amazing fish dishes (18661 Pacific Coast Highway).
Illustrated by Elena Lacey
