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MS Balmoral in Los Angeles on her way to San Francisco then Sydney, Australia

MS Balmoral - luxury liner from Fred Olsen Cruise Lines will stop in Los Angeles February 2, on her way to San Francisco and then 28 nights Cruise to Sydney, Australia. Carrying 1350 passengers the Balmoral is certainly the grandest ship of Fred Olsen fleet, yet still compact enough to offer trademark intimate, homely atmosphere. The Balmoral offers 710 elegant comfortable cabins, world-class cuisine and diverse onboard activities.

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Top 5 Los Angeles Attractions on a Quarter of a Gas Tank

   

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Have you ever noticed that while you know tons of things that you discover when traveling abroad or thousands of miles from your home town, you sometimes lack knowledge about the area you actually live in. Do you ever wonder how many local attractions and sights you can see on a quarter of a gas tank? Here are top five Los Angeles attractions you can visit on a quarter of a gas tank.

1. Disneyland and California Adventure - $4/gas (30 miles)

 

From the charm of Main Street, U.S.A to the whimsy of Mickey's Toontown, explore eight fantastic "lands" of nostalgia, color and delight. Let your imagination run free in a magic kingdom where life is a fairy tale and dreams really do come true. Disney's California Adventure Park is adjacent to Disneyland® Park. Disney's California Adventure® Park offers exciting attractions, live shows, shopping and dining experiences in four distinctly themed lands: Hollywood Pictures Backlot, Golden State, Paradise Pier and “a bug's land”.

 

* Hours: Disneyland Park. 9:00 am - 11:00 pm. Disney's California Adventure Park. 10:00 am - 9:00 pm.

* Reservations: Not required

* 2008 Cost: $69 Single Day Theme Park Ticket - Ages 10 and Up, $59 Single Day Theme Park Ticket - Ages 3-9

* Parking: $12

* Location: On Interstate 5, south from LA. Exit Disneyland Drive and turn left (South). Then Proceed across Ball Road. Use the left three lanes to access the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure.

* How Long: Allow about a day to see everything in one park, longer when the park is busy

* Best Time to Visit is January through March and September through October. These months are lower in park attendance.

* More Info at http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/parks/landing?name=DisneylandParkLandingPage

 

2.  Six Flags Magic Mountain and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor - $4/gas (30 miles)

    Take on the world’s most thrilling collection of extreme coasters including TATSU, GOLIATH, and the all-new X2, the next generation of the first-of-its-kind 4^th dimensional coaster, opened in summer of 2008. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor – right next door, enjoy a tropical paradise with 23 exciting slides and dozens of splashy adventures for water-loving thrill seekers of all ages. Only Six Flags Hurricane Harbor has it all: Tornado, the Black Snake Summit water slide complex, and Lizard Lagoon, the ultimate summer chill-out zone.  (Separate admission ticket is required for Hurricane Harbor)  

* Hours: Open every day in summer, closed weekdays during school year (except during holidays)

* Reservations: Not required

* 2008 Cost: $ 69.99 Season Pass, $125.00 Xtreme Pass, Hurricane Harbor General Admission - $29.99

* Parking: $15

* Location: North of Los Angeles on Interstate 5, at the Magic Mountain Parkway exit

* How Long: Allow about a day to ride everything, longer when the park is busy

* Best Time to Visit: Busiest on school holidays and in summer (also hottest), less busy on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday if open. Weather may close some rides, so don't go on a day when it's raining or windy. If you go in summer, when the park is open very late, consider arriving in mid-afternoon.

* More Info at http://www.sixflags.com/magicMountain/info/parkInfo.aspx

 

3. Knott's Berry Farm and Soak City - $3/gas (22 miles)

 

Knott’s was once an actual berry farm is now 160 acres of world class rides, unique family shows and one of kind attractions. At America's favorite theme park, experience GhostRider the world's best wooden roller coaster, Supreme Scream, 30-stories up, 3 seconds down and the high-octane thrill of Xcelerator, rated the world's best launch coaster, sending riders 0-80 in 2.3 seconds. For a different type of thrill, stroll on over to Camp Snoopy, home to the beloved PEANUTS gang. Located next to Knott's Berry Farm, Soak City is a well-designed and spotless water park located across Beach Boulevard from Knott's Berry Farm. For the adventure seekers, Malibu Run, and its four slides, Dropoff, Wave Chaser, Heavy Swell, and Rincon, as well as Old Man Falls, a 62-foot (19 m) high, triplet of speed slides. There is also the Laguna Storm Watch Tower, which offers three completely enclosed slides, and don't forget Banzai Falls, a six-lane waterslide race down bumps.

 

* Hours: Theme park is open 364 days a year, 10 am – 10 pm (some dates closed earlier). Soak City open May - September

* Reservations: Not required

* 2008 Cost: Single Day Ticket Adult - $51.99, Children ages 3-11 - $22.99. Soak City Full-Day Prices Adult $29.99, Children ages 3-11, $19.99

* Parking: $9

* Location: From I-5 North, merge onto CA-91 West and take the 113c exit. Follow CA-39/Beach Blvd exit towards Buena Park. Take a left on Beach Blvd/CA-39s. Follow this to your destination at 8039 Beach Blvd.

* How Long: Allow about a day to ride or swim everything, longer when the park is busy

* Best Time to Visit: Busiest on weekends, less busy on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and Friday.

* More Info at http://www.knotts.com/park/guest/index.shtml

 

 

4. Universal Studios Hollywood Park - $2/gas (15 miles)

 

With thrilling park rides and shows, a real working movie studio and L.A's best shops, restaurants and all-new cinemas at CityWalk, Universal Studios Hollywood is a unique experience that's fun for the whole family. The first-ever mega-attraction based on the blockbuster TV series, The Simpsons. Featuring the show’s classic humor and many of its instantly recognizable characters – all voiced by the original actors. Experience hair-raising thrills and heart-pounding surprises on rides like the Revenge of the Mummy thrill coaster and the Jurassic Park 80-foot raft plunge. Go behind the scenes of your favorite movies and TV shows such as 'Desperate Housewives' and The War of the Worlds. Explore Hollywood’s famous backlot and see sets, special effects and insider secrets on the Studio Tour. Join Shrek and Donkey on an ogre-the-top adventure in Shrek 4-D.

 

* Hours: Open daily 9 am – 8 p.m., except Thanksgiving and December 25

* Reservations: Not required, but buy tickets in advance to save time in line

* 2008 Cost: Single Day Ticket Adult - $67, Children ages 3-11 - $57.

* Parking: $12

* Location: North of Hollywood off US 101

* How Long: Allow about a day to enjoy all attractions

* Best Time to Visit: Busiest in summer, spring and fall are best, so if it is winter, even if it's a rainy, many attractions are inside

* More Info at http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/

 

 

5. Raging Waters Park in San Dimas  - $4/gas (30 miles)

 

  Grab the family, your spouse, and best friend- whatever, just get up and go! From the lazy river ride to the speed slides, this park is sure to please everyone looking for a soaking good time. Experience the thrills of riding the perfect wave. Feel the power of the ocean as 36,000 gallons of water flow under you a minute. Slice back and forth across the water on a surf board or a body board. Catch a wave or just watch the action, the Flowrider is an innovation in extreme and it demands an audience.

 

* Hours: Open daily May through September, 10 am – 7 p.m.

* Reservations: Not required

* 2008 Cost: Single Day Ticket Adult - $35.99, Children ages 3-11 - $19.99.

* Parking: $10

* Location: Take the 10 Freeway East to the 57 North. Exit Raging Waters Drive. Turn Left and follow the signs

How Long: Allow about a day to enjoy all water attractions

* Best Time to Visit: Busiest on weekends, less busy on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and Friday

* More Info at http://www.ragingwaters.com

 

So if you have a free weekend at your disposal and a car without certain plans on what to visit in Los Angeles just simply fill your tank and go visit exciting LA destinations.

 

Galina Tulchinsky is a Los Angeles area expert tour guide specializing in private, group and shopping tours from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara and Las Vegas. For more information about Los Angeles area tours call at 1-800-761-1775 or to see more details about our tours visit http://www.LATravelTours.com, http://www.AmericanRivieraTours.com

 

 

Top 7 Celebrity Shopping Destinations in Los Angeles

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For those who want to rub shoulders with the stars, American Riviera Tours has some great offers this fall to some of the hottest shopping destinations around Los Angeles. Offering shopping tour accommodation at prices that anyone can afford – dark glasses and designer bags are not a prerequisite to shop at these stores!

   

Los Angeles is rated among the top five cities in the world last year, received more than hundred million visitors, so it’s not surprising that the LA is also a hottest shopping destination attracting worldwide tourists.  It's hard to find good statistics to identify shopping locations most favored by celebrities in LA, but based on overall number of celebrity visitors pulled from anywhere we could find them, here are the most popular Los Angeles Celebrity Shopping Destination.

1. Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Melrose is a younger version of the LA's hippest and hottest designer shopping experience. This happens to be one of the trendiest shopping strips, especially the western stretch between La Cienega Blvd and Fairfax. Between La Brea Ave. and Fairfax Ave the crowd gets younger, the shops funkier and cheaper, but it's still a lot of fun, with abundant opportunities to lighten your wallet. Fred Segal, Fornarina, Nanette Lepore, Alan K , Wasteland, Gossip just to name a few. Recently Rihanna and Chris Brown were enjoying an afternoon of shopping on Melrose Ave.
2. The Grove at Farmers Market. The Grove in Los Angeles is a shopping and entertainment complex built adjacent to the historic Farmers Market. It's become a popular spot for shopping and dining, and its lively crowds and street grid layout making it feel like an old-fashioned downtown. The Grove is anchored by the department store Nordstrom, as well as Banana Republic, Michael Kors, The Gap, J.Crew, Nike, the West Coast flagship Abercrombie & Fitch, and Pacific Sunwear and specialty outlets including Barnes & Noble, Crate & Barrel, Barney's New York Co-op, Los Angeles flagship Apple Store, and American Girl Place. Courtney Cox and David Arquette were spotted walking hand in hand to The Grove in LA and enjoy adjacent Farmer's Market.
3. Rodeo Drive & Golden Triangle in Beverly Hills. The stretch of shops and boutiques on Rodeo Drive is only three blocks long. It begins at Wilshire Boulevard on the south, and runs north to Santa Monica Boulevard. But those three short blocks constitute the most famous shopping district in America, and probably the most expensive three blocks of shops in the world. Armani, Gucci, Christian Dior, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, Valentino... Other nearby stores include I. Magnin, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Yves Saint Laurent, & Pierre Deux. Lisa Rinna and Hayden Panettiere recently were enjoying an afternoon of shopping in Beverly Hills and lunching at the Ivy in Los Angeles.
4. Robertson Blvd. Thanks to celebrity nosh spot The Ivy and Hollywood's glorified gift shop Kitson, the strip of Robertson Boulevard between Third Street and Beverly has become prime real estate for shops that appeal to both the trend-hungry and the fashion-forward. Some of the trendiest, unique, and whimsical boutiques can be found on Robertson Blvd. Lisa Kline, Curve and Horn located on Robertson Blvd, offers designer clothing and super trendy, one of kind items. Ghost is another super trendy boutique that features willowy, ethereal dresses and other items, all made from environmentally safe fabrics. Emmanuelle Chriqui and Britney Spears were seeing shopping at Lisa Kline Store on Robertson Blvd in Los Angeles.
5. Sunset Blvd or Sunset Strip. The Sunset Strip is the name given to the mile and a half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood in Los Angeles. The Strip is probably the best known portion of Sunset, embracing a premier collection of boutiques, Tracey Ross, A/X Armani Exchange, Birkenstock, Catherine Malandrino, Dolce & Gabanna, restaurants, rock clubs, and nightclubs that are on the cutting edge of the entertainment industry. The span of Sunset Boulevard from Sunset Plaza to Doheny Drive blazons a selection of world-renowned shops and specialty stores unique to the area. Fashion houses Hugo Boss and D&G occupy ornate spaces next to individual boutiques by Nicole Miller and Billy Martin. Neighboring the Armani Exchange, H. Lorenzo offers European collections that include designs from Helmut Lang, Roberto Cavalli and Yohji Yamamoto. Kate Hudson, Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan and Reese Witherspoon often browsing the racks for the latest pieces from Matthew Williamson, Derek Lam and Jennifer Meyer at Tracey Ross.
6. Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. This popular Los Angeles shopping destination just a stone's throw from the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean is a tourist attraction in its own right. An open-air pedestrian promenade alive with cafes, bookstores, kiosks, cinemas, fashion boutiques and novelty shops. Not only does it offer great shopping...it's also a lovely place to visit, as well. Here you'll see such popular stores as Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, Anthropologie, Bebe, L'Occitane, RipCurl, Clarks Shoes, Crocs Shoes, Sephora Cosmetics and more. Within a 2 to 3 block area, you can do some serious shopping or simply have fun---or do both! Salma Hayek and Katherine Heigl recently were seen on a shopping expedition in Santa Monica.
7. Beverly Blvd and Beverly Center Mall. A quieter, more sophisticated cousin to its northern neighbor Melrose, this sleepy street features an eclectic array of stores. There is Beige, one of the best boutiques in the city, the men's store K. Bond, and Naked, Claire's Boutique which features exclusive selections from European designers. The latter is like the boulevard on which it sits: cool and laidback, and there is no pressure to buy. And from Boutique M you can buy closing that caters to the artistically-inclined woman, one who looks to find new pieces of artistic genius to help define who she is. As one of Southern California’s premier trendsetting marketplaces, Beverly Center features 160 distinctive specialty boutiques and restaurants reflecting the diverse styles and tastes of Los Angeles. Located at the edge of Beverly Hills and Hollywood between La Cienega and San Vicente boulevards, Beverly Center is anchored by Just Cavalli, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s Men’s Store, H&M, and California’s only Grand Lux Cafe. To know what’s hot before it’s cool, visit Beverly Center. Drew Barrymore and Julia Roberts often stops by Jennifer Kaufman Boutique in Beverly center.

 

Galina Tulchinsky is a Los Angeles area expert tour guide specializing in private, group and shopping tours from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara and Las Vegas. For more information about Los Angeles area tours call at 1-800-761-1775 or to see more details about our tours visit http://www.LATravelTours.com, http://www.AmericanRivieraTours.com