Pasadena

Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel & Spa
1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue
626-568-3900
Rooms: 392
Amenities: upscale restaurant The Dining Room, Spa, Club Room, Fitness Center (no kids allowed)

Dear Mom:

Had a really relaxing trip to the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel. It’s in Pasadena. Six people we asked for directions gave us a half-dozen different answers. But this 100-year-old property is worth finding. It’s secluded——built on 23 acres below the San Gabriel Mountains. Tell Dad it’s just 10 minutes from the Rose Bowl, and not far from Dodger Stadium.

You can’t go wrong at a Ritz. The hotel’s Club Lounge floor is a cool deal. For $450, you get access to a club room, and five meal services a day. Tenderloin for dinner. Sushi. And the Ritz’s own line of champagne. The mimosa line starts behind me!

The hotel was recently renovated. Twenty million bucks. But the history is still intact. Dad will want to walk across the Picture Bridge. In 1932, Frank Moore painted outdoor scenes under each arch of the bridge’s roof. Take a look, then hit the pool below. Yes, make sure Dad knows you can swim outdoors year-round in Southern Cal.

Love,
Your son

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