It’s summer in California. Pull down the convertible top on your classic car and take to the highway. With news that Highway 1 opened in Big Sur after a winter of rains and rockslides, it’s the perfect time to take a scenic coastal drive.

California’s Premier 3 Day Travel/Tourism/Hospitality Conference of the Year will be held in Pasadena from June 20 to 22, 2011. The event, held at Pasadena Convention Center, is the annual conference for the travel and tourism trade in California. Once called the Governor’s Conference, the event was renamed Conference on Tourism. Now in its 29th year it is still the same event but goes by a new name, California Travel Summit. Non-members can attend. caltia.org

World Class Speakers are just part of the lineup!

* Tim Leiweke – President & CEO, AEG
* Robyn Benicasa – Nationally Acclaimed Motivational Speaker
* Caroline Beteta – President & CEO, California Travel & Tourism Commission
* Adam Sacks – Managing Director, Tourism Economics & “Futurist”
* Roger Dow – President & CEO, U.S. Travel Association
* 3 Days of Nationally Acclaimed Speakers & Panelists
* 2 “Pre-Convention” Workshops & Plus 7 Additional Seminars & Breakouts
* NEW – “Beyond the Gateway / Rural” & Winery Tracks
* Sessions on Management; Customer Service; ‘Non-Traditional Partnerships; Communications; Business Development & More
* 4th Annual CalTIAPAC Golf Tournament

IMPORTANT: Tickets are required at $75 per person. Sign up with ttmasocal@aol.com now to hold and confirm your space–also taking silent auction donations and table reservations.

Join us on the roof terrace of Madame Tussauds Hollywood for an authentic Italian dinner, silent auction, awards presentation, and the opportunity to mingle with top tourism professionals.

What: 2010 Annual Travel and Tourism Gala
Where: Madame Tussauds Hollywood
6933 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90028
When: September 29th, 2010, 5:30pm – 9:30pm
More info: The evening’s honorees include Hollywood’s brightest stars, The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s Walk of Fame (TM) Celebrating 50 Years and Oscar and Nyla Arslanian, Editor and Publisher of Discover Hollywood and founders of the Hollywood Arts Council.

Guests will have the opportunity to experience Madame Tussaud’s as part of the evening’s festivities. -ttma.org

In a victory for the lodging industry, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 1260 that allows limited service properties to obtain permits to sell beer and wine on-site.

This CH&LA sponsored bill, authored by Senator Leland Yee (D – San Francisco), was a top priority for our members this year and its successful passage creates another revenue stream for our members during these difficult economic times. We are very grateful to Senator Yee for his support of this bill and agreeing to carry the legislation, which passed both houses unanimously.

Currently, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act authorizes lodging properties having an on-sale general license for restricted service lodging establishments to sell or provide alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises. This bill extends that authorization to allow limited service properties that currently have an on-sale general license to sell beer and wine for consumption on the premises, where the beer and wine is sold in a general food sale area, typically located at or near the front desk area.

CH&LA and its membership advocated for this bill at the capitol during CH&LA’s Legislative Summit. Additionally, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association and the California Travel Industry Association supported this legislation in a true industry coalition effort. Special thanks also go to CH&LA’s contract lobbyist Ralph Heim of Public Policy Advocates, who worked tirelessly to educate and inform the Senator, his staff and the committee on the merits of this legislation.

This is a victory for our industry and we are very grateful to everyone who supported this bill, which becomes law in January 2011.

US Open of Surfing, the ultimate beach sports event on Orange County beaches this summer, is making its way to Huntington Beach, California. Held Saturday, July 31 to Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010, the entire event is free to watch and includes give-aways, games, Surfers Village with a drum circle, and an amazing line up of concerts.

Among the bands performing free on the beach, enjoy Switchfoot with surfer Timmy Curran, Weezer and many more. Here’s the score:

Tuesday, August 3 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Cold War Kids preceded by The Soft Pack
Wednesday August 4 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Bedouin Soundclash preceded by Iration
Thursday August 5 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Switchfoot preceded by Timmy Curran
Friday, August 6 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Cobra Starship preceded by Street Drum Corps
Saturday, August 7 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Weezer preceded by Hot Hot Heat

Top musical acts will join the world’s best action sports athletes for five days of free concerts on the sands of Huntington Beach, California for the 2010 US Open of Surfing. From August 3rd through August 7th, the following bands will conclude each day’s competition.

The U.S. Open of Surfing presented by Hurley, Nike 6.0 and Converse is an action sports festival that brings together athletes from the worlds of surf, BMX and skate for a week of competition, art, fashion and music –all against the backdrop of the famed Huntington Beach Pier. From July 31 to August 8, 500 world-class athletes compete before more than 500,000 spectators. All of the action is accessible live on usopenofsurfing.com.

Ojai, Calif.–“Night at the Iguana” in Ojai sounds likes some exotic and enchanting escape, and it is! Named for the film adaptation of Tennessee William’s play starring Richard Burton, the “Night at the Iguana”, there’s a special place in Southern California that holds romance near & dear to its heart. Iguana Inns of Ojai is offering deluxe accommodations for a two-night stay at either the Blue or Emerald Iguana Inn, complimentary continental breakfast, welcome chocolates and wine, one-hour body massages for two in-room, and a voucher valued at $50 for dinner at one of Ojai’s most upscale restaurants, Suzanne’s Cuisine, all in the name of romance.

A private invitation to Ojai’s own Garden of Eden (Taft Botanical Gardens) at the foothills of the Ojai Valley features a spectacular collection of South African and Australian native plants. Closed to the general public, you are a special guest invited to take a private self-guided tour included in this package.

Ojai is located in Ventura County on the Central California Coast, just beyond the Los Angeles County line that’s part of Southern California region. Situated between Topa Topa Mountains and the Coastal Range, the charming village of Ojai is world renowned for its historic arcade, boutiques, restaurants, art galleries, festivals and events. Bike paths, equestrian trails, golfing, hiking, and rock climbing, birding and fishing are some of the outdoor sports tourists enjoy. Orange and avocado groves line the valley, providing a green-scape to the backdrop of mountains.

Which hotel should you pick? Blue Iguana Inn features Southwest and vintage Hacienda style architecture and décor. Lush gardens surround the pool, and meandering lawns offer easy strolls. Emerald Iguana features Craftsman/Art Nouveau-style design, creating an atmosphere that inspires the imagination.

The “Night of the Iguana” package starts at $419.00 at the Blue Iguana Inn and at $499.00 at the Emerald Iguana Inn for a two-night stay in a standard room, mid-week (based on double occupancy, subject to availability and not including applicable taxes). For reservations and more information, please call (805) 646-5277. Web sites: iguanainnsofojai.com; emeraldiguana.com; blueiguanainn.com

Los Angeles, Calif.–If you haven’t visited Los Angeles beaches lately, you’ll be in for a surprise. The lifeguard shacks are painted in vibrant hues and include 60′s style themes such as flower power. From Malibu to San Pedro you’ll discover over 50 miles of beaches splashed with hot pinks, lime, tangerine, bubblegum pink and other colors of paint that decorate the lifeguard towers during the summer of 2010. Sponsored by various companies who get their company names  included into the paint designs, there’s one thing for certain. If you are beach-goer or tourist, you simply can’t miss the seeing these psychedelic structures where lifeguards spend their days guarding the Southern California coastal waters for your safety and enjoyment. Smile! It’s a colorful world in L.A.!

Avalon, CA–Catalina Island Paradise awaits and there’s not a bad time to visit in our opinion. But to maximize your trip during the summer months, you may want to consider renting the private beach cabanas at the island’s private beach–Descanso. Located just beyond the famed Avalon Ballroom, the beach property has seen some construction this year and expansion as the Catalina Zipline rides depart near Descanso.

At this white sand beach you can get beverages, launch kayaks, sunbathe in semi-seclusion, and be waited on with water service and towels when you rent cabanas for yourself and group of friends and family. The price was slightly over $100 at last glance, but provided several hours of enjoyment. The amenity is ideal for day-trippers and island overnighters. To book the cabana service which includes oceanfront cocktail and food service in the only place in California with this type of amenity, plan to spend approx. $125-150.

There are two methods of getting to the island–one involves going on the Catalina Express from Long Beach and the other is via Catalina Flyer out of Newport Beach.

Have you tried totally fried Hostess Twinkies? They’re not complete till you drizzle them with sweet, calorie-laden berry syrup.

Tons of food is served and consumed at most California fairs and festivals. It takes a lot of imagination to get the public to break out their wallets or purses and spend $5 on an ear of corn or $6 on a greasy dessert, so the clever concessionaires at the fairs have it down to a science. What’s in will amaze you! The photo above was from the OC Fair in Costa Mesa.

Think oil! Fried, grilled and chilled are three of the top food preparations that the public seeks. Usually the weather is hot, so the cold beverages and desserts are guaranteed to sell well. But for weight conscious dieters, you’ll probably have to go off the wagon for a day when visiting a fair. There’s hardly a vegetable that isn’t fried, and even the Twinkies are cooked in oil. The giant half-pound burger with curly fries does well, as does the monster hot dog, but what about a meal of sno-cones and nachos? That combo is offered at a place called Cotton Candy.

At one place that serves “Totally Fried” foods, you can sample fried frog legs, fried Klondike bars, fried Hostess Twinkies, fried WhiteCastle, fried avocados, fried S’Mores, fried vegetables–you name it, and they’ll probably fry it.

Next head over to the Heart Attack Cafe for some Deep Fried Butter, plus the Chocolate Covered Bacon. The two entrees can be ordered in a Coronary Combo for around $10. Cinnamon Crisps smothered in sugar and butter, deep-fried Triple Bypass Cheese Crisps, and the Heart-Stopping Deep Fried Garlic Dippers are so popular that the line to order these snacks blocks the midway.

Sure, there’s the traditional chicken, tri-tip, corn dogs and ribs. Add an ear of roasted corn for another $5. That’s the healthy stuff that might get you out the door with No Regrets.

But for those who only live once, be sure to head over to the local fair and spend your money there on dishes you’ll never see or taste till the next fair hits your waist. And if you feel slightly overweight yourself, you will fit right in when the fair comes to town.

The Orange County Fair, a month long affair in Costa Mesa, California, is themed “The Beat Goes On” in 2010. It is an annual tradition for families, kids and adults. With animals to watch, fattening foods to munch (there’s even a concession that advertises its food as “heart attack”,) sodas and snow cones to sip, concerts to watch, and the smells of food everywhere as roasted corn, hickory smoke BBQ, burnt sugar from caramel corn, and those monster turkey legs all tempt fair-goers to eat and stroll, it’s simply paradise near the beaches of OC.

A fantastic line up of bands throughout the month-long event which runs from July 16-Aug 15, 2010 provides hot entertainment on cool summer nights. Location: 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA. Parking is $7, admission is $10 for age 13 – adult. ocfair.com