COOL VENUES: THE VARDEN (A BOUTIQUE HOTEL)

So I went down to Long Beach for the Crawfish Festival...that was an enjoyable experience I must say. Looking over the list of sponsors for the event I saw a 'boutique hotel' was one of the featured sponsor. Now a few weeks ago I showed you another hotel in Long Beach that was on the sexy side and I know Long Beach is constantly building new stuff so I decided to look into it. Came across these pics and liked the little modern set up. It reminds me a little of SHADE in Manhattan Beach (I'll share that with you another time)...basically a nice place to get away without really leaving the Los Angeles area. The Lobster Festival is coming up in a bit, so maybe I'll get a room, eat drink and not have to drive back until the next day. Could be a plan...who wants to roll? Peep The Varden right here.

COOL GETAWAYS - THE MAYA (LONG BEACH)

So sometimes you want to leave the city but a flight is not on the agenda, you just want to hop on the freeway go outside of the immediate area and feel like you went somewhere nice. Well the city of Long Beach just provided us with something that fits the bill. Introducing the Maya, a waterfront hotel with affordable luxury rooms and suites (with patios and balconies) facing the LB bay or the LB skyline, a nice restaurant called Fuego, event spaces, pet friendly and get this: a canal with floating private cabanas (plus drinks). The rooms start under $150 for now, which includes Mexicali chocolate, breakfast, sangria tasting, three-course dinner and a water taxi into town...if you trynna book a room go here.

COOL GETAWAYS - CARBON BEACH CLUB DINING ROOM

The pics are on the small side, but if you go to the site you can see more...anyways I was alerted about the open of the Carbon Beach Club Dining Room inside of the Malibu Beach Inn and read about the Hawaiian Prawns with Champagne Dressing and was immediately intrigued. They also serve a Black Margarita and steaks, salmon and other fine cuisines. On top of all that the spot sits on the ocean. So if you want to wow or stunner or simply have a nice getaway with a boo...this isn't a bad place to start kids. I mean plan in advance and book a room, or simply start here with dinner and drinks. And if you're too tired to make it back home...check in and have a romantic nightcap and wake up and look at the ocean. C'mon folks...u gotta treat yaself and others to the better things in life...it's only right.