Most Romantic Weekend: OC, California

Laguna Beach, in Orange County, California, is a romantic and lovely spot. Pricey, too.

Laguna boasts a combination of luxury hotels and resorts, art museums and trendy shops, a thriving art community, and beautiful beaches and tide pools. The pictures at right and below were taken there by unprofessional moi, and are not touched up or cropped in any way. It's just a gorgeous place.

To top it off, Laguna has a classic movie pedigree. Scenes from the film Now Voyager were shot there, in a unique restaurant that is still open to the public.

Bette Davis was nominated for an Oscar for portraying Charlotte Vale, a frowsy woman bullied by a domineering mother. The movie is both ahead of its time, with a strong woman growing independent, and charmingly dated in parts.

Claude Reins plays the psychiatrist who rescues Charlotte. As Now Voyager progresses, a newly-confident heroine goes on a cruise, and meets her great love, Jerry--played by Paul Henreid.

Of course there are bumps on the road--unimpeded love is dull. Jerry is married, a biggie in 1942. He and Charlotte share deep friendship by the end of the movie--he wants more, but Davis/Charlotte responds with the much-quoted line: "Oh, Jerry, don't let's ask for the moon. We have the stars."

What does all this have to do Laguna Beach? Bette Davis lived in Laguna when the movie was shot. Who said what to the director is not documented, but some of the love scenes, as Davis and Henreid smoke on a curved patio in (supposedly) South America, were filmed in a restaurant just down the street from her home.

At the time, the place was called the Victor Hugo Inn. Now it's Las Brisas, but the stunning views and curved patios have not changed. You and your Valentine can sit on that patio and munch on antojitos (appetizers) or a meal, or just enjoy margaritas, at very reasonable prices.

Harry Medved revealed the movie connection in his book, Hollywood Escapes. Las Brisas has been remodeled over the years, but you will definitely recognize it from the movie. Click on the website for directions, menus, and pictures.

Of course there are other places to visit in Laguna Beach. You can spend your days on fishing boats, whale watching tours (depending on the time of year), and rent kayaks or jetskis. You can golf, sunbathe, surf, visit the Pacific Marine Mammal Rescue Center or the Wilderness Parks.

Shop till you drop, visit the galleries or the Laguna Art Museum (right next to Las Brisas), attend plays. . . . you might plan your visit to coincide with the many art and music festivals--the most famous being the Pageant of the Masters, celebrated each summer for 75 years (tickets for the 08 event go on sale January 15)

Where to stay? One of the most luxurious places is the Montage Resort and Spa, with paths from the cottages that lead down to beach and tide pools. Montage has three restaurants and a lounge with entertainment, spas, pools, salons, saunas, children's programs, etc. Unfortunately, their rooms start at $800 a night and go up to $6,500. A night. Yikes.

There are cheaper places--even campgrounds. The Laguna Beach Visitors and Conference Bureau can give you tons of information on more reasonable hotels. They can also suggest other restaurants and martini bars. Some are celebrity haunts, most have great views of the ocean, but none beats Las Brisas.