THE FULL FAIRYTALE: Of all the holidays on the calendar, a little to-do on Feb. 14 bears more magical myth than most (or honest: The rest of the days put-together). Valentine's and lovey-dovey-ness go together like roses and chocolate. Meaning love, as an idea and theme, has flowered, time and again, in our most famous and oft-told fairytales. So while we might not go for a more over-the-top dress or a fancy suit on most days, we do make an exception come the middle of the second month of the year. Plenty of places are on hand to help with the fairytale-ing up of our coupledom, but the Langham Huntington, Pasadena may just out-fairytale every other fairytale-maker in 2015.
CONSIDER THE HISTORIC HOTEL'S... Fairytale Love Story Package, which isn't just about a very nice, well-appointed overnight accommodation. There is, in fact, a horse-drawn carriage ride through the pretty, leafy neighborhood surrounding the stately landmark of South Oak Knoll, and there is a diamond Riviera necklace from Single Stone Jewelry. Adding to the storybook air is a bottle of bubbly (yep, this is a grown-up fairytale), dinner at The Royce | Wood-Fired Steakhouse (think tasting menu and vino), and a California Cottage Suite stay. A few more nice touches await -- that's the way it is with fairytales, right? Surprises are in store -- and the starting price is posh: $18,400. If you can't make it on Valentine's night, the package is available throughout February.
IF THAT IS NOT IN YOUR STORYBOOK... this year, the hotel is offering some heart-filled Valentine's Day dining choices, from jazz and drinks in The Tap Room to four-course tasting menu on The Terrace for $65 per person. And The Royce shall be doing it up, too. And if there is storied day for doing it up, it is a certain roses-and-kisses holiday where carriage rides and Champagne are, if not par for the course, then part of the occasional fairytale.
