Air Force One Pavilion, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum
To get into the spirit, you’ll need some inspiration, so begin with a visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. For a vivid look into presidential history, check out the exact replica of Reagan’s Oval Office, complete with a jar of Jelly Belly candies on the desk — the licorice-flavored beans were the 40th president’s signature snack. In the Air Force One Pavilion, climb aboard the actual plane that flew Reagan and six other presidents around the globe. If you can, attend one of the library’s special events: February’s calendar includes Reagan’s 99th birthday celebration and a Valentine’s Day party featuring dinner and dancing under the wings of Air Force One. All exhibits remain open during the center’s remodeling in preparation for Reagan’s 100th birthday in 2011.
It’s tough to feel presidential without a smartly tailored outfit, so take some style notes from the first couple and head to The Grove shopping center, where Nordstrom carries duds by President Obama’s preferred suit designer, Hart Schaffner Marx. Those who long to channel the First Lady’s impeccable fashion sense should stroll the shops along Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. The district’s Savannah boutique stocks White House-worthy labels such as Jason Wu and Narciso Rodriguez.Take advantage of the free admission several LA museums are offering in honor of Presidents Day on Feb. 15, including the Autry National Center, which is free for children, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which is free for everyone as a Target Free Holiday Monday. Also, be on the lookout for weekend hotel specials and holiday retail sales.
With exquisite food, service and ambiance, you’ll find no shortage of LA restaurants catering to the rich and famous, but only a select few can claim to have served presidents and first ladies throughout the decades. Indulge in the same glamorous scene as John F. Kennedy, Eleanor Roosevelt and Bill Clinton at FIG Restaurant at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica — all three were often spotted at the hotel. Or, make a reservation at the historic La Dolce Vita restaurant and be sure to request President Reagan’s favorite table.Few of us will ever be invited to the White House for an overnight stay in the Lincoln Bedroom, but that doesn’t mean we can’t sleep under the same roofs as U.S. presidents — or even in the same beds. LA hotels have some of the most impressive presidential suites in the nation, with lavish furnishings, killer views, enough square footage to require a map and perks that would make anyone feel like royalty. Get lost in the presidential suite at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza, which sprawls over 2,855 square feet and includes breathtaking views of the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Need to hire a chef to staff your private gourmet kitchen? The suite at the Four Seasons Los Angeles can accommodate you. And at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, you can try to conjure up the spirits of every president since Lyndon Johnson — all have slept in the presidential suite here. In fact, Ronald Reagan celebrated both of his election-day victory parties at the Century Plaza and spent so much time at the hotel that it was dubbed “The Western White House” during his presidency.
