What has 40 million people and would be the 5th largest economy in the World? That’s right it’s California and our next focus for Top Picks. The most populous state and third largest in the United States has long been considered a trendsetter in so many areas including pop culture, innovation, environmentalism and entertainment. This diverse region offers visitors any type of landscape and climate from rainforest in the north to desert in the middle and warm Mediterranean in south. With so many great places to travel we help you narrow your search for your next place to meet with our Top Picks from The Golden State.
Located in the heart of Northern California just 15 minutes outside of Sacramento you will find the charming campus of University of California, Davis. This college town offers the versatile spaces certain to match your specific needs from elegant to rustic, historic to contemporary, formal to casual and everything in between. Able to host up to 6,500 attendees and sleep 3,900, UC Davis has the on-site amenities needed for groups of any size and its central location between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe allows guests the freedom to decide between activities such as touring a metropolitan city or hiking the Sierras. As the 2019 winner of Best Venue for Locally Sourced Catering, the certified one-stop-shop Conference and Event Services team can handle all of your culinary needs and ensure every detail related to technology, registration, rentals and lodging is cared for. When business calls you north, look no further than UC Davis for your conference needs, everything is already there.
A trip to the Golden State isn’t complete without a stop in Los Angeles. Lucky for planners, University of California, Los Angeles offers a beautiful campus setting that separates itself from other venues in the area. UCLA Conferences & Catering can accommodate a variety of group types including corporate clients, educational groups, sports and tourism groups during the summer months. With modern and spacious indoor event spaces like the Carnesale and Covel Commons each equipped to handle the latest technology, or stunning outdoor spaces such as the terrace, there is sure to be the perfect venue for your next event. Guests will be dazzled by UCLA’s nationally acclaimed dining program which serves all you care to eat buffet style meals in elegant dining rooms or provides the option of on-site full-service catering. The staff is expertly trained to make sure every logistical and technical aspect of your unique event runs smoothly, so let them show you why UCLA is the premier spot for your next social event and why you will love LA!
As we continue south we cruise into “America’s Finest City” and find San Diego State University. This campus is situated ideally just minutes away from beautiful beaches along a 70-mile Pacific Ocean coastline with scenic mountains to the east, the Gaslamp Entertainment District downtown and the charm of Mexico to the south. SDSU offers an array of professional services and facilities boasting over 200 meeting rooms and several multi-purpose events spaces with its largest group accommodation being 12,000 in the multi-use Viejas Arena. These versatile facilities along with award winning on-site catering and comfortable overnight rooms contain all the essentials to exceed your expectations for corporate events, conferences and social events in the area. Let the Conference Services team help you create the perfect event atop Montezuma Mesa and take advantage of idyllic San Diego.
Looking for something your guests will never forget? Just 15 minutes from San Diego International Airport you will find stunning La Jolla and the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Located high on a bluff with dramatic ocean views, Birch Aquarium is a truly unique and engaging venue. Voted the 2019 winner of Best Venue for Weddings and 2020 winner for Best Outdoor Event Space by Unique Venues Magazine, Birch Aquarium features more than 60 diverse marine habitats and features a two-story Giant Kelp Tank where guests feel surrounded by the ocean world. Able to host up to 1,500 attendees, the experienced special events team has helped planners create memorable experiences for a wide variety of events from conventions and academic retreats to weddings and other family occasions that have left guests with memories for a lifetime. In addition to hosting events, Birch also offers one-of-a-kind virtual experiences that educate and engage while creating connections between people and animals. Every unique experience directly supports their mission to protect our ocean planet so consider Birch Aquarium for your next event and feel good while making memories.
These aren’t the only Unique Venues the Golden State has to offer. Check out more of our great offerings in California.
| University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA  | San Jose State University San Jose, CA  |
| San Diego State University San Diego, CA  | University of California, Davis Davis, CA  |
| California State University, NorthridgeNorthridge, CA
| UCLA Lake Arrowhead Lodge, Conference Center and Family Resort Lake Arrowhead, CA  |
University of California, Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA | Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography La Jolla, CA  |
| The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Simi Valley, CA  | Bubbling Wells Ranch Desert Hot Springs, CA  |
