La Venta Inn 796 Via Del Monte • Palos Verdes Estates • California 90274

An international destination from its earliest days, La Venta Inn has enjoyed a full, rich history on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Developed originally by a group of international businessmen as an "ideal residential community," the impeccably restored Inn is now nationally recognized as a California Point of Historical Interest. Set on a prime spot on a hill with sweeping ocean views, the spectacular 1920s Spanish-style villa is set off by a distinctive tower, red-tiled roofs and, in front, a courtyard with a bubbling fountain enclosed by a bougainvillea-covered arbor.

Inside, the rooms are spacious and airy, with wood floors and cream-colored walls that evoke vintage elegance and provide a neutral backdrop for decorations. The large main ballroom has a lofty open-beamed ceiling, antique wrought-iron chandeliers, and a handsome fireplace with a carved stone mantelpiece. French doors open onto a Palos Verdes stone patio that spans the length of the house, commanding stunning views of the entire L.A. Basin and Santa Monica Bay below. Two steps lead down onto a broad semicircle of lawn surrounded by flowering shrubs and palm trees, and there's a natural stone ceremony area at the lawn's edge with the sweep of the coastline as a dramatic backdrop—a view that makes you want to stay here long after your celebration.