The Claremont tourism board has extended its popular “Discover Claremont” package through Dec. 30, 2012. Guests who visit Claremont and stay at a participating hotel can receive $100 in gift cards, which can be used to shop Claremont’s dozens of unique boutiques for special holiday findsClaremont-web-ad.jpg.

The “Discover Claremont” package includes a one-night stay and $100 in Claremont gift cards redeemable at more than 100 participating retailers, including locally owned shops, day spas and salons, and restaurants and pubs. Claremont’s locally owned boutiques feature hand-selected fashions, locally made “upcycled” furnishings and accessories, antique collections, and much more. As the first Fair Trade Town in Southern California, Claremont also has a number of retailers who carry fair trade merchandise where visitors can shop local, green and fair, including The Bath Workshop, Colors 91711, Buddhamouse Emporium and Rio de Ojas.

A limited number of “Discover Claremont” packages are available on a first-come, first-served basis through Dec. 30, 2012, to guests who book directly through participating Claremont hotels, including:

• Hotel Casa 425 (909-624-2272) – One night in a Courtyard King or Deluxe King Guestroom; VIP Guest Card to Lounge 425 offering 15% off food and drinks; European-style breakfast for two; complimentary parking, Internet and bicycles to borrow; and $100 in Claremont gift cards. For September, November and December, package cost is $205, Sunday through Thursday, and $230, Friday and Saturday; subject to availability. For October, package cost is $230, Sunday through Thursday, and $275, Friday and Saturday; subject to availability.
•  DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Claremont (909-626-2411) – One night in a King or Double-bedded Guestroom; complimentary entry to the PianoPiano dueling piano lounge; full cook-to-order breakfast for two at The Orchard restaurant; complimentary parking and Wi-Fi; famous DoubleTree cookies upon arrival; and $100 in Claremont gift cards. Package cost starts at $199; subject to availability.

A complete list of Claremont merchants participating in the gift card promotion can be found at http://discoverclaremont.com/giftcards/.

About Discover Claremont

Discover Claremont is the official destination marketing organization for the city of Claremont, California. Known for its seven nationally renowned colleges, Claremont is a hidden gem in greater Los Angeles – an ideal destination for intimate, relaxing days and nights. Visitors who “Take Time to Exhale” under Claremont’s urban canopy will discover inviting guest rooms, relaxing day spas, more than 80 restaurants and pubs, dozens of locally owned boutiques, and an abundance of outdoor activities from bicycling to skiing to golf. Claremont is also the first Fair Trade Town in Southern California, reflecting the community’s commitment to using ethically sourced products; many local retailers and eateries carry Fair Trade Certified™ merchandise and foods. Whether by car or Metrolink, Claremont is “the getaway that’s only a few miles away.” A complete listing of restaurants, hotels, boutiques, day spas, events and more can be found here at www.discoverclaremont.com.

Southern Californians looking for a “green getaway” can receive free round-trip passes on Metrolink to “Discover Claremont” on weekends through December 31.

Guests who book an overnight stay at a participating Claremont hotel are eligible to receive advance tickets, while supplies last, for free Metrolink train rides from any Southern California starting point to the historic Claremont Depot. A limited number of Metrolink tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis to guests who book directly through participating Claremont hotels.

Bicyclists looking to tackle the Glendora Ridge Route, part of the Amgen Tour of California, can load their bikes on one of Metrolink’s new bike cars and start their rides from the train depot in Claremont Village. Guests arriving on foot will find the Hotel Casa 425 and its signature Lounge 425 just three blocks away, adjacent to the Claremont Packing House dining and entertainment center. The DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton Claremont, just a short mile north of the Depot on Historic Route 66, and the Hotel Claremont & Tennis Club to the south both will provide complimentary shuttle service to their guests who travel on Metrolink.

Claremont invites guests to “Take Time to Exhale” and sample one of Claremont’s more than 80 local restaurants and pubs, window shop its dozens of burgeoning boutiques, or enjoy relaxing treatments at day spas throughout the Claremont Village. Nighttime entertainment includes dueling pianos at Piano Piano (at the DoubleTree), live jazz at Hip Kitty Jazz & Fondue, dinner theater at the Candlelight Pavilion, comedy at Flappers Comedy Club, local bands at various pubs, and popular and arthouse movies at Laemmle’s Claremont 5.

Hotels offering the “Discover Claremont” package include:

• Hotel Casa 425 (909-624-2272)
• DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Claremont (909-626-2411)
• Hotel Claremont & Tennis Club (909-621-4831)

Guests must phone a participating hotel directly to request their weekend Metrolink tickets. (This package may not be available online).

A complete listing of restaurants, hotels, boutiques, day spas, events and more can be found at www.discoverclaremont.com.

About Discover Claremont

Discover Claremont is the official destination marketing organization for the city of Claremont, California. Known for its seven nationally renowned colleges, Claremont is a hidden gem in greater Los Angeles – an ideal destination for intimate, relaxing days and nights. Visitors who “Take Time to Exhale” in Claremont will discover inviting guest rooms, relaxing day spas, more than 80 restaurants and pubs, dozens of locally owned boutiques, and an abundance of outdoor activities from bicycling to skiing to golf. Claremont is also the first Fair Trade Town in Southern California, reflecting the community’s commitment to using ethically sourced products; many local retailers and eateries carry Fair Trade Certified™ merchandise and foods. Whether by car or Metrolink, Claremont is “the getaway that’s only a few miles away.”