We shot our opening scene at the rooftop pool of the
London West Hollywood 
on the legendary
Sunset Strip. The London West Hollywood was named the No. 1 hotel in California on Travel + Leisure's "World's Best" list for 2010.
FACT: The highest concentration of celebrities living in Los Angeles is in the Hollywood Hills above the Sunset Strip. You can see
the hills in the background of the opening shot.
Did you know? The Sunset Strip is known for its trademark array of huge, colorful billboards, and its hip boutiques, bars, restaurants and live music venues
like
The Whiskey A-Go-Go .
Kim Kardashian - Hollywood celebutante, socialite, producer, actress, model and star of her own E! reality series - was an absolute professional on set. She was on time, and delivered her lines flawlessly.
Kim tweeted throughout the day, hinting that she would be in a commercial with Betty White and the Jonas Brothers. Within an hour, entertainment news sites picked up the story and started to wonder what the commercial was for.
FACT: The Hollywood sign is the most famous sign in the world. It was originally built in 1923 and read "Hollywoodland." In 1949, the "land" was removed.
Did you know? You can take a five-mile hike through
Griffith Park up to a lookout point just behind the sign. You can also get there on horseback or helicopter.
The kayak scene was shot on Monterey Bay, with the historic
Cannery Row in the background. Located on California's Central Coast, Monterey Bay is an incredible place
for close encounters with sea otters, harbor seals, sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins and gray and humpback whales. It's also home to the famous
Monterey Bay Aquarium .
FACT: Cannery Row was the setting of
John Steinbeck's novels Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday.
Did you know? Monterey Bay is just a short drive from the legendary Pebble Beach Golf Course, 17-Mile Drive, the charming seaside artist colony
of Carmel-By-The-Sea, and the wineries of Carmel Valley and Salinas.
Find more on Monterey and California's Central Coast .
Shannon Bahrke showed up on location in
Squaw Valley with her trademark shocking pink locks, and her two Olympic medals for
mogul skiing. She even joked that the medals are a little worse for the wear from all the traveling she's done since winning them.
Shannon has been skiing since the age of three. When she was 13, she was recruited to ski moguls for the Squaw Valley Ski Team.
FACT: Squaw Valley is one of the largest ski areas in the U.S.
Check out Shannon's 5 favorite things to do in Tahoe when she's not on the slopes. We shot Shannon Bahrke high in the Sierras at Squaw Valley USA above High Camp. When you think California, you may not immediately think snow,
but you should!
Lake Tahoe offers the largest concentration of ski resorts in North America. And
that's not including
Mammoth Mountain .
Did you know? California's mountains aren't just winter destinations. The Sierras are absolutely beautiful in the summer and offer
incredible outdoor adventure , as well as romantic bed and breakfasts and luxury hotels.
FACT: Mammoth Mountain averages 385 inches of snow a year, 300 sunny days and is open for skiing until July 4th.
Did you know? In California, it's not unheard of to actually surf and ski in the same day.
Here is a sample itinerary. The iconic red roof in this scene belongs to the historic
Hotel Del Coronado , located on Coronado Island, just a bridge away from downtown
San Diego . If you're seeking beach culture with just a touch of Hollywood Glam in a quaint, modern
day Mayberry setting,
Coronado Island is the perfect spot. And it's proximity to vibrant downtown
San Diego makes it an escape that offers the best of both worlds.
Take a short drive across the Coronado bridge or hop on the ferry to venture into downtown's hip Gaslamp District, to see a game at PetCo Park or visit the famous
San Diego Zoo .
FACT: California's coast is home to hundreds of amazing surf spots, but Coronado's gentle, forgiving waves are a great place for beginning surfers. Other breaks for
beginners include
La Jolla Shores and Old Man's Beach at
San Onofre State Beach .
Did you know? Whether you want a private lesson, or a group experience there is no shortage of professional surfers willing to teach you how to catch a wave. Numerous
surf schools are located up and down the coast.
Learn more about surf schools in California .
Arriving on set at
Disneyland with girlfriends and wives in tow, the Jonas Brothers did a little beat boxing with
Minnie Mouse and texted and tweeted to pass the time. After the shoot, the brothers stayed to watch the
World of Color show next door at
Disney's California Adventure Park .
FACT: The Jonas Brothers were the youngest band to ever grace the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine.
Did you know? While touring, the Jonas Brothers have a traveling softball league called Road Dogs. Fans pack the stands to watch them play. New game days
and locations can be found on their
Twitter page .
We found this unique, panoramic view of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge at Baker Beach. Part of the decommissioned military base known as the Presidio, Baker Beach is
known for its challenging sand ladder stairs, frequent dolphin sightings and the clothing-optional section at the north end of the beach.
FACT: Baker Beach was the original site of the Burning Man art festival.
Did you know? San Francisco is considered one of the greatest cities in the world for five-star dining, theatre, shopping and gay and lesbian culture.
Learn more about
San Francisco and Northern California .
Did you know? You can learn everything you want to know about the
Golden Gate Bridge
(like why it isn't painted gold) while walking or biking across it on year-round tours out of
Fisherman's Wharf .
This may look like the Italian countryside, but it's actually
Viader Vineyards located 1,200 feet above the Napa Valley floor northeast
of St. Helena.
Napa Valley features more than 300 wineries and grows 3.2 million tons of winegrapes a year.
Did you know? California offers fantastic wine throughout all parts of the state, including Lodi, located in the lush
Central Valley and
Temecula in the southern
Inland Empire . Many California
wineries offer the opportunity to take part in a good
old fashioned wine stomp during the fall harvest. So roll your pants up and jump in!
FACT: Besides wine, St. Helena is famous for its therapeutic
hot springs and spas .
For a therapeutic road trip,
check out this itinerary which takes you to another great part of California
that is home to some of Golden State's favorite natural hot springs.
Celebrity chef, restaurateur, winemaker and Emmy-winning Food Network host Michael Chiarello was a total charmer on set, and even gave us a little Italian lesson.
Did you know? You can taste Michael's incredible food at his restaurant
Bottega in Yountville. Michael
also makes his own wines at the
Chiarello Family Vineyards , which surround his St. Helena home.
FACT: Yountville, a tiny town in Napa, boasts the highest concentration of Michelin Stars per capita on the planet. Three stars went to
Thomas Keller's famed
French Laundry .
Want to know more about wine and food in California? Welcome to
Venice Beach , the heart of Southern California's off-beat beach culture. We shot our
skater on Ocean Front Walk, a bustling circus of street performers, fortune-tellers, acrobats, jugglers, comedians and musicians. In the distance is the
giant solar-powered Ferris wheel on
Santa Monica Pier .
FACT: Venice was originally a resort town designed to resemble Venice, Italy, including a labyrinth of residential canals. Jim Morrison used to
live in a house on one of the canals.
Did you know? You can walk along the original Venice canals, which have been restored and are now part of Los Angeles' historic sites.
Detect a non-Californian accent? That's because Gustavo Dudamel is originally from Venezuela, but the celebrated conductor came to California
to become the music director of the
Los Angeles Philharmonic . His infectious energy and exceptional
artistry make him one of the most sought-after conductors in the world.
FACT: Gustavo made his U.S. conducting debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the
Hollywood Bowl , one of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world.
Did you know? The Hollywood Bowl is known for its unique performances (often including fireworks) and big name headliners. You can even see the
Los Angeles Philharmonic playing alongside some of today's hottest acts during the their
Summer Concert Series .
Wonder what Dudamel's five favorite spots in LA are?
Find out here. That's not a spaceship behind Gustavo Dudamel, it's the
Walt Disney Concert Hall , designed by Frank Gehry
and engineered to be one of the most acoustically sophisticated concert halls in the world.
Did you know? If you want to learn the genius behind the design and acoustics of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, both
self-guided audio tours and guided tours are available daily between 10am and 2pm.
FACT: California has more
music festivals than any other state.
Wow! The breathtaking views in this scene were captured from Bixby Bridge on
Highway One in Big Sur. Located
in Monterey County on California's
Central Coast , this 90-mile section of Highway One is considered one of the most scenic
driving routes in the U.S., if not the world.
FACT: The relative isolation and natural beauty of
Big Sur attracted artists and writers
like Robinson Jeffers, Henry Miller, Hunter S. Thompson and Jack Kerouac. And it stays true to its bohemian vibe with quaint eateries, unexpected art galleries,
charming cabins, and centers for new age study.
Did you know? Another jaw dropping drive in California is
The Volcanic Legacy Scenic byway . This 500 mile road
takes you past McCloud Waterfalls, through McArthur Burney Falls State Park (which Theodore Roosevelt called "the eighth wonder of the world") and offers
up stunning views of Mt. Shasta.
Equal parts urban and rugged, check out this
6-day itinerary to explore the Central Coast.
With camera moves, whale moves and a line delivery, this scene was all about timing. Thanks to the professionalism of SeaWorld San Diego trainer Missy, and Shamu and friends, we managed to pull it off on the first take!
SeaWorld offers some amazing behind-the-scenes animal encounters - bond with penguins, or slip on your wetsuit to get a kiss from a snowy white Beluga whale or swim with bottlenose dolphin.
Click to learn more
FACT: San Diego's
Balboa Park is the largest urban cultural park in North America.
Did you know? California's Central Coast, from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo, has some really unique animal experiences too. Whale watching, ostrich farms, miniature horses and adorable otters are just the beginning.
Click for an unforgettable 6-day trip itinerary Want to take a dip in this hot tub? Then you'll have to book a room at the 5-Star
Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur. This
sanctuary on the bluffs above the Pacific is one of the most exclusive luxury hotels in California. Priding itself on extreme privacy, it's a popular
spot for celebs and others looking for an ultimate retreat.
FACT: California has always been on the cutting edge of the health and wellness movement. In fact, The
Golden Door Spa in San Diego was the first
health and fitness spa of its kind in the U.S.
Did you know? Post Ranch Inn has one of the largest hotel telescopes in the U.S., and Big Sur has some of the clearest atmospheric conditions for
viewing the stars, nebulas, and even the rings of Saturn.
Click here for more spa vacation ideas. When Rob Lowe showed up to set with his two sons, Matthew and John Owen, we were thrilled to see another side of the actor. A dedicated family man, Rob spends weekends near his home in Santa Barbara (where we shot his scene), embarking on outdoor adventures with his boys.
FACT: The amazing beauty of Montecito, a community of Santa Barbara, has long attracted some pretty famous residents including Troy Aikman, Drew Barrymore, Julia Child and yes, Oprah (who happens to be Rob Lowe's neighbor)! The historic
Montecito Inn was actually built by Charlie Chaplin.
Did you know? Lotusland , near Santa Barbara, was once the home of opera singer Madame Ganna Walska, who spent over 40 years cultivating 18 amazing gardens including the Blue Garden, Butterfly Garden, Fern Garden and the Water Garden. Private 2-hour walking tours are available by appointment.
Rincon beach, where we filmed Rob and his sons, is located in the charming town of Carpinteria, just 10 miles south east of Santa Barbara. This small, laid-back coastal community of pastel cottages and chic boutiques boasts one of the most famous surf breaks in the world.
FACT: Would you like avocado on that? Every October, the
Avocado Festival (one of the largest festivals in the state) takes over Carpinteria for three days of amazing food, music and fun.
Did you know? While the convertible is arguably the ultimate way to take on the California Coast, the train is also a fantastic way to take it all in.
Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner provides amazing views, and can be ridden all the way from San Diego to San Luis Obispo, with stops in all the must-explore cities and towns along the way.
How did we feel when we heard that our favorite Golden Girl had agreed to be in our commercial? In a word, STOKED! Betty White was as sweet as pie
and had everyone cracking up on set. We found out that Betty is a huge animal lover and activist, putting
the
Los Angeles Zoo at the top of her list of favorite places in California.
Did you know? Betty was deemed "First Lady of Game Shows" for all her appearances and work on shows
like
Password,
Pyramid and
What's My Line? You can score free tickets to all kinds of
Hollywood shows from
The Price is Right to
The Ellen Degeneres Show to
The Tonight Show.
See hilarious outtakes from the spot. We shot Betty White's scene with the help of our friends at
Universal Studios Hollywood , one of the
oldest and most famous Hollywood movie studios still in use. Studio tours visit parts of the working studio, classic sets such as
Jaws and
Psycho
and made-for-tour acts such as stunt cars from the film
Fast and Furious.
Did you know? The studios don't operate on weekends, so you'll see more hustle and bustle on weekday tours, but you may get to drive through
working sets like
Desperate Housewives' Wisteria Lane on the weekend.
Interested in hitting some other locations where your favorite movies have been made? Check out these Road Trips:
Southern California ,
Northern California
