PICTURE YOURSELF IN COSTA MESA AND YOU MAY WIN A SOUTH COAST PLAZA GIFT CERTIFICATE

Calling all photographers! The winning photos in a creative new contest offered by The Costa Mesa Conference & Visitor Bureau will be worth more than just a thousand words as the old saying goes. In this case, first, second and third-place winners will receive South Coast Plaza gift certificates valued at $500, $300, and $150, respectively.

The bureau encourages photographers to capture the essence of Costa Mesa, The OC’s premier shopping, dining and cultural destination, digitally or as a print from film. Each photo submitted may be used in various bureau publications and on its website, to promote Costa Mesa as a fun and exciting destination for out-of-town visitors.

Photos submitted during 2010 will be judged at the end of the year based on content and quality, and the winners announced in early 2011. An entry form must be submitted with each photo.

For contest rules and to enter, visit https://www.TravelCostaMesa.com/photo_contest.aspx.

“We hope that local residents and visitors alike will help us picture Costa Mesa, the Best of Southern California,” said Shaun Robinson, president of the bureau and general manager of the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa.

One of the West Coast’s premier shopping and entertainment destinations, Costa Mesa is home to internationally renowned South Coast Plaza, Metro Pointe at South Coast, and The LAB and The CAMP specialty retail centers. Costa Mesa has a worldwide reputation for acclaimed visual and performing arts in the picturesque Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The area features a remarkable collection of outdoor artworks, including the massive Connector by sculptor Richard Serra.

Costa Mesa hotels include Ayres Hotel & Suites, Best Western Newport Mesa Inn, Costa Mesa Marriott, Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, Ramada Costa Mesa/Newport Beach, The Hotel Hanford, Costa Mesa Residence Inn by Marriott, The Westin South Coast Plaza, and the Wyndham Hotel/Orange County.

For more information, visit Costa Mesa online at www.TravelCostaMesa.com.