Everywhere that’s worth visiting and everything that’s worth doing on the outer edges of LA County.
Borders are slippy things in LA . Neighborhood lines are simultaneously exceedingly important and impossible to specify ; they slide this mode and that over time , shift with waves of gentrification and transplant , a strike target for ambitious real land mass and also a hardline issue for loyal locals . An area ’s particular line of demarcation may seem like a weird J. J. Hill to die on , but that Benny Hill is nevertheless strew with corpses .
So it ’s foxy to fix any part of the greater LA domain as a suburb ; any blot you choose on the mostly unbroken mineral pitch will for certain piss someone off . And yet , some parts of town are understandably suburban , more residential , quieter , still culturally LA but with their own characteristic quirks and delectation . There is a lot to have intercourse about LA ’s suburban area , wherever you believe they get down and end . Here is a totally biased guide to a few of the best suburbs in LA , broken down by neighborhood instead of hard-and-fast neighbourhood , and some of our favorite things to do in the suburbs , too . You ’re go to detest it !
Inner Suburbs
West San Gabriel ValleyDrive time:30 minutesThe west end of the San Gabriel Valley is a suburban stint , but it still retains plenty of urban LA feel — it ’s dense in both residential areas and commercial plane section , with a huge population spread across a wide belt of mostly matte turf . There are tons of eatery and things to do , and it ’s moderately easily accessible , but you also get a set of the benefits of the suburbs . The region is probably best known for its large Asiatic population and its important part of relatively late Chinese immigrants , which mean it has perhaps the highest assiduity offantastic and specific regional Chinese restaurantsin the state . The main reason to claver is to eat — dumpling , red-hot plenty , boba , noodle , banh mi , and so much more — but do n’t pretermit the area ’s ballpark , tennis courts , basketball game courts , and golf game courses , which are more copious than in other parts of LA and in beneficial anatomy , too .
Arroyo SecoDrive time:15 minutesThe narrow concrete distribution channel of the Arroyo Seco clash with the LA River just northward of Chinatown , firm in LA proper , but as you trace it back north and east , you run into some of the most witching and comfortably - known LA suburbs . South Pasadena , Pasadena , and Altadena make a compelling stack , from the quaint almost Midwestern feel of South Pasadena ’s Mission Street throughsurprisingly adorable Pasadenaand up into the foetid and fun foothills of Altadena . The area sport a boatload of cultural institutions , including theNorton Simon Museum , thePasadena Playhouse , theBunny Museum , and theHuntington Library . There are also architecturally significant homes , filming location galore , wild hiking track , and the historic Rose Bowl forcollege football , concert , and a cause of death flea grocery store .
South BayDrive time:40 minutesIf you ’re looking to hit it up up classic California beach cultivation with less pretense and a chiller energy than you find at the more famous beach around here , the South Bay makes a great Clarence Shepard Day Jr. trip . Manhattan Beach and El Segundo on the northerly end are fancy and cute , with a pocket-size - town feel on their several independent drag . Hermosa , Redondo , and Torrance are more occasional and approachable , with some rowdier spots and a playfulness , laid - back vibe . In summation to all of the usual beach material , there’sgreat eatingthroughout the South Bay , both right along the coast and further inland in Torrance , which has an unbelievable Nipponese restaurant view in particular because of racist pre - worldwide War II housing laws and also thanks to a Toyota campus , which opened there in the early 1980s . There ’s a in particular excellentfarmers market , and the South Bay is home to several of thebest brewery in the realm , includingMonkish , Smog City , El Segundo , and more .
Flickr/Unofficial South Pasadena
The FoothillsDrive time:15 minutesTake the best motorway in the dandy LA area , the 2 , all the way until it terminate , and it dumps you right into the foothills of the gorgeous San Gabriel Mountains . The sleepyheaded community form a straight line from La Cañada - Flintridge through La Crescenta and into Tujunga in a narrow-minded channel between the San Gabriels and the Verdugo Mountains , which separate the foothill from Burbank and The Valley . The nicest commercial corridor in the expanse is Honolulu Ave . in Montrose , an adorable street lined with small businesses and comely eating place . If you ’re headed up that means , though , it ’s probably for the nature — whether a fenced - in version at the famousDescanso Gardensor for wild green space at Deukmejian Wilderness Park , Hahamonga Watershed Park , Whiting Woods , or driving up Angeles Crest to hike and explore .
The Deep West ValleyDrive time:45 minutesIs it potential to have a suburbia within city limitation ? The quiet community at the southwestern destruction of the San Fernando Valley make a pillow slip for it . Encino , Tarzana , and Woodland Hills are all part of LA but are each primarily residential and out of the way enough to feel removed from the urban center . The areas south of the 101 , in particular , are middling fancy , with large single - family homes backed up against the Santa Monica Mountains . That gives them large admission to the outdoor activities in the mountains and the beaches in Malibu . Being so far west also intend the crusade over the hill to Oxnard and onto Santa Barbara is a whole lot easier — this is already past the worst of the dealings on the 101 . If you press out to admit nearby Calabasas , no longer LA but aright next threshold , you run into gated communities , opulence malls , and the celebrities who have intercourse them .
Southeast CitiesDrive time:40 minutesThe city ’s prescribed borders do n’t extend very far east , but places like Montebello , Commerce , and Bell Gardens are urban enough that they should in all likelihood be considered true LA . But Whittier and the surrounding cities are a little different . Uptown Whittier is a pleasant stretch of eatery and shops that ’s great for an afternoon stroll , anchored by small private Whittier College . It ’s prosperous to get out to nature in topographic point like Turnbull Canyon , Powder Canyon , and Hacienda Hills . Freeway access is a trivial tricksy so the drive can take longer than it find like it should when you look at a mathematical function , but it ’s hard to care too much when you ’ve perplex beautiful canon , good restaurants , and sport property like theLa Habra Children ’s Museumright nearby .
Courtesy of City of El Segundo
Outer Suburbs
Foothills EastDrive time:45 minutesIf you desire to flee the obtuse asphalt sprawl and spend a little calibre time on some charming small - town streets , the eastern foothills would make a great day tripper . Sierra Madre and Monrovia both have quaint master street lined with little businesses , with the San Gabriel Mountains leaning right over them . Sierra Madre is a little foul-smelling and more freakish , withcraft beer , great coffee , stellar sushi , and hippy landmarkMary ’s Markethidden right around the box from the trail head of the Mt. Wilson hike . All of these communities , as you might think , also have great hiking and mountain biking , peculiarly if you head out a little further to San Gabriel Canyon Road in Azusa or for the illustrious bike ride up Glendora Mountain Road .
Thousand OaksDrive time:1 hourOnce you get into the Conejo Valley you ’re officially too far to retrieve about regularly call LA proper , but the manner - out community of Thousand Oaks , Agoura Hills , Newbury Park , Westlake Village , and the relief have some nice thing to offer in their own right hand . There ’s a great beer scene , withTarantula Hill , Ladyface , andFigueroa Mountain , among others . Beach access is surprisingly easy , either south to Malibu or west to Oxnard . The famousParamount Ranchfilming location is nearby . And there ’s a reason the place is shout Thousand oak — adorable California oak trees are dust throughout the part . Long ago the Chumash people were the first to settle in the arena , and theChumash Indian Museumand Interpretive Center make a fabulous sojourn to learn more about autochthonic acculturation and to take a docent - led nature wage increase through the ring oak woodland .
Santa ClaritaDrive time:45 minutesThe suburban residential area on the other side of the Newhall Pass are probably well have it away for a single landmark — Six Flags . The report park stand up just off the 5 throughway , and when you hand it heading south it feels like a signpost letting you know you ’re almost home . Santa Clarita also hasCalArts , a wild art college recognise for produce talented animators at Disney and for a trulyfar - outgraduation ceremonial occasion . Angeles National Forest to the north and eastward provide some beautiful aspect and outstanding trails , and legendaryVasquez Rocksis not far away .
Flickr/La Citta Vita
ClaremontDrive time:1 hourIf you ’re looking for the college town experience , quaint Claremont is just a scant 30 miles from downtown out the 10 or 210 throughway . TheClaremont Collegesare seven separate school in the area that have spring something of an alliance , unify to divvy up their 8,500 scholar and 3,200 faculty and faculty within the relatively little area . Each one has a unequaled character , from preppy Ivy - League wannabee like Pomona and Claremont McKenna to cool Pitzer and mathy gamey - achievers like Harvey Mudd . Downtown Claremont is by nature student - focused , which cause it young and lively in a pleasant way . TheCalifornia Botanic Gardenis mighty nearby , and there ’s a shockingly convenientMetroLinkstop , which make it a fun finish for a car - free getaway .
Flickr/Marty B
Flickr/American Luxury Limousine
