In Los Angeles it is usually uncool to be on the “B” list. Unless, of course, the “A” list is made up of the overhyped attractions that most tourists associate with an L.A. vacation: Disneyland, Hollywood, Universal Studios, the Venice boardwalk, you get the idea. But if you know where to go, L.A. is home to a treasure trove of lesser-known spots that will make for an unforgettable vacation. All of them share one thing in common: L.A.’s beautiful natural terrain, whether it be the ocean blue or wildflower-covered mountains. Read on for a “B” list that any L.A. establishment would be proud to make.
Ramirez Canyon Park
5750 Ramirez Canyon Road
Malibu
310-589-2850
Relax. This isn’t a hiking trip. If you’re into the cult of celebrity here’s a tour that will make you the envy of your friends back home. Bring your camera and get ready for some superstar-level, retro glamorous excitement. You get to see where Barbra Streisand slept! In 1993, Streisand donated her 22.5-acre Malibu estate to the state of California parks department, which maintains the property and makes it accessible to the public by appointment only. So with a little planning, you can see this lushly landscaped, four-building property where the actress lived and sang for more than 20 years. You can tour Barwood, the Craftsman-style two-story house where Streisand housed her production company; the Barn building, Streisand’s first and favorite house on the property; Peach House, which was a guest house (Barbra’s espresso maker is still there) and screening room and Deco House, an Art Deco masterpiece personally designed by the chanteuse and home to her Jacuzzi spa. Just be sure to call well in advance of your trip to arrange this popular and hard-to-score 90-minute, $30 per person tour. You can even stop to enjoy tea on the Barn patio and take in the same views that Barbra enjoyed. www.lamountains.com/parks.
Wayfarer’s Chapel
5755 Palos Verdes Drive South
Palos Verdes
310-377-1650
This attraction has nothing to do with celebrity and yet there is so much here to celebrate. High on a hill in Palos Verdes, far from the maddening Hollywood crowds, sits the serene masterpiece that is the Wayfarer’s Chapel. This small church, a unique glass and stone design by architect Lloyd Wright (Frank Lloyd Wright’s son) is worth the 30-minute trip from L.A. If you like a nice ocean drive, spectacular ocean views, pretty gardens and unique architecture, this is the spot. Enjoy gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island and meander through three acres of gardens surrounding the chapel, with a rose garden, redwood trees, fountains and peaceful benches overlooking the ocean. Your pulse will slow and you’ll just feel better after you’ve visited. Admission is free and the church is open daily from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The Visitors Center is open daily from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. www.wayfarerschapel.org.
Will Rogers State Park
1501 Will Rogers Park Road
Pacific Palisades
310-454-8212
www.parks.ca.gov
This time, I am suggesting a hike. But not just any hike. You’ll envision glitzy days of old California as you meander through this ranch property, once home to Will Rogers, columnist, philosopher and in the 1930s, Hollywood’s most popular and highest paid actor. Learn about Rogers, his land and his love of horses, riding and roping in a newly renovated visitors center and cute gift shop. Take what amounts to a short walk from the parking lot, not a hike, for a tour of Rogers’ home. Take a healthier hike to the top of a summit for gorgeous views of Santa Monica and the South Bay on out to the Pacific Ocean. This property provides a true taste of rugged California beauty, with its sprawling lawn, active horse stable, polo grounds, and hiking paths spiked with chaparral, and the occasional rattle snake. The park is undergoing a major renovation project that will restore the landscape to its appearance during Will Rogers’ time. Check the website for information on home tour times, as well as guided trail rides from the stables.
Saddle Peak Lodge
419 Cold Canyon Road
Calabasas
818-222-3888
www.saddlepeaklodge.com
All of this rustic beauty works up an appetite. For a special dining experience in a beautiful California canyon, make a dinner reservation at the Saddle Peak Lodge. Elk tenderloin and antelope are on the unusual menu along with more traditional filet and fish entrees. But the real star here is the setting. For 100 years, the Lodge has stood under Saddle Peak, a rock formation made, according to Lodge lore, when God’s first horseman sat upon the Santa Monica Mountains. In the shadow of the peak, cowboys, hunters, fishermen and miners stopped at the Lodge for food and libation. It remains a marvelous place to sit on a patio or balcony and watch the sun set over the tree-dotted canyon.
Redondo Beach Marina
181 N. Harbor Drive
Redondo Beach
310-324-3481
www.rbmarina.com
When you get to this rather touristy marina, remember that you are here for one specific reason: to get out on the water and get a taste of what its like to ride the waves like a local. This marina is a great place to rent a kayak, sail boat, or take a stand up paddle board lesson in the safety and relative calm of the marina’s waters, as opposed to starting in open ocean. Steer clear: you’ll be paddling among the many sea lions that noisily pass their time along the marina’s jetty.