Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
204
Topanga Canyon: Nature's Solution to L.A.'s
Noise Pollution
When you've had enough of c ellphones, cement, and Mercedes, then it's time
to take the shor t drive from L.A. t o Topanga Canyon to bargain shop, drink
margaritas, and play cowgirl for a day. Here's the game plan: C all Los Angeles
Horseback Riding ( & 818/591-2032; www.losangeleshorsebackriding.com)
and make a reservation for a guided horseback ride in the late afternoon. Next,
take the winding drive up Topanga Canyon Boulevard to tiny Topanga, one of
the last art communities left in Southern California—it was the former haunt of
Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, and other music legends of the '60s and '70s—and
the per fect antidot e t o the dig-me L.A. sc ene. Spend an hour or so pick ing
through the treasure-trove of vintage clothes , accessories, and antiques at Hid-
den Treasures (154 S. Topanga C anyon Blv d; & 310/455-2998 ), one of the
funkiest little shops I' ve ever seen (the cust om-made sea-theme t oilet seat lids
are mesmerizing). A fter the sc enic horseback ride thr ough the boulder-str ewn
Topanga canyons lined with oaks, sycamores, chaparral, and sage, finish off your
relaxing da y with a leisur ely dinner in Topanga at Abuelitas (137 S. Topanga
Canyon Blvd.; & 310/455-8688; www.abuelitastopanga.com), a popular M exi-
can restaurant; or try the romantic Inn of the Seventh Ray (p. 117).
7
BICYCLING Los Angeles, being mostly flat, is gr eat for biking. If you're into distance
pedaling, you can do no better than the flat, pav ed bicycle trail that follo ws about 22
miles of state beaches, harbors, LAX, and laid-back beach towns such as Venice, Manhat-
tan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach. The first stretch starts at Will Rogers State
Beach in Pacific Palisades and runs south through Santa Monica and Venice to Marina del
Rey—about 8 miles. The second stretch—called the South Bay Bike Trail —starts at the
south end of Marina del Rey and takes y ou all the way to Torrance Beach. If you want to
ride the entire path you'll have to detour ar ound Marina del Rey, which only takes about
15 minutes. The bike path attracts all levels of riders and gets pretty busy on weekends, so
ixnay the time trials. Don't worry about packing food and water—there are plenty of foun-
tains, snack stands, and public restrooms along the trail. For information on this and other
city bike r outes, log on to www .labikepaths.com. For guided bicycle tours of the S anta
Monica and Venice beach communities, see “Bicycle Tours” on p. 194.
The best place to mountain bike in the L.A. region is along the trails of Malibu Creek
State Park ( & 818/880-0367 ), in the S anta Monica Mountains between Malibu and
the San Fernando Valley in Calabasas. Fifteen miles of trails rise to a maximum of 3,000
feet and are appropriate for intermediate to adv anced bikers. Pick up a trail map at the
park entrance, 4 miles south of U.S. 101 off LasVirgenes Road, just north of Mulholland
Highway. Park admission is $5 per car. For more information on mountain-bike trails in
the L.A. region, log on to www.latrails.com .
Spokes 'N S tuff B ike R ental has four locations, one of which is located at 4175
Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey ( & 310/306-3332 ), which is only open on w eekends,
and another located at 1715 O cean Front Walk, behind Loe ws H otel, S anta Monica
( & 310/395-4748 ), which is open every day. They rent 10-speed cruisers and 15-speed
 
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