Encino, CA

Rancho Los Encinos was established in 1810 when a 7-square-mile plot of land was given to local Gabrielino Indians. Once California became a state, the tribe lost the land. Encino soon became a stagecoach stop on the road between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and people started to move to the area in the early 20th century. Development was spurred by the end of the Great Depression, leading to the establishment of Ventura Boulevard as a business district and the eventual growth of the community as a home for the wealthy. The original buildings erected when Encino was a stagecoach stop still exist at Los Encinos State Park, where people visit to learn more about the area. Independent film lovers from all over the San Fernando Valley head to Encino to view specialty films at the Laemmle theaters in Encino Commons or at the nearby ArcLight Cinemas.

Most restaurants in Encino stretch out along Ventura Boulevard, the main drag of the neighborhood. While you can choose from many recognizable chain restaurants such as Chili's and Tony Roma's and quick-serve favorites such as Veggie Grill, Panera Bread, and The Habit, Encino also provides local diners with many unique places to stop and relax with friends and family.

While most Encino residents own their own cars, you can find bus lines running on major thoroughfares to connect you to the north San Fernando Valley, Sylmar and Universal City, plus the Commuter Express heading directly to downtown Los Angeles. Uber finds many fans in the neighborhood, especially for late-night runs, and taxis are also available. Those who choose to drive find plenty of free parking throughout the neighborhood, with metered spaces along Ventura Boulevard. Highway 101, or the Ventura Freeway, cuts right through the neighborhood to connect you to Ventura or downtown Los Angeles, and Interstate 405 runs up the east side of Encino to provide connections to the Santa Clarita Valley, Westside Los Angeles, and Orange County. While the hills of Encino are mostly too steep for walking or cycling, many residents walk to restaurants or shops along Ventura Boulevard, and Balboa Park provides miles of paths for recreational running and bike rides.

You'll find Encino peppered with small parks, but Balboa Park on its north end outshines them all. Although it's officially called Anthony C. Beilenson Park, residents of Encino are unlikely even to know that name. Locals head to Balboa Park in the Sepulveda Basin for every possible sport, including archery, golf and the usual basketball, volleyball and baseball. They also enjoy the man-made Lake Balboa in the park's midst, where they can fish and feed the ducks. The Japanese garden, with its cherry trees, provides a stunning landscape every spring, and the entire park creates a beautiful, nurturing environment for anyone who wants to stroll. Bring your leashed dog for a walk, or go for a 5-mile run. Kids use the playgrounds when they're not chasing the ducks, and older children love the dedicated area for flying remote control airplanes.

When you want something a bit smaller, pop into Los Encinos State Historic Park to visit the old adobe and see a real blacksmith in action. Encino Park features a basketball court and a couple of tennis courts, and is home each year to the free folk music festival put on by the California Traditional Music Society. Take your dog to Libbet Park, a small pocket park where dogs run free.

Renters living in Encino pay an average of $2,307/month to rent an apartment, compared to the Los Angeles city average of $2,781. City dwellers exploring houses for rent in Encino can expect to pay around $6,000/month. For those looking to buy, the average house is valued at $1.4 million compared to the city average of $901,291.

While Encino doesn't house any big shopping malls, all of Ventura Boulevard essentially serves as one long shopping district. For a major shopping mall, head to Westfield Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks or Westfield Topanga in Woodland Hills. However, you can find plenty of great shopping choices when sticking close to home.