Granada Hills North - Granada Hills, CA

The land that now makes up Granada Hills North was bought in 1917 by a wealthy Oklahoman oil baron by the name of J.H. Moshier. He built a large house with dairy barns and silos and called it the Sunshine Ranch - much of which remains, though converted into residences. The land was planted with citrus until Moshier tired of the project and offered it for sale in 1925. Bought by a holding company, the ranch split into lots and was promoted as a rabbit raising colony.

Now attracting residents with the motto, “The Valley’s Most Neighborly Town,” Granada Hills North still features mid-century architecture with pitched roofs and beam ceilings. Find several museums bordering the neighborhood, including the Nethercutt Museum, the Ararat-Eskijian Museum documenting the Armenian genocide and Andres Pico Adobe historical home. Grubfest takes place annually in the south of Granada Hills, celebrating food trucks on Friday nights.

Head toward the Ronald Reagan Freeway to find a few local eateries, although the southern half of Granada Hills offers more plentiful options when it comes to nightlife in this neighborhood.

Try Casa de Pizza for dine-in or takeout pizza and Italian food, also featuring a music night each Thursday. Try a hot sandwich with chicken, eggplant or veal parmigiana and mozzarella, or build your own pizza from a range of toppings. Alternatively, choose from a specialty pizza menu that includes creations such as the pizza rustica, topped with capers, mushrooms and olives, or the pizza bianco, smothered in ricotta and mozzarella cheeses with fresh basil and garlic.

Head to Odyssey on Odyssey Drive to find a popular steakhouse with a sandwich-based lunch menu and entrees ranging from filet mignon to prime rib, coffee-encrusted rib eye, mahi-mahi and pistachio herb-crusted rack of Colorado lamb with a pomegranate mojito glaze.

For a fun and lively atmosphere and flavorful Middle Eastern dishes, visit JeJe Chicken on San Fernando Mission Blvd. This restaurant serves some of the best Mediterranean meals in the region. Try the Chicken Shawarma or even something as simple as the feta and parsley flatbread, and you will certainly leave happy. This casual diner has great prices and even serves food on paper plates, making it easier for the staff to maintain a clean and friendly environment.

Evening entertainment options also congregate in the south of Granada Hills but, once again, a few hidden gems can be found in the northern portion. Try Sugar Suite, a dive bar with karaoke on some nights of the week, or the Jug Jug Sports Bar & Restaurant for a unique combination of a sports bar and a Korean eatery. The Knollwood Country Club meanwhile provides an event space and party venue alongside a golf course and Odyssey doubles as a music venue.

Several bus routes travel through Granada Hills North, mostly travelling from north to south on Balboa Boulevard and from east to west on Rinaldi Street. These ferry locals to the outer edges of the neighborhood and beyond, to local attractions such as Six Flags Hurricane Harbor and to neighboring cities. One or two taxi services also serve the neighborhood, with short wait times if you call for a cab, and ride-share services such as Uber operate in the area.

Most locals, however, rely on their personal vehicle to get around the neighborhood, with plentiful street parking, especially near businesses. In the shopping and commercial districts, walking or bicycling are both feasible, although bicycle lanes are rare. Bordered to the east by the Golden State Freeway, otherwise known as Interstate 5, and to the south by the Ronald Reagan Freeway, or Route 118, Granada Hills North provides easy interstate travel.

Known for its green spaces, Granada Hill North provides plenty of facilities for the outdoors enthusiast. Head to O’Melveny Park on Sesnon Boulevard for hiking trails and a jogging path, as well as renowned views and a park across the street for children.

Nearby, enjoy the Michael D. Antonovich Open Space, 480 acres for dog walkers, hikers and bikers with plenty of trails through the dense wooded Santa Clarita Woodlands. Dogs must be kept on a leash.

Zelzah Park caters to children with a play area and picnic trails and also includes a bridle trail, while the pocket park known as Bee Canyon Park offers a play area and picnic tables alongside its hiking opportunities. Visit the Van Normal Lakes Reservoir to find a baseball diamond. Just to the north of the neighborhood, enjoy a play area, barbecue pits, basketball courts and picnic tables at the Porter Ridge Park.

Expect free entry and limited supervision at all local parks, except the Knollwood Golf & Country Club, where locals can book outdoor events as well as enjoy a golf tournament.

Expect a cost of living in Granada Hills North that may be around 50 percent higher than the national average, but one that still hovers on a par with the median for Los Angeles. Pay around $1.50 to reach the city center via public transportation, while the price of gas sits at around 10 percent higher than the national average, and a glass of beer will set you back around $8.50 at a pub. Rent a one-bedroom apartment for a median monthly cost of $1,100.

Head to Balboa Boulevard for a conservative range of shopping options, mostly smaller stores and boutiques. Try the Papaya Tree Nursery for exotic plants and trees, or Blossom Flowers for bespoke floral arrangements. It's a Fishie Business caters to homeowners looking for pond equipment, while parents take the junior members of the family to We Paint Faces. Try The Added Touch for unusual furniture and housewares. Head to Bradford Place to find Ann N Eve, a women's clothing boutique, or Nature's Dawn, a shop for vitamins and supplements. Go to Trader Joe's for your grocery needs, or head across the freeway to the closest farmer's markets: Sprouts Farmers Market on North Zelzah Avenue, Daily Quality Produce on Balboa Boulevard, or Forneris Farms in neighboring Mission Hills. The latter promotes a harvest festival and corn maze alongside a market stocking seasonal vegetables and honey.