La Crescenta-Montrose - Montrose, CA

The ideal weather of the Crescenta Valley plays a key role in the history of La Crescenta-Melrose. In the 1880s, this area became home to many sanitariums and health resorts for the sick, particularly for asthmatics, due to the clean air and perfect climate in the high valley. The area was devastated by a massive flood in 1934, and subsequently, the health resorts and orchards began to make room for suburban development. In the 1970s, the completion of the 210 Freeway brought a new housing boom to the valley.

While La Crescenta-Montrose doesn't hold any museums, Descanso Gardens in neighboring La Cañada-Flintridge provides a lovely haven for the community. Ask for a tour of the historic Boddy House.

Crescenta Valley locals all gather in La Crescenta on the Fourth of July for fireworks and a fair that includes live music, food trucks, rides for the kids and even skydivers.

The charming, walkable stretch of Honolulu Avenue west of Verdugo Avenue forms the heart of La Crescenta-Montrose's restaurant district, with more restaurants stretching out along Foothill Boulevard. Choose from cute cafes and casual ethnic restaurants, knowing you'll always be welcomed as a friend.

Thee Elbow Room serves a limited menu, but every dish on it finds avid fans among its patrons. Try the balsamic tuna melt, the savory kale and sausage soup or the deviled eggs. If you're a craft beer fan, this casual beer garden becomes a must-visit in the neighborhood. Take advantage of its "create your own flight" option to taste multiple handcrafted beers, and add the giant pretzel dipped in mustard to your order.

When you're running errands down Foothill Boulevard and want a quick, yummy bite, stop in at Byblos Mediterranean Bakery for a gourmet flatbread, a pressed ham, cheese and salami sandwich, or Hawaiian pizza. The lahmajoun, a flatbread with minced lamb, beef and veggies, wins praise from the locals.

If you have a special occasion to celebrate, slip across the border to La Cañada-Flintridge to Taylor's Steakhouse for perfectly cooked prime rib, creamed spinach or London broil. This traditional steakhouse features a family-friendly vibe that lets you introduce your kids to old-school dining. Great service, a dark ambiance and classic cocktails complete your evening. Nightlife in La Crescenta-Montrose takes on a comfortable feel and centers in its low-key bar scene. You'll find no need for stiletto heels or huge tips to the doorman when you visit the welcoming bars of the neighborhood.

Basin 141, a gastropub with the best beer menu in the Crescenta Valley, serves up great happy hour food in addition to its regular menu. This place attracts plenty of locals for the big game or Oktoberfest. The Roar Room, a new dive bar, provides live music and comedy shows in addition to karaoke nights and other special events.

While almost all residents of La Crescenta-Montrose drive their own cars to work or to run errands, the Glendale Beeline bus service runs buses from Montrose to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. In addition, Los Angeles Metro buses connect the neighborhood to Glendale, Downtown Los Angeles and Sylmar. Taxis and Uber are hard to come by in this area, though it's possible to make an appointment for an airport shuttle.

Parking tends to be plentiful and free in the neighborhood, Even though the commercial stretches of Honolulu Avenue and Foothill Boulevard have metered parking, most businesses also provide free off-street parking. The 210 Freeway provides easy access to Pasadena and the northern San Fernando Valley, while the 2 Freeway connects the neighborhood to Glendale and Downtown Los Angeles.

While walking and biking around La Crescenta-Montrose are safe, with bike lanes on some major thoroughfares, the hilly and spread-out nature of the neighborhood usually prevents all but the most athletic from venturing out without a car.

Positioned high in a valley of the Verdugo Mountains, La Crescenta-Montrose allows residents access to true wilderness as well as providing a variety of community parks to choose from.

Hikers can start at the Deukmajian Wilderness Park to gain access to the Crescenta View Trail that leads up into the Angeles National Forest. The hardiest folks may even want to take the Rim of the Valley Trail to climb Mount Lukens. These trails can be strenuous, so make sure you bring water and sunscreen, and don't hike alone.

Parents love Two Strike Park because of the sun canopies protecting every single play or climbing structure from the sun. The park also includes a creek, a rock climbing area, basketball courts, a baseball diamond and a track. The beauty of the mature trees and lush grass brings many here to take wedding photos.

Head to the Crescenta Valley Dog Park when you want some fun with your four-legged friend. This park provides separate play areas for large and small dogs, and the owners here work hard to keep their dogs from being aggressive. Pooper-scoopers and water also make this park a destination for dog-lovers.

While you won't pay a fee for other parks in the area, Descanso Gardens does charge for admission, though many Crescenta Valley residents become members to have free year-round access. Head here during October for the Rise of the Jack o' Lanterns event. Stroll around the gardens to see amazing hand-carved pumpkins as well as some artificial favorites.

While the laid-back, comfortable lifestyle of La Crescenta-Montrose costs a bit more than that of Los Angeles as a whole, locals only pay an extra 18% for the overall cost of living here. A one-bedroom apartment runs $1,365 per month, and the cost of gasoline costs 12% over the national average. Stopping for a beer on Honolulu Avenue should be about $5.

La Crescenta-Montrose residents typically head into nearby Glendale for major shopping expeditions, stopping at one of the big box centers that feature stores such as Marshalls or Pier One Imports. Glendale serves as a major shopping destination as well because of the presence of the delightful outdoor high-end shopping and entertainment mall, The Americana at Brand, which is conveniently located across the street from the Glendale Galleria's many name-brand shops. Closer to home, La Crescenta shoppers find plenty of local specialty shops and boutiques. Stop in at La Perla Design Gallery on Honolulu Avenue for beautiful, unique jewelry. When you need a gift, the friendly owners can help you choose from a wide variety of elegant home decor items, candles and Christmas ornaments. Let the shop do a beautiful job of gift-wrapping to make your day easier. Once Upon a Time, also on Honolulu Avenue, conjures up memories of old-school bookstores. This shop focuses primarily on children's and young adult books, but you can find some choices for yourself as well. Shoppers from far out of the local area come to this gem to dig through the wide variety of multicultural and inspirational children's books not found at chain stores, and locals bring their kids here to enjoy special events and a play area that lets parents shop in peace. Residents of the neighborhood head straight to Trader Joe's on Honolulu for their grocery shopping, and local Ralphs and Vons markets also make shopping for staples easy. Seoul Market on Foothill Boulevard sells Korean specialties to save you the drive down to K-Town. The Montrose Farmers Markets opens up every Sunday morning on Honolulu Avenue, rain or shine, with plenty of fresh produce and Hawaiian chicken to die for.