North Hills East - Panorama City, CA

In the late 1700s, North Hills was part of the Mission San Fernando Rey de Espana, a Spanish mission founded by Father Fermin Lasuen. During the 1842 California Gold Rush, gold was found in the hills near the mission. This prompted some gold-seekers to sneak in and dig up the mission floor, causing damage to the structure. It wasn't until the 1940s and a generous donation by the Hearst Foundation that the Mission was finally restored.

The mission is located just north of North Hills in neighboring Mission Hills. Be sure to visit -- the mission is open daily until 4:30 (the gift shop is open until 5pm). Tours of the mission are available, and the Archival Center is typically open from 1-3 pm Monday-Thursday. This is still an active church, with Mass held every Sunday.

The area now known as North Hills was called Sepulveda, named after a founding family that dated back to the founding of the Pueblo of Los Angeles in 1781. In 1992, the western side of Sepulveda decided to break away and form their own community. They named it North Hills. Eventually, the state decided to rename the entire area North Hills, with North Hills East and North Hills West as subsections.

Just north of North Hills sits the Andres Pico Adobe, the oldest home in the San Fernando Valley. This home was built in 1834 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house is a living history museum and hosts events put on by the Historical Society, including the popular "Rancho Days."

Every October, residents of North Hills head just east to Panorama City to celebrate St. Genevieve's Fiesta, a three-day festival with rides, food, and games.

Restaurants in North Hills East are found along Sepulveda Boulevard and tend to be of a casual, quick-serve variety, allowing you to grab an amazing taco or enjoy an indulgent breakfast with ease.

Don't be surprised when you drive up to the Horseless Carriage Restaurant and realize it's located in a car dealership. Galpin Ford in North Hills hosts what may be the only full-service restaurant of its type anywhere as a courtesy to its customers, but you don't need to be car-shopping or waiting for a repair to take advantage of this friendly place. Treat yourself to a Belgian waffle with all the trimmings for breakfast, or stop in for a prime rib sandwich, chipotle chicken wrap or half-pound burger for lunch. Dinner entrees tend toward the traditional, with prime rib, steak, and shrimp scampi on the menu.

When you're on the run, swing by one of North Hills West's great taco stands to experience street food at its finest. Taqueria Los Tres Hermanos on Sepulveda Boulevard serves up terrific veggie burritos, carne asada tacos, and nachos. You may find it hard not to fill up on the free chips and bean dip you'll get while you're waiting for your order to come up, but the dishes are worth it. The California Tamale House on Nordhoff Street makes every kind of tamale you can imagine. Choose between chicken and pineapple, sweet raisin and strawberry, and cheese and jalapeño to enjoy a unique treat.

Locals rave about the biscuits at Kountry Folks Restaurant with good reason. Sure, you'll want to order your marinated skirt steak and eggs, chili-filled omelet, or country-fried steak and grits, but consider them all accompaniments to the light, fluffy biscuits and gravy that come on the side.

Head west of the San Diego Freeway to find places to hang out after hours. The Clipper Club Lounge and Bar in Van Nuys creates an old-school, relaxed environment, and the attentive bartenders serve up strong drinks. Head to the Witches Brew Cocktail Lounge for live bands Thursday through Saturday and fun karaoke the rest of the week. This dark, cozy spot features a small dance floor, friendly bartenders, and different drink specials every night.

The Los Angeles Metro system runs many bus routes through the area, connecting residents with Chatsworth, Studio City, Sunland, Woodland Hills, Sherman Oaks, Sylmar, Westwood, and North Hollywood. While few cab services or Uber operate in this section of the San Fernando Valley, you can access some of these services on-call if you're willing to wait.

If you plan to drive in North Hills East, you'll find street parking crowded but generally free, except on major thoroughfares. Interstate 405, or the San Diego Freeway, runs right along the west edge of the neighborhood to connect you to the Santa Clarita Valley or L.A.'s Westside, with the Simi Valley Freeway and Interstate 5 nearby to get you to the Simi Valley or downtown Los Angeles, respectively.

Outdoor adventures are plentiful in the San Fernando Valley, and you'll be able to enjoy all of them when you rent an apartment in North Hills East. Head south to Lake Balboa, surrounded by Anthony C. Beilenson Park. This park is grouped together with Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, Woodley Lakes Golf Course, and Balboa Golf Course. Beilenson Park has a Universally Accessible Playground with two separate play areas for younger and older children. Both have a maritime theme and include slides, swings, ladders, and balancing elements. Lake Balboa offers swimming with lifeguards and picnic pavilions. Fishing is also a popular lake activity. The Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area features sports facilities, an amusement park, hiking/biking trails, and a community garden.

One hour south of North Hills East, Westridge-Canyonback Wilderness Park contains over 1,500 acres of open space bordered by canyons and Vicente Mountain Park. This park is ideal for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and wildlife-viewing. The vast and mountainous Angeles National Forest is only about 10 miles east of North Hills. Park activities include camping, backpacking, hiking, fishing, skiing, swimming, picnicking, and horseback riding. This park covers a total of 700,176 acres of the San Gabriel Mountains and the Sierra Pelona Mountains.

Head to Devonwood Park in Mission Hills to walk your dog and let your kids play on the playground or the rope jungle. Devonshire Arleta Park also provides trees and a covered playground. Granada Hills Recreation Center contains not only park amenities but a reasonably priced preschool as well. Sports lovers can take advantage of the basketball courts, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and gym. Sign your kids up for karate or gymnastics classes offered year-round for a small fee.

Life in the North Hills East neighborhood comes at a bit of a discount, with the cost of living running nine percent lower than the cost of living for L.A. as a whole. A one-bedroom apartment in North Hills East runs about $933 per month, and grabbing a beer at a local bar only costs $3 or $4.

While the price of gasoline runs about 18 percent higher than the national average, you can get from North Hills East to downtown L.A. by public transportation for only $1.75.

The Northridge Fashion Center is west of the neighborhood off Nordhoff Street. This multi-level shopping mall contains popular stores, including Sears, JCPenney, Macy's, Old Navy, Charlotte Russe, Love Culture, Hollister, and Justice. It also includes a movie theater, restaurants, and a food court.

Green Arrow Nurseries & Hardware sells healthy plants and all you need to keep them growing and blooming. People from all over the San Fernando Valley come here when they can't find the roses, fruit trees, indoor plants, or trees they want anywhere else. You'll find a particularly strong selection of dwarf fruit trees, plus pots of all sizes at reasonable prices. Don't forget Green Arrow when it's time to buy your Christmas tree for your new home.

Major supermarkets such as Ralphs, Vons, and Food 4 Less all sit just outside the borders of North Hills East, but locals take advantage of plenty of smaller, ethnic markets in the neighborhood. Vallarta Supermarket on Sepulveda Boulevard has butchers on hand to help you in the meat department, and an always-fresh supply of pan dulce, burritos, and homemade salsa. Jon's Market on Lassen Street sells a wide range of international spices and sweets, and Sola African and Caribbean Food Market specializes in Nigerian foods, including plantain chips and fufu dough. You'll find the nearest farmers market at Balboa Park, where the Encino Farmers Market sets up shop on Victory Boulevard every Sunday morning to bring farm-fresh produce into the suburbs.