Green spaces, golf courses, bike paths, cricket fields and tennis courts—Encino’s got it all. Stretching along the north slope of the Santa Monica Mountains, Encino residents stay busy as they venture between their area’s suburban strip malls and central Los Angeles’ urban outskirts. In this self-contained city, scoping out clearance sales is as common as picnicking at one of its many green spaces. Mostly quiet and totally conducive to car transportation, Encino offers a sunny respite far away from Downtown.

Sherman Oaks balances urban attitudes with suburban amenities—speeding cars contrast sharply with the slow sway of palm trees in this San Fernando Valley neighborhood. Although this congenial neighborhood isn’t known for its trendiness, a smattering of hip cafes and boutiques are always close by on Ventura Boulevard. When you truly want to embrace your location in the Valley, visit the Sherman Oaks Galleria—it’s the real-life setting where “Valley Girl” was filmed!

Cradled within the San Fernando Valley, Studio City’s stylish small-town allure is equally adored by entertainment industry elite and elementary-school PTA leaders. In step with the trends, Studio City’s main boulevards brim with organic soft-serve desert shops and yoga studios specializing in savasana. Staying in Studio City means you’re separated from the coast, but getting to oceanfront destinations like Santa Monica is simple with a car.

Part of Tarzana’s 8 square miles slopes gently up the Santa Monica Mountains. Streets tend to wind and stop in cul-de-sacs in the foothills, adding to the sense of privacy and security of the mostly sprawling ranch-style homes on large lots. The narrow roads and lack of sidewalks give the community a rural feeling despite the reality check of the 101 Freeway, which slices through the northernmost tip.