From an
18th century Spanish mission to theme parks
and movie sets, the San Fernando Valley offers a unique window into
LA beyond the tourist trail, exploring local history, pop culture and that
sun-drenched LA lifestyle made famous in music, film and fashion.
This is the celebrated dreamscape where Valley girls got
their name, where Kardashians preen and pout, where skateboarders sail into the
blue sky in Tom Petty’s iconic “Free Fallin’” music video. And it’s where countless
blockbuster movies have been
filmed or set,
from “Encino Man” and “E.T.” to “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” to, of course,
the 1983 rom-com “Valley Girl.” Even classics like “Casablanca” were filmed in
the Valley.
The Valley is a great destination
for shopping, whether you’re treasure-hunting for vintage or heading to the
mall. And it’s a foodie paradise too, offering a variety of international flavours,
a farmers’ market, old-school classics and high-end dining with stunning views.
“Whether you’re shopping on
Ventura Boulevard, pub-crawling in North Hollywood, taking a selfie at the
fountain from ‘Friends’ on the Warner Bros. tour or thrilling to the rides at
Universal, there’s nothing like visiting the Valley,” said Adam Burke, President & CEO,
Los Angeles
Tourism & Convention Board.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD & THE NOHO ARTS DISTRICT (NOHO)
Lankershim
Boulevard is the main drag running through the North Hollywood Arts District’s
square-mile locale, but Magnolia Boulevard is where
the cool kids hang. Make as many stops as you can handle, starting with Granville, a sleek, upscale bar and restaurant with a lavishly
painted exterior, followed by The Brickyard Pub,
stocked with 100 beers, and El Tejano, a
Tex-Mex joint with great music, happy hour beer and tacos for $5 apiece, and a
front yard where there’s always a party. Top it all off with dessert from Republic of Pie,
hosting live music every night but Monday. The street is also home to The Sherry Theatre,
one of 20 neighbourhood venues for live productions and the arts.
To explore further, check out Idle Hour, a bar literally housed in a building shaped like a
barrel; Player One, an
arcade bar; Horror
Vibes Coffee, a horror-themed cafe; Brews
Brothers for craft beer, and Collector’s
Paradise for comics fans. Laemmle
NoHo 7, a historic 1938 theatre, is an
arthouse featuring indie flicks and events with industry creatives. The famed
DTLA bookstore, The Last Bookstore, just announced it’s opening a second
location in the neighbourhood.
In nearby Valley Glen, The Great Wall of Los Angeles, a
half-mile-long mural celebrating social justice and diversity, stretches along the Tujunga Wash flood control channel near Coldwater
Canyon Boulevard between Oxnard Street and Burbank Boulevard.
SAN FERNANDO
AND THE NORTH VALLEY
Head north for culture, local history and museums. In
Mission Hills, the Mission San Fernando Rey de España, founded in
1797, is one of 21 historic California missions built by Spanish colonizers.
The mission is known for its long Convento building, which features 21 Roman
arches. Actor Bob Hope is buried in a memorial garden behind the onsite church.
In Sylmar,
enjoy a self-guided tour of the Nethercutt Museum’s collection of antique,
classic and specialty cars. For family fun, head to the Discovery Cube science centre, which is getting ready for a
makeover that will include a new outdoor amphitheatre, a solar carousel and
more. Renovations are expected to be complete in 2026.
In Van Nuys,
the Valley Relics Museum is a window into 20th
century Valley pop culture, featuring old neon signs from beloved local
businesses, arcade games that you can play for free, the VW bus from “Fast
Times at Ridgemont High” and other ephemera. The same team offers guided tours
of the area’s many film locations through My
Valley Pass.
Have
breakfast or lunch at James Family Restaurant in San Fernando, a
1950s diner (try posole, a meaty hominy stew). For dinner, hit The Bear Pit,
serving up barbecue in Mission Hills since the 1940s.
For outdoor
recreation, go birdwatching in Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve, rent a swan boat on Lake Balboa, and visit the picturesque Japanese garden at Woodley Park, where “Star
Trek” fans will recognize a building that’s been used as Starfleet Academy.
SHERMAN OAKS, STUDIO CITY, ENCINO
Spend an afternoon popping into the many shops and
eateries along Ventura Boulevard from Sherman Oaks to Studio City. Start with
retro fashion at American Vintage
and Iguana
Vintage; check out the latest styles at The
Fortt Urban Boutique and Soto Sherman Oaks; go treasure-hunting at Freakbeat Records,
Books on the Boulevard
and Classic Toys. At La Knitterie Parisienne, meet owner Edith Eig, a knitting guru to stars like Sarah Jessica
Parker and Debra Messing.
For upscale boutiques and sleek dining, visit the
open-air Shops at Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City, which offers a variety of favourite LA
eateries including Uovo, HiHo Cheeseburger and Erewhon, the famed
organic grocery store.
WOODLAND HILLS, CANOGA PARK, CALABASAS
Westfield Topanga
in Canoga Park puts the fun back in shopping with a gorgeous mall, easy parking
and hundreds of retailers. While you’re there, explore Topanga
Social, a new food hall with 27 of LA’s
most buzz-worthy bars and food purveyors, including Burrata House,
MANEATINGPLANT, and Wanderlust Creamery.
If
you’re a Kardashian fan, take a drive through Calabasas and get
a salad at Health Nut in Woodland Hills.
For
outdoor recreation, visit Chatsworth’s Garden of the Gods, named for its massive
sandstone rock formations; look for some of the 200 species of birds found in Chatsworth Nature Preserve; or take a hike in Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve.
Posted by: Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
Posted on: 04/10/2024