PALISADES

 

With some of the best views in the city, the Palisades is a California dream. Pair that with bigger homes and yards and an excellent public school system, and you have yourself an idyllic place to raise a family. 

 

Most residents own their homes and live in the Palisades full or almost full-time. With perfect weather all year long, panoramic views of one of the most dynamic cities in the world, and a casual, suburban feel, it makes sense that people move and stay here. 

 

Pacific Palisades (as it’s formally known) offers one of the best locations of any LA neighborhood. Surrounded to the north and west by State Parks, the area is woodsy, lush, and close to just about any hike you’d want to do. The world-renowned Topanga Canyon and State Park are right there. Beyond them, Saint Ynez falls, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation, Red Rock Canyon Park, and so many more. The Palisades are a naturalist’s paradise. 

 

Plus, the Palisades has a gorgeous stretch of oceanfront land. Butting up against Will Rogers State Park, which boasts an excellent beach, the cliffs and mountains overlooking the Pacific in the Palisades is unrivaled. The city is so named for these cliff-like bluffs (palisades) situated by a body of water (the Pacific Ocean). Many celebrities, successful entrepreneurs, and well-to-do retirees choose the Palisades for this reason. 

 

Malibu neighbors the Palisades to the northwest, and the whole world knows the appeal of Malibu. The Palisades is a smaller, quainter, more down-to-earth counterpart. The Palisades boast large mountain mansions and surfable waves just like Malibu, and the city is located closer to other LA neighborhoods, specifically Hollywood and Beverly Hills for the working actors, singers, and models. That’s why the Palisades are LA’s best-kept secret.

 

When residents are over the woodsy parks (said no one ever), the exciting towns of Santa Monica and Brentwood are just next door. The Santa Monica Pier and downtown always have something going on, while Brentwood has the Getty Museum, tons of parks, and delicious Italian food all up San Vicente Blvd.

 

Speaking of the Getty - the Getty Villa sits inside the Palisades city limits. Built by the oil tycoon J. Paul Getty to offer more space for his Greek and Roman antiquities, the Getty Villa is an architectural marvel and is open to the public. Not to be confused with The Getty Museum, this villa is smaller in scale. After J. Paul Getty died in 1976 and bequeathed $661 million to his Getty Villa, the small museum decided to expand.

 

Homes in the Palisades are big, beautiful, and high in demand. The name itself holds all that makes this small little town so special - cliffs overlooking the Pacific? Sign us up.