Arleta Los Angeles, CA

The area around and including Pacoima was first inhabited by the Gabrielino-Tongva people, a California Indian Tribe. Arleta shares some of the claim to fame neighboring Hollywood does, with the Osmond Family home once a part of this Southern California community. Rockabilly singer Johnny Burnette lived in Arleta in the '60s. Arleta also served as the filming location for the fictitious McFly family in the renowned Back to the Future series. In the '50s, the region started to boom, and the first post office in town opened around Christmas in 1954. San Fernando Mission Cemetery, one of the oldest active cemeteries within the San Fernando Valley, lies close to Arleta as well. Visit neighboring Sherman Oaks, Burbank, or Granada Hills to gaze at exhibits in one of many museums, including the Skirball Cultural Center and the Martial Arts History Museum. Annual events take place all over Los Angeles districts outside of Arleta.

You'll find a wide variety of restaurants in Arleta, including Japanese, Chinese, American, and Italian. But locals will tell you -- some of the best locations are hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurants. For fresh-made salsa, steamed onions, and jalapenos along with generous steaming plates piled high with enchiladas, burritos, or tacos, try Tacos Vallarta. Food at this Mexican diner comes out hearty, spicy, and quick. At Antonio's Tacos and Kabob on Van Nuys Boulevard, diners love the intriguing mix of Middle Eastern and Mexican food. Try the chicken breast kabob plate, which comes with pitas and grilled tomato, or indulge in the asada quesadilla. Dine in and enjoy a chat with the friendly staff, or order your food for delivery. For a generous helping of Thai cuisine, stop by Cocohut Thai Restaurant. Diners love the pad see ew and the orange chicken. Sip a cup of Thai iced tea while you wait, and don't miss the mango sticky rice. A tiny family-owned operation, Laura's Restaurant in Panorama City next door to Arleta customizes in handmade Mexican treats. Both the shrimp cocktail and the chili relleno come highly recommended here, and some say this restaurant makes the best Mexican food in the valley. At night, residents of Arleta head to North Hills or Mission Hills to visit one of many taverns for brews and music. Norwood Bar & Lounge has a great cucumber margarita, serves up 50 craft beers on tap, and features DJs and live music. Throw darts while sipping beer at Paul's Tavern in Mission Hills. Hit up the Witches Brew Cocktail & Lounge in North Hills for karaoke night and inexpensive drink specials.

Residents travel via bus, car, bicycle, and foot, and you can access the Golden State Freeway (I-5) and the Hollywood Freeway (SR 170) easily from Arleta. Major thoroughfares in the area include Van Nuys Boulevard, Woodman Avenue, and Arleta Avenue, as well as Sheldon, Branford, Osborne, and Terra Bella Streets. Metro Rapid route 761 provides fast transit on Van Nuys Boulevard, and Metro route 158 travels along Woodman Avenue onto Devonshire Street and into other neighborhoods. Bicycles prove a common sight here. Rudy's Bike Shop directly services bicyclists in the neighborhood. Catch a ride to the airport or downtown Los Angeles easily with Uber and taxi cabs accessible from within Arleta.

Branford Park in neighboring Pacoima is a large park with an auditorium, lighted outdoor and indoor basketball courts, a lighted baseball diamond, lighted volleyball courts, tennis courts, and soccer fields. Utilize the park's other resources, including a play area for children, a community room, indoor and outdoor gymnasiums with weight machines, a kitchen, a music room, picnic tables, a lighted soccer field, and a stage for performances. Take advantage of a playground shielded by umbrellas in Devonshire Arleta Park, or visit the Hansen Dam Recreation Center a few miles outside the neighborhood for access to a pool and miles of outdoor open space. Add the 6.5-acre Sepulveda-Basin off-leash dog park, located nine miles to the south of Arleta, to your list for weekend outings with your canine friend. Participate in the many annual events available in the greater San Fernando Valley area, including the Tournament of Roses in January and the Watermelon Festival.

Beer at local pubs runs cheap, coming in at a mere $2 in some locations for a draft Budweiser, although craft beers can run up to $8 each. For $1.75, the Metro bus gives you a ride to the city center. Cost of living comes in much lower than that of other Los Angeles cities, including neighboring Panorama City, with rental rates for a one-bedroom apartment in Arleta averaging just $1,070.20. Gas prices range about one percent less than the national average.

Arleta offers a variety of shopping, especially smaller locally-owned boutiques. The boutique flower shop 25 Rosas sells handcrafted pinatas, flower arrangements, and balloons for special occasions. Zizibeh sells a wide selection of shoes and the newest styles. Those wishing for additional shops can visit Target or Costco in Pacoima or the Panorama Mall in Panorama City. A number of farmer's markets and farm stands operate throughout the week in bordering neighborhoods, including the Encino Farmer's Market in Van Nuys and Forneris Farms in Mission Hills. Vallerta Supermarkets sells groceries to residents in nearby Panorama City, although residents can visit the La Colmena Mini Market within the neighborhood for last-minute needs.