Malibu Meadows - Calabasas, CA

Originally settled by Native American residents before being taken over by Spanish missionaries and colonists and then Basque ranchers in the 1800s, the Calabasas area has long been desired property.

In the 1910s, developers first discovered the Malibu Meadows area and turned it into Crater Camp, a year-round weekend getaway for busy Angelenos seeking an idyllic mountainous day trip. The beauty of the area, and the balance between isolation and easy access to downtown, drew many movie stars and film executives who purchased ranches and property in the hills. Malibu Meadows really began to flourish during the late 1980s, when developers bought the land and created the suburban neighborhood it is today.

Today Malibu Meadows features a mix of spacious family homes and affordable apartments. With excellent schools and premium civic services, residents enjoy California living and annual community events, including the summertime Malibu Arts Festival and an annual wine tasting and silent auction.

From Malibu Meadows you can hop over to downtown Calabasas for upscale clubs and dining, but you can also stay local and enjoy the relaxed, family-friendly restaurants and bars in your own backyard.

Get your Sunday brunch with margaritas or your Tuesday tacos with live mariachi music at La Paz Mexican Seafood. This long-established cantina serves up Mexican favorites done Yucatan style, such as homemade albondigas soup and the Poc Chuck - chicken cooked in lemon, vinegar and garlic.

Feast on hand rolls and sashimi at favorite sushi spot Sushi Nishi. Locals rave about the fresh tuna, the sesame chicken and the great service without a long wait for a table.

As Malibu Meadows is an isolated enclave off the 101 highway, most residents get around by private car. There's ample free parking for both apartment and home dwellers on residential streets and in shopping center parking lots, as well as easy access to the rest of Los Angeles with a major freeway running right through the area.

Locally, residents can get around for free on the Calabasas public transit shuttle, which runs Monday through Friday and travels from Malibu Meadows to downtown. During summer months the city extends shuttle service with more routes per hour, providing unlimited rides for a $50 summer pass. LA Metro runs service along the 101 to the Warner Center Transit Hub, from where you can connect to the Orange Line down to the San Fernando Valley and from there across the greater Los Angeles area.

You can safely bike or walk on down to the bus stop or to a nearby friend's home along the beautifully maintained sidewalks and broad expanses of the cul de sacs and main streets.

One downside of being so far away from the Los Angeles urban center is that you'll have to wait longer and pay more for taxi service in the mountains. Uber and Lyft drivers are also pretty scarce on the ground.

If you have any interest in the outdoors at all, then Malibu Meadows is the community for you.

Nestled in the foothills is Juan Bautista de Anza Park. Residents fill the picnic areas on weekends, bring their kids to the park, join games of roller hockey or basketball on the courts, and throw public and private events in the community center's beautiful meeting rooms, which overlook stunning vistas. The park serves as the host for the Calabasas Pumpkin Festival held every October - a favorite local event with live entertainment, games and costume contests for the kids and food and beer for the grown-ups.

This city park serves as a gateway into the Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area. This unique zone is actually a patchwork of smaller national, state and city parks. These 245 square miles contain historic buildings and ranches, hiking and biking trails, and globally famous beaches that draw surfers from around the world. From Malibu Meadows you're a short drive away from King Gillette Ranch, Malibu Creek State Park and the Santa Monica Mountains Visitor Center.

Just a quick hop north across the freeway you'll find Grape Arbor Park, a cozy family picnic spot that's the site of the area's other annual family event: the spring Eggstravaganza. Bring the kids for egg hunts, a petting zoo and pictures with the Easter Bunny.

Malibu Meadows offers surprisingly affordable housing for such an affluent area. One-bedroom apartments go for an average of $1,675. Local eateries range from high-end fine dining experiences to fast-food restaurants. There's no local pub to speak of without hopping over to downtown, but you can score a margarita for $5 or $6 or a glass of chardonnay for $8. Local gas prices run right along the national average and LA Metro will get you around the county starting at $7 per day.

Malibu Meadows shoppers have a range of local shops right in their own backyard to choose from.

Grocery shoppers can pick from chain grocery stores or stop in at natural foods store Erewhon Organic Grocer and Cafe for a selection of organic veggies, free-range proteins and all-natural supplements. Add on a cup of coffee from the deli sweetened with coconut oil or ghee. Grab local delicacies and produce at the weekly Saturday farmers market in downtown Calabasas, just a short trolley ride away.

For unique gifts and a piece of Los Angeles history, collectors flock to browse the catalogues and selections at Profiles in History. This local dealer is a national leader in Hollywood memorabilia sales and auctions. Just a few streets away you can pick up antique and lightly used furniture, jewelry and more at the local Home Consignment Center.