San Fernando Valley 
To the north of the LA Basin lies the San Fernando Valley, a bastion of suburban living with movie and network studios, art galleries, parks, sushi restaurants, shopping centers, theme parks and more. Oftentimes simply called "The Valley," it is a great idea to go above and beyond the stereotypes and go to a couple of lesser-known attractions to gain a more intimate idea of the 260 sq.-mi. area. Family Divorce Solutions of San Fernando Valley has listed some fantastic locations which fly under the radar in culture, recreation, and dining, in order for you to obtain a good feel for what the San Fernando Valley is all about.
Descanso Gardens
1418 Descanso Dr., La Cañada Flintridge, California 91011
(818) 949-4200
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This place is a story of plants and those who loved them for all of their life-giving utility, as well as their natural, great beauty. While the story unfolds over decades, the connecting link – from the tribal folks who relied upon the abundant oaks for food, as well as their way of life to the twentieth century entrepreneur who sowed the tiny seeds of a cultural institution – is a deep-seated adoration for this distinctive and evocative place. Descanso Gardens’ evolution to a botanic garden, open to the general public and nationally accredited as the “museum of living collections,” is the latest chapter in the robust history of this landscape. Descanso Gardens, today, remains a paradise of beauty, both refined and rugged. In its gorgeous landscapes, vistas and vignettes we’re able to experience firsthand moments within the epic tale of human beings’ relationships with the natural world and appreciate a refuge of amazing beauty.
The Getty Museum
1200 Getty Center Dr.
(310) 440- 7300
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Getty shares and advances the globe’s cultural heritage and visual art for the benefit of everyone.
Getty is a philanthropic and cultural institution committed to the conservation, presentation, and interpretation of the globe’s artistic legacy. Through the individual and collective work of its constituent plans—Getty Foundation, Getty Conservation Institute, Getty Research Institute, and J. Paul Getty Museum—Getty pursues its goal in LA and throughout the globe, serving both the general public and a broad array of professional communities to promote an important civil society through a comprehension of the visual arts.
Sunset Blvd
Sunset Strip is notorious for its music clubs and nightlife, and the wild antics of musicians who stayed there and performed there over time. It still is one of Los Angeles' busiest places for clubs and music; however, it’s possible to find more than that to do.
The main thing visitors should know about the Sunset Strip is how to find it. Set the GPS for any address between 8100 to 9100 Sunset Blvd. — or browse a map for the 1.5-mile-long part of Sunset between Doheny Dr. and N. Crescent Heights Blvd.
Why it’s referred to as the strip, you may wonder. It isn’t because of strip joints. It isn’t because it has been stripped of its dignity or clothing, either. As a matter of fact, it is a rather simplistic explanation: LA County workers who cared for the street in the earlier days referred to it as "that strip" on Sunset, and it just stuck.
Sunset Strip, today, is a place in transition. A project made by Frank Gehry, architect, at 8150 Sunset features a public plaza and 5 buildings bulging and twisting in Gehry's hallmark style. A branch of the London-based Arts Club soon will rise on the previous Hustler Hollywood site, and almost other-worldly-looking housing/hotel development is set to replace the Viper Room.
However, do not worry, while it might be getting fancier, this legendary street will probably stay focused on nightlife and music, at least for now.
Try out these most popular places for a fun evening out:
• The Roxy Theatre (located on 9009 Sunset) houses leading indie rock bands, and you’ll feel close to the action because of its compact size. It recently was acquired by Goldenvoice, meaning top-notch bookings, outstanding sightlines, and cutting edge sound system. They permit folks of every age yet require ear protection for smaller kids. Plus, 99 percent of the time, it is standing only, without any seating option.
• Whisky a Go Go (located on 8901 Sunset) has been in existence since The Doors played as their house band in the ‘60s. Whisky A Go Go features mainly heavy metal bands nowadays. Every age is admitted, and they feature a valet parking lot you enter through the alley on Clark Street. It is mainly standing room only except for a couple of tables upstairs.
• The Viper Room (located on 8852 Sunset) was named after a music band yet is notorious for Johnny Depp, its previous celebrity owner. The Viper Room is styled to appear like one of Harlem's ‘20s jazz clubs; however, it houses mainly rock bands, metal, and emerging indie. If you want to visit there, you should do it soon. In 2018, the property was sold and is set to be redeveloped soon.
• The Comedy Store (located on 8433 Sunset) has featured pretty much every prominent stand-up comedian during one time or another, and names of most of them are scrawled over its walls like autographs within a yearbook. Most of their alumni continuously use the venue to try new material out; therefore, you never know who’ll show up.
• The Laugh Factory (located on 8001 Sunset) almost always features a recognizable name on the marquee.
If you are searching for a nightclub, bar, or restaurant, it’s possible to explore the full list on the Sunset Strip Business District site.
Rodeo Drive
Once Fred Hayman opened up Giorgio Beverly Hills on 273 Rodeo Dr. in ‘61, it set up the Swiss-born American retailer as a “Godfather of Rodeo Drive.” In launching a luxury boutique upon this Beverly Hills blvd. Hayman prompted other ones—notably Tiffany, Gucci, Vidal Sassoon and Van Cleef & Arpels—to follow suit. Rodeo Drive, synonymous with Hollywood glamour, is recognized as a brand-new nexus point that connects savoir-faire with innovation and heritage with modernity.
Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, today, draw the globe’s most sophisticated A-list movie stars, artists, cultural institutions, and philanthropists. Rodeo Drive’s three palm-dotted, iconic blocks host over 100 of the globe’s top luxury brands with connections to culture and art, housed inside buildings made by the most distinguished names in international architecture and design.
Ventura Blvd
Ventura Blvd. from Studio City to Woodland Hills runs around 13 miles—and in this space is hundreds of restaurants—among them an abundance of ethnic cuisines, mom n- pops, fast food and casual chains, finer dining restaurants, and gastropubs.
AUGUSTINE WINE BAR
Augustine
13456 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks
Phone: (818) 990-0938
It is like Bar Covell inside Los Feliz grew up, had children, and moved to the San Fernando Valley—and that isn’t a bad thing. Owned by the exact same Covell team, Augustine has a cozier, quieter feel and penchant for securing a bit of the best wine in town. The list is coupled with a menu of food, which ranges from snacks such as tater tots and spiced nuts to more complex eats like braised octopus and beef cheek crostini. The shoebox space provides a few bar seats and intimate 2-person booths, in conjunction with some bigger spaces for smaller groups, which includes a sidewalk patio. It is an excellent place to consider for catching up with friends and a date.
BARREL & ASHES
Barrel & Ashes
11801 Ventura Blvd., Studio City
Phone: (818) 623-8883
What is it that you get when you cross a previous chef de cuisine in one of the country's most sought-after restaurants and let the chef run loose to do barbeque? Meet Barrel & Ashes that is headed up by Tim Hollingsworth of Thomas Keller's French Laundry. Tim headed south to launch Otium at the recently launched Broad Museum and, as it was being constructed, took on his Texas roots inside Studio City w/ Rory Hermann, one other Keller alumnus. That place, with its hush puppies, Frito pies, spare ribs, brisket, and a lot more (which includes The Best Damn Chicken Sandwich You Ever Had), has done so very well since its founding, one of the main complaints has been its crowds. With that being said, a reservation and a bit of patience might help.
SCRATCH BAR AND KITCHEN
Scratch Bar and Kitchen
16101 Ventura Blvd. #255, Encino
Phone: (818) 646-6085
Top Chef contestant Phillip Frankland Lee launched Scratch Bar & Kitchen on Ventura Boulevard recently after closing the original variant on La Cienega. Scratch Bar and Kitchen provides a personalized and intimate chef's tasting menu with beautifully plated and deliciously creative small plates. You will not see any servers at the cozy place—instead the chef or his team in the kitchen will seat you and assist in guiding you through their a la carte menu, based upon your restrictions, preferences, and what is seasonally available. In addition, they offer 3 affordably-priced tiers of tasting menus, which are strongly recommended to try, in conjunction with sitting at the chef's counter and facing the customized wood fired oven. Imagine delicious bites such as bone marrow with spiced mushrooms on mini bone-shaped toast points, Camembert with cashew curry and vegetable, and sea urchin with sushi rice and pork belly. You also will want to save room for some dessert, such as house ice cream sandwiches with a chocolate chip cookie. As you may guess by its name, almost everything is created in-house, which includes charcuterie, bread, and cheeses. Their impressive wine selection offers extremely limited production runs you may otherwise not have accessibility to unless you’re a member of a club.
Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA
1-800-UNIVERSAL
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Gear up for the best Hollywood experience! Visitors can discover an entire day of action-packed entertainment all within one space: Universal Studios Hollywood. With exciting theme park shows and rides, a real working film studio and LA’s best restaurants, shops, and movie theaters at CityWalk, this place is a one-of-a-kind experience that is a great time for the entire family.
Peterson Museum
6060 Wilshire Boulevard
Phone: (323) 930-2277
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Robert E. and Margie Petersen, on June 11, 1994, fulfilled a lifelong vision when they launched the Petersen Automotive Museum, and donated $5M to the LA County National History Museum. The Petersen Automotive Museum, today, independently stands as our nation’s premiere automotive museum, and serves hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
The museum is committed to the presentation of and the exploration of the automobile, as well as its impact upon American culture and life using LA as the prime example. Encompassing over 100,000 sq. ft., its exhibits offer over 150 classic and rare motorcycles, trucks, and cars.
Lake Balboa Park
6300 Balboa Boulevard., Van Nuys 91406
Phone: 818-756-9743
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A huge part of Van Nuys, in 2007, was renamed the Lake Balboa district. In 2008, shortly after, the district's eighty acre Anthony C. Beilenson Park, previously Balboa Park, obtained a $1 million revamp in the form of a Universally Accessible Playground that had a Maritime theme, interactive drum play space, and much more. Lifeguards are available at Lake Balboa, which is situated in the park, which makes it an appealing space for fishing and boating. There also are picnic tables and barbecue pits, ensuring your whole family an entire day of activities. Plus, if you are visiting at the proper time of year, you can enjoy a stroll around the lake with cherry blossom trees that are in full To the north of the LA Basin lies the San Fernando Valley, a bastion of suburban living with movie and network studios, art galleries, parks, sushi restaurants, shopping centers, theme parks and more. Oftentimes simply called "The Valley," it is a great idea to go above and beyond the stereotypes and go to a couple of lesser-known attractions to gain a more intimate idea of the 260 sq.-mi. area. Family Divorce Solutions of San Fernando Valley has listed some fantastic locations which fly under the radar in culture, recreation, and dining, in order for you to obtain a good feel for what the San Fernando Valley is all about.