What’s treasured about the affluent Westside neighborhood of the Pacific Palisades is that it offers access to both the ocean and the mountains.
It’s close enough to Los Angeles where you still feel connected, but just far enough away that you feel more relaxed. There is much more of an adult feel here and it’s a great place for families. While there is still a lot of wealth, it’s the type of area where you walk your children to school, watch the annual Fourth of July parade, and chat with neighbors over swiss chard at the local farmer’s market. Many families move here for the schools – all public schools are charter schools operated by the Los Angeles Unified School District and are some of the best ranked in the county.
The homes range vastly from nice, less-expensive single family homes to stunning $50 million-dollar mansions hiding behind high hedges. The latter belonging to the likes of Steven Spielberg, Billy Crystal and Adam Levine. While primarily residential, the area does have Palisades Village, which offers upscale restaurants, high-end shops, and a movie theater. There is easy access to Will Rogers State Beach for a day in the sand, and Temescal Canyon Park and the Santa Monica Mountains for weekend hiking and picnicking with some homes nestled in the bluffs for panoramic views or the canyon. This area has everything and is a nice respite from the daily work grind with spacious homes and a family-friendly community feel.