El Sueño Topanga

Top Views in Topanga

Fresh and plant-filled, with a splash of free-spirited California thrown in for good measure, this family home in woodsy, wild Topanga Canyon boasts views worth the bragging rights. Taking in the panorama from Fernwood to Saddle Peak and Calabasas Peak, with Red Rock as its focal point, this hilltop pool home was redesigned to maximize its big views and aptly named for its dreamy viewpoint.

This relaxed vacation home rental in California has an enclosed pool and hot tub. Outdoor deck space is great for soaking in the scenery, and there’s plenty to do without ever leaving the pretty perch—a ping pong table, trampoline, outdoor shower and wild garden. Sunsets don’t come much better, and the open-plan kitchen, outdoor barbecue and dining deck mean enjoying the nightly display is as easy as pulling up a chair.

AROUND

An antidote to Los Angeles’ star-studded, swanky side, Topanga is a timeless enclave in the Santa Monica Mountains where the artsy, funky, nomadic-chic, and outdoorsy merge. Surfers, hippies and dreamers have long been drawn to this eucalyptus-shaded canyon 15 minutes up from the coastline, where Topanga Beach is sandwiched between Pacific Pallisades and Malibu. Named by the indigenous Tongva tribe, Topanga is believed to mean “where the mountain meets the sea” or “the place above.” Narrow canyon roads wind inland into the mountains, shaded by tall trees and rock faces, and Topanga Canyon hides the largest state park within city limits in the US, with miles of wilderness to explore. 

Bucolic and peaceful, the small community is known to be alternative and creative—home to artists, filmmakers, and musicians, and offers boutique shopping, a legendary vintage retro store, small food and specialty product markets, and a handful of cafes and restaurants. Plus, there are almost 40 miles of hiking trails (some open to mountain bikers and equestrians, too) through grasslands, live oaks, taller woods, and rugged geologic formations. This vacation home rental in California is just a short drive to Malibu or Santa Monica and about a half hour to greater Los Angeles.

LOCATION

Topanga, Los Angeles, California. Nearest airport: Los Angeles or Burbank, both approximately 45 minutes

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Year round