Lakeview Terrace, Los Angeles, CA

Lakeview Terrace wraps around Hansen Dam, the flood control basin that gives this corner of Los Angeles its biggest open space. The neighborhood has two faces, with denser blocks on the west side near Foothill Boulevard and a rural east side zoned for horses, where riding trails lead straight into the basin. Homes on the western side are mostly postwar ranch houses and some apartment and condo complexes on regular lots. Heading east and uphill, lots grow larger, with barns, corrals and newer custom houses on the slopes toward Kagel Canyon. The mix of horse property and suburban tract streets in one small area is unusual for the city. Hansen Dam Recreation Area is the center of outdoor life. At the Hansen Dam Aquatic Center you'll find a swimming area and a fishing lake, and equestrian and hiking trails cross the basin. Hansen Dam Golf Course is a public course, and Lakeview Terrace Recreation Center and Kagel Canyon Park handle local sports and playgrounds. Local food runs to small, family-owned spots on Foothill Boulevard. Graciana Tamale Factory makes tamales to take home, and a strip holds Daniel's Tacos, a Sinaloa-style seafood kitchen and a La Michoacana ice cream shop. Fairways, the restaurant at the golf course, is another sit-down option. Groceries and most errands are a drive away, and transit is thin. The 210 runs through the neighborhood with an exit at Osborne Street, which makes the rest of the Valley reachable in minutes outside rush hour. The foothill location brings hot summers, wind and wildfire risk, and some streets lack sidewalks. What makes up for it is the basin. From much of Lakeview Terrace, a morning walk, run or ride on the Hansen Dam trails starts close to home.