Lakewood Mutual, Lakewood, CA

Lakewood Mutual covers the western side of Lakewood, a pocket of older tract homes between Lakewood Boulevard and the Long Beach line with a public golf course along its southern edge. It predates much of the famous 1950s building boom next door, and a mix of house styles makes that easy to see. Homes in Lakewood Mutual date mostly from the 1940s and early 1950s, making this one of the earliest tract areas around. The variety sets the neighborhood apart from the more uniform streets to the east. Lakewood Country Club is the landmark, an 18-hole championship course on Carson Street that anyone can book, with the Lakewood Tennis Center close by. On Dollar Street, Biscailuz Park covers the north side with basketball courts and a playground. Paramount Boulevard is the local main street. Carson Street adds a run of quick-service spots, and the Long Beach Exchange nearby puts a Whole Foods and The Hangar, a food hall, within a short drive. Driving is the default. Lakewood Boulevard runs along the east side as State Route 19, and the 405 and 710 freeways are both close, which makes the commute toward Long Beach or the ports easier than from the eastern half of the city. Bus lines run the main boulevards. The tradeoff is the neighbors. Inside the grid, though, the streets stay calm, and on a summer afternoon the pool at Bolivar Park and the first tee at the country club are the two busiest spots around.