Brentwood

Brentwood is primarily an upscale residential neighborhood that is wedged between Santa Monica on the west and Westwood on the east. Its northern boundary reaches up into the rugged Santa Monica Mountains all the way to Mulholland Drive, one of the most scenically beautiful drives in all of Los Angeles. This rugged area encompasses one of the Brentwood attractions that is at the top of the list of places to visit in all of Los Angeles—the prestigious Getty Center. Additionally, the village's western border abuts Topanga State Park, the beginning of a vast wilderness area that provides hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails.

There are some nice Brentwood hotels along the major streets of Wilshire Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard, and Santa Monica Boulevard; these mainly attract those people who are visiting students at nearby UCLA or neighboring Santa Monica. They don't normally come to enjoy the Brentwood attractions even though this quiet village does have some very interesting spots. Two of the nicer hotels that are located near the Getty Center are the Angeleno and the Luxe. The Angeleno is a landmark—one of the few remaining circular hotels from the 1960s and 1970s. Formerly a Holiday Inn, it has been turned into a hip, sleek, and deluxe hotel with spectacular views. Be aware that both these hotels are located fairly far from most of the major Los Angeles attractions, and you will really need a car rental to get to other areas. Things to do in Brentwood California include some subdued nightlife that is far removed from the wild party scene found in West Hollywood.

There are only a few things to do in Brentwood California that are actually in the small area of the village, but they are also well worth a stop if you are in the neighborhood. The Del Mano Gallery on San Vicente Boulevard is a respected art gallery that showcases up and coming artists and displays museum quality works. This prestigious gallery is one of the sponsors of the Arts and Crafts Fair held in the village twice a year. If you want to know when to go for these events, they are held in the autumn and spring.

Although the Brentwood residents do not encourage throngs of rubber necking sightseers in the residential areas, there are some lovely homes to be seen that are fascinating Brentwood attractions on these streets. The George D. Sturgis house is a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument, and was built in 1939 by Frank Lloyd Wright. It is the only Wright structure in southern California in the style that he called Usonian. It is a private residence, but you can still see good portions of its exterior from the street. Exercise discretion and courtesy, and local residents will be welcoming, as they are proud of this landmark. If you are interested, you can do a great one-day tour that includes all the Wright houses in the city. There are eight (including the Sturgis house) in the area, including Hollywood, Pasadena, Beverly Hills, and in the Los Angeles hills below the famous Hollywood sign. The Hollyhock house, just south of Griffith Park, is the only one open to the public for tours.

Other things to do in Brentwood California include dining and shopping. The village of Brentwood has some chic boutiques and shops and there are a number of good restaurants. The Brentwood Gardens Mall is unique in that it has three floors of outdoor shops with a palm-lined inner courtyard. One of the excellent Katsuya group of sushi restaurants is located on Brentwood's San Vicente Boulevard.