An idyllic setting Enjoy a more relaxing side of Southern California KATHLEEN CURRY AND GEOFF GRIFFIN • FOR THE SPECTRUM & DAILY NEWS • PUBLISHED: AUGUST 17. 2010 4:55AM
One of the top reasons people visit Southern California is to enjoy the weather and beautiful atmosphere but once there it's easy to get stuck battling traffic and waiting in lines at theme parks. Some of the less well-known areas of Los Angeles are the best way to be able to feel like you've really gotten away to enjoy the climate and greenery. One of those areas is Westlake Village, which seems to be world away when relaxing on the patio of a bungalow overlooking beautiful Southern California landscaping, visiting a presidential library, driving to fine dining in a state park or soaking in the sun in a cabana next to a retro, circular pool. If amid the relaxation, mild temperatures and foliage you still feel the craving to hit your favorite spots in the City of Angels, you can take a drive to Beverly Hills, Hollywood, downtown or down famed Malibu Canyon Road to the beach. Presidential library, museum For those who enjoy U.S. history, try visiting the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley. No matter what your political leanings, you'll enjoy a walk through Air Force One, a recreation of the Oval Office, seeing a full panel of the Berlin Wall or viewing banners for all 44 of the nation's chief executives on Presidential Drive leading up to the museum. Refreshments are available in "The Ronald Reagan Pub," which the president originally visited in Ireland in 1984 and has since been purchased, torn down and then reassembled at the museum.
The museum is also home to a number of temporary exhibitions. Currently on display are a 60-foot-by-20-foot miniature recreation of the White House, as well as 35 motorcycles dating back to 1899 to show the history of the machine, including several used in Hollywood movies. The site is also the final resting place of America's 40th president and is marked by a memorial site. The museum will be the site of a number of activities, displays and events surrounding the 100th anniversary of Reagan's birth on Feb. 6, 2011. Presidential accommodations Those who want to have a presidential theme to their vacation can do so by renting the Ronald Reagan Master Suite at Westlake Village Inn. The Reagan suite contains a number of photos that have never been published and various plaques with quotes from "The Great Communicator." Each stay includes a copy of the book, "The Reagan Diaries" and a jar of, what else, jelly beans. The Inn is nothing like the business-type, high-rise hotels one would find in busier areas but is instead a bungalow-style hotel sitting on 17 acres of plush landscaping surrounding a pond. All of the buildings are no more than two floors and all rooms have a patio or balcony, generally overlooking some of the many plush landscapes and water features on the property. Places to kick back and enjoy the scenery include a circular pool, a club overlooking a pond with a fountain and numerous garden and rose-filled arches and walkways. Guests can also enjoy a dish of rigatoni Bolognese or plate of homemade flat bread with touches of pesto and ricotta pulled from the wood burning stove all while in the evening breeze with a view of the pond on the back deck of Mediterraneo, a restaurant on the property of the Inn. Dining gone wild Saddle Peak Lodge, nestled in the hills of Malibu Creek State Park, is the place to find wild game dishes, including gazelle, New Zealand elk, Nebraska buffalo and ostrich.
Even though the game is wild, it is served in an elegant atmosphere along with some civilized gourmet accompaniments, side dishes and desserts. The 100-year-old lodge, surrounded by beautiful flowers and trees, is believed to have started as a Pony Express stop, became a hangout for movie stars such as Charlie Chaplin and Errol Flynn who were often filming outdoor scenes in the area and is now a restaurant full of history, memorabilia and even ghost stories. Southern California at its finest can be found outside of the big city and busiest beaches while unwinding in an idyllic setting - all while still within easy reach of L.A.'s famous landmarks.
INFO BOX Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum Where: 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, Calif.. Phone: 805-577-4400. Website: www.reaganfoundation.org. Westlake Village Inn Where: 31943 Agoura Road, Westlake Village, Calif. Phone: 800-535-9978. Website: www.westlakevillageinn.com. Mediterraneo Restaurant Where: 32037 Agoura Road, Westlake Village, Calif.
Phone: 818-889-9105. Website: www.med-rest.com. Saddle Peak Lodge Where: 419 Cold Canyon Road, Calabasas, Calif. Phone: 818-222-3888. Website: www.saddlepeaklodge.com.