Introducing Pacific Palisades

Pacific Palisades feels like the lost City of Atlantis on land. Upon arrival, its dazzling hidden treasure quality is evident. Multi-million dollar homes pop out from the hilly, seaside landscape like 5,000-square-foot gems, outshining the stars who live in them (the likes of Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Kate Hudson). This secluded, upper-crust neighborhood has all the tranquility of the surrounding Pacific Ocean, yet it's not far from the crowded, caffeinated world.

When its rich and famous inhabitants decide to come up for air, they head west to Malibu, east to Brentwood, or southeast to Santa Monica for five-star dining or a brush with some hipsters at an eclectic cafe. On a lazy Sunday, the sophisticates keep the mileage on their Maseratis to a minimum - many of them congregate at The Village or The Highlands shopping center, where they sip cappuccinos and buy more Lacoste Polos.

The cache of goods in Pacific Palisades is endless. Scenic hiking trails wind through the mountains, hovering above the ocean and weaving alongside Sunset Blvd at points. Los Liones and Temescal Canyon are a couple prize trails. Catching the surf is always an enticing option. Beginners can take their longboards to Sunset Beach, while the hotdoggers battle for waves at Topanga.

Several large parks also lay in wait, perfect for a picnic, equipped to satisfy a scene from a Nora Ephron romance. As a bonus, Pacific Palisades provides a welcome escape from LA traffic, which seems a mythical discovery in itself.