Last month we reported on the “Cruise In” event that takes place every Sunday morning in Calabasas, in the parking lot of a shopping center just past the intersection of Mulholland Drive and Calabasas Road. This month we report on different drives that can be taken after you leave that “Cruise In” event.
One set of drives takes you to Malibu. There are any number of routes to take that will get you from Calabasas, over the hills and into Malibu, from the scenic and easy-driving to the hair-raising. For a scenic and easy-driving experience, take the 101 Freeway North to Kanan Road and take Kanan Road over the hills to Pacific Coast Highway. While on Kanan Road, you will be drive up and down sweeping roads, go through a magnificent tunnel and then the Pacific Ocean will loom into view when you’re high in the hills, a truly majestic sight. Once on PCH, head south and go to any number of fine dining places, like the Beaurivage, Chart House or Gladstones, with the latter two places offering great views of the water. Driving time is highly dependent on traffic.
You can get from Malibu back to Santa Clarita a couple of different ways. One way is to take PCH to the 10 Freeway, heading East to the 405 Freeway, and taking the 405 North to the 5 North and back into Santa Clarita. That drive seems a bit boring though. A more scenic route would be to go back up PCH to Kanan Road, taking Kanan Road back to the 101 Freeway and head North to Highway 23. You can take Highway 23 to the 118 Freeway, heading East to the 405 North. Again, driving time will highly depend on traffic.
Another set of drives from Calabasas takes you to Ojai. There are different ways to get to Ojai from Calabasas. We prefer the following route. Take the 101 North to Highway 33 North. At the outskirts of Ojai, Highway 33 turns into Ojai Avenue if you go straight (if you go left you get back on the 33 North). So stay straight and take Ojai Avenue right into Ojai. This is a nice relaxing drive, and the closer you get to Ojai on Highway 33, the more you feel like you’re out in the country. It should take a little over an hour, if there is no traffic. While in Ojai get out and walk around. It is a nice town, with all sorts of antique shops, clothing stores and other things to see or plan ahead and reserve a spa treatment at one of the several high-end spa resorts in Ojai. Either agenda will make for a nice late-morning/early afternoon experience.
Getting from Ojai back to Santa Clarita is easy and takes less than an hour. You can take a nice, relaxing drive out the back of Ojai — Ojai Avenue turns into Ojai Road, take Ojai Road to Highway 126 and take Highway 126 right back into Santa Clarita.
Either the Malibu experience or the Ojai experience is a fun time after spending a couple of hours looking at exotic cars at the “Cruise In” in Calabasas on a Sunday morning. It all depends on what mood you’re in that day — sand and surf or country living. Either way, enjoy!