From the city to the beach: LA's scenic Mulholland Highway

Mulholland Drive intersects with Laurel Canyon Boulevard, which was the place for counterculture musicians and artists to live in the 1960s. Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, the Doors, Crosby Stills and Nash, Carole King, and more lived in this area... and a lot of them frequented the Canyon Country Store, a deli/market that still looks like it's stuck in the Summer of Love. Grab a sandwich, road trip supplies, or a quick espresso and soak up the retro vibes.

If Mulholland Drives immediately makes you think of David Lynch's neo-noir psychological thriller/mystery film, then this stop is for you. If you've seen Lynch's TV series Twin Peaks, you might find that the landscape looks familiar. That's because the where the entrance to the Black Lodge was filmed here. The location for the entrance to the Black Lodge in the show is described as being in Glastonberry Grove, within the Ghostwood National Forest, at a pool of some kind of substance that smells like scorched engine oil and which is surrounded by 12 young sycamore trees. Whew. Now, I personally wouldn't be too eager to visit the Black Lodge itself, as it's pretty nightmare-ish, but the filming location in the Santa Monica Mountains is pretty cool to stop by and see.

Just off Mulholland, you'll pass by the Skirball Cultural Center, a gorgeous institution dedicated to Jewish culture and heritage. Visit to explore their various rotating exhibits that cover topics on everything from "Visions and Values" to "Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsberg" (open October 2018). There's a Noah's Ark-themed children's museum, a great little museum shop, and a cafe where you can order everything from blintzes and borscht to pizza and sandwiches.

Another great park for a quick hike is Summit Valley Edmund D. Edelman Park. Grassland, forests of oak, steep canyons, bubbling creeks, rolling hills and more show the diversity of the landscape in the Santa Monica Mountains, and you can experience all of it in its rugged glory. Trails, parking, public restrooms, and picnic tables make this quiet park a hidden gem.

Mulholland winds its way near the community of Calabasas. Not too far off your route is one of the town's most interesting icons. This gorgeous Hindu temple to the god Venkateswara is a popular spot for followers of Hinduism in Southern California. It's built in the South Indian style, and it offers various services and tours. It's free to enter and look around (although they do accept donations), and you can stop by their office for a brouchure of information. Just remember to follow their rules and dress code if you do drop by!

Another must-stop is Malibu Creek State Park. This lush landscape features miles and miles of hiking trails through sycamore woodlands on chaparral-covered slopes, along streams, and past volcanic rock gorges and scenic pools. Views of valleys and canyons and mountains make for some stunning scenery. There's even a campground if you're looking for an escape into nature that's still close to the city. You can also delve into the region's past here at the park's Sepulveda Adobe and Mott Adobe Ruins, both tributes to the Chumash tribe that occupied the land. And, bonus, the land has come from the estates of Bob Hope, Ronald Reagan, and 20th Century Fox; Planet of the Apes and MAS*H number among the productions filmed here.

Not to keep harping on the filming locations thing, but this is LA, and you can't throw a rock without hitting movie history. The Paramount Movie Ranch unit of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is still an active film set, but it's open to visitors who want to stop by and see a movie being made. It's played host to famous figures from Bob Hope to Sandra Bullock. According to its website, "It offered filmmakers the freedom to create distant locales such as colonial Massachusetts in The Maid of Salem (1937), ancient China in The Adventures of Marco Polo (1938), a South Seas island in Ebb Tide (1937) and numerous western locations including San Francisco in Wells Fargo (1937)."

Make a point to stop by the Western Town, which was built in the 1950s and has been used in countless Westerns... and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. There are plenty of hiking and biking trails to explore as well!

As the road nears Malibu, you start to enter wine country. If you go more for the funky, artsy scene, make a stop at the Cornell Winery & Tasting Room. The historic property has peacocks roaming it and lovely outdoor seating, and they're almost as much of an artsy little gift shop as they are a winery, which creates a totally unique atmosphere where you can enjoy some vino. And we can't talk about a winery without mentioning the wine, which is excellent. Light whites, luscious pinot noirs, and more are available to taste.

This tasting room is great if you're looking for an afternoon of relaxing and wine-tasting. They serve incredible wines from Semler and Saddlerock, allow you to pack a picnic of snacks, and always have fun events and guests-- yoga, karaoke, flower crown-making, and more. There's also, of course, a little shop with totally chic little bits and bobs. As a note, they reeeeally want you to reserve a table in advance-- it's not cheap, but the setting is totally Instagram-worthy. They even have a cute converted bus you can rent. You'll need to park at a lot at the Malibu Wine Safaris. There, you can pick up a free shuttle for the half-mile ride to the winery.