Hike the scenic trails in Topanga State Park or Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. A short drive from The Eden, the area offers hiking trails for a range of recreation levels, providing coastal or canyon views for a quiet escape from the city.

Learn about the history of Santa Monica and Los Angeles County at the local history centers. Housed at the local public library, the Santa Monica History Museum offers dynamic exhibitions, events, and workshops about the region’s history from its indigenous Tongva roots to its growth as a coastal California town. The nearby California Heritage Museum hosts everything from food truck bazaars to exhibitions about surfing. The museum is housed in the First Roy Jones House, owned by the son of Santa Monica’s founder, John Percival Jones.

Explore the long heritage of Los Angeles County through its emblematic ranch houses. Built in 1818, Ávila Adobe is the oldest standing residence in Los Angeles city. Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens was built in 1834 on one of the first Spanish land grants in the region, now present-day Long Beach, while the Will Rogers State Park preserves the legacy of the beloved ranch that once stood on its grounds.