Travel Note
Topanga is where to stay if you want to be as close to the wedding venue as possible. Situated in the mountains, it's geographically North of Malibu with access to the coast and several mountain trails. Definitely a hidden gem of Los Angeles. A lush canyon-community, Topanga is nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains with a laid-back, artistic and outdoorsy vibe. Think bohemian-chic charm. There's a sense here of being removed from the hyper-urban side of LA, so if your goal is to feel more of a slower-paced, surrounded by nature vibe rather than the standard LA city experience, this is for you, and you'll be pretty close to the wedding venue. Click the button marked "view" below to see a wishlist of a few airbnbs that are near the wedding venue and were available at the time we added them. For those that have more than one bedroom, consider sharing with other wedding guests! Another option is the Topanga Canyon Inn Bed and Breakfast.
Travel Note
Woodland Hills and Calabasas (yes, that's where the Kardashians live) are the two nearest neighborhoods to Topanga, so are 'second-closest' to the wedding venue. Map any hotel you're considering to the address of The 1909 so that you have a good understanding of the distance between the two. Both are more those kinds of suburb-like neighborhoods you'd live in, not necessarily ones you'd choose to stay as a tourist. Choose these areas if you're not really interested in being in LA and are looking for something cheaper than Topanga Canyon. You would definitely end up renting a car if you stayed here, but honestly, you would probably do so in any neighborhood in Los Angeles, since it is such a spread-out city. Fun fact: Woodland Hills is where Ian lived before moving in with Nadia, and where he still works.
Travel Note
Venice and Santa Monica are where you would stay if you want a real feeling that you're in Los Angeles. Venice has a pretty touristy boardwalk/promenade, but also cool shopping streets like Abbott Kinney and, of course, the home-lined canals it was named for. Santa Monica, where you can still visit the Three's Company home, also has the Santa Monica pier, a wide and long beach, proximity to Malibu and lots of shopping. A little too manicured and mono-cultural for Nadia's personal taste as a neighborhood to live in, but a great place to visit with lots to do and great restaurants. Hot tip: Petitgrain Boulangerie has incredible French pastries- arguably the best in town.
Travel Note
We technically live in Hollywood, between WeHo and Hancock Park. It would probably take you something like 45 minutes to get to the wedding venue from here, depending on traffic. It's a great walkable part of LA, with some great restaurants, nightlife, comedy joints and shops. Several streets afford views of the Hollywood sign, and this is where Runyon Canyon is (hike-to-be-seen mountains with trails). WeHo is where you'll find famous gay LA spots like The Abbey and is the heart of gay LA. It is also very close to Beverly Hills (we are not huge Beverly Hills fans, but if you are, you can get there from here in about 10-15 minutes). Some iconic (but pricey) hotels here include The Magic Castle, Chateau Marmont (famous guests back in the day include Greta Garbo and Howard Hughes, and F. Scott Fitzgerald had a heart attack in the hotel's garden!) and the Roosevelt (where Charlie Chaplin was a regular at the bar, Marilyn Monroe lived for two years and Clark Gable and Carole Lombard are said to have kept a penthouse for their affair). You could always visit if you don't stay there!