Encino

Located in the San Fernando Valley just to the north of the Santa Monica Mountains, Encino is an upscale neighborhood of quiet, tree-lined streets with large single-family homes and apartment complexes. It's unique since it has the largest number of residents of Iranian and Russian ancestry in the United States. It's also home to a number of celebrities.

Unlike some of the other San Fernando Valley communities, which can be quite bland, Encino has a vibrant shopping and dining scene, with hundreds of restaurants and stores. And when you're feeling sporty, you can head down to the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area where you can play a round of golf or some cricket or ride on one of the bike paths. There are also plenty of athletic fields and a play area for kids.

Encino has several excellent schools. It's also got easy access to two major highways, the 101 and 405, so getting up the coast for a weekend in Santa Barbara or over the mountains to all the LA's Westside has to offer is a breeze.

Encino is bordered on the west by Tarzana, on the north by the Sepulveda Basin park, on the east by Sherman Oaks, and on the south by Brentwood.