BY: KARINA ANASTASIA ROCHE
With this year’s unusual March rains behind us, April is only days away, and the air in Southern California is lively with the scent of spring. While the early spring months are amongst the best times to visit Los Angeles–crowds are only just starting to pick up, and you’ll avoid a potential summer hot spell–we wanted to take some time to highlight specific attractions in Topanga Canyon that make springtime our favorite time of year.
1. Topanga Festivals
This one deserves a separate post altogether, but this list would be incomplete without at least a sampler of the multitude of festivals and events that take place at Topanga’s community center. Less than five minutes from the inn, the Topanga Community Center hosts the annual Topanga Days in May, over Memorial Days weekend, a fair whose flavor is as much hippie as it is country. The center also attracts locals and travelers with its frequent dance fairs, and other music and lifestyle fests. You can visit their site to browse for more events, although many occasions are announced with a colorful and funky painted roadside sign.
2. Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum Plays
Starting in March, the famous and whimsical outdoor theatre and botanical gardens begin selling tickets for their plays. While the theatre made a name for itself by producing and recreating Shakespeare’s work, they often feature more modern or contemporary plays. Springtime is the best for this event, as the weather is just right for sitting outdoors for a couple of hours. If you’re staying with us at the Topanga Canyon inn, ask us for some complimentary beach towels to bring with you–the seats can be hard! Also only five minutes from the Topanga Canyon Inn, this is a great event to attend just before or after dinner. You can check their schedule here.
3. Wildflower blooms
After the winter rains, the hills in Southern California turn a vibrant green for a couple of months before the heat waves begin. The late March, April, and May months are also the perfect time to see Topanga fill with colorful blooms. Take a hike in Topanga State Park and to the native wildflowers in this annual display of color. If you are staying with us at the Topanga Canyon Inn, you can leave your car parked in the driveway and hike up to the park entrance: it’s only a third of a mile away!
4. Horseback riding & mountain biking in Topanga Canyon
Alternately, enjoy the greenery, wildflowers, and delightful ocean breezes on horseback. L.A. Horseback Riding provides romantic and scenic hikes for couples or the whole family. Or, if you prefer to travel on wheels, go for a rugged mountain bike in the state park: Topanga Creek Outpost rents high-quality mountain bikes and features Saturday morning rides every week. With the gorgeous weather that graces Topanga Canyon this time of year–romantic foggy mornings, breezy and warm days, and cool but fresh evenings–there is really no better time to traverse the trails.
5. Bird-watching
Did you know that Topanga Canyon alone is home to over 40 species of birds? Don’t forget to bring your bird-book and binoculars! The Topanga mountains come to life in the spring with the sound of chirping and singing. Even if you’ve had enough hiking for the day, relax on one of our balconies and watch the birds come to you: whether fluttering about one of our bird-feeders or singing from a telephone wire, birds are everywhere this time of year.
Oh, and if you hear a loud sound that some guests have described as a crying cat: that’s one of Topanga’s semi-wild peacocks that roam the neighborhood freely in the springtime. Sometimes they even waltz right up into our driveway and perch on our walls!
There is no better time to visit Topanga than in spring. For the perfect serene vacation away from the spring break crowds, or even a rejuvenating “staycation” that feels much farther than it really is, book your room now and escape to the nature of Topanga Canyon. You might just forget you’re only minutes from Los Angeles.