I came to L.A. for a family wedding and wanted to stay in a central location near excellent hiking and the Malibu beaches, and in close proximity to LAX. Topanga Retreat was terrific! I highly recommend reading Drew's guidebook when you arrive. Below are some of the activities and places I went based on the guidebook. - Cafe Mimosa. The coffee drinks and quiche are lovingly made and delicious. - Inn of the Seventh Ray. A beautiful creekside location with gourmet food. It is terribly romantic, but I went there by myself and had a lovely evening (so not just for couples!). It truly is rustic elegance! They have an abundance of heaters on the patio, where most of the tables are located, but you may want to pack a sweater or light jacket just in case. I felt perfectly at ease wearing jeans and a nice blouse. - Topanga State Park. Park at Trippett Ranch, which is a few miles away from Topanga Retreat, and hike up to Eagle Rock (maybe about 2 hours up and 1 hour down). Beautiful vistas and a moderate difficulty hike. Everyone warned me about rattlesnakes, but I didn't see a single snake on my hike. - Malibu Riders. They were able to fit me in at the last minute for an afternoon trail ride through Western Town at Paramount Ranch. Very affordable and lots of fun; maybe about a 30 minute drive from Topanga Retreat. - Malibu Lagoon State Beach. I picked this beach because it has a great parking lot where you can pay by the hour ($3) or half/full day parking. There are probably more scenic beaches in Malibu, but those beaches have very little parking available. - Santa Monica Pier. A must-see, especially if you have children, go to the pier after leaving the airport and heading to Topanga Retreat (it's on the way and an easy stop). Check the hours if you want to ride the rides - the pier is open 24-7, the pier rides and games are not. - Go to Canyon Gourmet and pick up wine, artisan cheese and meats, and other provisions. Topanga Retreat is easy to reach, minus the 1 mile up a windy canyon road (don't worry, you get used to it after the first few trips up the road; just go slow around the curves). Park on the side of the road in front of Topanga Retreat; you will need to master a 3 point turn either in the intersection or in someone's driveway down the street. The space is very nice - perfect for singles or couples. While small, it has everything you need and a beautiful view. It is also very clean. There are only two things to remember - Drew wants the decorative pillows properly stored on a shelf when not on the bed and don't eat in bed. Drew is very hospitable - he was there to greet me, available to answer any questions, but otherwise left me...