This is the perfect weekend LA getaway 26 miles from the city. It's tucked away and offers beautiful mountain views. We could easily drive to Topanga State Park trails, Malibu and Cornell wineries, and local businesses without facing large amounts of traffic.
The Inn at the Seventh Ray is about a ten-minute drive down the mountain from the Airbnb, and the wineries are about 30 min away. You'll need to use Google Maps to get around because they are the most accurate. Lydia gives helpful instructions as well when you book the place.
You have to be comfortable with driving up steep, windy roads. I wasn't familiar with the area but eventually got the hang of it. The views were definitely rewarding. If you plan to rely on Uber from the Airbnb, there will usually be a 15 to 20-minute wait, and surprise road closures can affect travel time. Overall, driving around was not too bad.
When you first drive into the home's driveway, you might get a warm welcome from two four-legged superhosts, Ripper and Smokey.
Lydia was a great host, very responsive, and ensured everything was set for my birthday weekend.
P.S. It's in the home's description, but know there is no microwave and no tv. We can't speak for others, but we had no cell service. These potential issues were not a problem because we wanted to disengage. The WIFI was excellent, tho.