Whittier

The vibrant and historically rich city of Whittier lies about 12 miles southeast of Los Angeles — far enough from the big city for those who prefer less traffic, but close enough to easily enjoy all the culture and entertainment offered in Downtown LA. Whittier thrives with city-based perks like restaurants and shopping and nature-centric amenities such as parks and hiking trails. Named for Quaker poet and abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier, the city offers a unique combination of convenient location, nearby outdoor areas and extensive shopping and dining opportunities. “It’s really a hidden gem. It’s quiet, the schools are great, and homes here really hold on to their value,” says Realtor Ruth Velazquez of Re/Max, who has lived and worked in the area for over 30 years. “It’s more of a generational town. You’ll see children and parents and grandparents all hanging out together at school events or community gatherings.” Whittier’s residential streets feature lots with attractive landscaping and well-maintained lawns, often offset by decorative walls or fencing. Many properties in town include large yards perfect for private pools or backyard patios. Backyard views of the San Gabriel Mountains are common. The area is divided into single-family homes, multifamily properties and apartments. There are multiple historic districts within Whittier, which feature an array of vintage houses. Styles include early 1900s Craftsmans and 1920s Spanish Revival bungalows with smooth stucco finishes and bright clay tile roofing. Extensive midcentury development led to a wide assortment of 1950s and later builds in the area. Home prices range from around $700,000 to $1 million. Public schools in the town generally score highly on public metrics. Leftingwell Elementary School has an A-minus on Niche, while Granada Middle School has a B-plus on the site. La Serna High School has an A grade as well as a 9-out-of-10 rating on GreatSchools. California High School has an A-minus rating on Niche, and has been named a California Distinguished School five times. Whittier residents have access to plenty of outdoor opportunities and popular hiking trails, most of them found in the hills north of town. Arroyo Pescadero Trail, Turnbull Canyon and Hellman Park Trail offer tons of hiking and biking opportunities. The neighborhood is also home to a number of well-maintained city parks like Parnell Park and Adventure Park, offering a standard assortment of recreational amenities. When it comes to retail and dining, there are plenty of options in and around the neighborhood. Shopping centers in the area are home to a number of major department stores like Target, Walmart and Home Depot, along with a variety of grocery stores, including Vallarta, Ralph’s, Trader Joe’s and others. While the local retail scene is dominated by big box stores, the local dining scene offers a number of highly-rated, locally owned options. Lascari’s Deli has arguably the most authentic Italian cuisine in town, while The Green Leaf Thai offers an extensive vegan-friendly menu. The Whittier Uptown Association hosts various annual events, including the Whittier Christmas Parade and the Uptown Whittier Car Show, which draw crowds from across the region. The city also celebrates cultural events such as the Dia de Los Muertos Art & Music Festival and the Whittier Pride Festival, reflecting the community's diversity. Whittier Boulevard connects the neighborhood to other parts of town, as well as nearby cities like Brea and Pico Rivera. Interstate 5, located a couple miles south of the neighborhood, offers a direct route to Downtown LA and Anaheim, though traffic during rush hour can be a bit of a problem. The neighborhood is served by a number of different bus routes running throughout east LA County. Getting to Anaheim requires a few transfers, and most residents commuting to Orange County rely on personal transportation.

The happening historical district of Uptown Whittier is just blocks from the Whittier College campus. With residential streets throughout, it's ideal for your long-term home. Bernadette Ramirez, a Realtor with PLF Real Estate Solutions, says, "It has a really nice vibe. It's like a downtown area, but they call it Uptown. You can walk to markets, eateries and shopping centers." <br><br>Along the residential streets, you'll see lovely landscaping and well-kept lawns, some set off by picket fences, palms or flowering trees. At one time a thriving citrus ranching area and the largest walnut grower in the nation, Whittier has been designated as a Tree City by the National Arbor Day Foundation since 1984. <br><br>The historical nature of Uptown Whittier expands to its homes. You'll see impressive vintage architecture, including late Victorians with distinctive wood trim and bay windows, early 20th-century Craftsmans with ample front porches and 1920s Spanish Revival homes finished with smooth stucco and clay tile roofs. In terms of midcentury builds, multiunits, like duplexes or apartment buildings, are most common. And some newer homes and condominiums round out the housing options. Ramirez says, "Prices start at $700,000 and go all the way up to $2 million." The lower price points include homes of less than 1,500 square feet.<br><br>Kids have various school options, including private or faith-based ones. Whittier Friends School, a Quaker establishment serving transitional kindergarten through sixth grade, incorporates peace studies and service projects. Public schools include Hoover Elementary and Dexter Middle, graded B- and B, respectively, by Niche. Whittier High, a Gold Ribbon School and Title I Academic Achievement Award winner, boasts an active theater department and athletics, including volleyball, water polo, wrestling and more. <br> <br>Just a few blocks east of Uptown Whittier is Whittier College, a private liberal arts college with over 30 majors and a graduate program in education. Founded in 1887, it has a U.S. president as an alumnus; Richard Nixon was a 1934 graduate. <br><br>Visit Central Park, where you can admire the statue of Quaker poet and abolitionist John Greenleaf Whittier, whom the city was named after. And you'll want to mark your calendar for events here; each May, there's Founders Day, presented by the city and the Whittier Historical Society. You're encouraged to wear period garb while enjoying local vendors, vintage vehicles on display and a beard and mustache competition. <br><br>There are tons of choices in Uptown Whittier when it comes to retail and dining. Ramirez recommends Azabu Sushi, which brings an LA vibe with upscale menu items like wagyu dumplings, truffle sashimi tacos and craft cocktails. Catina Urbana Kalveras pays homage to el Día de Los Muertos with colorful murals. Pick an entrée like Pasta a la Diabla, and don't miss the apple chimichanga for dessert.<br><br>In 2019, Whittier's first food hall, Poet Gardens, opened in the historic Nixon Building. With a brewery, wine bar and tasty choices like pizza, Indian food, tacos and ice cream, Poet Gardens enlivens the Whittier culinary scene. The Whittier Village Cinemas is a top spot for entertainment — you can see the newest movie releases — and there's reduced admission on bargain days. If it's a Friday and you need your dose of microgreens or a dozen eggs, check out the Uptown Whittier Farmers Market on the corner of Philadelphia Street and Bright Avenue. <br><br>Uptown Whittier is part of the Gateway Cities region, nicely placed between LA and Anaheim, so getting around is easy, with Interstate 605 to the west and State Route 72 toward the south. This dynamic district and historical residential neighborhood is delightful.

If you live in Mar Vista Heights, broad blue skies painted with wispy white clouds and grass skirts hanging from the tops of tall yellow-green fan palms span your horizon. The streets are wide and sloped with ample sidewalks, made in the postwar era of the automobile. The homes, too, evoke a midcentury spaciousness, ramblers, colonials and Spanish revivals set into the foothills like part of the scenery. Behind the houses, the arid and balmy Santa Ana Mountains rise up, an inescapable presence in this half-mile neighborhood on the east side of Los Angeles County. As Teresa Fuller, a Realtor with Compass, says, “There’s not a bad neighborhood on the Eastside of LA.” Mar Vista Heights is proof of that statement.<br><br>Homes in Mar Vista Heights are well-landscaped and kept, generally ranging from the high six figures to $1.5 million, with the occasional estate-like property listing for around $5 million. The midcentury ranch-style model is most common here. No two are alike, but all are attractive. A fruitful array of trees and shrubs grow in private and public spaces, especially behind those homes backing up to the mountains. Many of these ramblers have period details, such as exposed interior brick walls, fireplaces for the cold desert nights, and exterior tracery on windows and roof cornices. Prewar colonials remind one of the early California roots of this area. Quintessential wood siding, ornamental porticos and painted shutters mark the authenticity of these homes. Prewar Spanish revival mansions on over an acre of land also exist in these areas, preserved landmarks built for Golden Age Hollywood stars and featuring stone driveways, clay-tiled roofs, separate wings and arched terraces.<br><br>The land behind Mar Vista Heights is protected by the Puente Hills Habitat Preservation Authority, which manages 4,000 acres of wilderness in the Santa Ana Mountains in perpetuity. Trailheads connect to dead-end streets every few blocks. Central to Mar Vista Heights is the Arroyo Pescadero Trailhead, a 2-mile loop with 400 feet of elevation gain and sublime views, especially at sunset. Those seeking a tamer outdoor experience will enjoy Penn Park on the west side of the neighborhood, which blends natural features of the landscape, such as streams and native trees, with manmade recreational opportunities for children and adults. Mar Vista Heights is part of the City of Whittier, and a dynamic restaurant and culture scene is growing just a few blocks west of Mar Vista Heights around the campus of the liberal arts school Whittier College. Eater Magazine recommends Tacos y Que for quick, delicious tacos of all kinds and Poet Gardens, a massive food hall and craft beer brewery space in a renovated prewar Beaux-Arts building once owned by Bank of America. A Trader Joe’s on nearby Whittier Boulevard serves the neighborhood alongside dozens of businesses, large and small.<br><br>Public schools in and around Mar Vista Heights are highly ranked on the school rankings website Niche. On the site, Ocean View Elementary School was given an overall A-minus, and East Whittier Middle School earned a B-plus. La Serna High School is ranked among the top 50 magnet schools in the state and received an A. Downtown Los Angeles is just 15 miles to the west, and residents can hop on the 605 Freeway just a few miles away and connect to any of the major local freeways. Those staying in Whittier can take advantage of the city’s expansive greenway system, which allows residents to get around surprisingly well on pedal power alone. The Los Angeles County Metro system runs bus lines through the neighborhood, as do the cities of Norwalk and Montebello. Mar Vista Heights is close enough to the city to feel relevant but situated just high and far enough away to be able to feel like you live in the mountains.