Santa Clarita, California

The Santa Clarita Valley is a great place to visit - for a day or a lifetime. This area named as one of the Top Ten Best Places to Live in the United States. The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. Some of the communities within the SCV include the city of Santa Clarita, which is made up of Canyon Country, Newhall, Saugus, and Valencia. Lying nestled in the high desert of Southern California, Santa Clarita Valley has typically a dry and hot climate during the summer months i.e., from July to September. Temperature hovers in high 70s and occasional showers occur in the spring, fall and winter seasons. Sedimentary rocks dating back to 30 and 1.75 Million of years make up most of the valley. Carpeting the floor of valley is alluvial soil coming from streams and rivers. Southern California’s oldest rocks can be found barely few miles away. Dating as far back as 1.68 billion of years, the rocks form a portion of the San Gabriel Basement Complex. Even the appearance of the valley is unusual. The valley of Santa Clarita was shallower and broader in the early Pleistocene. The upheaval responsible for Coast Ranges was also behind the older valley’s floor dissection, traces of which remain visible to this day in the numerous stream terraces alongside the canyons. But all mountains did not come up at the same time. A large number of hotels can be found in the Santa Clarita Valley, all of them having their location off Interstate 5. They are at the center in terms of the golf courses, shopping and dining establishments. A fault in the valley extends till Placerita Canyon, summit on Sierra Highway & SR-14 close to Golden Valley Road, past Magic Mountain Parkway close to Bouquet Junction, past the industrial hub to run sub parallel to one to five from Castaic north. San Andreas Fault is also a major fault across the area by around 15 miles to north. Nevertheless, it has the potential to cause great devastation in the event of a strong earthquake. It passes through Cajon Pass, San Bernardino, Wrightwood, Palmdale, Devils Punchbowl, and Leona Valley, below Frazier Park & near the western brim of Great Central Valley. The segment broke for last time in 1857, rupturing from Parkfield for over two hundred miles right up to San Bernardino. The estimated fault decline is at around 309 feet. With a host of intriguing educational activities, a visit to the Santa Clarita Valley ideally requires renting a car for the journey. Some of best known tourist destinations are within an hour of SCV: Universal Studios, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, beaches, mountains, winter ski resorts, wineries, and Valencia orange groves.

Things to do in Santa Clarita

The first and only Extreme Park in the world, the Six Flags Magic Mountain promises an extreme experience. In 2003 the Extreme Park outdid itself bettering its status in the Guinness Book world record as the theme park with the maximum number of coasters in the world when it launched SCREAM, its Sweet 16 roller coaster. Renowned the world over for being a thrill ride haven, the theme park is spread across 260 acres with more than 100 rides, games and other family attractions. A family entertainment center, Mountasia offers out of the world attractions for kids of all ages. You can tee off Miniature Golf, speed with Go Karts and make a splash in Bumper Boats, apart from swinging it in the softball and baseball Batting Cages, choose from almost 100 Video and Redemption Games, scale the 20’ Rock Wall and play lazer tag in the city themed LazerDome. In addition there are also great many community swimming pools in particular, the new Aquatics Center that offers a zero-depth entry in the children’s pool. Horseback riding comes with sunset rides with a western dinner to follow, Michael Jackson’s tigers now being housed at Shambala and Melody Ranch movie studio requiring appointments through the week, are other major highlights. Family fun and group activities make the Greens at Valencia a great prospect. Real grass on a number of courses to choose from redefines the concept of miniature golfing at the Greens. The Gimme Grill is also an exciting venue for food and entertainment where all you need to bring with you is the mood for fun. At the Heritage Junction and William S. Hart Park and Museum, visitors can feast their eyes on the estate of the silent film legend. There are also historical structures like the Saugus Train Station located nearby. Of historic significance, the Oak of the Golden Dream is where the first discovery of gold in California was made. Visitors are also welcomed at the Big House in Mentryville, a Victorian mansion with 13 rooms. Charles Alexander Mentry had made it his third Santa Clarita Valley Home in 1898, two years after which he passed away.

List of attractions:

Six Flags: Magic Mountain Prepare your self for the Thrill Capital of the World located right down the road from Santa Clarita in Los Angeles, California. Six Flags offers an abundance of rides great for those seeking thrills with 15 awesome roller coasters, for the family, or just for kids and so much more. The adventure park also has fun interactive shows for the whole family as well.  There's plenty of Restaurants to fill your rumbling' tummy and don't forget to stop at the great gift shops for a souvenir before you leave. Ed Davis Park The park was named after the former Senator Ed Davis who defended the preservation of Towsley Canyon. Some great scenery to see through out the park are Towsley Creek, and spectacular water-worn rock formations in Towsley Gorge and great hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian use trails for you to enjoy the different habitats of the park. St. Francis Dam The 600-foot-long, 185-foot-high St. Francis Dam started in August 1924 and was completed in was in May 1926 until it came crashing down 2 years later. The Dam's gushing water killed over 600 people through the St. Francisquito Canyon and wipping out everything in its path. The dam was immediately rebuilt to what is called the Mullholland Dam. Six Flags: Hurricane Harbor In the beautiful city of Los Angeles just miles away from Santa Clarita is LA's premier waterpark. Six Flags has over 23 great slides for the whole family whether you like to get your adrenaline pumping or just relax and cruise in the sun on the Lazy River. They also offer amazing rides and play areas for the little ones. California has the perfect weather to spend all day splashing around. Santa Clarita’s attractions are not limited to these and there’s a lot more on offer that draws visitors in droves every year to this enchanting destination.

Santa Clarita Food & Wine

Here you will find an extensive list of Santa Clarita and Valencias best restaurants. Egg Plantation 24415 Walnut St., Santa Clarita (661) 255-8222 eggplantation.com Serves 101 different omelettes and serves breakfast all day until 2 p.m. Eye-openingly good coffee from local roaster Newhall Coffee Roasters. Thelma’s Morning Café 22876 Copper Hill Dr., Santa Clarita (661) 263-8283 Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The “pop” of this mom-and-pop operation, Luis Diaz, was a chef at Wolfgang Puck’s Chinois on Main in Santa Monica for more than 20 years. Best bets: eggs Benedict and French toast for breakfast, burgers for lunch or dinner, and an array of Asian-style appetizers such as pot stickers and spare rib tips in hoisin sauce (in other words, Chinois-style apps without the Chinois-style price tag). Rattler’s Bar B Que 26495 Golden Valley Rd., Santa Clarita (661) 251-4195 rattlersbbq.com Rattler’s is a Santa Clarita institution; it opened in 1988 and recently moved to a new shopping center in Canyon Country. The baby back ribs are tender and meaty; the “famous shredded onions” are freshly cooked, crisp and flavorful. The free garlic rolls are legendary, but don’t fill up on them. Maru Sushi 24250 Town Center Dr., Santa Clarita (661) 290-2595 maruvalencia.com Located in the open-air section of the Westfield Valencia Town Center shopping mall, Maru is a little gem, serving connoisseur-level sushi, Japanese cuisine and a full menu of market-fresh California cuisine based on ingredients from the Santa Monica Farmers Market, where chef-owner Jason Park shops weekly. For a treat, sit at the sushi bar and let the chefs serve you omakase-style. Santa Clarita has gone mad for wine bars; the city currently boasts five and counting (a sixth, Roman Holiday, is scheduled to open later this year). In general, the by-the-glass selections tend not to be as adventuresome as you might find in Los Angeles, but there are some interesting bottles to share. Check out: All Corked Up 26340 Diamond Place, Santa Clarita (661) 799-7979 allcorkedup.com Tucked away in an unprepossessing industrial park near the center of Santa Clarita (thank heavens for GPS), All Corked Up is a wine bar, wine storage facility and wine shop under one roof. Frequent special events make this a mecca for local wine lovers.

Valencia Wine Co.
24300 Town Center Dr., Santa Clarita
(661) 254-9300
valenciawine.com

One of several wine bars located in and around the Westfield Valencia Town Center, Valencia Wine Co. offers a wide selection by the bottle, so it’s a good spot to meet friends after a hard afternoon slogging through the mall.

Wine 661
24268 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita
(661) 288-2980
wine661.com

An intimate wine bar in the Whole Foods shopping plaza, 661 offers many hard-to-find California labels (Flowers pinot noir, Turley zinfandel) as well as a limited selection of cheeses and appetizers. Behind the bar is a nitrogen wine storage/serving unit to keep opened bottles fresh.

Lastly, Santa Clarita (Newhall specifically) is home to one of the last of an endangered species: the cookbook store.

Cookbooks Plus
24267 Main St., Santa Clarita
(661) 296-4455
cookbooksplus.com

 

Santa Clarita Real Estate

Buying or selling homes is no more a cumbersome job with Santa Clarita Real Estate. You can find a real estate agent in Santa Clarita who will help you estimate the value of your home or property in the city. You can also get the latest price updates on Santa Clarita homes from Santa Clarita Real Estate.

Pricing of your home may be exclusively on price per sq ft. Though this is an industry specified way to calculate the price of a home, several other tangible aspects also go along while calculating it. Average price per sq ft in your vicinity should be the basis to set the price of your home.

Space is often measured on a consistent basis by the commercial real estate owners in Santa Clarita, so they follow BOMA’s (Building Owners and Managers Association) guidelines. Always remember to check all guidelines before you go ahead with buying property with the help of real estate agents. So, you don’t fall in to some legal hassle or end up in paying up for the space that you’ll never have.

You can easily acquire a three-bedroom home, in Los Angeles County, and above 1,500 sq ft at a price starting at above $500,000. Large, five-bedroom homes and 200 sq ft are available at a price that starts near $700,000.

Whether it’s about leasing vs. buying the real estate from cash perspective or the more obvious perspective of needs like expansion possibilities and long term space requirements, Santa Clarita Real Estate offers numerous benefits to you. While both the options offer different sets of benefits, leasing is more beneficial option for startups than buying. You can also pre-qualify for a home loan in Santa Clarita.

Buying or selling real estate is an extremely safe and simple task with Santa Clarita Real Estate.

Quality of Life

EDUCATION
The Valley's 50 child-care facilities provide a full range of programs; preschool, cooperative, school age, year round, infant, parent-toddler, kindergarten and special education.
For primary and secondary education, the Valley has six public school districts that include 21 elementary schools, three junior high schools, five senior high schools and an adult education school. There are also private schools.
The senior high schools have college preparatory and career curriculums, as well as programs for students with special needs.
Valley student overall, consistently score high on statewide academic tests, putting area schools among the top 20% in the state. On the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), local students score well above the national and state averages. And more than 70% of those who graduate high school go on to four year or community colleges.
The Valley itself has three institutions of higher learning: California Institute of the Arts, the nations first fully accredited, four year visual and performing arts college; The Master's College, a Christian-oriented four year liberal arts college; and College of the Canyons, a fully accredited two year community college.

HEALTHCARE
The major medical centers serving the Valley rank with the best of any large city. Using the latest medical techniques and technologies, they provide the full spectrum of diagnostic, acute care and trauma services. For example, the Valley's 250-bed Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital offers comprehensive patient care and many special services like birthing, a cancer center, emergency outpatient surgery, woman's health and adult day care.
The Valley also has walk-in medi-centers and clinics that provide professional, inexpensive care for minor emergencies and work related injuries.

RECREATION
When it comes to recreation, the Valley has it all. Along with a wealth of federal, state, county and city parks, residents can enjoy tennis, racquetball, bowling, hiking, camping, bicycling, horseback riding, jogging, walking and much, much more.
Lake Castaic and five other Valley lakes are ideal for water-skiing, boating, swimming, fishing and other water sports.
And back on land, the Valley boasts two championship golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park, Saugus Speedway, Placerita Park and Nature Center (live animal exhibits), the Saugus Train Museum and the YMCA.
Beyond the Valley are still more recreational opportunities. The Pacific Ocean and its broad, sandy beaches are less than 60 minutes away by car. And some of the state's most popular ski resorts are within a two hour drive.

RELIGION
The Valley has more than 60 places of worship encompassing most religious beliefs.

ORGANIZATIONS
Throughout the Valley are nearly 200 clubs and organizations for people of all ages and interests.

SENIOR LIVING
Seniors can choose from apartment complexes, retirement facilities, mobile home parks and a complete community exclusively for retirees.

CULTURE
The Los Angeles area is rich in world-class museums, concerts, galleries, theaters and other cultural activities. In the Valley, California Institute of the Arts stages a wide variety of concerts and theatrical productions.

Hotels

General Info

Santa Clarita ranks fourth among the largest cities of Los Angeles Country, California, United States. Incorporation was carried out in 1987 unifying existing communities like Saugus, Valencia, Canyon Country, Newhall and parts Castaic.

Location-wise, the city of Santa Clarita lies 35 miles northwest to downtown LA (Los Angeles) and it is spread over a 46.70 square mile area, a portion of the nearly 200-square miles that the Valley of Santa Clarita covers. This makes Santa Clarita largest city in geographical terms in Los Angeles. This city falls to the south of Sierra Pelona range of mountains and to the north of mountain ranges or Santa Susanna and San Gabriel between State Highway 14 and Interstate 5. . Santa Clarita has a mild climate typically Southern California Mediterranean.

The 2005 California Department of Finance estimate put the population of the city at 167,954. Located around 35 miles northwest of downtown LA, it makes up a greater portion of the Santa Clarita Valley. It can be considered a classic US edge city or boom burb. It has earned the FBI’s rating of being the sixth safest city in the entire country with inhabitants in excess of 100,000.

While Santa Clarita is favorable to business development, it also has a responsible attitude towards the environment and is thus a safe and hospitable place for families and businesses alike. California Business magazine has described it as the second best mid-sized city for business dealings. The view of City & State magazine is of Santa Clarita is in the top five up-and-coming cities across the United States.

There is no dearth of attractions that Santa Clarita offers to delight the entire family. With amusement parks, lakes, parks and golf courses, each member of the family has something to look forward to. The community is said to be among the best-kept secrets of California.

Making a comeback to LA County after almost 100 years is the lost art of wine making. The Santa Clarita Valley is the leading LA County region for growing the most premium wine grapes, thanks to a climate perfectly suited for grape growing.

Consequently, there is no dispute that the beautiful Santa Clarita is a dream destination for weekends and short holidays for entire families.

What to visit

The first and only Extreme Park in the world, the Six Flags Magic Mountain promises an extreme experience. In 2003 the Extreme Park outdid itself bettering its status in the Guinness Book world record as the theme park with the maximum number of coasters in the world when it launched SCREAM, its Sweet 16 roller coaster. Renowned the world over for being a thrill ride haven, the theme park is spread across 260 acres with more than 100 rides, games and other family attractions.

A family entertainment center, Mountasia offers out of the world attractions for kids of all ages. You can tee off Miniature Golf, speed with Go Karts and make a splash in Bumper Boats, apart from swinging it in the softball and baseball Batting Cages, choose from almost 100 Video and Redemption Games, scale the 20’ Rock Wall and play lazer tag in the city themed LazerDome.

In addition there are also great many community swimming pools in particular, the new Aquatics Center that offers a zero-depth entry in the children’s pool. Horseback riding comes with sunset rides with a western dinner to follow, Michael Jackson’s tigers now being housed at Shambala and Melody Ranch movie studio requiring appointments through the week, are other major highlights.

Family fun and group activities make the Greens at Valencia a great prospect. Real grass on a number of courses to choose from redefines the concept of miniature golfing at the Greens. The Gimme Grill is also an exciting venue for food and entertainment where all you need to bring with you is the mood for fun.

At the Heritage Junction and William S. Hart Park and Museum, visitors can feast their eyes on the estate of the silent film legend. There are also historical structures like the Saugus Train Station located nearby. Of historic significance, the Oak of the Golden Dream is where the first discovery of gold in California was made.

Visitors are also welcomed at the Big House in Mentryville, a Victorian mansion with 13 rooms. Charles Alexander Mentry had made it his third Santa Clarita Valley Home in 1898, two years after which he passed away.

Santa Clarita’s attractions are not limited to these and there’s a lot more on offer that draws visitors in droves every year to this enchanting destination.