I visited my cousin a few days ago in Santa Clarita. Here are my impressions of the area:

A Pattern

1. I see most people driving in neighborhoods and around local commercial areas; this seems like the kind of place that calls a walking spirit. The roads are twisty, the elevations change often, and they butt up against beautiful mountains and valleys — a walker could stop a hundred times and appreciate nature, a driver drives through.
2. I see Miami in most places — beautiful looking sidewalks, lawns, houses, people, food. Everything looks beautiful, but there’s little depth underneath. Restaurants, shopping, homes, cars — all surface.
3. Lots of chain restaurants. A few Mexican-inspired places — places serving margaritas, and basic “Mexican” fare like burritos. Pubs served “cuban sandwiches” on wheat sandwich bread alongside “umami fries” which were french fries with seaweed sprinkles. Faux farm-to-table places served basic wraps with greens and all kinds of teas with soft wood interiors and servers with aprons with leather decorations at higher prices. I enjoy off the beaten path places that look public health questionable that serve a few amazing dishes and at reasonable prices, and Santa Clarita is not the place for that.
4. The architecture reminds me of Miami and Miami Lakes — Spanish villa look. But not as gaudy as Miami. Tamer than Miami. Even the gaudiness is restrained, lacking Miami’s full-throated commitment to excess.
5. Temperature swings! Started off nice and warm, pleasant, and nights got a bit chilly. Not chilly enough to put on heat, but chilly enough that a light blanket offers comfort. So not too hot, not too cold… pleasant to be in, lacking intensity to be remarkable.

Three Exceptions

1. Nature offered no shortage of depth and demand for respect. I felt awe hiking in the valleys and up large hills.
2. Faith, a restaurant server, demonstrated refreshing depth on first contact. She immediately wanted to get past small talk and into deep topics with my cousin and me, to the extent a restaurant server could. Our meal ended with laughs and a group hug! Other interactions with non-family were transactional, as expected — which made Faith even more refreshing.
3. Huntington Gardens — an oasis of depth in a desert of shallow. Beautiful art and culture exhibits. I loved the gardens. I could spend all day walking there. We enjoyed Chinese food at a restaurant on the premises. 10/10 recommend.

Two extraneous observations of depth:

1. Flying in to Burbank and out of LAX (assuming a late morning flight) is ideal. Traffic is light, and travel times are not anxiety inducing.
2. The drive to and from Santa Clarita to Burbank or Los Angeles is beautiful. Would repeat.

Would I go back to Santa Clarita again? Yes, to visit my cousin.

Yes, if I was going to hike and understood I was trading away depth of food and other cultural interests.

No, if I was going to spend time in a city where I could enjoy its quirks, experience the richness of its community, and feel transported to somewhere else. Santa Clarita doesn’t do that for me. It is a beautiful looking place seated in a deeply beautiful environment.

Last modified on 2026-01-29