Nearby is an area we’ve discovered called Mandeville Canyon. This area leads to a great park with some beautiful and family-friendly hiking through the Santa Monica Mountains.

While we didn’t make it all the way to the top either time (we’ve gone 2 weekends in a row!)…we still enjoyed the beautiful views. Just breathtaking sights around every bend. It was dusty, sunny and warm…and the contrast between the city and nature is very cool. You definitely feel as though you’re away from it all while there.

Max enjoys the hike from his Sherpani that Eric gets to tote on his back (and Max is no lightweight!) and I provide Ethan’s chariot…our old jogger that is now covered with a few layers of dirt. I tell ya…pushing that sucker uphill with a 40 pound kid makes for a good workout. Thankfully, Ethan walks about 25% of the uphill hike — and most of the downhill hike. I don’t think he appreciates the hike as much as Eric and I do, but he does enjoy visiting with the puppies that make the hike with their owners and tossing rocks when we stop to take a break as evidenced here:

The photos don’t do the views justice, and unfortunately, the marine layer blocks a good view of the coast, but hopefully you’ll still enjoy the photos.