Chatsworth Review

When it comes to towns, Chatsworth, California... is alright, I guess. I've lived here my entire life, and bar a few instances of traveling around the world, I've never left. My estimation of this vibrant hometown stems purely, therefore, from my own native experiences of it, the people I've encountered, the restaurants I frequent, the sights I typically see. On that basis, this approximately 37,000 strong town isn't exactly a tourist hotspot. Save a semi-recent Gordon Ramsay visitation to aid the famous Mexican restaurant Los Toros, I actually cannot remember any famous press this town's enjoyed in recent memory. Which is actually rather surprising, considering the volume of wealthy and culturally famous individuals that call this equestrian enclave home. So- how exactly does Chatsworth measure up as a town both for tourists and a place to live, and what are its upsides and downsides? Let's get right into it. Firstly, the origin of the name Chatsworth is decisively British. That's not exactly relevant or important to my discussion here, but I just thought I'd include it anyway. It's based off the Chatsworth Estate in Derbyshire, England, and was officially named that way by the entrepreneur and prospector George R. Crow. The more you know, I guess.

Anyways, Chatsworth isn't exactly what I'd call a tourist attraction. There's scores of shrubbery and identical suburban homes everywhere you go, a rather robust honey-distribution scene, and a proliferation of churches dotted across the region. However, what is rather unique about Chatsworth is the rather large volume of equestrian organizations operated throughout the vicinity. In the backdrop of the benevolent Stoney Point mountain, these equine institutions have become probably the most unique and notable part of Chatsworthian society given the approachability and professionalism of the riders who operate them. The horses have become part of Chatsworthian life, and you're prone to see at least one if you stay longer than a few days within the town trotting alongside the sidewalk.

There's also numerous hiking spots and destinations, most notably the Stoney Point Mountain which provides an expanse of nature to visit and tons of different wildlife to gawk at. I would advise caution when visiting though, there have been cases of sightings of mountain lions, snakes, and even bears. While there's typically no cause for alarm and animal attacks being already so rare generally as they are, it's better to exercise caution, so if you intend to embark on a hiking-bound adventure, plan accordingly!

That aside, there's not exactly much of note here bar the city's closeness to Los Angeles, unto a point where its technically part of the Los Angeles Metropolitan District. The City of Dreams is only a thirty to forty minute drive from here if you take the interstate and depending on traffic. Ah, yes, traffic. Traffic is typically dependent on the time of day we're talking about, with it reaching the maximum level by the late afternoon when everyone's returning home from work. For a relatively small town though, it's nothing too crazy or unexpected, and you can navigate it pretty easily... most days, anyway. There's no telling when an unexpectedly coarse, foolish driver will take to the street-lanes.

Weather-wise, you'll find that it's usually just an overbearing sun with occasional spurts of rain to tarry away the valley's careening, searing heat. The summers are growing increasingly warmer because of various climate phenomena, so I'd recommend you stay indoors during that season unless you feel brave enough to endure that weather, or you're an avid fan of exercise and keeping your body steadily and readily in shape. It's not exactly that unique, especially when compared to other Californian towns.

Moving on, let's talk about local eateries. You've got your McDonalds, Taco Bells, Starbucks, Del Taco, Burger King, Chic-Fil-A, and beyond; the typical pantheon of obscene products and chemicals and preservations mashed together into something vaguely resembling 'food'.If you're a fast food aficionado, this place's got you covered. Yet we have a pantheon of superb local restaurants and eateries that I encourage you to try. There's the historical and long-lasting 'Munch Box' with the tastiest chili cheese dogs and fries imaginable, the emblematic Los Toros and Viva La Fiesta with the finest Mexican cuisine, the Pho Saigon Vietnamese restaurant with cream cheese wontons to absolutely die for, and so much more. Frankly, I will likely be starting a series of reviews based on Chatsworthian eateries simply because of their variety, scale, and brilliance. If you're here in Chatsworth just for the food, you've come to the right place, of this I can assure you.

Ultimately, while Chatsworth isn't the world's most unique town, it has its own specialized community, heart, and soul endemic to its borders stemming from its variety of local bites to grab and bustling equestrian industry, and I cannot wait to show and explore more of this vibrant culture with you all in future blog-posts alongside my regularly scheduled media reviews. Thank you all for staying tuned to my Blog, and God Bless!