Nature at Calamigos
Calamigos Ranch is quite unique in its location. About halfway through Kanan Dume Road between Malibu’s beachside and Agoura Hills, the ranch is nestled into the canyon in a beautiful and private spot. While technically still a part of Malibu, the atmosphere is a stark contrast to what one thinks of when thinking of a typical Malibu scene. For example, when living on Pepperdine’s campus, you walk out your door in the morning to see the ocean and lots of palm trees, whereas the view outside of my house here at Calamigos consists of a huge variety of shrubbery and leafy green trees, as well as views of the Santa Monica Mountains framing the ranch 360º around.
Nature is very important to me on a personal level, and I find myself feeling fulfilled each day by the natural beauty around the ranch. We are immersed in it here, and it makes the chaos and busy roads of Los Angeles, or even our neighboring towns of Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks, feel nonexistent. We are secluded in our own peaceful and safe little forest here. One of my favorite things to do is wake up early, make my coffee, and sit on our upstairs patio watching the sunlight illuminate the bright green leaves as it climbs higher into the sky, while listening to birds chirp and chipmunks running across branches.
To get some physical activity without having to go very far, there are hiking trails at the back of the property that go up into the mountains, leading to some prime sunset-viewing points. In addition, there are a few roads around the ranch under sheltered canopies of trees that make for a perfect strolling route to get the blood flowing between online classes. If you’re even a little more ambitious, you could take on a gorgeous section of the Backbone Trail; there’s a trailhead just a minute’s drive up Kanan! Rumor has it there’s a point in that trail that connects to the back of Calamigos… but that’s up to you to discover. The trail is 5 miles out-and-back if you start from Kanan, but you can make adjustments depending on how much time you have.
Calamigos has a handful of different wide-open fields that are well-maintained and serve as ideal places to play volleyball, soccer, football, or just to lay in the middle and soak up the sunshine. There are also lots of great trees around the ranch to set up a hammock between; my personal favorite spot is in a corner of one field along the edge of the pond, where I can swing, do my reading, and listen to the sounds of the waterfall.
If you love the calmness and separation of being immersed in nature, Calamigos would be a great place for you. Despite being tucked away in the canyon, this location still allows for just a quick drive to the beach, campus, grocery stores, restaurants, or really anywhere you might need to go. While living here, I encourage you to get outside as much as possible, let the vitamin D permeate your skin, and take advantage of all the different outdoor spaces there are to discover around the property.