Van Nuys

Van Nuys sits north of U.S. Route 101 and straddles Interstate 405, which runs north-south through the middle of Van Nuys. To the immediate south is Sherman Oaks, while to north are North Hills and Panorama City. Like the rest of the Valley, the major streets are laid out in a grid pattern.
Public transit is offered by the city-wide Metro service, with bus service on every major street in Van Nuys. A prominent Metro service through Van Nuys is the Orange Line, a busway that runs east-west across the Valley from North Hollywood to Chatsworth. In North Hollywood, the Orange Line connects to the Metro Rail system. Van Nuys is also served by the Metrolink Ventura line (weekdays only) and Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner train, both of which stop at the at 7720 Van Nuys Blvd.

By plane

• Van Nuys AirportIs strictly general aviation only. The airport is noted for being one of the busiest general aviation airports in the world, often used by Hollywood celebrities looking to arrive in the city away from prying eyes.

The nearest airport offering commercial service is Bob Hope Airport (BUR) in Burbank, due east of Van Nuys. By public transit, you can take the Metrolink or Amtrak directly from the airport, or take a free shuttle to the Metro Rail station in North Hollywood, where you can connect to the Metro Orange Line.
More distant is the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), a major airport served by many international airlines; LAX FlyAway offers a direct shuttle service from the LAX terminals to Van Nuys, stopping at the FlyAway Bus Terminal at 7610 Woodley Ave (at the NE corner of Woodley Ave and Saticoy, next to the Van Nuys Airport), with service every 30 minutes for 24 hours a day. A second FlyAway stop is on the south side of Victory Boulevard just east of Woodley Avenue, near the Woodley station on the Metro Orange Line bus route; FlyAway buses serve this stop hourly from 4:45am to 11pm. FlyAway buses cost $9.75 each way; cash not accepted, credit/debit cards only.

• The Japanese Garden

  phone: +1 818 756-8166
  address: 6100 Woodley Avenue
  A tranquil and gorgeous Japanese garden with a dry Zen meditation garden, a tea garden, and a wet garden with lakes, waterfalls, and streams which uses reclaimed water from the adjacent water treatment plant.

• Van Nuys Golf Course

  phone: +1 818 785-8871
  address: 6550 Odessa St
  This small park boasts an 18-hole, par 3 course for beginners as well as a driving range.

• Sky Zone Trampoline Park

• Iceland Ice Skating Center

  phone: +1 818 785-2171
  address: 14318 Calvert St
  This indoor ice skating rink offers bumper cars, "easy skaters" (or, walkers for new skaters), and three party rooms. Also a recognizable landmark for fans of the 2005 film Me and You and Everyone We Know.

• Woodley Lakes Golf Course

  phone: +1 818 780-6886
  address: 6331 Woodley Ave
  Woodley Lakes has tournament-like greens with flat, wide, and forgiving holes that are great for beginners.

• Dr. Hogly Wogly's Tyler Texas BBQ

  phone: +1 818 780-6701
  address: 8136 Sepulveda Blvd
  It gets really busy on the weekends. Try the beef ribs, pork ribs, beans and macaroni salad. It also has delicious bread.

• El Criollo

  phone: +1 818 785-8625
  address: 6622 Van Nuys Blvd
  Cuban.

• El Katracho

  phone: +1 818 780-7044
  address: 14838 Burbank Blvd
  Honduran.

• Kyushu Ramen

  phone: +1 818 786-6005
  address: 15355 Sherman Way Ste N
  Authentic Japanese food. Open late.

• Lido Pizza

  phone: +1 818 781-2551
  address: 15232 Victory Blvd
  Casual Italian.

• Little Ocha of the Valley

  phone: +1 818 782-1898
  address: 13724 Victory Blvd
  Thai.

• Los Tres Hermanos

  phone: +1 818 780-9930
  address: 7456 Van Nuys Blvd
  A local Mexican restaurant that mixes in some authentic food from Mexico. Most of the time the restaurant is busy during the week with most of the customers coming from the local businesses.

• Lulu's Restaurant

  phone: +1 818 988-0707
  address: 16900 Roscoe Blvd
  American Traditional and sports bar.

• Mercado Buenos Aires

  phone: +1 818 786-0522
  address: 7540 Sepulveda Blvd
  Argentine steakhouse.

• Norm's Restaurant

  phone: +1 818 780-5060
  address: 13636 Sherman Way
  24/7 diner.

• Yagumo Sushi

  phone: +1 818 787-9383
  address: 14554 Vanowen St
  Japanese sushi.

Van Nuys isn't exactly known for its nightlife, but there are a few local spots that offer a laid-back neighborhood atmosphere as well as live music.

• Springbok Bar & Grill

  phone: +1 818 988-9786
  address: 16153 Victory Blvd
  South African pub known for BBQ, beer, rugby fans, international beers on tap, and live performances.

• Ireland's 32

  phone: +1 818 785-4031
  address: 13721 Burbank Blvd
  Irish charm, pub food, and live bands or karaoke.

Travelers should be wary of staying at any "motel" or "motor inn" in the area. Most of the "motels" cater to the many prostitutes found along Sepulveda Boulevard. There are only a few legitimate hotels in Van Nuys:

• Airtel Plaza Hotel

  phone: +1 818 997-2823
  address: 7277 Valjean Ave

• Holiday Inn Express

  phone: +1 818 989-5010
  address: 8244 Orion Ave