To the west you can check out Franklin Canyon, Benedict Canyon, Beverly Glenn, and Sepulvida. To the east you can go through Griffith Park. I agree that Cahuenga is a terribly stressful way to get over the hill. Going up Franklin is going to be the quietest and shortest way up to Mulholland, plus you get to go though one of the beautiful hidden parks in this city.

I love the going up into the hills in Hollywood and Beverly Hills. More in your neighborhood is Nicholas Canyon, which you can then turn off of to get to Mulholland and then go down Laurel into the valley.