Malibu

Malibu stretches along 27 miles of Los Angeles coastline, from the Santa Monica city limits west through Ventura County. It's one of the few places in Southern California where mountains, canyons, and ocean meet in such close proximity — and where public beach access runs alongside some of the most valuable coastal real estate in the world. For visitors, the combination of world-class surf, accessible state beaches, and dramatic coastal scenery makes it one of the most rewarding day trips or overnight stops from LA.

Malibu Creek State Park and the Santa Monica Mountains provide an unusual backdrop of green hills right above the waterline, which gives the coast a different feel from the flat SoCal beach towns further south. The surf breaks are legitimately world-class — Surfrider Beach near the pier is one of the most famous point breaks in the country and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Beaches, breaks, and coastal highlights:

• Surfrider Beach — legendary point break and public beach next to the pier; watch the waves even if you're not in the water.
• Malibu Pier — historic wooden pier with fishing and good views back toward the Santa Monica Mountains.
• El Matador State Beach — dramatic sea stacks and sea caves; one of the most photogenic beaches in California.
• Leo Carrillo State Park — sea caves, tide pools, and a long sandy beach at the western end of LA County.
• Zuma Beach — wide, sandy, lifeguarded; the most reliably accessible and family-friendly beach in Malibu.
• Point Dume State Beach — blufftop whale watching point and a sheltered cove below; requires a short hike down.
• Paradise Cove — private but accessible beach with a classic SoCal seafood restaurant on the sand.

Tide timing is especially important at El Matador and the sea cave beaches. At high tide, the sea caves and tidepools are submerged and the beach becomes narrow. Plan visits around lower tides to access the caves and sea stacks safely and explore the rocky intertidal areas. Leo Carrillo has excellent tide pools on the north side that are only reachable on lower tides — check the chart before you go.