Twenty-One Miles of California Coastline
Malibu is a coastal city in Los Angeles County, California, known for about 21 miles of Pacific shoreline, world-famous surf and a relaxed, sunlit style of living. The Santa Monica Mountains rise directly behind the beaches, so the Pacific Coast Highway runs between green canyon and open sea. The name comes from the Chumash word for the place, and the area has been admired for its coast for generations. Its beaches are among the most photographed in the state.
Surfrider Beach, beside the historic Malibu Pier, was the first World Surfing Reserve to be designated, and its long, peeling waves have shaped surf culture since the 1950s. Zuma Beach is a broad, golden sweep that suits family days, while Point Dume gives sweeping views from its headland, and El Matador State Beach is famed for sea stacks and arched rocks at sunset. In winter and early spring, whale-watching boats look for migrating grey whales off the coast.
Canyons, Vineyards and Seaside Tables
Away from the sand, Malibu has a quieter side. Trails in the Santa Monica Mountains and Malibu Creek State Park wind through oak woodland and chaparral, and the Adamson House, with its hand-painted Malibu tiles, preserves a glimpse of 1930s seaside life. Malibu wine country, in the canyons above the coast, produces cool-climate wines, and tasting rooms open to visitors. The city is also home to the Getty Villa, a short drive south, which houses ancient Greek and Roman art in a Roman-style setting.
Dining here is naturally coastal, with fish tacos, grilled seafood and sunset tables on the pier and at cliffside restaurants. Roadside farm stands sell avocados and citrus, and beach cafés serve breakfast with the surf in view. A hotel group can offer guests everything from beachfront rooms to canyon retreats, and the Los Angeles attractions of galleries, shops and stage shows are within an easy drive for guests who want city days too.
Read the full Malibu guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitMalibu.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.