The word Malibu makes me remember two things, Barbie and Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. There was a lot that I needed to unlearn about the L.A. beach city of Malibu, mainly that it was only for the rich and or famous. Read that post here. My Malibu guide includes my recommendations for where to eat, shop, hike, and beach. From hidden gems to tourist must-sees.
Table of Contents
Malibu for tourists
Take a journey from Santa Monica to Malibu via Starline Tour on the tour of Malibu Celebrity Homes.
If you venture out to the Malibu Pier and the Adamson House, don’t forget to shop and eat in the Malibu Country Mart and Malibu Village. A place I love taking out-of-town guests for that quintessential California vibe, Paradise Cove, is featured in this post.
Malibu for nature lovers
Malibu is surprisingly full of nature. From the tippy top of its mountains to low-tide shores, there is a lot for you to explore here. Some of the best hiking in Los Angeles is in Malibu’s canyons. Point Mugu has seventy miles of canyons along with spectacular views of the Pacific.
The beaches
Although my Malibu guide only features four of Malibu’s amazing beaches–Malibu Lagoon, Leo Carrillo, Paradise Cove, and Sycamore Cove–you really can’t go wrong with any of them. Although not featured, El Matador, is stunning with its rock formations.
Each beach in Malibu has something to offer, from relaxing beaches to opportunities to get up close in person with sea creatures. The picks below are my favorite for tide pooling.
Leo Carrillo State Beach
My favorite place for tide pooling in Los Angeles is located at this beach. In this post, I give you a breakdown of what tide pooling is, what you can see, and a handy tide calendar. This post is the most-read post on my blog.
The Malibu Lagoon
This is a great place to be a tide pool beginner. In fact, it is a great place to observe nature in general, from the adjacent bird sanctuary to the dolphins and surfers riding the waves. Read about the Malibu Lagoon here.
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Hiking
Solstice Canyon
This is my favorite hike in Los Angeles. Why? Well, the architecture. Read about Solstice Canyon here.
Sycamore Canyon
This canyon, part of Point Mugu State Park, is a great place to hike. It has trails of varying difficulty, and when the time is right, you can experience the Monarch migration. Read about that here.
There are so many great places to hike in Malibu! The post also gives links to other recommended bloggers who talk about hiking and nature.
Where to Shop in Malibu
There is no mall in Malibu, but there is a center that is as close to a type of downtown Malibu as you can get. Read about the Malibu Country Mart here.
Where to eat in Malibu
Eating in Malibu is all about the views! Since this town straddles ocean and beach, here are my options for:
Where to eat in Malibu with ocean views
Where to eat in Malibu with Mountain Views
I hope this Malibu Guide helps you find great things to do in Malibu. If you use Pinterest, pin any of the images to a Los Angeles travel board for later.
This Ugly Beautiful City is a 100% self-funded publication. If you have used any of the advice on these pages and would like to send a thank you, consider buying me a coffee.
