Guide To Visiting The Famed
Malibu California Coastline

Driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, you'll see the Santa Monica Mountains rising on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. Much of the way, the ocean view is blocked by beach homes backed right up to the highway. This is the area notorious for movie stars, fires, floods and mudslides.

Some of the beaches are wide and sandy, while others are so narrow, the surf splashes practically right up to the backs of these houses. There is also no shortage of tidepools and rocky coves.

There is no real "downtown" to Malibu California, but there are a few shopping centers with cafes, restaurants and shops where people congregate. Besides the tightly packed beachfront houses, the local residents also live in the mansions in the hills where glorious views abound.

Malibu California covers a lot of coastline and that means a lot of beach. Much of it is very narrow, with houses so close to the water, but there are designated beaches that are much larger, such as Zuma Beach. Surfrider Beach and Malibu Lagoon State Beach are more central, near the pier. See the Malibu Beach Guide. for info on all the beaches.

Though the Pacific Ocean is the main attraction, Malibu California has plenty of other natural beauty to explore. There are several hiking trails to enjoy in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Malibu Creek State Park is inland, up the Malibu Canyon Road and features 15 miles of trails through the hills and along the stream.

Charmlee County Park, Corral Canyon Park, Arroyo Sequit and Circle X Ranch all have trails and nature centers.

Other areas with hiking trails include: Malibu Springs, Zuma/Trancas Canyons, Lower Zuma Canyon, Castro Crest and Solstice Canyon.

Special tip:If you go to the end of Malibu Canyon Road, you'll end up at Malibu Bluffs County Park, which has a parking lot, playing fields and a public restroom. If you go to the other end of the fields, there are a few unmarked trail heads which go down through the bluffs to a residential street below. The scenery is stunning.

Once down on the street, look for one of the public access gates. There you can go between the houses onto the sand and straight into the cool, blue sea for a dip, or maybe take a barefoot walk along the shoreline before heading back up to your car.

Ever get the yen to take to the skies above this glorious coastline? Click here to find out about going paragliding if you're the brave sort!

Not to be confused with the newer Getty Center Los Angeles up in Brentwood, the Getty Villa is on Pacific Coast Highway just north of Sunset Boulevard. It has reopened this year after several years of renovation. It is world reknowned for its collection of Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities. The villa's visiting hours for the public are Thursday through Monday 10-5.

For more information on visiting the Getty Villa, see www.getty.edu.