Malibu Beach Day Trip: Things to Do and Nearby Attractions.

Malibu Beach is an affluent beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California. It offers some of the world’s most spectacular beaches and views, making it the perfect place to spend a day soaking up the essence of California. The 21-mile stretch of Malibu Coast is a must-visit destination for locals and out-of-town visitors. The area is packed with attractions, so much so that more than a single-day visit may be needed to explore everything it offers.

Start Your Trip at the Malibu Beach Pier

The Malibu Beach Pier, a historic structure built in 1905, offers stunning coast views and a variety of shops and eateries. Originally constructed to support the operations of Frederick Hastings Rindge’s Malibu Rancho, it now serves as a popular tourist spot. The Pier’s twin buildings house the Malibu Farm Pier Cafe, a bait and gift shop, and the Ranch at the Pier. It’s open daily from 6 a.m. to sunset—Malibu Pier website.

Tour The Historic Adamson House Museum

The Adamson House Museum is a magnificent California residence that can be compared to the grandeur of Hearst Castle. Located on Malibu Beach, it features Los Angeles-style architecture and is one of the earliest examples of a Californian-style home. This beautiful house is a gem built for the Rindge-Adamson family, who owned the famous Malibu Potteries. The house is situated on a sandy lagoon next to Surfrider Beach, Malibu Lagoon, and the bird sanctuary in Malibu—Adamson House website.

Hike to Escondido Falls

Escondido Falls hike is a 4-mile round trip. While the first waterfall is easy to reach, the second one is more challenging. The falls are a mere trickle during summer, but they can be a spectacular sight after a good rain. The trail’s parking lot is right off the Pacific Coast Highway, just west of Geoffrey’s Restaurant. It would help if you arrived early, as the parking lot is small and quickly fills up.

Malibu Creek State Park

Malibu Creek Park is a beautiful natural park just a short drive from the beach. The park features stunning running streams and old oak and sycamore groves, making it the perfect spot for visitors to enjoy nature. Malibu Creek State Park offers visitors various outdoor activities, including horseback riding, hiking, running, camping, and mountain biking trails. Malibu Creek State Park has something for everyone. Visit the park website.

Paradise Cove Beach and Cafe

Paradise Cove is a stunning beach located along the Malibu coast. In the 1950s and 1960s, it was a secluded RV campground. Nowadays, It is a great destination for lunch and sightseeing. At Paradise Beach Cafe, you can enjoy indoor or outdoor dining. Their specialty is serving delicious seafood, with the hot combo platter and iced seafood samplers being the most sought-after dishes. Many celebrities own property in the area. Paradise Cove is a great place to spot the rich and famous—Paradise Cove website.

Surfrider Beach

Surfrider Beach is a highly sought-after destination for surfers looking for the ultimate surfing experience. If you are driving down PCH, it might be easy to miss this beach as Malibu Pier and the Adamson House can distract you from its crystal waters and sandy beaches. However, Surfrider Beach is more than just a beach or a surf spot. It is a cultural and historic landmark representing the spirit of surfing and coastal conservation.

Leo Carrillo State Beach

Leo Carrillo State Beach is a beautiful destination along the picturesque Malibu coast. It offers a perfect blend of sandy beaches and rugged wilderness, making it an all-year-round paradise. The beach features two sandy beach areas, numerous coves, sea caves, and tide pools, and it provides an opportunity to soak up the sun, sand, and sea—Leo Carrillo State Beach website.

Point Dume Nature Preserve

Point Dume is a place that offers one of the most beautiful views of the Southern California coast. You can see the Malibu coast and Santa Monica on a clear day. Pirates Cove, located at Point Dume, is famous for being where the final scenes of the original Planet of the Apes movie were filmed. The preserve is a part of the larger Point Dume State Marine Reserve and Point Dume State Marine Conservation Area. These two areas protect over 21 square miles of ocean habitat, including sandy beaches, kelp forests, and a deep submarine canyon.

Zuma Beach California

Zuma Beach, located in Malibu, is a must-visit destination in Southern California. It has consistently been voted one of the cleanest beaches in Los Angeles County, and it’s easy to see why. With three miles of pristine white sand and warm Pacific water, this beach is a favorite spot for locals and tourists alike. Zuma Beach is a popular filming location featured in several TV shows and movies, including “Baywatch” and “Charlie’s Angels.” Zuma Beach website.

Dining Along the Malibu Coast

Neptune’s Net Seafood

Neptune has been featured in many movies, including Point Break and The Fast and the Furious. In the original Fast and Furious film, Paul Walker and Vin Diesel were seen sitting on the patio of Neptune’s Net. This iconic Restaurant has been serving seafood since 1958 and is located along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu Beach, California. It was also used as a location in the classic surf movie Point Break.

Duke’s Malibu Beach

Duke’s offers a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean, but you need direct access for a post-meal stroll on the beach. While the food and drinks are great, the main draw of Duke’s is undoubtedly the breathtaking view. The only parking option available is valet parking, so plan accordingly. The Restaurant is located at 21150 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, California. Duke’s Website. https://www.dukesmalibu.com/

Moonshadows On The Beach

Moonshadows is an upscale dining restaurant located on the beach in Malibu. While a small covered patio overlooks the ocean, most seating is indoors. Moonshadows is a great seafood spot by the water, making it an ideal place to celebrate special occasions or for a romantic date. The food and drinks are outstanding but come with a high price tag. Valet parking is available, but some free parking is also on both sides of the Pacific Coast Highway. Moodshadows Website.

Mastro’s Ocean Club

Mastro’s is a chain of high-end restaurants, and its Malibu location is just a few steps away from the Pacific Ocean. The Restaurant enforces a strict dress code, so dress appropriately to secure your seat. Mastro’s is well-known for its outstanding steak and seafood dishes. However, if you’re looking for a table with a view of the ocean, you must have a party of four or more. The address is 18412 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, California—Mastro’s Website.

Getting to Malibu Beach

Pacific Coast Highway runs through Malibu Beach, providing access to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches just yards away. The drive from Los Angeles is approximately one hour; depending on traffic, it can take two or more hours from Orange County. Public transportation is limited to buses along PCH. Some tour bus operators offer guided outings, most stopping at AdamsonHouse Museum—Malibu Beach City website.

Nearby Malibu Beach Points Of Interest

Malibu Hindu Temple

The Malibu Hindu Temple is a beautiful example of Hindu architecture in the Santa Monica Mountains near Calabasas, California. It was constructed in 1981 and welcomes visitors of all faiths. The temple is dedicated to worshiping the Hindu god Venkateswara but also has additional shrines for other deities. It is a magnificent testament to the rich cultural heritage of Hinduism in the United States—Temple website.

Mulholland Highway

Mulholland Highway is an ideal destination for a family road trip. It spans approximately 50 miles, starting from the Calabasas area and ending at Leo Carrillo State Beach. This highway is part of a larger network of roads, including Mulholland Drive, which passes through the Hollywood Hills and offers breathtaking city views.

Getty Villa Museum

The Getty Villa is a museum in the Pacific Palisades hills, near Malibu Beach in California. It offers a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean and houses Jean Paul Getty’s remarkable collection of ancient art and artifacts from Greece, Rome, and Etruria. The villa also features extensive gardens modeled after ancient Roman gardens. The Getty Villa is found at 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades, California—Getty Villa website.

---