Every year 15 million visitors head to Malibu, 7 miles northwest of Santa Monica. It is the ultimate destination for living a luxury lifestyle, and of course home to many celebrities, including Jack Nicholson, Paris Hilton and Jennifer Anniston. If you too want to have a taste of Malibu life and enjoy the culture and the beach, the best time to visit is between May and September, when the weather is beautiful. You can have a tour of the city, do some celebrity-spotting, enjoy a little window shopping, and most importantly, spend some time relaxing on the beach.
Image by Monica Volpin
Beautiful Beaches
There are 36 beaches you can explore in Malibu, stretching over 20 miles of coastline. These include family-friendly beaches, exclusive resorts and windswept areas for watersports. Carbon Beach, also known as “billionaire’s beach” is about a mile long and lined with mansion houses. It is a free public beach and perfect for a stroll, although make sure you check the tide times before visiting, as the beach is often submerged at high tide. If you’re a nature lover, Malibu Lagoon State Beach is the perfect place to visit, where you can explore the wetlands and do some birdwatching. The beach is also popular with surfers. Make sure that you visit the pier too, which is a wonderful place to watch the sun set. If you want to get away from the crowds, then Westward Beach is stunning – it is also a very good place to spot Bottlenose Dolphins.
Photo by Joel Mott Instagram: @joelmott
Dining in Style
When you are on vacation in Malibu, it is worth treating yourself to a truly outstanding meal in one of the city’s upmarket restaurants. You might even find yourself brushing shoulders with Miley Cyrus or Leonardo DiCaprio. For something out-of-the-ordinary, try Nobu Malibu (22706 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265), home of the Iron Chef Nobu Matsuhisa. At the restaurant you can sample some delicious and fresh seafood dishes including a King Crab salad, Rock Shrimp tempura and Dover Sole.
Tyler Emery and Alex Williams – Nobu Malibu fans!
Moonshadows (20356 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu CA 90265) is another popular restaurant with oceanside dining. Moonshadows have a fine dining menu that includes oysters, barbecued octopus and delicious Pacific swordfish.
Staying in Malibu
If you want a taste of true luxury when you are in Malibu, book yourself into an exclusive hotel for a night or two. The Malibu Beach Inn (22878 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265) is located right on the seafront of Carbon Beach. The rooms are elegantly decorated, many with balconies looking over the ocean. There is also a luxurious spa suite that is reserved for guests, The Calamigos Guest Ranch and Beach Club (327 Latigo Canyon Rd, Malibu, CA 90265) is hidden away in the Santa Monica Mountains and is extremely popular for weddings. The ranch estate covers 200 acres, which you can explore on horseback. There are 70 private cottages at Calamigos, as well as several estate rooms and bungalows.
Malibu is a taste of luxury on the California coast. In the city you can enjoy fine dining, stay in a stylish hotel and even brush shoulders with celebrities on the beautiful beaches.
Feature image by Quang Nguyen Vinh
