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Malibu is known to be one of the most affluent beach towns in California. With 21 miles worth of coastline, a lot of the Hollywood celebrities call Malibu their home.  The celebrities have very good taste when it comes to picking the best spots to live in.  Malibu is beautiful!  The beaches in Malibu are my absolute favorite. It’s not an easy drive, if you don’t live nearby.  However, this exclusive beach town is worth the drive.  If you have paitience, the drive itself to Malibu can be magnificent.  Here’s why you should drive to Malibu.

Zuma Beach

I’m starting right at the top of my list of favorite beaches.  Zuma Beach is a very large beach with sand for days! With the gorgeous Santa Monica Mountains as a backdrop and the beautiful homes surrounding, you can linger here for hours.

Known to be one of the cleanest  beaches in Southern California, this spot is popular with families, sunbathers, surfers, body boarders and swimmers . The surf at Zuma is always good. Everyone loves being in the water here, even if the water is on the cool side.  Bring a wetsuit and you could be in the water for hours. Even the seals and dolphins love it here.  Always keep your eyes open.  Seals and dolphins are out there!

Lots of beach parties are held here and plenty of activities can be found on the sand like volleyball, soccer, kite flying, frisbee throwing, biking..you get idea!  In the summer, there’s plenty of sun late in the day and the sunsets are spectacular! Sometimes we like getting to Zuma later in the day, after 3pm, when the crowd thins out.

There’s plenty  of concessions, bathrooms and parking.  Though parking does fill up.  So get there early or later in the day.  There’s street parking too, if you’re lucky.

Overall, one of the best beaches in California. Gorgeous scenery, clean, nice sand, lots of activities, parking, bathrooms, concessions.  Not a quick drive for most, but a perfect day at the beach, you will have!  30050 Pacific Coast Hwy

Westward Beach and Point Dume State Beach

Basically, Westward Beach is right next to Zuma, so of course, its one of the best beaches in Los Angeles County. Westward Beach is a stretch of beach in between Zuma and Point Dume. If Zuma looks too crowded, Westward beach is another good option.  It’s the same sand as Zuma, but smaller.  Parking can be tricky too, street parking is available, so be patient.

Point Dume State Beach is where you’ll find me and my family most of the time.  With its own parking lot and a little south of Zuma, it’s away from the highway and traffic. It’s more of a local’s spot and it’s hidden away, which makes Point Dume quieter.  Good chance you’ll see seals, sea lions and dolphins here too and the water is filled with surfers, so its always a great show!

Part of the of the beach is considered a State Natural Preserve. There’s also a spot where you can hike up  to point where you’ll get a nice view of the ocean. If you’re a rock climber, there’s even a spot where you can climb up a high rock wall.  Love this beach! 7103 Westward Beach Rd.

 

El Matador State Beach

This beach is probably the prettiest beach in Los Angeles County. Its one of three Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beaches and its the nicest, in my opinion.

It’s located on a long strip of sand with sea caves and big, jagged rocks.  This beach is a photographer’s delight. However, El Matador is one of the smaller beaches and its one of the hardest beaches to get to, with very limited parking. There is street parking, if available.

El Matador is not a good choice of beach, if you’re not able to hike up and down a steep hill on a dirt trail.  Its especially tough on a warm summer day. If you’re spending the day at the beach, you’ll have stuff in your hands, so you’ll need to consider that.  You’ll have to pack your own lunch, there’s no concessions and there’s only portable bathrooms.  

Sometimes there’s a lifeguard, when its a  busy weekend.  Its much quieter during the winter months, which is when I choose to go there.  Otherwise, it does get very crowded. 

If you’re able handle the obstacles of getting to this beach, then you’ll be in complete beach heaven!  I do highly recommend this beach. El Matador State beach is extraordinary. Located at 32350 Pacific Coast Highway.