Los Angeles City Guide: Malibu Beach 🇺🇸 Travel & Discover

California is one of those names that instantly brings to mind a variety of well-known images of sun, ocean, and the glamour of the movie industry. It is also one of America's most diverse and captivating states, and no Californian city embodies the feeling that this is the land of endless possibilities better than Los Angeles. The Los Angeles area is home to Hollywood's glamorous celebrities, with their exclusive mansions nestled high in the Hollywood hills. As well as of the body-conscious outdoor types jogging along the beaches in Santa Monica or Venice Beach, or perhaps hiking in the city's many canyons. California's worldwide reputation starts with its iconic beaches. The gorgeous beaches along this slice of the Pacific produce some of the best waves in the world, which have combined with the relaxed atmosphere and plentiful sunshine to make this area a veritable surfing mecca. Whether you choose to ride the waves yourself, or just watch others do the impossible, you'll soon understand why Malibu's Surfrider Beach has earned its reputation as a premier surfing destination. The name Malibu instantly conjures up images of surfers and swimmers on unending beaches, long piers, movie stars and music legends in exclusive gated neighborhoods, and the Pacific Coast Highway running through the center of it all. Malibu really does have all this and more. Malibu isn't a place, it's a style of life. The myth of California beach life began in the 1960s, thanks to the movie industry and music groups such as the Beach Boys. Images of girls in bikinis and boys on surfboards hanging out on the beach soon became synonymous with California's free and easy lifestyle, and drew millions of Americans to share in the fun. With its 37 kilometers of beautiful coastline, rugged mountains, wooded canyons and sheltered coves, it's no wonder that the rich and famous chose this place to build their hideaways. Malibu Pier divides the beach into Malibu Beach on the west, which extends into Malibu Lagoon State Beach and the famous Malibu Surfrider Beach to the east. The 240-meter-long pier was originally constructed as a dock for the family of businessman and philanthropist Frederick Ringe, who once owned an immense ranch in Malibu. Acquired by the California State Parks in 1980, Malibu Pier was closed for a few years due to storm damage and reopened in 2004. Whether it's spending the day fishing off Malibu Pier, walking the beach, or just hanging out at a local cafe, Malibu Beach offers plenty of relaxing pastimes for those not inclined to surf. With such a beautiful setting, it's no wonder that the name Malibu has become synonymous with the American dream. The beautiful Santa Monica Mountains that flank Malibu's beaches enhance the area's natural splendor, but nature has not always been kind to Malibu. Earthquakes, mudslides, and fires have taken their toll on this portion of the California coast, and the constant threat posed by the natural world is the dark side of this charmed existence. Despite these risks, those who can continue to build their spectacular homes in the unparalleled natural setting of the Malibu Hills. Hollywood celebrities prize their privacy, and so it is no wonder that Malibu became a favorite of movie stars. It offers not only protection from the prying gazes of the adoring public, but a beautiful ocean view and a sandy beach as a front yard to boot. With the back of their homes forming an impenetrable wall along the Pacific Coast Highway, and the front of their homes mere steps from the vast Pacific Ocean, Malibu is about as private as you can get. you