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California: Malibu – 1-day Itinerary.
Have you ever wanted to go to Malibu? I have good news for you! If you plan on going to LA, Malibu is not too far. It is easy to travel to via car and radiates classic Californian countryside vibes. As someone who recently spent a week in the area, I hope that my experience will be helpful when planning your future California trip!
Two days before, we rented a car to drive to a wedding in Westlake Village, CA. We decided to stay in the area before returning to LA. Our hotel was only a 20-mile drive to Malibu. We planned on going to three spots along the Pacific Coast Highway; El Matador Beach, Point Dume, and Malibu Pier. As soon as we checked out of our room, we headed to our first destination.
Destination #1: El Matador Beach.
We could not go to Malibu without visiting Malibu’s beautiful beaches. After looking through photos, I decided to visit El Matador Beach. The rock formations were so unique that we could not pass up the opportunity to check them out! A space in a parking lot was available for $3.00/hour. One hour was enough time for us to walk around and take photos.
Destination #2: Point Dume Cove Trail
The next stop was Point Dume, a popular lookout point in Malibu with amazing coastal views. The cove trail was easy and I was able to walk around in sandals. The views were absolutely breathtaking and this is known to be a great spot for whale watching and sunsets. Unfortunately, there are only ten parking spots for Point Dume and when we arrived, they were all occupied. Thankfully, my boyfriend decided to rest in the car while I walked around. After enjoying the fresh air, we headed to what we believed was our final destination.
Destination #3: Malibu Pier.
The final stop on our agenda was the iconic Malibu Pier. It was a great place to (window) shop, people-watch, and explore. Dining options are also available at the original Malibu Farm Pier Cafe and the Malibu Farm Restaurant. However, check out the prices to evaluate whether it is in your budget during the trip. The two of us ate a big brunch to avoid spending more on meals. All of the spots on the streets were occupied so we paid a flat rate of $10 to park in the public lot. Overall, it was a relaxing, easy-going walk around the pier.
After stopping by Malibu Pier, we briefly walked around the area and came across the Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon State Park. We were unable to explore the Adamson House due to a wedding being in a session that day. Regardless, it was nice to see from a distance and we had a great view of the Malibu Lagoon State Park.
Destination #4: Santa Monica Pier
Although Malibu Pier was the final stop, my boyfriend expressed interest in driving somewhere else before returning our rental car. We drove twelve miles down the Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Monica Pier, making our way back to LA. We parked in their parking lot for a flat rate of $15. It was a cool, lively place to walk around and a great way to end our day!
Reflection section:
Our day in Malibu did not start until 11:00am which was completely my intention. Had we started the day earlier, we could have visited twice the number of spots that we did that day. However, my goal was to have a fun and relaxing day in Malibu instead of rushing around. We were content with the diversity of places that we selected. Overall, this day went as planned and if we have the opportunity to visit Malibu again, we will have to check out new places!
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