The Best Beaches in California That Aren't Just for Surfers
- 1 Coronado Beach — San Diego.
- 2 Carmel Beach — Carmel-by-the-Sea.
- 3 Baker Beach — San Francisco.
- 4 Mission Beach — San Diego.
- 5 Huntington Beach — Huntington Beach.
- 6 Torrey Pines State Beach — San Diego.
- 7 Venice Beach — Venice.
- 8 Pfeiffer Beach — Big Sur.
Here are the LA beaches that scored the highest.
- Royal Palms Beach.
- Cabrillo Beach.
- Broad Beach.
- Latigo Beach.
- Puerco Beach.
- Malibu Point. Malibu Point, Malibu, CA 90265.
- Will Rogers State Beach. 15100 Pacific Coast Hwy, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272.
- Dockweiler State Beach. 12501 Vista del Mar, Playa del Rey, CA 90293.
- Leonardo DiCaprio. Photo: Philip Ramey/Getty Images Leonardo DiCaprio owned a beachside Malibu property which he sold in 2013 for $17.3 million.
- Miley Cyrus.
- Jack Nicholson.
- Ellen DeGeneres.
- Jennifer Aniston.
- Paris Hilton.
- Britney Spears.
- Halle Berry.
It is known for its Mediterranean climate and its 21-mile (34 km) strip of the Malibu coast, incorporated in 1991 into the City of Malibu. The area is known for being the home of Hollywood movie stars, people in the entertainment industry, and other affluent residents; yet some residents are middle class.
The beach is in Leo Carrillo State Park at 35000 West Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA. There are two paid parking lots or try for free parking along Pacific Coast Highway.
Venice is not dangerous at all. There are people in the area that would be considered "undesirable" by the new faux-riche residents, but it's perfectly safe to be at during the night.
15 Best Beaches in Los Angeles
- El Matador State Beach. Source: divanov / shutterstock.
- El Pescador State Beach. Source: Sarah Camille / shutterstock.
- Zuma Beach County Park and Westward Beach. Source: trekandshoot / shutterstock.
- Paradise Cove Beach.
- Malibu Lagoon State Beach.
- Abalone Cove Shoreline Park.
- Manhattan Beach.
- Venice Beach.
What Makes Carbon Beach So Special. “Billionaire's Beach,” as it is nicknamed, is home to a little more than 70 exclusive and luxury Malibu residences. An impressive list of Who's Who, such as David Geffen, Dr. Dre, Rob Reiner, Larry Ellison and the former Dodgers CEO Jamie McCourt, have or have had residences here.
Typically, hotels and resorts have private beaches. All of these owners maintain that beach property in compliance with city ordinances. They are responsible for hiring their own lifeguards, if needed. The public is not allowed on these beaches unless they have permission by the owner.
Malibu Road is great, because you can usually find free parking, and you're almost sure to have some good sand, even at high tide. Also, if you're the type of person who's into long walks on the beach, you can easily walk for upwards of 3 miles on this beach.
All beaches in California are public up to the mean high tide line, but there are many you can't get to due to private land or other restrictions. Several of the beaches are blocked by private property and have obvious “No Trespassing” and “Keep Out” signs.
Top Attractions in Malibu
- The Getty Villa. 2,459 reviews.
- El Matador State Beach. 705 reviews.
- Zuma Beach. 816 reviews.
- Point Dume State Beach and Preserve. 376 reviews.
- Malibu Pier. 811 reviews.
- Pepperdine University. 192 reviews.
- Leo Carrillo State Park and Beach. 235 reviews.
- Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum. 174 reviews.
Lady Gaga purchased her opulent beachside property in Malibu, California, in 2014 for a casual $22.5 million, according to Realtor.com. The lavish property spans 10,270 square feet on a nearly six-acre lot right across from Zuma Beach. It boasts five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.
Beach hours vary. 7am-10pm at most all-public beaches. Public-private beaches open 24 hrs; access gates open sunrise-sunset for entry, 24 hours for exit (all but #16, not locked from beach side).
Emerald Bay Beach is a private beach that is only open to residents of the gated community of Emerald Bay in North Laguna Beach. The homes on both sides of Pacific Coast Highway have access to this half-mile wide sandy beach. This is one of the nicest beaches in Laguna Beach, California.
Malibu Family Beaches
Leo Carrillo is one of the Southland's most beloved family beach spots, and it's no wonder. With easy parking, a tunnel that walks you under the PCH to the beach (that alone can be exciting), and plenty of sand and tidepools once you get there, this destination is a repeat favorite.That smell could be caused in part by an algae bloom — and the fungi are also hurting local sea lions. Residents and visitors in Pismo and Shell beaches have also seen dead fish washing up on the shore and brown water, which may also have something to do with the algae.
5 FREE Things to do in Malibu, California
- Take a hike! Solstice Canyon.
- Watch the sunset every day. These photos speak for themselves.
- Go for a stroll on the Malibu pier.
- Check out Paradise Cove Beach. No surprise, you can't visit Malibu without enjoying some beach time.
- Take a scenic drive. We love to explore local breweries in each city we visit.
Ocean Safety. Not all beaches along the California coastline are recommended for swimming or wading. The very things that make these areas such spectacular places to look at and enjoy can be lethal to those caught unaware along the shoreline. There is limited lifeguard service along some portions of the coast.
The poverty rate in Malibu is 10.2%. One out of every 9.8 residents of Malibu lives in poverty. How many people in Malibu, California live in poverty? 1,303 of 12,791 Malibu residents reported income levels below the poverty line in the last year.
Yes, the ocean water is safe for swimming in Santa Monica. The only caveat is stay out of the water after a rainstorm as the urban runoff can cause issues. But during the dry season (i.e. summer) that is not an issue. Heal the Bay rates beaches if you want more details.
No, Santa Monica is not safe. At least not compared to comparably pricey communities on the West Side or North Side of Los Angeles or tech enclaves in Northern California. These are the 2015 crime rate stats from the FBI—violent crimes divided by population.
Not necessarily clear water but Southern California has Beautiful Beaches and Coastline.
Is it safe to swim in the ocean and bay? Yes. The vast majority of ocean and bay waters along the coast of Long Beach meet State ocean water quality standards. The only exceptions are areas adjacent or in front of discharging storm drains and after major rainstorms.
Parking fees (for the State Beach parking lot): All day – $12.00 per car, per day. 3 hrs – $9.00 per car. 2 hrs – $6.00 per car.
Malibu is close enough for a day trip. Scenery is nicer more varied, biking better, in Santa Barbara, but the sand/sea seems cleaner, Santa Monica is closer, in Malibu. I think you would enjoy Santa Barbara a lot more. More restaurants that are easy to get to, better shopping and wineries!
We've put together an itinerary for your perfect day in Malibu.
- Morning. If you're traveling to Malibu via the Pacific Coast Highway, stop at the Getty Villa on the way.
- Afternoon. Look for free street parking along Westward Beach Road and bask in the off-season quiet of this corner of Zuma Beach.
- Night.
There are 22.04 miles from Malibu to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in southeast direction and 27 miles (43.45 kilometers) by car, following the CA 1 route. Malibu and LAX Airport are 44 minutes far apart, if you drive non-stop.
All in all, Malibu is a very safe city, and visitors don't really have anything to worry about. It has clearly earned its reputation as one of the most desirable places in California to live. Beautiful people, stunning views and the siren song of the Pacific are irresistible draws for the crowds who visit.
- The House At Haunted Hill. 12.2 mi. 26 reviews.
- Cielo Farms Malibu. 5.4 mi. 41 reviews.
- Melrose Rooftop Theatre. 21.9 mi. 43 reviews.
- The Getty Villa. 10.9 mi. 1348 reviews.
- The VOID Santa Monica. 14.6 mi. 48 reviews.
- Malibu Playhouse. 3.4 mi. 8 reviews.
- Malibu Wine Safaris. 6.3 mi. 2978 reviews.
- Pro Outdoor Movies. 10.7 mi. 5 reviews.
Malibu is like the super-duper ridiculously good looking laid back cousin of the busy version of Los Angeles. Depending on where you're coming from in L.A. you may have a bit of a drive to get there, but cruising down PCH while admiring the views of the glistening ocean and rolling waves will make it all worthwhile.
The distance between Santa Monica and Malibu Beach is 11 miles. The road distance is 13 miles.
Malibu Surfrider Beach
This popular surf spot lies between the Malibu Lagoon and Malibu Pier, and is part of Malibu Lagoon State Beach. Surfrider Beach is known for its long, right-hand break—popular for surfers of all levels, but you won't find too many rookies out in these world-class waves.
