Malibu

Malibu is a coastal city in Los Angeles County, California, about 28 miles (45 km) west of downtown Los Angeles along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). The drive takes 45 to 90 minutes depending on traffic, and a car or rideshare is the most practical way to cover the 21-mile stretch of coastline; rideshare costs about $60 to $100 each way and parking runs about $10 to $20. A limited Metro bus service, Line 534 from Santa Monica, costs $1.75 per ride, though visitors should check metro.net for current Malibu service before relying on it. The town is known for its beaches and canyons rather than a single downtown. Malibu Pier, at 23000 Pacific Coast Hwy, is free to walk and sits near Surfrider Beach, a famous surf break. Farther west, Zuma Beach offers wide sand and lifeguards, and Point Dume State Preserve gives clifftop views and whale-watching in winter and spring. The Getty Villa, a museum of Greek and Roman antiquities in a recreation of a Roman country house, is free but requires timed reservations. Inland canyons such as Malibu Creek State Park provide hiking with a short drive from the coast. A good one-day arc begins with a morning at the Getty Villa or a canyon hike, followed by seafood lunch at a pier-side or beachfront restaurant, then an afternoon at Zuma or Point Dume before an early evening return that avoids the PCH rush hour. The best seasons are spring and fall, when the weather is clear and crowds smaller than summer; weekdays are noticeably quieter than weekends, when the PCH can back up. Fog known as the June gloom can hide the coast in early summer. Food stops include casual fish tacos, cafes at the pier and larger beachfront restaurants, and Malibu Country Mart offers shops and dining. Visitors should bring sun protection, a beach towel and a jacket for cooler evenings, and should obey posted parking signs since enforcement along the PCH is strict.