MALIBU

Malibu is one of my favorite weekend getaways that is perfect to visit at any time of the year.  The low-key laid back vibes are the best part of the area and that is in addition to the serene beaches, picturesque hikes and great food options.  Drive inland into the canyons and you’ll find vineyards and more hiking trails to explore.

STAY
Malibu has always been a day trip for me, so I have not stayed anywhere to recommend.  If you are looking to stay the night, check out airbnb or vrbo for apartment/house rentals or Malibu Beach Inn (www.malibubeachinn.com) for a hotel option that is right on the water.

EAT
Cafe Habana http://www.cafehabana.com
Located on Cross Creek Drive in the Lumber Yard, the Malibu location is an indoor/outdoor setup.  The bar is inside and the tables are on the exterior.  All have a very casual vibe staying true to the original in NYC.  If you visit, the corn is a must try in addition to their cocktails.

Nobu Malibu http://www.noburestaurants.com/malibu/
I have not yet made it to the Malibu location, but considering I’ve been to 4 other locations and loved each experience, I cannot imagine the Nobu Malibu to be any less.  For one, its new location (previously located in the Malibu Country Mart) is directly on the coast-so the views alone are probably some of the best to enjoy during your dining experience, add in the Sashimi Salad, Miso Black Cod and Rock Shrimp and you have an awesome dinner date night.

DRINK
Malibu Wines http://malibuwines.com
In my opinion, a must when in Malibu-Pack a lunch (or pickup from Bay Cities) and make the drive up to Malibu Wines.  The site offers a nice picnic area with live music throughout the day.  You can bring your own picnic lunch to enjoy on the grounds-all food/drink are permitted with the exception of alcoholic beverages.  Buy wines by the bottle to share and enjoy this little escape.  There are both valet and self parking options.  We prefer to self park to avoid waiting for valet when you are ready to leave.  The self-parking is maybe 1/2 mile down the road and there is a shuttle that runs back and forth from parking to the entrance so it is just as convenient and probably faster than the valet option.

The Sunset Restaurant http://www.thesunsetrestaurant.com
Chill bungalow style restaurant located directly across the street from the beach.  The interiors are white and inviting and the shutters that line the restaurant open up to face the ocean.   You’ll see surfers dining in their wetsuits to couples on a date-the whole range, which is the reason I like this place.  We just had a glass of wine while taking in the sights out of the windows, so I cannot comment on the food personally, but there seems to be a constant flow of people filling up and spilling out of this spot.

EXPLORE
Getty Villa http://www.getty.edu
The Getty Malibu location is modeled after the Villa dei Papiri in Herculaneum.  Entrance to the museum is free, but parking costs $15 a car and covers entrance to both locations (Malibu & 405).  Load up the car and you’ll optimize the bang for your buck.  Make sure to check their website ahead of time to make a reservation since entrance is limited to a certain number of visitors each day.


Once you enter the museum, make sure to watch the 12 minute introductory video before strolling the grounds and the various rooms.  There is also a picnic area and restaurant on site where you can either order food or bring your own.


I really enjoyed the architecture, the gardens and the layout of the museum, we only did the instructional video and relied on the signs instead of the tour so that we could go at our own pace.

Westward/Zuma Beach
Westward Beach is located directly adjacent to Zuma beach (some may mistake them for the same beach) but there is a stopping point.  When driving down Westward Road, the side of the beach to your left would be considered Westward, the beach you view down the right is Zuma and has a completely separate entrance further down/up the 1 highway.  The advantage to Westward is you can usually find street parking and avoid having to pay.  Just watch the signs along the road to make sure that you are inside the parking parameters.

Point Dume, The Cove & Hike
I recently discovered Point Dume and the Pirate’s Cove beach underneath within the past year.  If you are driving along Westward Road, then continue past Sunset restaurant up the service road and it will open up to another part of the beach with parking.  During peak times, parking varies from $8-12.50/day and credit cards are accepted (bonus!)  Scope out a spot on the beach and enjoy the surf show.  Typically, you will see dolphins on any given day.  If you need a little exercise, walk towards the end of the beach and cut back up the trail to the top of the cliff.  There are various short cuts for the hike, so just choose whichever is easiest for you.  This is a cliff hike, so if you are scared of heights, this may not be for you since there are points of steep drops off the cliff with only a wire fence as your protection.


Pirate’s Cove Beach
The best way to access is to walk south/west towards Point Dume until you arrive at the cliff.  Proceed to the right over the rocks and take the higher route over the rocks and back down to arrive at Pirate’s Cove Beach.  This side is a quiet escape since not everyone is able to do the hike over the rocks.  I’ve also seen people climb down from the top, which is a little more risky since the walls of the cliff are steep.



Malibu Country Mart & Lumber Yard
http://www.malibucountrymart.com http://www.themalibulumberyard.com
Located just off the 1 freeway, you’ll find the Country Mart directly behind the Lumber Yard on the North Side of the highway.  Brands such as Missoni, Lanvin, Vince and RRL in addition to the local favorites: Madison, Planet Blue, etc. are located on site.  There is also a Mr. Chow (former Nobu space), Crumbs and a Marmalade.  For a little dose of NYC, check out the Cafe Habana Malibu location (see above).

Malibu Pier http://www.malibupiersportfishing.com
Each beach town has one, located just off the 1 freeway, the Malibu Pier and Fishing terminal is the iconic stop to walk out and take a peek up or down the shoreline.

Whale Watching
Not a common occurrence, however our visit back in April made the area a gold mine for catching the whales.  I do not pretend to know much about whales, but I do know that one site of them in their natural element and I was ready to sign one of those petitions against Sea World.  After watching them for over 3 hours on Sunday, you could tell they were really peaceful animals, they appeared to be playing in the water, rolling over and waving their fins at all of us along the shore.  We even witnessed a person swimming out to touch them which was wild (and a little crazy), but it was a once in a lifetime moment.