Malibu is known for its beautiful beaches and natural hiking trails. Many celebrities have made Malibu their home.
There are many things to do in this vibrant, sunny city, including a mixture of relaxed attractions and luxury hotspots. There are so many options that you may not know where to start or how to spend your time.
Touristy Things to Do In Malibu
1. Point Dume State Beach
The Point Dume State Beach has restrooms and picnic tables available for families who don’t want to swim. The Point Dume State Beach, a state beach with coves and white sandy sand, is the ideal place to go.
This beautiful stretch of sandy beach is decorated with a cliff overhang and headlands and filled with coves full of rock. It’s a great spot for relaxation and fun in the sun.
This beach is maintained and operated by the County. Point Dume State Beach and Preserve offers a variety of activities, including fishing, diving, swimming, and surfing.
A place to enjoy sunrise and sunset.
2: The Getty Villa
The Getty Villa opened in controversy, particularly among art experts.
The museum was inaugurated in a fake Malibu villa, which was inspired by the Villa Dei Papiri ruins at Herculaneum.
It was founded by J Pau Getty (an oil magnate) and it received much ridicule when it started operation in 1974. It is now one of the most popular sights in the city.
Getty lived in the villa and used it as a place to keep his possessions. After some renovations, the Getty Villa became a museum that could store antiquities from the Mediterranean that Getty had collected.
Expert architects worked on the building for nine years. The villa was finally reopened in 2006 to much greater praise.
3: The Getty Villa has over 1,200 artifacts
The majority date back between 6,500 BC to 500 AD. They cover a broad range of topics, from the Trojan War to ancient Gods or Goddesses.
Many other locations include seminar rooms, temporary exhibitions, and conservation labs.
The Getty Villa has a few hundred rooms. Each room is numbered and named according to its theme.
Room 113 shows the evolution of civilizations, while room 101 has some Greek artifacts, including a statue representing Aphrodite that dates back to 2,500 years. And room 108 contains a stunning statue of Hercules, almost two millennia old!
Room 105 is equipped with a large drinking straw, while room 212 is filled with Roman coins and gemstones, “guarded by” a miniature bronze skull, and room 217 contains a charming and disturbing statue of a fertility goddess from 3,000 BC.
The University of California’s Archaeological and Ethnographic Conservation Program is also located in the Getty Villa. Outside, there is a beautiful English ivy garden and rose garden with Roman statues.
4: Adamson House
It is often called the Taj Mahal of Tile. It has an unusual and beautiful interior, but it was probably originally designed to promote a product.
May Knight Rindge, Frederick Hastings Rindge, and Frederick Hastings Rindge built the estate on 13,000 acres of beautiful land. This included the terrain and the city with Spanish settlers.
The Ridges were entrepreneurs that operated a dairy farm and then opened Malibu Potteries in 1926.
The pottery company produced a variety of ceramic tiles with different motifs. Each tile was unique and beautiful, and each was inspired by different cultures.
Some of these tiles would be installed at the Roosevelt Hotel and Los Angeles City Hall as well as the Mayan Theater.
The Adamson House was built as a wedding gift by the Ridges to their oldest daughter.
It was built in a Mediterranean Revival style and has a few unique Rindge features, including the multiple ceramic tiles.
5: Zuma Beach
Zuma Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches along California’s East Pacific Coast Highway is Zuma Beach. It is the largest city landmark and a popular spot for beachside fun.
It boasts 105 acres, 1.8 miles of beachfront, several thousand parking spaces, beach chairs, and tons more. This is a great spot to visit! Zuma Beach offers a wide variety of activities.
The golden sand is perfect for lounging or building sandcastles. There are many lifeguards to ensure safe swimming. Nets are great for beach volleyball and permit holders can fish to their heart’s content.
Many restaurants offer casual and fancy dining options, so you can satisfy your cravings without ever leaving the beach. You might be able to see the seals and dolphins if you visit in winter. All year, the ridge overlooking the beach allows you to hike and enjoy a beautiful view.
It’s still a great place to go on weekends, regardless of the season. However, you should be prepared for it to get crowded.
6: Leo Carrillo State Park
Leo Carrillo State Park offers prime spots for sightseeing. Its name is likely to be familiar since it was named after actor and conservationist Leo Carrillo. Perhaps Carrillo’s most well-known role is that of Pancho in Cisco Kid.
He served 18 years as the California Beach and Parks Commission’s chief executive and was instrumental in the acquisition of San Simeon’s Heart Property.
The state park is named in his honor and consists primarily of a 1.5-mile stretch of beach.
Here, you can enjoy a wide variety of activities such as surfing, swimming, windsurfing, and beachcombing.
Explore the stretch to find beaches, caves, tidepools, backcountry trails, and campgrounds. You can even see interpretive displays.
