Malibu
By Anna Lynn Sibal
There are a few things that come to mind whenever the word Malibu is mentioned – the warm and sandy beach, the blue surf, a convertible cruising along the Pacific Coastal Highway, the clear blue water, and Baywatch. Malibu is the name made synonymous to carefree living at the beach.
Malibu does deserve the reputation it enjoys. One of the many things that it is famous for is the coastline facing the Pacific Ocean, which stretches 27 miles. That is 27 miles of beautiful powdery sand that, thanks to Baywatch, has become one of Malibu’s icons. The beaches even have exotic names like Surfrider, Topanga, Zuma, El Matador, El Pescador, La Piedra and Paradise Cove.
How best should you enjoy the beaches of Malibu? Aside from the usual swimming and sunbathing, how else can you pay homage to the beaches of Malibu but by riding the surf? Take care of the riptides, though, when you do go swimming.
There are, of course, other things to do in Malibu aside from lazing about at the beach all day. You can spend an afternoon just cruising down the Pacific Coastal Highway, preferably in a convertible. It is one of the most scenic and the most memorable drives you will ever get.
Another way to spend a quiet afternoon in Malibu is to hang out at the Malibu Country Mart, leisurely sipping a cup of coffee in one of the cafes there. If you are into watching stars, you might just be lucky and see one of those living in Malibu pass by you.
If watching stars is not your game, then probably baseball or soccer is. The place to go for some games is the Malibu Bluffs Park. You can either watch or join. Or, you can just quietly sit and stare at the scenery offered by the view there of the Pacific Ocean.
Malibu is also good for hiking if you are a nature lover. It is close enough to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and there you can explore as much of nature on this side of California to your heart’s content. Other places that are popular for hiking are Solstice Canyon, Castro Crest and Zuma Canyon.
The climate enjoyed in Malibu is Mediterranean, so the beaches are good all year round. But if you are looking for special reasons to go to Malibu other than the beaches, here are some events that might perk your interest:
1. The Malibu Nautica Triathlon. The Triathlon is an annual event held every September. Previously limited to the locals, the Triathlon is made up of a half-mile swim in the Pacific, an 18-mile bike ride along the Pacific Coastal Highway, and a four-mile run across Zuma Beach.
2. The Malibu Chili Cook-off. The Kiwanis Club of Malibu hosts this event every year. Celebrity and amateur chefs face off against each other for the best chili they could come up with. The event has a true carnival atmosphere. The winner of the cook-off gets a Porsche as a prize.
3. The Malibu Arts Festival. This festival is considered to be the landmark event of Malibu, and has been so for the last 40 years. It is hosted by the Malibu Chamber of Commerce and held every year on July.
Malibu is the city to go if you want some excitement by the beach.
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