For today's Travel Guide, I'm keeping it local, at least for those who are based in Los Angeles, like I am. Seeing that the west coast is high on a lot of people's vacation lists, though I figured it'd be it a fun one for localsand visitors alike. One of the best things about living in LA as well as visiting itis that it's really easy to take quick trips in any direction and find yourself in a completely different environment. For example, head east for a couple hoursand you'll find yourself in a desert oasis..aka Palm Springs. In case it doesn't go without saying, I recommend the Parker Palm Springswhen enjoying the desert heat; or, perhaps head north up the coast for about 30-45 minutes (depending on the ever looming traffic, of course) and end up in the glamorous beach town, Malibu. If you haven't guessed already, Malibu is the focus ofmy travel tips today, and I'm pretty confident that you're all going to find something that peaks your interest.
## THE BEACH
In Malibu, there are quite a few beaches to choose from, but they're not all (technically) public as many are private beaches that only have access via the lucky owners of homes along those particular strips of sand. In case you don't know anyone like that, here's a list of some of my favorites:
Malibu Surfrider Beach - Located between the Malibu Pier and Malibu Lagoon, this is a popular beach for surfers and those who like to watch the surfers. It's also very close to theAdamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum, so if you're with the family and/or can only sit for _so long_ on the beach, you can get a little culture in your beach day, too.
El Matador State Beach - Now this one is just made for romantic sunsets and movie scenes where the couple stares longingly into one another's eyes. There are really lovely bluffs and rock formations that are a little reminiscent of Cinque Terre to me.
Zuma Beach - This one is perfect for those just looking to pull up, park, and enjoy a day on the sand. Zuma is a three-mile stretch of white sands and easy access right off of Pacific Coast Highway.
For a full list of all of the beaches, I found this link to be very helpful.
## THE FOOD
I hope you like seafood! It comes in all forms and budget in the 'bu.
Nobu Malibu - I know there are other Nobu locations but this one really takes the prize when it comes to setting and sunset opportunities. You'll definitley want to make a reservation and request an outside table. Trust me..you won't be disappointed.
Malibu Seafood - This place is a Malibu institution and well deserving of all of its loyal followers. Right off the PCH, it's the kind of place where you'll see people from all sorts of backgrounds from biker dudes to surfers to family's out for a day at the beach. As you walk in, you'll see a display of all of the fresh catches to choose from. I like to indulge with the fish and chips whenever I make my way north to this seaside delight.
Dukes Malibu - Okay, so this is another must go while in Malibu and/or Waikiki. Named after a very interesting man from Hawaii, who is wildly credited as popularizing the sport we all know and love, surfing. To learn more about him, look no further than right here, and while in Malibu, be sure to stop into his namesake restaurant and enjoy a Mai Tai with a view.
## NON-BEACH ACTIVITIES
Take it from me, there is plenty to do aside from laying on the sands in Malibu. Here's a few of my recommendations:
Malibu Wine Safaris -I have wantedto check out Malibu Wine Safaris for forever and just recently had the chance go with my team, and we had the BEST time! I'm sure this goes without saying but this isn't an outing for the under 21 set, but it is the perfect day trip for a birthday, bachelorette or just a fun day for all you wine lovers out there. The guided tours take place in an open-air, tiered safari jeep (which transported me to my time in South Africa)that winds through picturesque hillsides covered with rows of grapevines, labeled for each varietal. After learning about the history of the property and some of the wines, it was time for ourfirst wine tasting, outdoors in the vineyard. The jeep carried us through with stops along the way for more tastings as well as introductions to an arrayof large animals such aswater buffalo, goats, zebras (including a baby one), llamas, and the very popular, Stanly the Giraffe. We all had a great time petting and feeding them (carrots & lettuce are nicely provided for you) and of course, snapping many a photo.
The property is stunning and the guide's were so fun and knowledgeable. We ended the day at the Malibu Wine tasting room, which is beautifully laid out and perfect for a picnic after the safari adventure.
Malibu Country Mart- Are you ready for some shopping in a lovely outdoor setting? "The Mart" as the locals like to call it is far from a regular shopping mall experience. With lots of interesting boutiques, art galleries and places to simply sit and relax, the mart is a great place to window shop as well as get some serious shopping done, too.
Air Tours LA - A travel guide by me is hard to go complete without a suggestion of an air tour. With a maximum of three people per plane, this is a very unique way to take in Malibu Canyon and its famous coastline.
For all of you Angelinos out there, what are some of your favorite "quick trips" out of the city? It's a tough choice sometimes with all of the options but I think we can all agree, Malibu is pretty high up there!And for all of yousoonto be visitors, I hope this intel on Malibu inspired you to come sooner than later! Thanks, as always, for following along and more to come soon.
Cheers
xx
GM