Hotels near Malibu and the Pacific Coast Highway

For the Southern California of the movies, drive the Pacific Coast Highway out to Malibu, where 21 miles of coastline string together wide surf beaches, dramatic bluffs and celebrity homes. Zuma Beach and Surfrider Beach are the best-known stretches of sand, while Point Dume offers headland walks and whale-watching in season.

The drive itself, with the Pacific on one side and the Santa Monica Mountains on the other, is one of the great American coastal road trips. Malibu makes a relaxed half- or full-day escape from the city, especially paired with a seafood lunch overlooking the water.

Pro Tip: Drive the Pacific Coast Highway in the late morning so you reach Malibu for lunch and an afternoon on the sand. Bring quarters or a card for the beach car parks, and time the return to avoid the worst of the LA rush-hour traffic.