Malibu, CA

A clifftop New American restaurant with a terraced ocean-view patio that's been Malibu's special-occasion standard for decades. The food is polished; the Pacific panorama is the reason to book.

A festive Greek taverna in the Malibu Country Mart with mezze, grilled lamb and frequent live music and dancing. A warm, convivial change of pace from the coastal-view spots.

A no-frills fish market and patio on PCH west of town, doing fresh fried and grilled seafood at picnic tables with an ocean view across the highway. The beloved unpretentious local catch.

A farm-to-table café out on the Malibu Pier doing bright, produce-driven breakfasts and lunches with the ocean all around. The original of what became a Malibu icon.

A romantic creekside restaurant up Topanga Canyon, doing organic, Californian-Mediterranean plates under the trees with a fairy-tale garden setting. The area's most enchanting dinner.

A laid-back Point Dume spot doing fresh Mexican plates, tacos and margaritas with a casual patio, a favorite of the west-Malibu locals. Unpretentious and reliably good.

A breezy Cuban-Mexican restaurant in the Country Mart famous for its grilled, cheese-and-chili-dusted street corn and a sunny patio. A lively, all-ages spot in the heart of town.

A clubby steakhouse out in Trancas doing classic chops and martinis with an old-Hollywood feel. The west end's go-to for a proper steak dinner.

A gourmet deli and market in the Country Mart slinging excellent sandwiches, salads and prepared foods to a loyal local crowd. The go-to for a quality beach picnic.

A shaded canyon walk leading to the tallest waterfall in the Santa Monica Mountains, a multi-tiered cascade most dramatic after winter rains. The area's signature hike.

A short bluff trail over the Point Dume headland with boardwalks, a whale-watching overlook and big coastal views down to Zuma. The easiest great view in Malibu.

A gentle, shaded canyon trail past a year-round stream to the stone ruins of a fire-destroyed 1950s house and a small waterfall. An easy, atmospheric walk that's great with kids.

An inland park of oak savanna, volcanic crags and a creek, with trails to the Rock Pool and the former 'M*A*S*H' filming site. A surprisingly wild, cinematic landscape just over the hills.

A quiet west-Malibu park of rolling meadows and oak groves on a coastal plateau, with easy loops and wide ocean views. A peaceful, uncrowded alternative to the busy canyon trails.

A ridge hike in Topanga State Park to a mesa-top overlook with a sweeping view from the Santa Monica Bay to the city. A moderate climb with one of the best panoramas in the range.

A re-creation of an ancient Roman seaside villa housing the Getty's antiquities — Greek, Roman and Etruscan art — amid formal gardens above the coast at Malibu's eastern edge. A world-class, free museum in an unforgettable setting.

Learning or watching at the legendary Surfrider point break is the quintessential Malibu activity, with long, gentle rides peeling off the point. The historic heart of surf culture.

An open-air safari-truck tour through a hillside ranch vineyard inland, with wine tastings and encounters with resident exotic animals like zebras and alpacas. A quirky, only-in-Malibu outing.

An outdoor repertory theater built into a wooded Topanga hillside, staging Shakespeare and classics under the oaks all summer. A magical, rustic performance setting.

An open-air shopping and dining complex in the heart of town with boutiques, restaurants, art and a grassy play area, a relaxed celebrity-spotting hangout. The social center of Malibu.

From the Point Dume headland in winter, gray whales pass close on their migration, visible from the bluff overlook without a boat. A free, seasonal wildlife spectacle.

A docent-led tour of the tile-lavished 1929 Spanish-Revival mansion by the lagoon, telling the story of the Rindge family and Malibu Potteries. A rich slice of Old California history and craftsmanship.

A dramatic headland jutting into the Pacific with a short bluff trail to a whale-watching overlook and a tucked-away cove beach below. The scenic high point of the Malibu coast.

A long, wide expanse of clean sand with reliable surf and room to breathe, the quintessential big Malibu beach. Spacious enough to never feel as crowded as it is.

A pocket beach reached by a steep path and stairs, famous for its sea stacks, arches and tide-pool coves — the most photographed stretch of the Malibu coast. Small, wild and stunning.

A restored early-1900s pier at the heart of Malibu, with a couple of restaurants and a straight-on view of the legendary Surfrider waves just to the west. The town's historic anchor on the water.

The legendary right-hand point break beside the pier, the world's first designated World Surfing Reserve and the birthplace of modern surf culture. A pilgrimage spot for anyone who surfs.

A 1929 Spanish-Colonial-Revival mansion by the lagoon, lavished with the colorful ceramic tile that made Malibu Potteries famous, set in gardens above Surfrider Beach. A jewel-box of Old California craftsmanship.

A sheltered, palm-backed cove with a pier and a famous beach café, a private-feel beach that's been a film backdrop for decades. The most postcard-perfect small beach in Malibu.

The exclusive 'Billionaire's Beach' below the celebrity homes east of the pier, now with hard-won public access points for a stroll past the famous houses. A walk along Malibu's most coveted sand.