The city of Malibu is a 21-mile[5](33.5 km) strip of Pacific coastline; a beachfront community famous for its warm, sandy beaches, and for being the home of countless movie stars and others associated with the Southern California entertainment industries. Most Malibu residents live within a few hundred yards of Pacific Coast Highway (State Route 1), which traverses the city, with some residents living up to a mile away from the beach up narrow canyons; the city is also bounded (more or less) by Topanga Canyon to the east, the Santa Monica Mountains to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the south, and Ventura County to the west. Its beaches include Surfrider Beach, Zuma Beach, Malibu State Beach and Topanga State Beach; its local parks include Malibu Bluffs Park[6] (formerly Malibu Bluffs State Park) and the planned Legacy Park[7], with neighboring parks Malibu Creek State Park, Leo Carillo State Beach and Park[8], Point Mugu State Park[9], and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and neighboring state beach Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach[10], that was once part of Old Malibu (before Malibu became a city), and better known as pristine beaches, El Pescador, La Piedra and El Matador.
A popular Malibu license plate frames reads, "Malibu: a Way of Life". Signs around the city proclaim "27 miles of scenic beauty". The "27 miles" refers to old Malibu's length (27 miles) before becoming citified (21 miles). The City of Malibu later added additional signs stating "No overnight camping allowed."
Topanga State Beach - located along PCH at Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Malibu Lagoon State Beach - located just west of the Pier, where the Malibu Creek meets the ocean. The Adamson House / Malibu Lagoon Museum is located here.
Malibu Surfrider Beach - located along the 23000 block of PCH; location of the world famous Malibu Pier.
Dan Blocker Beach - between Puerco Cyn. and Corral Cyn. along PCH
Big Dume State Beach - accessed from Cliffside Drive; a State operated beach.
Point Dume State Beach - accessed from Westward Beach Road; parking is fee based. This is a State owned beach, operated by L. A. County.
Westward Beach - also known as "free Zuma?; limited parking available.
Zuma Beach - entrance is located just west of Heather cliff Dr.; plenty of parking available, fee charged.
La Piedra Beach - one of the Robert H. Meyer State Beaches; limited parking available.
Nicholas Canyon Beach - located at 33850 PCH.
El Pescador Beach - one of the Robert H. Meyer State Beaches; limited parking available.
El Matador - one of the Robert H. Meyer State Beaches; limited parking available.
