Stretching from the world-famous Getty Villa museum on the east end to Pepperdine University on the west, Eastern Malibu lives up to all the expectations raised by years of TV shows and movies. Most residents live in a narrow strip running on either side of the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, which serves as the city's main thoroughfare. While housing tends to be pricey in Malibu, especially for beachfront or ocean view residences, more affordable apartments cluster toward the center of town, where residents and visitors also head for shopping and dining options.

The heart of Malibu resides in its miles of spectacular beaches, with surfers heading for famous surf breaks off Zuma Beach and tidepool fans clustering around Big Rock Beach. A hidden gem is Paradise Cove, where locals lounge on Adirondack chairs under umbrellas, enjoying the sand as they sip drinks from the Paradise Beach Cafe and watch pelicans at play.