Point Dume

Surprisingly enough, you can round the point at Point Dume and discover your own hidden nooks to spend the day. With cliffs at your back and a private beach with decent size waves in front of you, it’s not a bad place for a picnic.

Global Yodel - travel through a local lens “This photograph pretty much sums up my favorite place in the LA area. When I have time, I pack up some goodies {cameras, coffee, journals, etc.} and head to the beach to get away from the “vibrations” in the city. I am so thankful to have this place to go to, as it helps balance out living in the intense city life of LA. I go out here and am instantly recharged to come back and throw myself in to all the activity and stimulation of the city.” - Layli Samimi Pt. Dume is about 30 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. Check out the full feature by LA local Layli Samimi at Global Yodel.

We traveled up the pacific coast highway, through the beautiful seaside vistas of Malibu. After cresting a hill there was the idyllic Zuma beach stretching out into the distance. We parked the car and trekked along the shore toward the imposing shear rock face of Point Dume. I had heard about a cove hidden in the coastline, accessible only by traversing through the rocks to the right of the cliff. After waiting for the tide to recede we took our chance and vaulted up the first set of ocean battered boulders. There was an exhilarating rush of adrenaline as we made our way through the maze of fallen rock. The incredible sound of waves crashing so close by sent reverberations through my body. We made it through to a clearing in the rocks and there before us was the pristine cove. It felt like finding a new land, a true exotic hide away. The bustle of the city might be only few miles away, but here we were castaways.

The beaches of affluent Malibu are more pristine than their urban counterparts. Public access-ways lead to the private sandy beaches outside of oceanfront homes, and public beaches like Point Dume and Zuma Beach often feel just as secluded. Surfriders Beach and Topanga Canyon State Park have some of the best surfing breaks in California, and the mountains of Malibu have some of the best hiking trails. Pull over and park for a pit stop along the cliffs to simply enjoy the scenery of panoramic ocean views or the dishes of some of the best seafood restaurants in LA.