Before I go into detail about the first exciting day of my road trip, I wanted to list out some of the destinations I went to along the way (as well as others I wish I visited):
- Santa Monica Beach
- Cha Cha Chicken
- The Getty Villa
- Point Dume
- Escondido Beach
- Stearns Wharf
On the first day of my road trip, I said goodbye to LA with one last visit to Santa Monica, where I soaked in the sun and ate some amazing coconut fried chicken at Cha Cha Chicken, a colorful latin-carribean restaurant located only a block away from the beach!
I then got on Route 1 for the first time (of many) and drove up to Malibu. I wanted to visit the Getty Villa on the way up but unfortunately I was too late to reserve tickets online. If you want to visit on the weekend, definitely reserve a spot a few days in advance as it has less availability then the Getty.
However, the Villa has a very different but equally beautiful vibe with less of a focus on paintings and more on sculptures and artisan goods in an ancient Roman setting that takes you back centuries.
Malibu has a lot to offer travelers and its clear why so many celebrities call the town their home – the weather is incredible and the views of the ocean and cliffs along the highway were the best I’ve seen in southern California.
Visitors can also shop along the way as the area has a perfect blend of small businesses and larger shopping centers on one side of the highway and beautiful coastal views on the other side. You can’t help but wish you could see the view from one of the mansions in the mountains.
The first stop I made in Malibu was at Point Dume, which is a natural outcropping nestled away in a residential enclave along the coast. The hike to the top only took about 10-15 minutes and offered spectacular views of the ocean, although it could get very windy and foggy at times. There is also a staircase that reaches all the way down to a secluded beach, where you can see surfers catching waves before the sun sets.
However, the biggest shock to me about Point Dume was… the parking (or lack thereof). It was near impossible to park close to the hiking trail. There is a small parking lot with maybe 10 slots right next to the road, but it was completely filled when I went there, meaning I had to get in line behind 3 other cars to wait (for 30 min) for a spot.
I was going to park alongside a different part of the road, but a lady stopped me and said she just got a ticket for over $100!! Even when I was waiting in line with the other cars, a police car drove by and told me to move because I was obstructing traffic (even though I was fully within the parking lot lines).
Thankfully the car in front moved forward and I avoided a potential fine!
It was only until later that night did I learn theres a separate paid parking lot a little further from the hiking trail that has way more spaces – although it adds another 10-15 minutes to your walking time.
Overall, I think the best strategy would be to wait for the free limited parking if you have the time, but if you have a tight schedule its probably better to check the free lot for spaces and then go to the paid lot if necessary.
After Point Dume, I went to my top secret favorite beach that I will hesitantly share with you. Escondido Beach is located on the right side of the highway going southbound, and requires you to park along the shoulder of the road. Depending on when you go it may be hard to find a parking spot, because there is a pretty popular restaurant nearby.
If you type “Escondido Beach Access (Cliffside)” into Google Maps you should be able to find the entrance, which is nestled away between houses with steps to a gate that may look like private property but is open to the public. After passing by the gate, you will walk down a cute stone walkway to a winding staircase that will bring you down to the beach.
When walking down, be mindful of your noise level as there are beachfront properties all around the area. I managed to get down to the beach before sunset and had a relaxing stroll along the water, sharing the beach with only a few other people.
Overall, it’s a great location for a cute picnic or just a calm getaway for some peace and quiet, especially if you recently spent some time in LA.
After my beach excursion, I continued going north to Santa Barbara, where I caught the last few minutes of sunset while on Stearns Wharf. The wharf was very charming with a bunch of cute shops and restaurants. If you liked the bustling Santa Monica Pier, you may also appreciate the calmer more intimate setting of the wharf.
After eating dinner at a nearby restaurant, I settled in for the night at an Airbnb in Goleta. It was generally cheaper to stay somewhere outside of the city and I didn’t mind the extra 15 minute drive.
I was pretty satisfied with my first day of the trip, but I went to bed that night excited for the next leg.
Joanne's Journey 