Malibu Lagoon State Beach

"Odds are if you’ve seen a Malibu postcard or any surfing movie, you’ve seen Surfrider Beach. Home to the iconic first point surf break, this is one of the more crowded beaches along PCH, though it’s well situated if you’re looking to take in a bit of sun and some surfer-watching after lunch on the pier. Don’t waste time searching for roadside parking; it's easier to splurge for the lot or valet on the pier instead—unless it’s peak season, in which case, it’s every man for himself. "

"In the latter half of the 19th century three Hawaiian princes introduced surfing to California; they would ride the waves along Santa Cruz on boards handcrafted from local redwood. The trend caught on and led to the first Pacific Coast Surfriding Championships in 1928, but it was in the 1950s when surfing really took off in LA, helped along by the release of surfer-themed songs and films such as Gidget. Between 1956 and 1962 the number of California surfers rocketed from 5,000 to more than 100,000. Surfing is still an essential part of the southern Californian lifestyle today. One of the best surfing beaches is Malibu Lagoon State Beach, also known as Surfrider Beach; you can pick up a board from the Malibu Surf Shack down the road."