Malibu, the fabled spot where Gidget once hung out is a 27-mile stretch of coastal vistas and cliffs boasting some of the most expensive real estate in the L.A. area; celebrity residents include Bob Dylan, Matthew McConaughey and Brittany Spears.

The Getty Villa, the Getty Center’s coastal counterpart, reopened in 2006. The spectacular villa has been a magnet for splendor seekers since Getty, inspired by Julius Caesar-era retreat, built it in the 1970’s and filled it with Greco-Roman antiquities. Advance timed tickets are required.

                Find impressive views at restaurants along pacific Coast Highway, including Gladstone’s and Duke’s. Adjacent to the Malibu Lagoon and Bird Sanctuary, the Adamsom House is filled with historic tile.

                Malibu Country Mart offers hip, high-end boutiques such as Madison, Planet Blue and new Sigerson Morrison and restaurants such as sushi destination Nobu Malibu. There’s a children’s play area near Tra Di Noi and an excellent celeb-spotting.

                Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area offers activities such as hiking, horseback riding and bird-watching. Destinations include Will Rogers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades and Malibu Creek Park in Calabasas.