Los Angeles: 10 Things to Do in 24 Hours

Zuma beach in Malibu is awfully L.A. — hot moms, surfer dudes, Pamela Anderson (she lives right near there). Walking past the freaks in Venice selling their pot paraphernalia and working out at Muscle Beach (Arnold Schwarzenegger's old gym) is also interesting. Or you could drive all the way down to Manhattan Beach where the corporate frat boys drink beer and play volleyball with their trophy girlfriends.

Personally, I'd go to Zuma in Malibu, where the hills meet the ocean (and where you can park for free on Westward Beach Road, right off the Pacific Coast Highway). Then I'd grab dinner at the Reel Inn, where you eat simply grilled fish from a tray at picnic tables. Or I'd get Greek food at Taverna Tony at the Malibu Country Mart, the outdoor mall where the locals hang out.

If you have time for a long lunch in the middle of the day in Malibu, go to the Malibu Family Wines vineyard, do a tasting and buy one of their surprisingly good bottles to drink at the winery's picnic tables with the veggie burger — trust me on that — you got at John's Garden Fresh Health Store at the Country Mart.

• 1. Zuma Beach
  30000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265 34.016847-118.822675 More Info
• 2. Reel Inn
  18661 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265; 310-456-8221 34.039857-118.580694
• 3. Taverna Tony
  23410 Civic Center Way, Malibu, CA 90265; 310-317-9667 34.036564-118.685989 tavernatony.com
• 4. Malibu Country Mart
  3835 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, CA 90265 34.035802-118.686393 malibucountrymart.com
• 5. Malibu Family Wines
  32111 Mulholland Highway, Malibu, CA 90265; 818-889-0120 34.098488-118.83323 malibufamilywines.com