9 of the Best Things to Do in Malibu, CA with Kids  - The Family Vacation Guide (2024)

Do you want to visit Malibu? Or are you a resident of that famously golden shoreline but don’t know what to do with the little ones when you’re all bored? No worries, we’ve got you covered.

Malibu is a beautiful part of California and an excellent location for a family vacation. It has an amazing view of beaches, a fantastic array of recreational activities, and plenty of kid-friendly activities you can do together. Therefore, when you’re on holiday and spending it with children, you don’t have to worry about how to entertain the little ones because Malibu is one of the best places for you and your family.

The following post will give you some of the best things to do in Malibu, CA, with kids.

1. Zuma Beach

If you’re looking for a great place to take your kids to play, Zuma Beach is the ideal spot. You can visit nearby shops, purchase tasty treats, rent surfers, or relax on the sand with a good book or magazine. It’s an excellent place for the whole family to enjoy together and there are several things to do on the beach.

Zuma beach offers numerous activities for children. Some of these include:

• Scuba diving: Many kids love exploring the ocean and participating in ocean sports. Scuba diving in Zuma beach is an excellent opportunity for them to play with sea life, get up close and personal with tropical fish, and have fun exploring the depths of the beautiful Pacific Ocean.
• Surfing: If you rent a surfboard for your kids, they’ll have the chance to enjoy a great time surfing on the beach.
• Walking: When you’re at Zuma Beach, you can get fantastic ocean views by walking around the beach.
• Kayaking: If you want to get the kids even more excited about visiting the beach, you can rent kayaks and have fun paddling through the waves. This is an activity that will give them hours of joy.

2. Malibu Lagoon & Malibu Creek State Park

You don’t have to be a photographic artist to enjoy the stunning beauty of Malibu Lagoon and Malibu Creek State Park. These two places are amazing to visit and ideal for a family trip. Malibu Creek State Park is one of the best places to visit in Southern California, so you can be sure it will certainly not disappoint you.

If you want to cool off, you can visit the Malibu Lagoon. It’s an excellent place to enjoy and has many great trails and fun activities. You can picnic at this lagoon, enjoy the crystal clear water, and enjoy the nature of Southern California with your family.

If you would rather not spend all day at the lagoon, you can visit Malibu Creek State Park. This state park has plenty of fantastic trails and great places to sit and relax. Plus, it has a great view of the Pacific Ocean, so you can see stunning waves crashing into the beach.

The Malibu Creek State Park is a great place to take the children; they’ll love it. You can also hike to several great lookout points that provide spectacular views of Malibu Creek State Park.

3. Paradise Cove Beach

Paradise Cove is one of the most stunning beaches in Malibu, CA, and it’s a great place to visit. The beach’s natural scenery is breathtaking; you’ll need to see it to believe it. It’s also very family-friendly and has many fun activities.

If you want to take some stunning pictures, then you can spend your time at Paradise Cove taking pictures. Or, you can sit back and relax in one of the lovely huts set up so you can bask in the sun and use shade.

If you want to hang out in the water, you can rent a kayak or a stand-up paddleboard and spend your time paddling around Paradise Cove. You can also swim in it, but it’s not for everyone. The tide comes in fast here, and you can get stuck if you’re not a strong swimmer, so be sure and visit with caution.

Paradise Cove is a perfect place for kids to visit. It’s one of the best places for children to enjoy because it has a lot of things for them to do. If you want to give your kids a great day, then you can take them to Paradise Cove, and they’ll be able to enjoy the following things:

• Playing Ball: If you’re looking for fun with the kids, you can purchase some balls and let them play.
• Walking: Paradise Cove is one of the best places to take a walk because it has a lot of gorgeous views and walks you can take.
• Burying each other in the sand: Another fun activity kids can enjoy is burying each other in the sand. This is a great way to get your kids dirty and have fun playing together.

In short, Paradise Cove is a great place to visit with your children, so you won’t have to worry about what to do for them when you’re all bored.

4. Malibu Library

Malibu Library is an excellent choice if you’re looking for another fun place to take the children. It’s near the beach and has lots of books to keep them occupied. It also has a great children’s section and seating areas for your kids.

You’ll love spending time at the Malibu Library because it has all the modern conveniences you’re looking for on your trip. The library has free Wi-Fi, many seating areas where you can sit and relax, and even cushioned chairs.

Once you’ve decided to go, then you can take advantage of the following activities that are available:

• Reading: You’ll find many books for sale at the Malibu Library. If you’re looking for some new books to read, then you can purchase them here. Then you can take your new books and make yourself comfortable on the large sofas in the library’s reading area.
• Drawing activities: If you want to get the children involved in some art, you can find many art materials at the Malibu Library. Then you can let the kids get creative and draw pictures during their visit. You can also purchase some art books for them to read.
• Listening to music: The library also offers great music for your listening pleasure. Suppose you’re looking for a fun way to pass the time while at the library, listen to some music. You’ll be able to take your iPod and listen to your favorite songs while in the library.
• Playing with toys: For kids, the best part about visiting the library is the toys. You can sit on a sofa, relax, and watch your children play with their new favorite toys that they’ve just checked out from the library.

5. Malibu Bluffs Park

Malibu Bluffs Park is an excellent choice for your family if you’re looking for another fun place to visit. You’ll enjoy this waterfront park with many picnic areas, ample parking, and scenic trails, so it’s fun for the whole family. Malibu Bluffs Park is a great place to spend time with children because they’ll love exploring the park and playing together.

If you’ve decided to visit Malibu Bluffs Park, then you can take advantage of the following activities that are available:

• Enjoy a fantastic picnic: Malibu Bluffs Park has a lot of picnic areas where you can sit with your family and enjoy some great food. You can have a picnic lunch to spend some time together, or you can have an impromptu tailgate party for the football game that’s about to start.
• Playing soccer: This park is a great place to play soccer because it has a great field set up for the game. You can play with your children or with some other kids. It’s also a lovely place to hang out and watch others play.
• Playing baseball: The park also has a baseball field, another excellent place to hang out with your children and use the beautiful scenery.
• Explore the park: It’s a great idea to bring your kids to this park so they can explore it independently. This way, they’ll have a great time, and they’ll be able to build their memories.

6. El Matador Beach

El Matador Beach is an excellent choice if you’re looking for more great beach time. The beach has a gorgeous shoreline and a stunning view, so it’s a great place to spend time with your family.

Each summer, Malibu El Matador Beach opens its gate to the public. It’s free to park, and this is an excellent way for locals and tourists to experience the beauty of the beach. This is also an excellent place to spend the day with children because of the following things:

• Snorkeling: This beach is known for its snorkel spots. If you want to spend some time with the kids and get your feet wet, you can go snorkeling in this spot.
• Exploring caves: This beach has many caves that the kids will love exploring, so this is a place you can visit with the whole family. Once kids finish their exploring, you can let them paint their creations on the cave walls.
• Taking pictures: You’ll enjoy this beach because you can take your family’s pictures there. It’s a beautiful beach with incredible scenery, so it’s an excellent place for family photos.
• Forming sandcastles: This beach is an excellent place for children to enjoy sinking sandcastles. If you’re looking for an activity with your children, this is a good place for it. Then you can take some time to relax and enjoy the sunset together.
• Enjoy a picnic with a view of the beautiful shoreline: This beach also has picnic areas, so you can sit with your family and enjoy the breathtaking view of the shore. You can prepare some sandwiches or other snacks for your trip so that you can spend time together on a relaxing picnic.

The great thing about El Matador Beach is that it has all the conveniences you want in an outdoor location.

7. Las Flores Creek Park

If you are looking for an urban park with utmost tranquility, then Las Flores Creek Park is the right choice. This park has a lot of great amenities to offer its visitors, including beautiful scenery. It will be an incredible place to rest, relax, and enjoy nature.

The location of this park is ideal because it’s close to the freeway, so you won’t have to travel far to get there. When you visit this park, then you can take advantage of the following amenities:

• Climbing webs: They have fantastic climbing webs that are great for children just starting with this activity. These can help them build confidence whether they use it alone or with others.
• Natural play areas: This park has numerous play areas to help kids stay healthy and active. They have swings, slides, plenty of rocks to climb, and even a rope ladder that some people will enjoy.
• Enjoy a book: If you want to do some reading, you can sit on a bench and enjoy a book while your kids run around the park. The park is quiet and peaceful, so you won’t have to worry about your kids being unsafe or disturbing anyone else.
• Take a stroll: You can take advantage of the walking trails in this park. You can take a stroll and enjoy the beautiful scenery on your own, or you can take a stroll with your friends and family.

8. Malibu Lagoon State Beach

Malibu Lagoon State Beach is a great place to spend time with children because it’s beautiful and safe. This beach has fantastic fine sand and shallow areas where you can take your kids. It’s a great place to relax and enjoy the views.

The water here is gentle and very shallow, so it’s an excellent place for children to play. The state beach also has trained lifeguards that are always ready to help. The following activities are available at this beach:

• Enjoy a day of swimming: The beach is well known for its sandy shoreline, so kids will be able to enjoy playing in the shallow water and sand without worrying about getting hurt. It’s an excellent place for relaxing in the water, or you can go swimming.
• Make sandcastles: Kids will love playing on the shoreline and building sandcastles before they head home. This is an excellent activity to do at the beach.
• Walk on the beach: You can take your family on a walk along the beach, and if your child needs a break, you can take them to the restrooms. The public restrooms are clean and well maintained.
• Make natural sculptures: There’s some exciting seaweed and beautiful driftwood at this beach, so kids will enjoy making sculptures with it. This activity can help them stay busy and active.
• Take in the views: It’s a great idea to take your kids to this beach to enjoy the scenery. There are some beautiful vistas at this beach, so it’s a place where you can slow down and appreciate nature.
• Fishing: Fishing is allowed at this beach from the shoreline, but it’s best to contact the Parks and Recreation Department of Santa Monica to obtain a fishing permit.
• Surfing: Malibu Lagoon State Beach is a great spot to enjoy surfing for older kids. The waves are gentle, so they won’t be too big or forceful and won’t cause any harm.
• Boogie boarding: If surfing isn’t your child’s thing, they can still enjoy boogie boarding at the beach. The waves here are gentle and won’t pull you back, so you’ll be able to enjoy this activity without worrying about getting hurt.
• Whale watching: You can bring your kids to the beach on a whale watching trip. When you go whale watching at this beach, you’ll see dolphins and other wildlife. It’s a beautiful experience that you and your kids will enjoy.

9. Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts

What is a trip without some great entertainment? Whether you want to take your children to a museum, aquarium, or any other type of art gallery, then the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts is an excellent place to ensure they have a memorable trip.

There are numerous things to do at this center for the arts, including watching incredible performances by incredible dancers and singers. Kids will be able to enjoy the performances from their seats, or they can stand up and sing along. You can also take them on a tour of the art gallery and see the incredible artwork.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, Malibu, CA, is an incredible destination that offers various activities and adventures for kids of all ages. You can bring your children to the beach, attend a performance at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts, go whale watching, take a hike along the coast, or go fishing.

There is always something for everyone when you visit Malibu, CA. As such, contact us today to learn more about all of the fantastic things to do in this beautiful city.