California Beaches: Malibu

Malibu, that glamorous of all beach cities whose name resonates around the globe, includes 21 miles of Pacific coastline and a population of less than 13,000. So it's not how many people live there, but who lives there that also makes this a paparazzi paradise. But go for the sand, the surf, the solitude.

Chumash Indians had a thriving settlement at Malibu Canyon and named the sandy spot "Humaliwo--where 'the surf sounds loudly,' " according to "The Story of Malibu" by the Malibu Lagoon Museum.

Charlie Yedor, 17, of Sherman Oaks, and Angelica Maleski, 16, of Sherman Oaks, spend a romantic moment on a warm summer day at Surfrider Beach and the Malibu Pier.

For more in this series exploring Southern California's beaches, visit our Cruising the Coast page.