I have just spent several hours cycling and picnicking along the beach fronts in both Santa Barbara and Ventura. On returning to Malibu, I’m afraid the Malibu beachfront came in a very poor third. Why do we have medians filled with dirt, weeds or concrete? Why are there no palm trees or oleander bushes on those barren medians, or along the beach parking lots? Yes, we have the natural beauty provided by the mountains but that isn’t enough. Some added enhancements are desperately needed to make Malibu a truly beautiful place to visit.
A friend from South Africa called Malibu “a slum” and couldn’t understand why we chose to live here. Friends from Barbados were “very disappointed” in Malibu’s beach areas. Has it occurred to anyone that much of the filming is done at Will Rogers Beach, not just because it has a large parking lot, but also because its natural beauty has been improved by the addition of colorful canna lilies and palm trees. But that beach is administered by Santa Monica. Perhaps that is the difference.
Up here in the hills where we live, our view is stunning and it’s easy to forget that not all of Malibu is as beautiful. However, I am embarrassed when I take guests to any of the local beaches and see the meager attempts (if any) that have been made to beautify them.
Ann Stalcup