Things To Do Near Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
The SMMNRA is perfect for RV travelers; with an RV, you can move from place to place with ease across the miles of beach, hills, valleys, and mountains to enjoy every highlight that the area offers. The roads run along the coastline, where you can stop and enjoy fishing, surfing, or sunbathing. The mountains seem to climb out of the Pacific Ocean and lay bare the enormity of the horizon. Everywhere you go in this recreation area, you find restaurants, parks, museums, and sites to experience. The mountains raise visitors above the urban areas and provide a magnificent stargazing display.
Hiking Trails
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Mishe Mokwa to Tri-Peaks and Sandstone Peak
One of the most-used trails is the Mishe Mokwa to Tri-Peaks and Sandstone Peak pathway. The path features exceptional views like those of Carlisle Canyon and Balanced Rock. The trail repeatedly elevates over 900 feet, moving up and down the ridgelines of mountains.
Location
Balancing Rock Trail Head, Canyon View Trail, Malibu, CA 90265
Length
6.8 miles
Intensity
Intermediate
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Solstice Canyon Trail
For a leisurely hike, try the Solstice Canyon Trail. The path runs through a highly picturesque valley between high hills covered in coastal sage scrub. Most visitors view this hike as restful, but there are sections with steep climbs and declines.
Location
Intersection of Corral Canyon Road and Solstice Canyon Road, Malibu, CA 90265
Length
3.2 miles
Intensity
Easy to Intermediate
Sightseeing
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Paramount Ranch
One of the cardinal sites to see in the SMMNRA is the Paramount Ranch. Visitors have come to this location since its creation in 1927 to watch film production, ogle the film stars, hike the pleasant trails, and see what the area was like before it became a recreation area.
Location
2903 Cornell Road, Agoura, CA 91301
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King Gillette Ranch
The King Gillette Ranch sits inland along the Malibu watershed. Its broad meadows create a sheltered area for wildlife that once ran rampant through the site. The ranch includes a replica of a Native American Chumash village where you interact with the performers to learn the life of the area’s original inhabitants.
Location
26800 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas, CA 91302
Museums
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Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum
While you visit the beach portion of the SMMNRA, stop by the Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum to explore the history of the Malibu region. The Spanish Colonial-style home is a National Historic Site, a California Historic Landmark, and a California State Park. It is located at the mouth of the Malibu River and celebrates all who have lived in the region.
Location
23200 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265
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Leonis Adobe Museum
The Leonis Adobe Museum displays a piece of American history that has such importance that it is recognized as a Distinctive Destination of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. One of several such designated places across the country, the Leonis Adobe Museum tells the story of the Old West. Exhibits, displays, artifacts, and memorabilia reveal the life of those who settled the area.
Location
23537 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA 91302
Nearby Shops and Restaurants
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Serendipity Gift Shop
The Serendipity Gift Shop is an oddity among the glamorous and glitzy shops that dominate the region. A stop here gets you unlikely gifts like paddywax candles, hand-embroidered pillows and dish towels, and jewelry created by local artists.
Location
4342 Tujunga Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604
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Malibu Surf Shack
Even if you don't surf, dropping by the Malibu Surf Shack lets you enjoy the surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding that are such an entrenched part of Southern California culture. Along with classic and modern surfboards, this shop handles snowboards and skateboards. While you are in the store, get one of their silk-screened t-shirts to wear when you get home — just to let everyone know where you have been.
Location
22935 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265
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Pono Burger
If you ever wondered what a Hawaiian burger restaurant would be like, stop at the Pono Burger for an example of traditional cooking with a Hawaiian flair. All their meats are farm-fresh and never frozen, and their produce comes directly from neighboring farms. For a unique taste, try their spicy kuawa crunch or the palahu turkey burger.
Location
829 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401
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Neptune's Net
Neptune’s Net offers some of the freshest seafood found anywhere in California. Most of the seafood provided comes from fish and crustaceans that were swimming nearby not long ago. Their specialty is to create mixed dishes like a calamari, shrimp, and clam plate that lets you know how seafood is supposed to taste.
Location
42505 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265