Malibu: the community enveloping our beautiful bubble, known for celebrity sightings, budget-breaking prices and a 10 p.m. closing time. Underneath Malibu’s pricey facade is a thriving community of affordable outings, and here I present to you options for a weekend out on the town that won’t break the bank and won’t strain Malibu’s wildlife to boot.
Come Friday, pick up a new fall jacket or some apartment art with a gas-friendly trip down the road to Artifac Tree, Malibu’s local thrift store that has been open since 1973. All their wares are recycled goods, so the environment benefits from the store’s set up, therefore reducing the amount of waste sent to our landfills. Tear yourself out of bed somewhere between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to get yourself sifting through this giving tree, which sits behind the Malibu movie theater on Cross Creek Road.
Consider rounding out the day with a good hike as evening sweeps through the Santa Monica Mountains. Make your own art as you lug a friend and your camera up Baxter Drive and hike the trail that snakes up the top of the road. Scale the rocks like a mountain goat to find some inspiring vistas with some of the best views in Malibu. Let loose and pretend you’re one hot Malibu photographer — it’s unlikely you’ll run into anyone to shame you into embarrassment up there. What you will run into, however, is an avocado orchard, some cattle, a few goats and a horse or three near the end of the trail.
Refuel at Malibu Seafood for a fairly sustainable fare and go fried to save a buck or seven. You may even find a new friend in a well connected and inspiring Malibu resident while you’re there.
Take Saturday morning to check out the Malibu Farmer’s Market for something different — Vital Zuman Organic farm, a sustainable plot of fig trees founded in 1955. Sitting about half a mile beyond Kanan’s junction with PCH, this farm is the place to get balsamic lemonade, raw honey and your fill of greens, fruits, nuts and berries right from the source. They take credit cards during business hours (12 p.m. to 5 p.m). Wednesday through Sunday. The sustainable farming methods may inspire you to get your own plot in the Green Team garden. Find your inner child and have fun in the dirt.
After showering to scrub off said dirt, remember you’re a student and find solace as you wind down into study time. Start with a free movie at Malibu Library, showing at 2 p.m. every Saturday. Delve into a hardcore study session after the film. Think up more ways to save money and the environment. Perhaps email me the tips you’ve accumulated over the years.
Come Sunday, if you still feel you haven’t gotten enough of the outdoors, gather your friends and head up the coast to Point Mugu Dune Bank for a different kind of hardcore — sandboarding. Absolutely crazy. Absolutely beautiful. Malibu: the community filled with natural wonders for you to explore. Nearly absolutely free.
