Home to many a movie star, Malibu is the perfect destination for holidaymakers looking for sun, sand and surf.

Dubbed the original Surf City USA, Malibu is located in western Los Angeles in California.

And it's no wonder the city is a Mecca for surfing enthusiasts with its Pacific coastline stretching out for 27 miles and its plethora of beaches.

These include Surfrider Beach, Pirate's Cove, Zuma Beach, Broad Beach and Trancas.

Malibu originally formed part of the territory of a Native American Indian tribe called the Chumash, who named the city 'Humaliswo' which translates as "the surf sounds loudly".

These loud surfing noises made it an ideal filming location for the surfing movies of the swinging 1960s.

Keen surfer dudes and dudettes should head for the regional classic point break at the Malibu Lagoon, where contests are held throughout the year.

But there's much more to do than surf in the vast area, which makes the city one of the largest in California and in the US.

The less active can merely bask in the Malibu sunshine if they choose or fulfil their David Hasselhoff fantasies by standing on the Malibu Pier, made famous for its presence in hit TV show Baywatch.

For anyone with a fear of water or sand, Malibu might not be the ideal holiday destination as at first glance, there might seem to be little to do apart from laze around the beach.

However, tourists can take a break from catching sunrays and give their credit card a good workout by visiting shopping centre Malibu Colony Plaza. And who knows, shoppers might bump into a famous Hollywood face who is also indulging in a bit of retail therapy.

If you're a hungry surfing fan, you could eat at Duke's on Pacific Coast Highway, which is a surfing themed restaurant and bar that is extremely popular with tourists and locals.

Malibu's landscape is not solely coloured golden and blue but includes a number of green spaces which tourists can use for a number of outdoor activities.

These recreational parks include Charmlee Wilderness Park, Las Flores Creek Park and Leo Carrillo State Park, where visitors and residents alike can picnic or go on walking trails.

There's even an equestrian park located near Malibu High School, complete with two riding rings.

Whether you're after an educational visit or not, you might want to visit Pepperdine University, which arguably has the best Ocean Views of any American college campus.

Ranked among the top 40 educational institutions in the United States, Pepperdine is located on a large piece of land above the Pacific Coast Highway and visitors might mistake the Pacific ocean as merely a water feature in the beautiful campus site.

For those who love their sunbathing and surfing, Malibu is a holidaying paradise with its vast beaches and gorgeous sun.

But for those less keen on getting hot on the beach or wet in the ocean, there's plenty of other things to keep you occupied.