This past weekend, Katy and I spent the day at Paradise Cove—a tucked-away beach in Malibu that somehow manages to feel both remote and inviting. Though I’d lived in the area for a while, I had never made it to this little pocket of coast until now. And after visiting, I can say with confidence: it’s one of my favorite new discoveries in Los Angeles.
Morning Stillness by the Sea
When we arrived, we decided to explore the beach before sitting down for lunch. The cliffs loomed overhead in soft, crumbling layers, their edges shaped by time, wind, and tide. We walked slowly, barefoot in the sand, listening to the ocean crash against the rocks and watching seagulls trace slow arcs across the sky. We found a quiet spot where the crowd thinned out, laid down a blanket, and let the sun soak in.
There’s something about the ocean that quiets the mind. I closed my eyes for a while and let the rhythm of the waves guide my breath. The distant murmur of conversation, the gentle pull of the tide, the rustle of wind through beach grass—it all settled into a kind of natural meditation. No technique, no timer, no goal. Just presence.
Lunch with Your Feet in the Sand
Eventually, we made our way to the restaurant. There’s a deal where if you spend $50, parking is free—and the menu makes it easy to hit that mark. We spent $100 between us, but honestly, it was worth every penny. Paradise Cove might be the only place in L.A. where you can eat lunch with your toes in the sand. Despite the weekend crowd, we were seated quickly. The portions were huge, the atmosphere was lively but relaxed, and I later learned the restaurant’s late owner invented the pasta straw—a quirky bit of local lore that made me smile.
The Medicine of Water
After lunch, we returned to the beach. The sun had risen higher and the tide had pulled back slightly. We lay back and let our food settle. Eventually, we waded into the water and took a swim. The Pacific was brisk but not punishing—just enough to refresh the body and shake off any lingering sluggishness.
There’s a wordless kind of joy that arises after a swim in cold water. It resets you. Everything feels more alive. Meditation doesn’t always require sitting still with closed eyes—sometimes it’s letting the water carry your thoughts away while you float on your back, staring up at the open sky.
A Day of Simple Presence
We left Paradise Cove feeling nourished in more ways than one. It wasn’t just the food or the sun or the scenery—it was the experience of being totally present, from the first barefoot step on the sand to the last rinse of saltwater on our skin. Sometimes, the best meditation happens when you’re not trying. Just listening. Just receiving.
Paradise Cove reminded me that peace can arrive in the simplest moments, when we’re not striving for it—just slowing down enough to notice it.