The Enchanted Sea Cottage was everything it promised to be and more. If you want to stay directly on (and above) the Pacific Ocean in a magical place, this is the spot for you.

We stayed in the studio, which was delightful, immaculate, and fully appointed, and enjoyed hours just sitting and watching the ocean or reading our books while we listened to the crashing waves and periodically looked up to see dolphins and seals. Other times, we walked or went for a run on the beach. Heading north is just shy of 5 miles round trip to the end; heading south is shorter but culminates in a park with hiking trails that go up a cliff and provide expansive views - definitely worth the climb. We even wandered the neighborhoods of Malibu taking in the residential sights. I highly recommend finishing a long run or walk with a dip in the Sea Cottage's glorious salt water diving pool.

The staircase down to the beach is long and steep but perfectly sturdy and well worth the walk. (We never moved our car and used the stairs as our primary beach access for our entire stay.)

There are plenty of nearby dining options. Our favorite was the Sunset restaurant which is more upscale than it looks from the outside. We also walked to the Coral Beach Cantina one night for dinner (on PCH a mile from the cottage but I didn't want to bother with the car). The ambiance was more diner-esque than I was expecting but if you have a hankering for Mexican and margaritas like we did, it's a fine option.

Toni and Frank were gracious and generous hosts. We can't wait to return!