I will be visiting LA for 2 days and staying in NW Los Angeles. I was thinking of visiting Point Dume and Westward beach. Has anyone been here before? Is it worth visiting? Thanks!

Please read your thread in this forum about the (nonexistent) West Beach. Point Dume State Beach (pronounced "doom") is the hill located at the southern/eastern end of Westward Beach (the pay portion). There is a small beach hidden between the two cliffs and some have been known to do interesting things there.

Thanks. Is Point Dume in general a nice area to hike around?

Yes, but it will set you back $8 or whatever the parking fee is (the free portion of Westward Beach Rd is 1 mi to the NW and free parking is hard to come by).

The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area has some of the best hiking anywhere, not necessarily at the beach. Any of the canyon roads (Kanan Dume or Malibu Canyon) will take you on a winding tour of the mountains. Malibu Canyon State Park, accessible from Malibu Canyon Road, has scenery you will instantly recognize upon entering the park (the opening sequence of a long-running TV show was filmed there). Hike through the park and find the secret waterfall. There is also Topanga State Park, featuring free parking (Topanga Canyon Rd 1 mi north of the town of Topanga) and a campground that is only accessible to hikers.

Are there any hikes that take you to a beach? Would that be at Point Dume? Or can I also hike to a beach at Santa Monica Mountains Ntl Rec Area?

I'm sure there are trails from the ridge down to the sea, though the Santa Monica Mountains NRA map does not show them. You can also park along PCH (Highway 1) somewhere that is free, and just hike down the beach and back. It's really up to you, how far can you hike in a day? If you can hike far enough, you can park almost anywhere in the western section of the park and hike to the beach and back.

The entirety of California beachfront, from Oregon to Tijuana, is public property and you are free to hike its entire length, swim in it, stick your feet in the surf, make sand castles, have picnics, fly kites, go crazy. However, there are places where you must pay to park; or where you may not smoke (in L.A. City, L.A. County, Malibu and Santa Monica). There are also restrictions on dogs, fires, and sleeping (not a good idea day or night). Also, while the beach is public property above the mean high tide line, David Geffen has mean security guards who will hassle you if you walk past his house. Bring your sunglasses, hat, swimsuit, towel, and rented convertible, as well as drinks, snacks, and plenty of SPF 30 sunscreen.

Leo Carillo State Beach, about 15-20 mi N of Point Dume State Beach, has beach camping (across PCH). All you need is a sleeping bag.

Beaches are not mountains, nor are mountains beaches. If I were you, I would visit both. Set your GPS to the intersection of Stunt Road and Saddle Peak Road.

Please do explore Point Dume State Beach. Look at the satellite map. You will have to pay to park near the point itself.