Living in Los Angeles was amazing. There was an incredible energy that I felt every time I walked out my front door. I loved the urban aspect of my life. But, I also loved how easy it was to get out of the city and enjoy some quality beach time. Below are some of my favorite beach spots within a close drive (insert LA traffic joke here) of the city. If you are planning an LA trip you should definitely check some of these out to get the complete SoCal experience!  El Matador Malibu In addition to the more famous sunbathing spots, there are many small beaches to explore along…