By: Faith Kim, Dissonant
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and I went to the beach almost every
day during the summertime. I own over 30 different bathing suits, some of which have yet to be
worn and as Californian as it may sound, my favorite thing to do is sleep under the sun on El
Matador Beach. It’s probably one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been to because of
how tranquil it is. It is surrounded on both sides by cliffs and large rocks, making the beach
smaller than most and giving it a much more secluded feeling. To get there, you drive up the
Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), blasting your favorite music with the windows rolled all the way
down and the beach at your side the entire time. I love that moment you get onto PCH, and you
can smell the saltwater. You keep driving until you reach a small, sandy parking lot. The little lot
is on a cliff and when you stand at the edge, you can see the blue ocean for all its beauty. The
path to get down from the cliff is stunning – there are always tiny yellow wildflowers dotting the
narrow, slightly steep path, and the beach is always in sight. Walk down the old wooden stairs at
the end of the trail and you feel the hot sand beneath your feet and hear the crashing waves.
There are beautiful rock formations that you can walk through and sit under, and when the sun
gets too hot, you cool off in the water. Sometimes, I would swim out into the ocean where the
ground disappeared and past the point that waves begin to form, and I would just float with the
water. Afterwards, I would come back to shore and fall asleep on my towel. My friends and I
also pack lunches so we can have picnics by the water... and we only leave when the sun begins
to set.