Beaches

Surfers make their way down the steep cliff and across slippery rocks to the water at Sunset Cliffs in San Diego.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

San Clemente

A dog sporting swimming goggles checks out the waves while riding with his owner at San Onofre State Beach, which includes famed surfing spots Old Man’s and Trestles.  (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Patrick Gudauskas, of San Clemente performs an aerial trick called a “roll” or “rodeo” at Lower Trestles, San Onofre State Beach.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

A shark is among the eclectic decor at the Spanish-style Beachcomber Hotel, which overlooks the ocean and the historic San Clemente pier.  (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

A person leaps over a small stream en route to watch a spectacular sunset at Laguna Beach‘s Main Beach.

For more in this series exploring Southern California’s beaches, visit our Cruising the Coast page.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Bruce Hooker takes Buddy, a surfing Jack Russsell terrier, wave riding at C Street--or California Street--in Ventura. “When he sees a set coming, he starts barking; he knows a wave is coming,” Hooker says.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

A surfer starts into the waves at Surfer’s Point in Seaside Park as the sun creeps over the hills.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Charlie Yedor, 17, of Sherman Oaks, and Angelica Maleski, 16, of Sherman Oaks, spend a romantic moment on a warm summer day at Surfrider Beach and the Malibu Pier.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

A longboarder heads down the beach near the Malibu Pier on a warm summer day to join the crowds surfing at Surfrider Beach.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)