Visit La Jolla, California

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The name La Jolla translates to “Little Jewel” in Spanish and this beach town just north of San Diego, California is certainly that as it sparkles against the deep blue Pacific Ocean that is its border on three sides. La Jolla juts out into the ocean along the California coastline like a fine stone set into its sandstone setting above the crashing surf. The town is a popular destination for visitors with abundant shopping, romantic beaches and parks, plenty of great restaurants for the foodie crowd and lots of opportunities for outdoor adventurers who wish to surf, kayak, scuba dive, bicycle, golf, hike, hang glide, explore tide pools or just frolic in the surf. La Jolla has a reputation as one of the most affluent communities in the United States; yet, it has a down to earth feel due to the beautiful natural scenery and beach culture. In addition to fine restaurants, gorgeous beaches, fabulous hotels and art galleries, La Jolla is home to world renowned institutions, such as the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Stephen Birch Aquarium & Museum. The Museum of Contemporary Art, founded in 1941, is located just above the waterfront in what was originally the residence of philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps. The museum has a permanent collection with more than 3,500 post-1950 American and European works, including paintings, works on paper, sculptures, photographic art, design objects and video works. Theater lovers enjoy live performances at the La Jolla Playhouse. Some of the best known beaches in and around La Jolla include Windandsea Beach where accomplished surfers find challenging breakers and the breathtaking scenery fills the time between wave sets. The La Jolla Children’s Pool was originally designed as a protected swimming area but over time has become a well-known destination for sea lions that bark and bicker with each other between dives for fish providing entertainment for those nearby. La Jolla Cove is San Diego’s most desirable spot for swimming, snorkeling and diving. The water is calm and ecologically protected while providing a safe home for brightly colored garibaldi and other interesting sea life. Because the water is protected, surfboards, boogie boards and other floatation devices are not permitted. Cormorants, competing with the sea lions for the abundant sea life that makes up their meals, regularly inhabit the cliffs above La Jolla Cove and delight observers with their swooping and diving and occasional skirmishes with the sea lions. Divers come from all over the world to submerge themselves in the beauty of La Jolla Cove. The caves, reef areas and kelp beds offer some of the region’s most interesting diving experiences. It’s a great spot for underwater photography or for just taking in the sights through your mask. The cove’s waters are part of the La Jolla Ecological Reserve, a 6,000-acre area of protected tidelands and marine life. The cove is teeming with undisturbed sea life. Fish of every color of the rainbow, lobster, sea lions and sharks inhabit the cove. The moderate water temperature and calm current make it a great spot for those just getting started in the sport Moving north, La Jolla Shores is a long, sandy beach with clear water and gentle waves. . Kellogg Park provides a great picnic area at the top of the bluff above La Jolla Shores with grassy expanses and lots of shady trees. Further to the north of town lies Black’s Beach, an unofficial “clothing optional” secluded spot just below a gliderport near Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. The reserve with its expansive views over the Pacific Ocean is where some of the best hiking trails in San Diego County are located. Torrey Pines is also home to a pair of world famous golf courses perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific. The two courses at Torrey Pines are owned and maintained by the city of San Diego and both are open to the public. La Jolla is situated on the southern California coast just 12 mile north of downtown San Diego.

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