La Jolla
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Good Place to Relax,
Mountain Biking,
Picnic Spot,
Popular with Locals,
Sunrise / Sunset,
Swim & Snorkel,
Beach,
Cave,
Town / City
Immaculately landscaped parks, white-sand coves, upscale boutiques, and cliffs above deep, clear blue waters make it easy to understand why La Jolla translates from Spanish as “the jewel.”
La Jolla Village sits atop cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean on three sides. Girard Avenue and Prospect Streets are where you’ll find some of San Diego’s best restaurants and certainly its best boutique shopping. For a bit of old La Jolla, head to the La Jolla Historical Society and check out the vintage photos and beach memorabilia. La Jolla’s Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego gets ever-changing world-class exhibitions.
Outdoor enthusiasts will have plenty to indulge in at La Jolla. A wonderful walking path skirts the shoreline, beginning at the Children’s Pool, where a jetty protects the beach from big waves. You can watch sea lions up close as they lounge on the shore. Atop Point La Jolla, at the path’s eastern end is Ellen Browning Scripps Park, a tidy expanse of green lawns and palm trees. The area north of northeast of here is simply called “The Shores.” This is the spot where La Jolla’s cliffs meet the wide, sandy beaches north to Del Mar.
Latest Reviews
Review by Judy A, April 2013
Doing what: La Jolla Whale Watching Kayak Adventure
This was a great morning out on the water; La Jolla has a lot to offer! March was a bit late for whale-watching however there is plenty of marine life (seals, sea lions, birds) and there is also the caves and coastline to explore. An intimate group of 3, we got full attention by our wonderful guide.
Review by Bud S, September 2012
Doing what: La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak Tour
The sea caves kayak tour was my favorite day of the entire vacation. My husband and I did the morning tour so we could have the remainder of the day to hang out at the beach or enjoy the town of La Jolla. The weather literally could not have been better. I get motion sick very easily but decided to risk it anyway and so glad I did. Our tour guide
"Zeik" was incredible. Just a cool, very knowledgeable easy going guy and definitely made the 2 hours the best it could possibly be. We wore our swim suits, the life vests provided by our hosts, sun glasses, sun screen and that was all that was needed. A waterproof camera would have been great but we forgot ours. They do sell them in the shop though. We would do this again in a heart beat. For transportation we became "Car 2 Go" members which was another great decision. If you are staying in San Diego for any amount of time, put this activity on your calendar! Also, the tandem kayak was a great choice.
Review by Kaye S, USA, August 2012
Doing what: La Jolla Sea Caves Kayak Tour
We loved this tour. The guides that took us out were very conscious of everyone's safety and made sure that we were all where we were supposed to be and within their sight at all times. The conditions were good in that we were able to enter a cave and it was a great experience. The water was warm and beautiful and the backdrop of La Jolla beach was and the cliffs were beautiful.
Practical Info
La Jolla lies 20 minutes northwest of San Diego, along Interstate 5. A bus takes you from downtown and stops at many sights en route. The surrounding area is home to the University of San Diego and several research institutes. There is plenty of shopping and restaurants in the Village, so plan on spending an afternoon here, longer if you’re staying for dinner.
