La Jolla California: Things to Do, Best Beaches

Imagine the rugged cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, the boutiques of Rodeo Drive, the galleries of New York City, the restaurants of Miami and the laid-back attitude of, well, anyplace in Southern California: That’s La Jolla.

This small city (which falls on the coastline within San Diego County, about 15 miles north of downtown San Diego), boasts miles of breathtaking shoreline; one of the most pristine nature preserves in the West (see accompanying article on Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve); world-class scientific research centers like Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Salk Institute and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD); and a vibrant arts and theater scene—the famous La Jolla Playhouse has sent dozens of plays to Broadway. [Read more about the Salk Institute in our Editor’s Take.]

Must-See La Jolla Attractions

When planning your La Jolla travel, whether for a romantic weekend getaway or a La Jolla family vacation, don’t miss these must-see sites.

 

• The bronze whale sculpture in the entry plaza of the Birch Aquarium.

Courtesy of Birch Aquarium at Scripps

Birch Aquarium at Scripps (2300 Expedition Wy.; tel. 858-534-3474). This small aquarium is part of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. It’s located just down the hill from UCSD, its parent institution, and has sweeping views across La Jolla Shores and the blue Pacific. Inside are dozens of sea-life exhibits, including my daughter’s favorite, the ethereal leafy sea dragons: She describes them as something out of a Dr. Seuss book. (Ted Geisel—a.k.a. Dr. Seuss—spent the last decades of his life living only a few miles from the aquarium, so perhaps the resemblance is more than a coincidence.)

Guests will also find an oversized tank with a recreation of a kelp forest teeming with sharks; darkened tanks that show off bioluminescent jellyfish (i.e., they glow in the dark); and enormous lobsters that may make you think twice about ordering the fierce crustaceans for dinner. A new exhibit on global warming (Al Gore himself attended the unveiling of this exhibit) offers hands-on opportunities to understand the phenomenon. Outside is an extensive tide pool exhibit that features local sea creatures that kids can touch, like sea stars and sea cucumbers.

 

• The Children’s Pool was intended to be a protected area for swimming, but the local seal and sea lion population took it over.

SD Dirk

Children’s Pool (850 Coast Blvd., south of La Jolla Cove). Decades ago, the city built a wave break to enclose this crescent-shaped shoreline, in the hopes of providing a safe and shallow swimming beach for young children. Since then, however, harbor seals and California sea lions have taken over. On any given day, you’re apt to find dozens of the creatures beached onshore here. To protect the animals, life guards keep the beach closed most of the time—and frankly, the smell is appalling, so it isn’t a place most people want to linger. My young nephew, however, can spend hours on the walkway overlooking Children’s Pool, watching the antics of the seals. Look also for over-domesticated squirrels begging for handouts and cormorants drying themselves on the nearby cliffs.

Mt. Soledad Park (north of Mt. Soledad Road, at the top of Via Capri). Although the 43-foot cross that is part of a war memorial on top of Mt. Soledad has been a source of recent controversy (some argue that a religious symbol should not be displayed on city property), the ocean views from the small, mountain-high park are stellar. On really clear days, you can see Mexico and the Channel Islands. The city lights are also gorgeous once the sun sets (that’s probably why so many teenagers park here at night).

 

• Sunny Jim Cave is named after the cartoon character that promoted Force cereal more than 100 years ago.

naotakem

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (700 Prospect St.; tel. 858-454-3541). The striking architecture of this museum is thanks to world-renowned Irving Gill, who sited the lovely structure (a home in the early 20th century) on a spectacular vantage point on the La Jolla cliffs overlooking the ocean. When approaching from the coastline, look for an installation comprising small fishing boats and surfboards that seems to explode out the back of the museum. There are more than 3,000 pieces (including paintings, photography, sculpture and multimedia works) in the permanent collection. In addition, the museum hosts some of the most important touring exhibits of contemporary art. Adults $10; guests 25 and younger, free.

Sunny Jim Cave (northeast of La Jolla Cove). Although there are a handful of other ocean-cliff caves in La Jolla that are accessible by water, this is one of the few that is accessible by land. Sunny Jim Cave—named after a 1920s character that the opening of the cave is said to resemble—can be reached via a tunnel and network of 145 steps, starting in the Cave Store (1325 Cave St.). Look for colorful mineral deposits from iron oxide and iodine that have been deposited here from kelp. (Make sure children wear appropriate shoes; the steps are often wet and slippery.)

Torrey Pines Golf Course (11480 N. Torrey Pines Rd.; tel. 800-985-4653). Backdrop of the U.S. Open in June last year (and site of major tournaments every year), world-famous Torrey Pines is one of the nation’s premier municipal golf facilities. Challenging holes and ocean views make this a favorite with locals. Hint: The North Course is a little less challenging than the South, but it’s the prettier of the two, and it’s generally easier to get a tee time here.