San Diego Spotlight: La Jolla

San Diego is a stunner – it’s blessed with a great seaside location and plenty of things to do.  Beyond the high rises of the bay and the Gas Lamp district, I always head for my number one favorite neighborhood in San Diego: La Jolla.  Pronounced la hoy-yuh, it’s got beautiful cliff side views and a unique atmosphere you will not find elsewhere in the city.  Locals are of mixed opinions about the origination of the name “La Jolla” – in Spanish it could be the word for ‘the jewel’ or possibly from an Indian word that means ‘hole in the mountains’ (referring possibly to the shoreline).

It is believed Native American settlers made this area their home over 10 thousand years ago – I’m sure they wouldn’t have imagined that these shores would be some of San Diego’s most expensive real estate. Theodore Geisel, whom  you may be more familiar with as Dr. Seuss, moved here after WWII and penned many of his famous books in La Jolla.

So, what will you find when you get there?

The Coast

Pictures speak a thousand words, especially when it comes to the beautiful coast of La Jolla.  Sunsets here are gorgeous and feel like they last forever.  If you’re wanting to do some longer walks and hiking around, I suggest you head up to the Torrey Pines State Park (map).  Signposts and 8 miles of well marked trails will take you into the park or down to the beaches, including one of the largest nude beaches in California.  If you’re here on a weekend they also have guided walks where a ranger will show you around and highlight flora/fauna.

This is not Mexico – a day of sunbathing and playing around in the water really isn’t at the top of most lists.  A few noteworthy beaches:

Sightseeing

If you’re not interested in the outdoorsy stuff, or if the weather isn’t being kind, there are plenty of things to do indoors. For several blocks in every direction from Prospect Street and Girard Avenue (map) there are several boutique shops to gather your attention, ranging from gift stores, souvenir shops, and art galleries both large and small.  Apart from the souvenirs, this is high end shopping – we’re talking about one of kind art for thousands of dollars, not a small painting to take home as a gift.  The fashion stores are all more geared towards couture than discount.  Having said that, I found the atmosphere welcoming even for a casual window shopper, so feel free to have a look around.

La Jolla is also home to two very important San Diego attractions:

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  Lastly, don’t miss the Sea Cave Store (map), which offers tours of an interesting sea cave that the shop is built on top of.Birch Aquarium (map):  This aquarium is run in conjunction with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography of University of California, San Diego.  Many consider it to be one of the world’s best aquariums, and it is a must for families as children have plenty of opportunities to interact and even pet animals in small pools.  That doesn’t include the sharks, nor the sensitive coral of course.  The views over La Jolla are fantastic, so be sure to spare some time to properly explore.
• Museum of Contemporary Art (map):  This is an extension of the contemporary museum downtown; I think the building itself is far more “contemporary” than the more reserved venue downtown.  I’d say visit the website to see what’s playing and choose from there.

Golf

If you (or perhaps someone traveling with you) is interested in golf, you may consider dropping off in La Jolla and leaving them – there are no less than 10 courses within a ten mile radius from La Jolla, and that doesn’t include some of the more exclusive, private resorts that you’d need an “in” to enjoy.

Fear not, if you don’t have a VIP pass, you can still play a round at Torrey Pines (map), which some consider one of the finest courses in America.  Because of this, it is popular, so you’ll want to visit the website before you travel to book your tee time – walk up reservations are not advised.

Food and Drink

San Diego is for foodie’s, and La Jolla is no exception.  I’d suggest you just see where your feet take you and stop in any shop window that looks good (cupcakes, anybody?), but here are a few places that will get you started off right:

• Coffee and Omelettes:  Mission Cup Coffee (map).  Super tasty with tons of specials and unique omelette ingredients.
• Fish:  El Pescador Fish Market (map): perhaps the freshest fish served up in all of California.
• Mexican:  Alfonso’s (map):  Known for nachos, margaritas, sangria, and all things in between.
• Ambience:  Nine-Ten (map):  Pricey, reservations required, but perhaps the most notable restaurant in La Jolla.  Superb ambience and menu.

Getting There

Driving to La Jolla is the easiest, but once you’re there, driving around is a huge pain – you might budget some extra cash just to pay for a paid lot instead of circling for street parking.  If you’d rather opt for public transit, bus 30 runs from downtown to the main sights – check the route map and timetable for details.

Photo Credits:  tigrecanela, roebot