You could easily spend a week in La Jolla, walking on the beach, puttering around town and enjoying meals in great restaurants; but if you only have one day, you can still enjoy some of the best La Jolla has to offer.

You’ll want to start off by going to the beach. La Jolla Shores is one of the best beaches in the state of California, with a gently sloping beach and panoramic views. A sunset or morning walk on the beach is enough to relax even the most stressed individual. The walk is better with the tide going out, as it leaves the beach with a mirror like water display.

La Jolla is home to some of the best restaurants, with many of them serving excellent cuisine at lunch, although a lower price at night. This way, you can live large on just the right budget.

Something else you’ll want to do is go tide pooling. The Tiny La Jolla Cove is a couple of blocks away from downtown, and accessible by a stairway. At low tides, the tide pools will have hundreds and hundreds of hermit crabs.

Walking around is also a great way to spend part of your day. You can go for a window shopping stroll along Prospect Avenue and the side streets there. With chain stores in sight, you’ll probably find something you must have.

If you have time to stay through the evening, the La Jolla Playhouse is worth your time, as it offers plenty of entertainment for the entire family.

For just a day to spend in La Jolla there is a lot that you can do. Once you spend a day in La Jolla, you’ll probably find yourself wanting to come back for more – the town is simply that good.

Popularity: 37% [?]

Mount Soledad in beautiful La Jolla gives you the chance to enjoy amazing, 360 degree views under the shadow of a towering cross. All along the summit, there are many veteran’s plaques. Mount Soledad is truly splendid to look at, as it is a well known fixture to the area of La Jolla.

On Mount Soledad, you stand more than 800 foot high underneath the shade of a 43 foot high cross, and enjoy the views and splendor the mount provides. You can enjoy a picnic here, the panoramic views, or just watch the sunset. Mount Soledad is also a great spot for photos, if you like to take photos.

Beauty – everywhere you look
Below Mount Soledad is the shimmering waters of La Jolla Shores and terra cotta roofs of those that are very lucky folks indeed. To the north you have the coastline that extends all the way up to Orange County.

To the south of Mount Soledad there are views of Mexico with city skyline and everything else the area has to offer. And off to the east, there are vistas as far as the eye can see.

The cross
You may be wondering just what the cross is and what it’s for. The story dates back to 1913, when Pacific Beach residents built a cross out of redwood and set it atop the mountain. Thieves removed it ten years later, and the replacement was created in 1934, which was taken out by high winds in 1952.

Soon after that, the Mount Soledad Memorial Association build the current cross to commemorate soldiers of the Korean and the two world wars.

The cross of Mount Soledad has been a subject of controversy, although the problem appeared to be solved in the late 1990s. The San Diego Council sold the cross and the half acre of land that surrounds it to the Memorial Association.

In 2002, mini walls were installed to honor the veterans that are underneath the cross, though they have fueled more controversy from those who feel that the towering symbol highlights Christian vets over others that are there.

For those that live in the area, Mount Soledad and the cross are a true beauty. For visitors and tourists, Mount Soledad provides amazing views and the cross seems to add to the detail.

If you ever visit La Jolla, make sure you check out Mount Soledad. It’s very close to the downtown area, and it’ll be one thing you’ll be glad you made time for. The cross is something you simply must see – as words can’t begin to describe it. The cross of Mount Soledad has been a subject of controversy.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Located near the upscale community of La Jolla, the Marine Street Beach is a small cluster of high end clothiers, hotels, shops, and galleries. The beach is also legendary to body surfers and body boarders due to its thunderous waves which always seem to crash the shoreline at the right time.

Keep in mind, this beach may not be ideal for families, as there are no public restrooms, picnic areas, and the rough surf conditions aren’t well suited for children. If you have a family, you may want to find another beach.

Even though it isn’t the best beach for families, Marine Street Beach offers plenty of privacy and gorgeous white sand that can make for a fun day of sunbathing with friends.

The rough waves found at this beach have been known to seriously injure swimmers and body boarders in the past. If you aren’t that experienced with the water, you should always make sure that you respect both the water and the waves here.

During the summer months and on peak weekends during the fall and spring, there are lifeguards stationed on the beach. You should plan to park on the street at Marine Street Beach, as there are no public lots. You should try to get here early, as it can be very hard to find a parking space, especially during summer and on the weekends.

Getting there
If you are coming from the north, take I-5 south. Take the exit at Genessee Avenue, head west, and then make a left on Torrey Pines Road. Go down the hill into downtown La Jolla; turn left on Girad Avenue then right on Pearl Street. Turn left at La Jolla Boulevard then right on Marine Street.

From the south, take I-5 north to Torrey Pines Road. Once you arrive in La Jolla Downtown, simply follow the same directions from above. Marine Street Beach is legendary to body surfers and body boarders due to its thunderous waves.

Popularity: 34% [?]

A trip to sunny La Jolla isn’t complete with a tour of the city’s downtown area, known by locals as the village. With trendy shops, galleries, and nice places to eat, La Jolla Village is something you need to tour on foot to appreciate.

If you are traveling from a distance and must drive to the village, parking is not easy. The downtown streets offer two hour free parking, although your best bet will probably be one of the garages along Fay Avenue where a flat rate will ease your mind of parking worries for the entire day.

Once you have found a place to park, you should begin your tour at the corner of Fay Avenue and Prospect Street. Here, you’ll find some of the most famous restaurants in the downtown area, including Moondoggie’s and IL Forno.

As you pass by the restaurants, you’ll see the Arcade Building, which resembles an old hybrid style. The Arcade Building leads to an alleyway with many specialty shops.

After you explore the treasures of the Arcade Building alley, continue your tour North along Prospect Street and you’ll come to a stretch of art galleries. If you appreciate art, you’ll love everything the village has to offer you.

Just across the street from the art galleries, you’ll find The Grande Colonial Hotel. This hotel is famous and well known for its rate of $1 per day since the opening in 1913, has been renovated many times and now ranks as one of the best landmarks in La Jolla Village.

As you continue your walk down Prospect Street, you’ll encounter Girard Avenue, which offers you plenty of shops and eateries. La Jolla Village Tour.

Popularity: 2% [?]

The Village of La Jolla is the vacation showcase of La Jolla. The village offers postcard type beauty, with elegant homes, lush real estate, resorts, luxurious hotels, and even the best in intimate bed and breakfast lodging. The La Jolla Village is the gateway entrance to some of the most amazing beaches San Diego has to offer.

The village consists of a 30 block downtown La Jolla area that’s home to over 1,400 businesses that are fully committed to vacation pleasure to the over 7,000 people that visit the village each and every day.

In the village you’ll find all the conveniences that grace the shores, such as world class shopping and quaint boutique shops. Upscale restaurants, intimate cafes, museums, art galleries, and attractions such as the Birch Aquarium can be found here as well.

The La Jolla Playhouse is in the village as well. It has earned over 200 awards, including the 1993 Tony for outstanding regional theater. The Playhouse is a creative haven that attracts more then 150,000 theater enthusiasts each year.

Most visitors to the La Jolla Village like to walk the shoreline around Scripps Park and soak up the perfect weather and majestic views of the oceanfront panorama. If romantic tranquility is what you seek, late afternoon and early evening strolls are less crowded and at dusk you can catch some of the most stunning sunsets.

The beaches of La Jolla are the biggest tourist attractions here. All you need to do is choose your style of water recreation and relaxation. Swimming, surfing, bodysurfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, sun bathing, or just watching others swim. Make sure you arrive early to avoid the crowds, and then stay late to catch the beauty of the moonlit skies.

La Jolla Golden Triangle
The Golden Triangle of La Jolla is an area that’s intersected by three major freeways – I-5, I-805, and State 52. The Triangle lies east of La Jolla Village and ten minutes north of downtown San Diego.

The established residential community blossomed into a financial triad of high rise office buildings, full service hotels, shopping, and plenty of restaurants.

The Golden Triangle also offers the business traveler and vacationer all they need within a self contained area of business, retail, shopping, hotels, dining, and boutiques. The Golden Triangle is also located close to the oceanfront beach area of the village and all the vacation attractions that San Diego has to offer.

Popularity: 6% [?]

La Jolla is a well known tourist attraction, and by all accounts is the “jewel” in San Diego. Perched on the bluffs that overlook the Pacific Ocean, the city has captivated millions over the years, and continues to do so to this very day.

With it’s quaint village feel, expansive views, and easy to access coast, it can be said that La Jolla is a great attraction. If you had to break La Jolla down into 3 main areas, it would be the beach, the restaurants, and the shopping.

Home to some of the best coastline in the county, La Jolla offers beach goers and sun lovers the chance to play, relax, and bask in the sun on some of the finest beaches in the area. In their beauty, the beaches rival those of Hawaii for their seclusion and serenity.

From the long white sand of La Jolla Shores to the quiet and relaxing beach off Marine Street, you’ll have plenty to enjoy and find your very own piece of paradise.

La Jolla restaurants are world class, playing host to some of the finest chefs and coming chefs in the entire country. With its year round growing season, these chefs have some of the finest products to work their collective magic with – creating some of the best meals you’ll ever taste.

The village of La Jolla is said to have some of the best shopping anywhere. There are stores all over the area, with something for everyone.

Whether it’s shopping, swimming, or just checking out the area, La Jolla is truly a place to vacation or just visit. Summer is the best time to visit, as the beaches here are truly beautiful. If you’ve wanted to go somewhere different, La Jolla is where you need to be. La Jolla is a well known tourist attraction.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Located at 8200 Camino del Oro, La Jolla Shores is a sandy beach around a mile long, adjacent to a residential dwelling. During the summer months, the waves at this beach are normally the most gentle of all San Diego beaches, although the rip currents can be very strong at times.

For this very reason, novice scuba classes are held at La Jolla Shores. The grassy park of Kellogg Park is located behind the main lifeguard station and provides an excellent area for picnicking. A wide cement boardwalk parallels a large area of the beach between the sand and the park.

The beach of La Jolla Shores is adjacent to the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Ecological Reserve. The removals of objects from this area as well as fishing are prohibited. The Scripps Pier lies at the north end of the beach, although the pier isn’t open to the public.

Within the City limits, La Jolla Shores has the only beachfront boat launch. Small boats can be launched directly into the surf at foot of Avenida de la Playa, which is south of the lifeguard station. This can be a rough terrain area, so you may need to have a four wheel drive vehicle.

If you like to surf, there are specified areas on the beach where the waves tend to be small. For scuba diving, the south end of the beach is widely used by scuba driving classes.

During the summer months, La Jolla Shores can tend be very crowded. You should try to go in the morning, as the crowds aren’t as bad. This is a great beach during those hot summer days, with plenty to do for your entire family. La Jolla Shores is a great beach during those hot summer days

Popularity: 5% [?]

The most popular tour offered by Hike Bike Kayak of San Diego is the kayak tour of the well known La Jolla Sea Caves. On this tour, you can witness the abundant wildlife and amazing views of the La Jolla Cove with your guide who will be an amateur naturalist.

Not only will you kayak up the caves at La Jolla Shores, but you’ll also witness dolphins swimming, along with sea lions playing. From your kayak, you can see Mount Soledad to the east, the bluffs of Torrey Pines State Reserve to the north, and La Jolla Cove to the south.

You can take the La Jolla Sea Caves tour every day at 9:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 2:30 PM. Starting in June, the tours are every half hour. To make a reservation, all you need to do is call.

What to expect
On a typical day, you should be prepared to get wet. The tour launches into the waves from the end of their street. You meet at their shop, where you’ll check in, sign waivers, etc. You’ll also receive a lifejacket and paddle.

You’ll need to bring the following with you:
- Sunglasses with retainers
- Sunscreen
- A change of clothes
- Bathing suit
- Towel
- Sandals

The tour is very popular with tourists and locals alike. Hike Bike Kayak can accommodate age ranges from 6 – 65. They also have bike trailers and trail of bikes for children that are 1 and older. This way, anyone can take in the beauty and mystique this tour offers.

Cost and availability
The cost of theLa Jolla Sea Caves tour is $50 per person for singles, and $45 per person for tandem kayaks or couples. If you can go with someone else, that would be easier choice. San Diego is the kayak tour of the well known La Jolla Sea Caves.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Each and every year, La Jolla draws countless tourists from around the world. With its picturesque terrain, incredible views and charming culture, La Jolla is a visitor’s paradise. The entertainment for the area consistently pleases the growing tourist population as well, catering to a wide variety of tastes.

Art
La Jolla flourishes and astounds with its distinguished art galleries. The community celebrates an extensive array of art, although most galleries tend to favor contemporary pieces. The Quint Gallery highlights modern art, featuring paintings in oil and water colors, along with photography and sculptures.

The Gallery La Jolla offers various European and American contemporary artists, housing both paintings and sculptures. Just down the street is the Carlton Gallery, which is devoted to sculpture, and showcases Oriental art as well.

Music
Even though art clearly dominates La Jolla’s cultural atmosphere, music isn’t neglected. A variety of styles bring music alive to tourists and local residents. Athenaeum Music and Arts Library has a collection of books and other pieces that are devoted to the musical world.

During summer, Concerts by the Sea in La Jolla is very popular among locals and tourists. Located at the La Jolla Cove, this annual concert series presents live music in an oceanside setting.

Theater and film The La Jolla Playhouse is the most popular theater in the area. The theater has been around for many years, and now known for its new plays. For the world of film, the Cove Theater is an old fashioned theater that shows independent and foreign films that are often neglected by main stream movie theaters.

Nightlife
The nightlife in La Jolla is upbeat and very energetic. The Spot is a popular nighttime venue, located in the La Jolla Village. Another great spot is Humphrey’s La Jolla Grill. For those who are looking to laugh, The Comedy Store is highly recommended.

Outdoor activities
The sunny area of La Jolla amazes with outdoor activities as well. You can see panoramic views of San Diego County from Mount Soledad or climb through the mysterious caverns provided by the La Jolla Caves.

Gold enthusiasts won’t want to miss the Torrey Pines Golf Course, which is the only public course in the entire PGA circuit. Those who are seeking adventure may want to check out La Jolla from the air with an airborne journey from the Torrey Pines Gliderport.

Whether you’re looking for art, nightlife, or outdoor adventure, La Jolla has the entertainment you crave. There are a lot of things to do here – giving tourist’s more than one reason to come back for more.

Popularity: 6% [?]

The Cove of La Jolla sits below the Ellen Browning Scripps Park in downtown La Jolla. The sandy portion of the beach is quite small, with plenty of rocky cliffs. During high tide, the surrounding rocks will trap the water that stays behind as mini tide pools when the tide goes out, giving both children and adults something to peer into.

The La Jolla Cove, 1100 Coast Boulevard, is a very small beach that’s tucked between adjacent sand stone cliffs. Due to it’s amazing beauty, the Cove is one of the most photographed beaches in the Southern California area. Although it’s within a short walking distance of the commercial community area of La Jolla, the Cove still retains a style of it’s own.

The north facing has a very unusual amount of coarse sand. The grassy area of Scripps Park is on the other side, and provides a great area for picnics. The water visibility at the Cove can sometimes exceed 30 feet, which makes it a very popular area for scuba divers and snorklers.

The Cove lies within the San Diego Underwater Park Ecological Reserve, which will help to ensure that all marine life remains plentiful. This area is look but don’t touch, with the possession of game being against the law.

La Jolla Cove is an excellent area for scuba diving, especially when surf conditions are low. Before you head to the beach, you should always telephone the beach information line and check with lifeguards before you dive.

With plenty to offer your entire family, the La Jolla Cove is an excellent beach. There is plenty of swimming here, with views of the most beautiful water in the area. If you’re looking for a great way to spend a hot summer day – The La Jolla Cove is an excellent beach.

Popularity: 8% [?]