Day Trip To La Jolla, California Fun Things To Do And See

La Jolla is a breathtaking coastal community just a short drive from downtown San Diego. It is well-known for its spectacular bluffs and beautiful homes that line them. La Jolla’s location is ideal, providing visitors with a serene escape that feels a world apart from downtown San Diego. The sandy beaches of La Jolla offer a wide range of water sports, including surfing, snorkeling, kayaking, and kiteboarding, making it a perfect destination for active families.

Visitors to La Jolla can also explore the museums and landmarks or play a round of golf at one of the most attractive municipal courses in the country. The downtown area of La Jolla, commonly known as ‘The Village,’ offers an extensive range of dining options that cater to various tastes and preferences, ranging from fast-casual eateries to upscale dining. Additionally, a great selection of boutique shops is located along Girard Avenue, making it an ideal spot for shopping.

Mount Soledad La Jolla

If you’re planning a trip to La Jolla, consider visiting Mount Soledad, the highest spot in the area. From the top of the mountain, you can enjoy breathtaking coast views and the surrounding geography, stretching from the county’s northern border to the south, well beyond downtown. If you visit Mount Soledad during the evening, you’ll also have the chance to witness one of La Jolla’s beautiful watercolor sunsets. Once you’ve enjoyed the stunning views, your next stop should be La Jolla Cove, a lovely crescent-shaped beach.

La Jolla Cove

The Cove is a beautiful place home to the La Jolla Underwater Park. It’s a highly recommended spot for tide pooling, shell hunting, swimming, basking in the warm California sun alongside sea lions, pelicans, and ground squirrels. However, the real magic lies under the water, where snorkelers and divers can come face to face with beautiful bright orange Garibaldi, lobsters, and other fascinating sea creatures. La Jolla Cove also offers a scenic cliffside walk perfect for romantic strolls and several grassy parks for picnics.

Kayak 7 Sea Caves La Jolla

If you are okay with getting wet, numerous places offer kayak rentals for exploring the sandstone cliff caves in the area. If the waves are gentle and the tide is low, you can safely navigate some of them. For the average person, choosing the tours is recommended instead of renting a kayak to go on their own. Participants are not required to have kayak experience but must know how to swim and have at least some water experience.

Sunny Jim Cave La Jolla

To reach Sunny Jim Cave, you must climb a stairway and pass through a tunnel. The entrance to the tunnel is located inside La Jolla’s Cave Store on Coast Blvd. The store charges a small fee for climbing the 145 steps to the cave’s bottom. Bootleggers used the cave tunnel to smuggle whiskey into the San Diego area from 1920 to 1933. Today, tourists visit the cave to view the Pacific Ocean through the portal. The cave store is at 1325 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, California.

Birch Aquarium La Jolla

The Birch Aquarium, located on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, is part of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography. With over 60 habitats, including three outdoor tide pools, visitors can observe marine life up close. It also features coral reefs, sharks, seahorses, and other creatures of the deep. The aquarium is an interactive museum showcasing Scripps scientists’ climate, earth, and ocean science research. Address: 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla, California.

Salk Institute La Jolla, California

The organization was established by Jonas Salk, who developed the polio vaccine. It gained worldwide recognition for its biological research. Louis I. Kahn built the architectural masterpiece in the 1960s. The twin structures on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean are connected by a foot-wide “Stream of Life” that flows through the center of a travertine marble courtyard. Visitors can take a free guided architectural tour from Monday to Friday at noon or explore the striking square independently. Address: 10010 N Torrey Pines Rd La Jolla, California.

Stuart Collection UCSD

Before you leave the area, make sure to visit the Stuart Collection, an outdoor museum located on the UCSD campus. It features several site-specific exhibits created by renowned contemporary artists. You can enjoy a picnic lunch while admiring the large-scale sculptures, including a sun god and trees that breathe, whisper, and play music. You can find maps of the museum on the Stuart Collection website. Additionally, the museum is next to the Salk Institute.

Torrey Pines Preserve

The reserve boasts over 2,000 acres of pristine land, an extensive beachfront, and a stunning lagoon that houses migratory birds. Tourists worldwide come here to witness the California coast’s natural state before it was developed. Many hiking trails pass through the terraces; along the way, you can see trees shaped by the wind and seasonal wildflowers. You can also observe the sandstone formations and the sea from the steps of the trail. One of the most scenic trails is near the highway entrance, which rises 300 feet in under a mile.

Getting to La Jolla

La Jolla is approximately a 30-minute drive from downtown San Diego, 1.5 hours from Orange County, and 2+ hours from Los Angeles. When visiting La Jolla, be prepared to pay for parking, as free street parking is limited. However, plenty of parking options are available in this beautiful seaside town.

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