Travel Guide of La Jolla in United States by Influencers and Travelers
La Jolla is a hilly, seaside community within the city of San Diego, California, occupying 7 miles of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean within the northern city limits. The population reported in the 2010 census was 46,781.
Pictures and Stories of La Jolla from Influencers
13 pictures of La Jolla from frank mckenna, Ian Schneider, Sapan Patel and other travelers
- This photo was taken overlooking the coast at La Jolla, San Diego. ...click to read more
- Experienced by @Joss Woodhead | ©Unsplash
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How to visit La Jolla ?
Why traveling there?
La Jolla, a picturesque seaside community in San Diego, California, is an ideal destination for travelers looking for a mix of relaxation, adventure, and culture. Known for its stunning coastline, beautiful beaches, and vibrant arts scene, La Jolla offers a diverse range of activities and attractions for all ages.
How to get there?
La Jolla is easily accessible by car or public transportation. If you're flying into San Diego, the San Diego International Airport is just 14 miles away. From the airport, you can rent a car or take public transportation to La Jolla. The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) operates bus routes that connect La Jolla to other parts of San Diego, while the Coaster commuter train offers service between downtown San Diego and nearby Solana Beach. From there, you can take a bus or taxi to La Jolla.
What to book in advance?
While many of La Jolla's attractions can be enjoyed without advance bookings, it's a good idea to reserve tickets or tours for popular activities, such as the La Jolla Kayak Tour or the Birch Aquarium. Additionally, if you plan to dine at some of the area's top restaurants or stay at one of its luxury hotels, it's recommended to book your reservations well in advance to secure your spot.
What are the costs?
La Jolla offers a range of accommodations and dining options to suit different budgets. Mid-range hotels can be found for around $150-$200 per night, while luxury options can exceed $500 per night. Dining in La Jolla can range from casual, budget-friendly eateries to upscale restaurants, with entrees typically costing between $10-$50. Activities and attractions, such as the La Jolla Kayak Tour and Birch Aquarium, may cost between $20-$60 per person.
What are the best things to do?
La Jolla boasts a variety of activities and attractions for visitors to enjoy. Some highlights include exploring the La Jolla Cove, visiting the Birch Aquarium, strolling through the La Jolla Village, and hiking in Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. For those interested in water sports, kayaking, snorkeling, and surfing are popular activities along La Jolla's coastline.
Where to eat?
1. George's at the Cove: This iconic La Jolla restaurant offers stunning ocean views and a menu featuring locally sourced ingredients.
2. The Marine Room: Located on the beach, The Marine Room offers fine dining and a unique high-tide dining experience.
3. The Taco Stand: For a more casual option, The Taco Stand serves up delicious and affordable Mexican fare.
Where to stay?
1. La Valencia Hotel: This historic and luxurious hotel overlooks the Pacific Ocean and offers first-class amenities.
2. Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa: With beautiful grounds and a full-service spa, this hotel provides a relaxing retreat.
3. La Jolla Shores Hotel: Located steps from the beach, this family-friendly hotel offers ocean views and a range of outdoor activities.
Off the beaten path
For a unique and off-the-beaten-path experience in La Jolla, consider exploring the lesser-known La Jolla Sea Caves. These seven caves are carved into the cliffs along the coastline and can be accessed by kayak or stand-up paddleboard. Guided tours are available, or you can rent equipment and explore the caves on your own for a more adventurous experience.
The Best Things to Do and Visit around La Jolla
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1 - La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove is a small, picturesque cove and beach that is surrounded by cliffs in La Jolla, San Diego, California. The Cove is protected as part of a marine reserve; underwater it is very rich in marine life, and is popular with snorkelers, swimmers and scuba divers.
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2 - Windansea Beach
Windansea Beach is a stretch of coastline located in La Jolla, a community of San Diego, California. The neighborhood adjacent to the beach is named Windansea after the beach.
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3 - Dolphin & Whale Watching | SeaWorld San Diego
9 km away
Dive beneath the waves at SeaWorld San Diego, a fun and interactive marine park. Choose to combine your adventure with an all-day dining ticket.
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4 - Shell Beach
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5 - Pacific Beach
Pacific Beach is a neighborhood in San Diego, bounded by La Jolla to the north, Mission Beach and Mission Bay to the south, Interstate 5 to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
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6 - Tours & Sightseeing | San Diego Bike Rentals
17 km away
Get ready for a breezy 2.5-hour guided e-bike adventure through the dazzling city of San Diego. The tour begins at a cozy store on K Street, then takes you to the historic Gaslamp Quarter, a charming district that dates back to the 1860s and got a fabulous facelift in the 1980s. From there, it's a smooth e-bike ride to San Diego Bay, where the thrilling tales of the USS Midway, Billionaire Row, and The Bob Hope Memorial unfold. Next, the tour takes a fun detour through the vast region of Balboa Park, a lush oasis covering around 3 mi. Here, you'll breeze past the world-renowned San Diego Zoo, the vibrant Spanish Village Art Center, and the iconic Casa de Balboa. The journey concludes back at the K Street store.
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7 - Black's Beach
6 km away
Black's Beach is a secluded section of beach beneath the bluffs of Torrey Pines on the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla, San Diego, California, United States. It is officially part of Torrey Pines State Beach.
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8 - Torrey Pines
8 km away
Torrey Pines Golf Course is a 36-hole municipal public golf facility on the west coast of the United States, owned by the city of San Diego, California.
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9 - Sunset Cliffs
12 km away
Sunset Cliffs is an affluent coastal community in the Point Loma community of San Diego, California. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west, Ocean Beach on the north, Catalina Blvd. and Santa Barbara St. on the east, and Sunset Cliffs Natural Park on the south.
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10 - Star of India
16 km away
Star of India is an iron-hulled sailing ship, built in 1863 in Ramsey, Isle of Man as the full-rigged ship, Euterpe. After a career sailing from Great Britain to India and New Zealand, she was renamed, re-rigged as a barque, and became a salmon hauler on the Alaska to California route.
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11 - San Diego Zoo
16 km away
The San Diego Zoo is a zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, housing 4000 animals of more than 650 species and subspecies on 100 acres of Balboa Park leased from the City of San Diego.
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12 - Del Mar
16 km away
Del Mar is a beach town in San Diego County, California, located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Established in 1885 as a seaside resort, the city incorporated in 1959. The Del Mar Horse Races are hosted on the Del Mar racetrack every summer.
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13 - Balboa Park
17 km away
Balboa Park is a 1,200-acre urban cultural park in San Diego, California, United States. In addition to open space areas, natural vegetation zones, green belts, gardens, and walking paths, it contains museums, several theaters, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
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14 - USS Midway Museum
17 km away
The USS Midway Museum is a historical naval aircraft carrier museum located in downtown San Diego, California at Navy Pier. The museum consists of the aircraft carrier Midway.
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15 - Pantoja Park
17 km away
Pantoja Park is a public park located in the Marina District of Downtown San Diego, California. Originally built in 1850, it is the oldest park in the city of San Diego.
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16 - USS Midway
17 km away
USS Midway is an aircraft carrier, formerly of the United States Navy, the lead ship of her class. Commissioned 8 days after the end of World War II, Midway was the largest ship in the world until 1955, as well as the first U.S. aircraft carrier too big to transit the Panama Canal.
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17 - Ruocco Park
17 km away
Ruocco Park is a park in San Diego, in the U.S. state of California.
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18 - San Diego
17 km away
San Diego is a city in the U.S. state of California on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, approximately 120 miles south of Los Angeles and immediately adjacent to the border with Mexico.
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19 - Cabrillo National Monument
19 km away
Cabrillo National Monument is at the southern tip of the Point Loma Peninsula in San Diego, California, United States. It commemorates the landing of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo at San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542.
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20 - Petco Park
19 km away
Petco Park is a baseball stadium in Downtown San Diego, California. It is the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres, and has also been used as a venue for concerts, soccer, golf, and rugby.
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21 - Point Loma
19 km away
Point Loma is a seaside community within the city of San Diego, California. Geographically it is a hilly peninsula that is bordered on the west and south by the Pacific Ocean, the east by the San Diego Bay and Old Town, and the north by the San Diego River.
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22 - San Diego–Coronado Bridge
19 km away
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Learn More about La Jolla
La Jolla is a coastal city located in California, in San Diego County. It is one of the best beach destination of the world because it is surrounded by the sea on three sides. The unadorned beauty of La Jolla's natural landscape is one of its greatest assets, nicknamed the “jewel of San Diego”, but there are many other outdoor adventures and things to do during your San Diego vacation. The city's beaches are a great place for marine activities such as swimming, diving, snorkeling, kayaking and surfing. La Jolla Shores is perhaps the most popular and family-friendly beach in the area. People go there to swim, walk, picnic in the adjacent Kellogg Park or explore La Jolla Bay by kayak or paddleboard. It is possible to see seals and sea-lions on some protected beaches. You can also experience kayaking in sea caves along the rocky coastline, even if you are inexperienced, this activity is open to all, to discover the beautiful landscapes and animals around. Incredible beaches, restaurants, shopping and panoramic ocean views have created a vibrant community and one of San Diego's most popular cities. Downtown La Jolla is a pedestrian area filled with stores, museums and art galleries, making it a very cultural place. You can visit the Museum of Contemporary Art or attend a play at La Jolla Playhouse. The city is also a place for education, with the University of California San Diego which includes the Geisel Library and the Institute for Biological Studies. San Diego is just minutes away from the California-Mexico border, and the Mexican culinary influence can be felt here. In La Jolla, Galaxy Taco serves authentic Mexican food with fresh ingredients and traditional savoir-faire. It is a family destination which honors the well-known Californian beaches but with a Mediterranean-like climate.
Frequently Asked Questions by Travelers planning a trip to La Jolla
Where to Stay near La Jolla
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More Travel spots to explore around La Jolla
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Discover more travel spots to explore around La Jolla
🏖️ Shore spots 🏖️ Beach spots 🐾 Wildlife spots 🏖️ Coast spots 🚢 Pier spots Cave spots 🤿 Underwater spots 🏞️ Watercourse spots ⛰️ Cliff spotsTravel map of La Jolla
Explore popular touristic places around La Jolla