La Jolla Beaches

La Jolla (Spanish for "The Jewel") has European elegance, a sunny Mediterranean climate and it showcases some of the most picturesque beaches in the world. La Jolla offers world class hotels, restaurants, art galleries and boutiques. It is a hot spot for spa goers, surfers, tourists and nature lovers alike. Treat yourself to a massage and facial at a day spa or stroll the coast and take in the stunning emerald blue beaches and coves. From the pretty sandstone cliffs at Torrey Pines State Beach towering high above the Pacific to the crystal clear water at La Jolla Cove, ideal for snorkeling, La Jolla beaches offer endless hours of fun and relaxation.

La Jolla Cove

Not far from downtown La Jolla---an upscale hamlet of hotels, boutiques and galleries---lies La Jolla Cove, a swimming and diving paradise. This tiny beach nook, part of the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve, is sheltered by picturesque cliffs, offering stunning views of the Pacific Ocean in an intimate setting. La Jolla Cove has some of the clearest water out of all the San Diego beaches, making it ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling. The gentle lapping waves of La Jolla Cove also lend for an enjoyable day of sunbathing, picnicking or reading a book. Lifeguards are stationed year-round at the cove. Just above La Jolla Cove is Scripps Park, great for romping and picnicking while taking in the majestic Pacific Ocean. The park also has public restrooms and showers. There is no disabled access at La Jolla Cove due to the steep incline down to the beach. Sorry surfers La Jolla Cove is for swimmers and divers only. The walking trails next to Coast Boulevard, above the beach, offer world-class views of the water and the sandstone cliffs leading down to ocean's edge. Need a beach break? Check out the San Diego County Museum of Modern Art nearby.

La Jolla Shores Beach

Think palm trees next to the Pacific, green lawns dotting hillsides, and bougainvillea blossoms---pink, white and orange---complementing the Spanish-style architecture of some of the most expensive real estate in all of California that is only a stone's throw away from the deep blue Pacific Ocean. La Jolla Shores, home to world-class resorts such as The La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, is one mile of shoreline that includes parks, picnic areas and a boardwalk partially following the length of beach---great for walking, jogging, bicycling or rollerblading. La Jolla Shores attracts travelers from the nearby La Jolla hotels as well as locals year-round for the swimming, surfing, scuba diving and some of the most picturesque views of the Pacific. La Jolla Shores is a short distance from downtown La Jolla, the Beverly Hills of San Diego, which boasts high-end clothiers, hotels, shops and galleries. The sheer beauty and flat expanse of La Jolla Shores makes it a great place to stroll, picnic or toss a Frisbee while enjoying the waves breaking on the beach. Children will enjoy the modern playground with a bathroom (showers and changing area) at the south end of the beach. La Jolla Shores is also rich with marine life that is protected by the San Diego La Jolla Ecological Reserve. Scuba diving and kayaking takes place at the south end of the beach. Lifeguards are stationed year-round. Pick up deli supplies at the small shopping area a couple blocks east of La Jolla Shores.

Insider's tip: This beach gets really crowded between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. most summer days. If you're looking for privacy, plan a late afternoon trip to La Jolla Shores and enjoy the sunset over the Pacific after the crowds have gone home.
North of La Jolla Shores is Scripps Institute of Oceanography, which is open to the public and has an aquarium with live marine life.

Torrey Pines State Beach

Beautiful sandstone cliffs rise up 300 magnificent feet from the Pacific Ocean to greet miles of walking paths along the bluffs at Torrey Pines State Beach. Hiking trails take visitors through the reserve among the Torrey Pine, (one of the rarest varieties of pine in the United States), wild flowers and other plants and animals with panoramic views of the Pacific below. Be sure to visit the museum and visitor center (built in 1923) on top of the reserve at Torrey Pines. Hiking trails wind down to a 4 1/2 mile stretch of beach that is uncrowded and ideal for swimming, walking or picnicking. Restrooms are available on top of the reserve and down on the beach. Showers are located at the bottom only. Remember that Torrey Pines is a state park and it is illegal to pick wildflowers or take pinecones. State law protects all natural or historic features. Bicycles and dogs are not allowed on trails.

Insider's tip: A hike from the top of Torrey Pines State Park (start at the visitor's center) to the beach below is one of the most rewarding in all of Southern California. Bring your bathing suit so you can take a swim!

Children's Pool

Mix with the well to do at La Jolla's high-end hotels, shops and restaurants or spend the day near the Pacific watching the seals and sea lions as they cavort at The Children's Pool. Either way, a day well spent. Lovers of marine mammals will appreciate the Children's Pool or the "Casa" as locals call it. Close to downtown La Jolla, an upscale beach community of boutiques, hotels and galleries, the Children's Pool is a tiny cove protected by a concrete breakwater and used to be a swimming area for children until the local seals and sea lions took over.

2005 Update – Swimming & Diving is now allowed at the Children’s pool, under the following conditions. You must stay at least 20 feet away from the seals (they are a protected species under federal law) and you must not purposely bother them. Coexistence is a wonderful thing and remember that the seals are wild animals and capable of inflicting bodily harm to you and yours.

The Children's Pool is a beautiful spot to sunbathe and has the added bonus of a marine mammal show from seals and sea lions playing in and around the shore or at Seal Rock, their offshore reserve. These marine mammals inhabit the beach winter, spring and fall. A great vantage point to watch the wildlife can be found out on the breakwater for close-up views of the Pacific, the sea life or to observe the tidal pools. Walkers and hikers will want to check out the trails next to Coast Boulevard. High above the beach, these walking paths offer panoramic views of the water and the sandstone cliffs leading down to ocean's edge. Grassy picnic areas are available to the north and south of Children's Pool. This beach does not have wheelchair access due to the steep incline leading down to the ocean.

Windansea Beach

Down the hill, past La Jolla's ritzy homes, hotels, boutiques and restaurants, lies Windansea beach, flanked by surfers and sunbathers on hot summer days. Windansea with its sandstone cliffs, sandy beach and incredible surf breaks, has been a popular surfing haunt as far back as the 1940s and a gathering spot of the Windansea Surf Club since the 1960s. The shack on the beach, built by surfers during World War II is now a San Diego Historic site. Windansea is also a great body surfing and snorkeling area. The north end of the beach is fairly rocky and the south is sandier, good for a nice walk along the water's edge. Or, enjoy a picnic in the grass next to the beach and take in the awe-inspiring views of the Pacific.

There are no public restrooms at this beach. Lifeguards are stationed during the summer and on some weekends in the fall and spring. There is no wheelchair access to the beach. Separate swim and surf zones are set up at Windansea. Visit Italian cafe La Terrazza (8008 Girard Avenue) for pasta and salad at a reasonable price. Or, for a first-rate breakfast try Harry's Coffee Shop (7545 Girard Avenue). Breakfast fare includes the usual lineup: pancakes, waffles, eggs and oatmeal.

Insider tips: Windansea is one of the most scenic beaches in Southern California. We don't recommend this beach for children because the surf is often too rough to safely play in. This is one of the only beaches in San Diego that's challenging for skim boarders.

Marine Street Beach

Marine Street Beach is near the upscale community of La Jolla, a small cluster of high-end clothiers, hotels, shops and galleries and is legendary with body surfers and body boarders because of its thunderous waves that crash right at shoreline. However, this beach may not be ideal for families, as there are no pubic restrooms or picnic areas and the rough surf is not well suited for children. Still, Marine Street Beach offers privacy and gorgeous white sand that can make for a fun, casual day of sunbathing with friends. A word of caution: the rough waves at this beach have been known to cause serious injury to swimmers and body boarders. We advise inexperienced ocean goers to respect the water here. Lifeguards are stationed during the summer and on peak weekends during the spring and fall.

Insider's tip: Marine Street Beach along with Windansea Beach to the south are two of the most scenic beaches in Southern California. Arrive early in the morning or late in the evening for a stroll along the beach. You'll be rewarded with stunning scenery and privacy not often found in Southern California.