La Jolla Weekend Getaway

La Jolla means "the jewel," an apt name for a beautiful town ringed with blue waters. It's one of California's prettiest oceanside towns, and home to several of the state's best beaches.

You can plan your La Jolla weekend getaway in a jiffy using the resources below.

Will You Like It?

• Take our La Jolla Photo Walking Tour.

• La Jolla is popular with shoppers, romantics, and outdoor adventurers who can surf, kayak, scuba dive and bicycle here.

Best Time to Go

La Jolla and San Diego weather is best anytime, but it may be rainy in winter.

Getting There

Driving? La Jolla is about 15 miles north of downtown San Diego and 110 miles from central Los Angeles. Just follow our directions.

Flying? The nearest aiport is in San Diego. Check airfares.

Where to Stay

Check our recommended hotels.

If price is paramount, we'll tell you how to find a good place to stay, cheap.

5 Great Things to Do

• Beaches: When people say San Diego has great beaches, they really mean La Jolla has great beaches. La Jolla Cove, La Jolla Shores and Windansea are not only the best in San Diego but perhaps the best in the state.

• Birch Aquarium: This small aquarium is packed with intersting stuff, and it won't wear you out.

• La Jolla Playhouse: This theatre company won the Tony Award for Regional Theater in 1993.

• Take a Walking Tour: Hike Bike Kayak offers an excellent, one-hour tour focusing on the natural beauty of the La Jolla coast and the city's history. Where Tours visits five art galleries, the La Jolla waterfront, a hidden mermaid statue and the Sunny Jim sea cave.

  For a private walk with places to sit and enjoy the view, take the steps going down next to 1298 Prospect. Follow the wooden fence beside the cave entrance, then walk along the dirt path. You'll find few people here, but you won't be alone. A large colony of cormorants and a seagulls inhabit the cliff face below.

• Go Kayaking: Hike Bike Kayak offers a tour of the La Jolla Sea Caves, and no experience is required.

Our one-day itinerary may also help you to plan.

Best Brunch

A weekend getaway is a great time to enjoy a leisurely brunch. The Cottage serves fresh cuisine in beach bungalow atmosphere, and The Marine Room at the Sea Lodge has been voted the area's best Sunday brunch. For a simple breakfast, few tourists and terrific views, follow Coast Blvd. to the Goldfish Point Cafe.

Don't Miss

If you're an active vacationer like me, don't miss a chance to do little or nothing for a change. On a splendidly-beautiful La Jolla day, it won't take much to drain all the busy out of your body, anyway.

Annual Events You Should Know About

• La Jolla Festival of the Arts: One of of the top-rated art festivals in California, held in late June.
• La Jolla Concerts by the Sea: Free concerts held every Sunday, June through August

Tips

• We know it's popular, but the visit to Sunny Jim cave is only marginally interesting, and the 145 stairs are a bit of a climb if you aren't in shape.

• It's harder to find a parking spot on La Jolla on a weekend than it is to find gold on the beach. To avoid parking hassles and expense, stay in a hotel in the village or pick someplace that has a free shuttle, like the Hotel La Jolla.

• La Jolla is busier on weekends than during the week. If you can plan your getaway Monday through Thursday, you'll almost have the place to yourself.