I could spend a week in La Jolla, walking on the beach, puttering around town and enjoying meals in some of the best restaurants in the state, but if you've only got one day, you can still enjoy the best La Jolla has to offer.
Getting to La Jolla
Follow our directions to get to La Jolla from downtown San Diego and find a place to park.
How to Spend Your Day in La Jolla
- Go to the beach: La Jolla Shores may be the most beautiful beach in the state of California, with a wide, gently-sloping beach and panoramic views. A morning or sunset walk here is enough to relax the most stressed-out among us, and it's even better when the tide is going out, leaving the beach with a mirror-like water layer.
- Live Large on a Medium-Sized Budget: La Jolla is home to some top-notch restaurants, and many of them serve their excellent cuisine at lunch, but at a lower price than at night. Try Nine-Ten Restaurant at the Grande Colonial Hotel or George's at the Cove.
- Go Tidepooling: Tiny La Jolla Cove is just a couple of blocks from downtown and easily accessible by a stairway. At low tide, the tidepools have so many hermit crabs in one place that you may wonder why they're called "hermits."
- Walk Around: Go for a window-shopping stroll along Prospect Avenue and the side streets that run into it. With few chain stores in sight, you might just find something you can't leave without. For a more structured walk, try a guided 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.
- La Jolla Playhouse: If you can stay through the evening, check the La Jolla Playhouse to see what's on. This theatre won the Tony Award for Regional Theatre in 1993.
To enjoy La Jolla at its scenic best, check the
low tide times before you go. Head for La Jolla Shores as the tide is going out and visit La Jolla Cove at low tide when the tidepools are revealed.
