Beaches / Caves / Cliffs / Coves, La Jolla

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Favorite thing: La Jolla has many beaches and the coast line can be from smooth sand to rough, rocky cliffs.

TOURMALINE SURF PARK Tourmaline Street, a small, scenic beach, favorite with surfers and divers. Swimming is not allowed.

BIRD ROCK Located at the foot of Bird Rock Avenue, named for the large white rock where birds gather. An ideal beach for diving and surfing.

WIND-AN-SEA BEACH Located left on La Jolla Boulevard to Nautilus Road. This beach is for surfers and not recommended for swimmers.

CHILDREN`S POOL Coast Boulevard, south of La Jolla Cove. A breakwater keeps the waters here gentle, creating a perfect beach for children. The waters also are a haven for divers because of the many offshore reefs. Watch for seals, sea lions and other marine wildlife lazing on Seal Rock, which is just south of the beach. This was originally donated to the city as a safe beach for children. In the latest years the seals have taken over and the children cn no longer swim/play here. They are limited to standing behind a rope wathcing the animals.

LA JOLLA COVE Coast Boulevard, this small, beautiful beach is tucked between towering sandstone cliffs. Tidepools and caves, with waters excellent for swimming and diving. The grassy area in nearby Ellen Browning Scripps Park is perfect for picnics.

LA JOLLA SHORES From La Jolla Shores Drive, turn right on Vallecitos to Camino del Oro. A popular beach with swimmers and surfers, La Jolla Shores also is a great venue for scuba diving, picnics and volleyball. The beach also features the only beachfront boat launch within the San Diego city limits. One of several Dive Shops at La Jolla Shores is OEX Dive and Kayak Centers

OEX La Jolla
2158 Avenida de la Playa
La Jolla, CA 92037
858-454-6195

Another place to rent diving equipment is at SeaStar Adventures

BLACK`S BEACH La Jolla Farms Road, at Blackgold Road. A secluded beach known for its former `clothing optional` status, Black`s Beach is excellent for surfing or just baring it all. Access is by way of a challenging path down from the Torrey Pines Glider Port, or from a two-mile walk south from Torrey Pines State Reserve.

Fondest memory: This is a view of the cliff above La Jolla Coves from Prospect Street.

There is a wonderful park area, a hub of activity going on most of the time and down below is the La Jolla Cove, which has a beach area especially suitable for divers to jump into the water for their glorious dives. Coast Boulevard is the street that leads from the park down to the Cove. Parking is at a premium so you may have to circle around a bit.

The park is a perfect place for a picnic, for the kids to run around or just to sit and watch the ocean, the beach is not only for divers and children can have great fun chasing the waves, the waves are clamer than at some of the other La Jolla beaches. There are a few restaurants and a gift shop with an entrance to the tidepools of La Jolla. If the tidepool is your goal, be sure to get there at low tide.

Favorite thing: La Jolla Beaches: La Jolla Shores (8200 Camino del Oro) is a sandy beach adjacent to a residential area. Approximately one mile in length. Usually the most gentle of all San Diego beaches, many novice scuba classes are held at La Jolla Shores. Kellogg Park, a grassy area, is located behind the main lifeguard station and is ideal for picnicking. A wide cement boardwalk parallels a portion of the beach between the park and the sand. La Jolla Shores lies adjacent to the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Ecological Reserve. Fishing and removal of objects from this area is prohibited. At the north end of this beach lies the Scripps Institute of Oceanography and Scripps Pier. The pier is not open to the public, but the Steven Birch Aquarium is within ½ mile of La Jolla Shores and is open daily. La Jolla Shores has the only beachfront boat launch within City limits. Small vessels can be launched directly into the surf at the foot of Avenida de la Playa, approximately 300 yards south of the lifeguard station. This is an unimproved boat launch and vehicles are allowed to drive on the sand in a very limited area at five miles per hour or less. Four wheel drive is highly recommended.

Favorite thing: The cliffs of La Jolla are beautiful. Great for photography or even for jumping from! You'll probably seem some people hang-gliding from the highest cliffs.