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| SPOTLIGHT | | Sandy
beach, is great for diving, swimming, sailing, snorkeling, and windsurfing. |
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Highlights
La Jolla Cove (1100 Coast Boulevard)
is a very small beach, tucked between adjacent sandstone cliffs. Due to its extraordinary
beauty, La Jolla Cove is one of the most photographed beaches in Southern California.
It is within a short walk of the commercial area of the community of La Jolla,
but retains a character all it's own.
La Jolla (Spanish for “the jewel”)
has European elegance, a sunny Mediterranean climate, and 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.
La Jolla beaches offer endless hours of fun and relaxation… from the pretty
sandstone cliffs towering high above the Pacific at Torrey Pines State Beach to
the crystal clear water at La Jolla Cove, an ideal snorkeling spot.
La
Jolla Shores, a favorite of familes, offers a wide sandy beach, gentle surf
and a playground for kids. Kayakers begin their ocean excursions at La Jolla Shores
along with Scuba Divers and ocean swimmers.
La Jolla Children's Pool,
a haven for California Sea Lions, is a tourist favorite offering wildlife viewing
and incredible photo opportunities.
Marine Street and Windansea beaches
are intimate coastal retreats perfect for romantic getaways or a quiet day at
the beach with a good book.
Whatever activity you enjoy, La Jolla beaches
offer something for everyone.
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 1/2 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.
A permanent lifeguard station is located
adjacent to the main parking lot at the foot of Calle Frescota. This station is
generally staffed daily from 9:00 a.m. to near dusk. Closing hours vary based
on time of year. Check at the lifeguard station for further details. Surfing is
permitted in specified areas and waves tend to be relatively small. The south
end of the beach near the foot of Vallecitos is heavily used by scuba diving classes.
There is a submarine canyon off the beach and the protection offered by the San
Diego La Jolla Ecological Reserve ensures the presence of sea life.
Public
restroom and showers are located 100 yards north and south of the main lifeguard
tower. In addition to disabled parking, the boardwalk is disabled accessible.
A temporary rubber walkway is often available to allow limited access over the
sand.
A special beach wheel chair, which requires an attendant, is generally
kept at the main lifeguard station and available on a first come, first served
basis at no charge. Containers for beach fires are generally provided during summer
months and available on a first come, first served basis. The burning of rubbish
is prohibited. Only wood, charcoal, or paper products may be used as fuel. Fuel
for the fire may not exceed a height of more than twelve inches above the upper
edge of the fire container. The fire must be extinguished before leaving the beach.
Open beach fires, outside containers are prohibited at all San Diego beaches.
From the north, take Interstate 5 south and exit at La Jolla Village
Drive westbound. Turn left at the signalized intersection at Torrey Pines Road
and follow it to the signalized intersection at La Jolla Shores Drive. From the
south, take Interstate 5 northbound and exit at Ardath Road. Turn right at the
signalized intersection at La Jolla Shores Drive, then turn left at the signalized
intersection at Avenida de la Playa. Turn right on Camino del Oro. A 350 space
parking lot (8 disabled spaces) can be found at the foot of Calle Frescota next
to the lifeguard tower. In summer, this lot fills to capacity by mid-day. Limited
on street parking may be available.
The basic rule of thumb is that any
gathering of over 75 people requires a permit from the Park and Recreation Department.
A permit is also required for a wedding of any size, water event, athletic event,
voice and/or music amplification, or use of special setup equipment (such as an
inflatable party jump, dunk tank, canopy, etc.) For permit information call Coastline
Parks at 221-8901
The north facing La Jolla Cove has unusually
coarse sand. Grassy Scripps Park is immediately adjacent and an excellent area
for picnicking. Water visibility at the Cove can sometimes exceed 30 feet, making
it a popular location for scuba divers and snorklers. La Jolla Cove lies within
the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve, which helps to ensure
that marine life remains plentiful. This is a look but don't touch area and the
possession of game is unlawful.
Lifeguards are staffed daily throughout
the year. During summer, lifeguard staffing hours are generally 9:00 a.m. to dusk.
At other times of the year, lifeguard staffing may not commence until 10:00 a.m.
Always check with lifeguards to check on any modification of staffing hours.
Most California beaches experience strong currents. The safety tips section provides
an explanation of rip currents and some methods of freeing yourself if caught
in a rip current. The best advice is to swim near a lifeguard. The waters off
this beach are reserved for swimming and diving only.
This is an excellent
beach for scuba diving diving when surf conditions are low. Telephone the beach
information line before coming to the beach and always check with lifeguards before
diving. A public restroom building with showers can be found in Scripps Park beside
La Jolla Cove.
Due to the steep hillside immediately adjacent, the beach
itself is not wheelchair accessible. However, there is an excellent view from
the park above and an extensive oceanside walkway in Scripps Park.
There
are no receptacles for beach fires. Open fires are therefore prohibited. The taking
or possession of sea life or artifacts is prohibited. Floatation devices are prohibited
in La Jolla Cove. Spears are prohibited in La Jolla Cove. Alcohol is permitted
only between 12:00 noon and 8:00 p.m.
From the north, take Interstate
5 to La Jolla Village Drive, westbound. Turn left on Torrey Pines Road at the
signalized intersection. Follow Torrey Pines Road to the signalized intersection
at Prospect Street and turn right. Watch for the signs and bear right on Coast
Boulevard.
From the south, take Interstate 5 north to Ardath Road. Continue
on Ardath Road as it becomes Torrey Pines Road. Follow Torrey Pines Road to the
signalized intersection at Prospect Street and turn right. Watch for the signs
and stay right on Coast Boulevard.
There is no public parking lot for
La Jolla Cove. On-street parking can be difficult to find, particularly in summer.
It is limited to three hours at a time on weekdays and unlimited on weekends,
but check the signs for any restrictions. Paid parking is available in downtown
La Jolla at several locations and is a short walk from the beach.
The
basic rule of thumb is that any gathering of over 75 people requires a permit
from the Park and Recreation Department. A permit is also required for a wedding,
water event, athletic event, voice and/or music amplification, or use of special
setup equipment (such as an inflatable party jump, dunk tank, canopy, etc.) For
permit information call Coastline Parks at (619) 221-8901.
The Children's
Pool (850 Coast Boulevard), also known as the Casa, is a small beach partially
protected by a seawall. The original intention was to create a fully protected
swimming area, but sand has filled in much of the area inside the wall. This is
a very picturesque beach with a panoramic view. During much of the year, seals
and sea lions are present on or near the beach and a reserve for these marine
mammals, called Seal Rock, is just offshore.
The Children's Pool, is
within a short walk of the commercial area of the community of La Jolla. Grassy
park areas can be found a short distance to the north and south. Several small
beaches are nearby including Wipeout Beach to the south and Shell Beach to the
north. This is a popular beach for scuba divers because of the reefs just offshore.
These same reefs can create very strong currents and other hazards, particularly
in high surf conditions.
This beach information was supplied from the
San Diego Beaches online guide. It is provided for your interest and is subject
to change. Always call to before going. | |
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Top Beaches |  |
| |
Carmel Beach | | Carmel Beach, for one,
is a tranquil cove of blue water bordered by soft white sand and cypress-covered
cliffs (the tides are deceptively strong and dangerous, so be careful if you chance
a swim). | | |
| Hermosa
Beach | | Have fun with volleyball, paddleball
or beach ball, while creating a golden tan or toning up. Surfboarding, skateboarding
or boogey boarding are all here. | | |
| Long
Beach | | As you drive along the coast
of Long Beach, don't be fooled by the sight of the bright pastel islands just
off shore; far from natural, they're actually oil-drilling platforms in disguise. |
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| Surfrider
Beach | | Surfrider Beach here was the
surfing capital of the world in the 1950s and early 1960s, as seen in the Beach
Blanket Bingo movies of Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon (the surf is at its
best in late summer). | | |
|
Malibu | | Malibu, at the top of the bay
twenty miles north of Santa Monica, is a whole other world, its beach-colony houses
owned by those famous enough to need privacy and rich enough to afford it. |
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|
Zuma Beach | | Five miles along the coast
from Malibu Pier, Zuma Beach is the largest and most crowded of the Los Angeles
County beaches. | | |
|
Point Dume State Beach | | Adjacent Point
Dume State Beach, below the imposing promontory of Point Dume, is a lot more relaxed. |
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| Pismo
Beach | | Just outside San Luis Obispo,
on Pismo's 23-mile stretch of prime beachfront, flip-flops are the shoes of choice
and surf wear is the dominant fashion. It's all about beach life here, so bring
your bathing suit, your board, and a good book. | |
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Ocean Beach | | Ocean Beach, six miles
northwest of downtown, rivals Pacific Beach in its surfing and party atmosphere,
although Ocean Beach has a more down-to-earth, bohemian feel, and is replete with
excellent secondhand music shops. | | |
|
La Jolla | | A more pretentious air prevails
in La Jolla, an elegant beach community just to the north that mystery writer
Raymond Chandler once described as "a nice place - for old people and their
parents." | | | |
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