Skip to main content

La Jolla Cove

La Jolla means The Jewel in English. And if you’ll see this small coastal inlet, you’ll understand why this cove was given that name. It’s one of the most picturesque areas in Southern California thanks to the trees, plants, and animals that populate the place. And if you’re going to San Diego, then it’s a must that you pay a visit.

If you ask any local what’s the best place to go to in San Diego, he’ll most probably point you to La Jolla Cove. But what really makes this place so special? You’ll find out more about this little piece of heaven from this article.

One of the best things about La Jolla Cove is that it’s very accessible. It’s situated right at the heart of downtown La Jolla. So if you’re staying in any hotel in the area, then you can easily go on a day trip to the cove. But there are more things to love about the place apart from the fact that it’s pretty and easy to go to.

You can do many things in La Jolla Cove and most of those activities won’t even cost you a single cent. This is one of the reasons why it’s one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of San Diego.

The area’s main attraction is La Jolla Cove Beach, though it’s just one of the many beautiful beaches that you can visit there. It’s one of the best places to take a stroll on a beautiful sunny morning. And that’s what many people do. But it doesn’t really get crowded though, which makes it an ideal place to spend by yourself or with a close friend.

Unless it’s the height of summer when everyone seems to be close to a body of water. It’s also a favorite hangout spot for families and small children mainly because of the gentle waves. But even if it gets a little crowded, it’s still a beautiful place for sightseeing and picture-taking.

People also visit La Jolla Cove to watch as they lounge and play in the area. A word of advice though: you need to respect the sea lions’ space. Just like humans, most of them want to be left alone to do their own thing. At La Jolla Cove Beach, you can see the sea lions in a small opening hanging out on the rocks.

Just admire them from afar and use the zoom feature of your phone or your camera if you want to take pictures of the beautiful creatures. Many of the sea lions are actually used to people watching them.

Many of the people who visit La Jolla Cove Beach don’t even step on the sand. They just walk on the boardwalk and admire the sea from afar. But these people are clearly missing out. One of the best things to do on this beach (or on any beach for that matter) is to lay a towel or mat on the sand and just sit or lie on the ground. It’s one of the best ways to spend a morning in La Jolla. If you want to go to the waters then go right ahead. But you need to be careful during high tides due to the small size of the beach.

If you do want to get completely wet then you can go snorkeling or diving at the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park. It’s a man-made marine reserve where one can explore life under the sea or simply swim. It’s also a good spot to kayak. But you really shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to snorkel at La Jolla Cove.

It offers some of the best underwater sights in all of California. The water there may not be as clear as other snorkeling sites. But it’s clear enough to view the underwater scenery. Sea stars, guitarfish, kelp bass, anemones, and orange garibaldis are just some of the marine life that will welcome you when you dive or snorkel.

Indeed, there are many things to see and do at La Jolla Cove. You may need to book for a one-week stay or even longer. It’s truly a place that you need to visit the next time you’re in San Diego.


More nearby attractions in the area