Spend the perfect afternoon in the Jewel of San Diego taking in the sights along the coast, sea lion and seal watching, shopping, and dining.
Written by Lauren
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The Jewel of San Diego, La Jolla (La HOY – ah) is a sunny, picturesque small beachside town outside of San Diego in Southern California. This cliffy coastline is home to multi-million dollar homes, world class eateries, shopping, surfing, sea lions, and seals!
It’s the perfect destination for an afternoon escape or a romantic weekend getaway.
Vibe: laid-back SoCal coastal chill
But wait, what is a pocket guide, exactly?
Glad you asked.
Pocket Guides are our quick and dirty, need-to-know guides. Short, sweet, and to the point. You won’t find added embellishments or extra long explanations. Formatted so that you can screenshot or copy and paste sections to keep handy in your phone (which you keep in your pocket. Heh, see what we did there?) for when you’re traveling or off the grid.
Jump right to it …
What you need to know about visiting La Jolla
Getting there
Parking in La Jolla
When to visit La Jolla
The Itinerary
Explore the coast: beaches, sea lions, and seals, oh my!
What’s the difference? Sea Lions + Seals
Pocket Guide to see sea lions + seals in La Jolla
More ways to get out on the water: guided tours
What you need to know about visiting La Jolla, CA
You can spend as little as an afternoon here or an entire day (or weekend)!
We started our visit late morning and stayed through till late afternoon.
Getting there
20-30 minute drive from San Diego and the airport
You can drive yourself or take an Uber!
Parking
You can reserve garage and lot parking online, starting at $4.95 for the day.
We like this option because you can book in advance and you can choose your preferred spot. We like the 875 Prospect garage.
There is limited free street parking on Coast Boulevard and nearby streets, however they are limited to 2-3 hours. And if you’re thinking about pulling a fast one on the fine folks of the parking department, maybe don’t. They’re as cut-throat as they come (and we’re from Detroit, so that’s saying something).
When to visit
To go beaching and swimming, summer is your time.
Personally, we’re partial to visiting in winter, when the tide pools are more exposed and the seals are having their pups!
The Itinerary
Explore the coast: beaches, sea lions, and seals, oh my!
Give yourself a good few hours to enjoy the sunshine and salt air as you walk the boardwalk along the coast.
You can also get off the beaten path and explore the cliffs (safely!), the tide pools in winter, and spot the differences between seals and sea lions. Even for the Grinchiest among us, these lil fellas are an absolute delight to watch!
What’s the difference?
Sea Lions
- External ear flaps
- Bark
- Pile up on each other like lion cubs
- Tan or dark brown
- Can move around perched upright
Seals
- Grunt (don’t bark)
- Solitary but will lay near each other on the beach
- Dark grey and brown, sometimes spotted
- Flop around on their bellies
We believe these are seals based on their location near Children’s Beach, no distinguishable ear flaps, the 6-feet between them (and this was pre-Covid times!), and their spotted dark brown skin.
Best spots to see sea lions + seals in La Jolla
Seals
Children’s Pool Beach
Sea Lions
Boomer Beach
Point La Jolla
La Jolla Cove
Give em some space!
Nobody likes having peeps all up in their business while they’re trying to sunbathe and get a little R&R on the beach, know what we’re saying?
We’re gonna start our day on the southwestern end at South Casa Beach and make our way northeast to La Jolla Cove and the Coastal Trail Walk.
South Casa Beach
Explore the tide pools
Children’s Pool
Harbor seal rookery (pupping season is between December and May)
Walk along the sea wall (when tide and waves are low—friendly reminder to never turn your back on the ocean!)
Shell Beach
Explore the tide pools
Ellen Browning Scripps park
Large manicured lawn perfect for a picnic
Has restrooms
Fun Fact!
Dr. Seuss lived nearby and a magnificent Monterey Cypress inspired The Lorax!
Sadly, the centenarian (100+ year old) tree fell in 2019.
Boomer Beach
Sea lion hangout
Point La Jolla
Another sea lion hangout
La Jolla Cove
Popular destination and sea lion hangout
The Cave Store + Sunny Jim Caves
An unsuspecting souvenir store that houses the entrance to the Sunny Jim Caves.
Beware!
Just stepping into the store can give you the sensation of being out at sea. A truly weird and confusing experience since the house is planted firmly on land (but above sea caves, so maybe that’s why? We’re honestly not sure).
What will you find there?
A staircase leading down to a smugglers cove, where the cave opens up to the sea. It’s a tight space so limited people are allowed in at a time.
Entrance to the caves costs $10 for adults, $7ish for kiddos.
A line can form, so if you’re time-conscious, might not be worth the wait.
This is also a popular snorkeling and scuba diving spot.
La Jolla Coast Walk Trail
Distance: 1 mile there and back
Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy breezy
Vibe: Peaceful with ocean views
Don’t miss this little hidden gem!
Start at The Cave Store and turn around at Torrey Pines Road.
The trail will take you, you guessed it, along the coast, on sandy terrain.
More ways to get out on the water: guided tours + activities
If you’re looking for something a little more immersive, but aren’t sure where to get started, check out these guided tours and activities! Whether you’re looking to get in the water (kayak, snorkel, or surf) or want to get the inside scoop from a local guide (with guided tours on legs, bikes, or Segways), look no further. We’ve got you covered.
Stop by Better Buzz for coffee (and a treat!)
With a distinct modern and clean coastal vibe, Better Buzz has great coffee and a chill atmosphere to hang out on the sidewalk patio while you take a moment off your feet.
We’re big fans of the Horchata Iced Latte—espresso, house-made sweetened cinnamon rice milk, almond milk, and cinnamon sugar.
They also serve acai bowls and avocado toasts if you’re feeling a bit peckish after all that wandering.
You can also shop their merch. Because who doesn’t want a t-shirt that carries their signature tagline—Life’s Better Buzzed—on it?
Better Buzz, we couldn’t agree more, btw.
Browse the boutiques
La Jolla has a mix of boutique and luxury shopping.
So if you’re like us, window shop the latest at Kate Spade, and then pop into some of the cute gifts and goods shops for a little something to take back home.
Hi Sweetheart
A unique gift boutique curated from crafts-people and small businesses around the globe.
Shop for: jewelry, home goods, stationary, books, candles, and gifts for any occasion
AMORE
Women’s fashion from Italy
Shop for: women’s clothing and apparel
Gracie James
A boutique curated for artful living
Shop for: succulents, art, furniture, clothing, and jewelry
Warwick’s Bookstore
America’s oldest continually family-owned and operated independent bookstore. (We <3 indie bookstores hard here at w + w!)
Shop for: books
Sweet Paper
Bright and airy stationary store (You know what Lauren loves just as much as books? A good journal.)
Shop for: stationary, cards, candles, gift wrapping
Grab a bite and drink
Puesto
For tacos and margaritas (our recommendation!)
La Sala Lounge
Sip cocktails and snack on small plates in the swanky old Hollywood glamour lounge of La Valencia Hotel with ocean views
Duke’s
A Hawaiian classic for a laid-back coastal vibe with drinks and full menu (and ocean front seating)
Level2
Cocktails on the patio with ocean views
The Taco Stand
Casual spot for Mexican fare
X marks the spot!
Pocket Guide to the perfect day in La Jolla, CA
La Jolla, CA
17 Coast Boulevard La Jolla, CA
Parking
875 Prospect garage ($5)
Walk along the beaches + boardwalk
South Casa Beach — tide pools (winter)
Children’s Pool Beach — seals
Shell Beach — tide pools (winter)
Ellen Browning Scripps Park — restrooms
Boomer Beach — sea lions
Point La Jolla — sea lions
La Jolla Cove — sea lions
The Cave Store + Sunny Jim Caves — $10 to enter caves
La Jolla Coast Walk Trail — 1 mile there and back
Coffee + a treat
Better Buzz Coffee
Browse the boutiques
Hi Sweetheart | AMORE | Gracie James
Warwick’s Bookstore | Sweet Paper
Grab a bite + drink
Puesto | La Sala Lounge | Duke’s
Level2 | The Taco Stand
Still looking for more?
Check out La Jolla Mom for more in-depth information about La Jolla, San Diego, and more from local Kate Dillon.
After a day of cliffside exploring, sea lion and seal watching, shopping, and dining, want to know the best way to end the most perfect day in La Jolla? Sit on the cliffs and watch the sunset with your lover! (Or dog, or best friend, or family you somewhat tolerate, or yourself! Whatever makes you happy, we’re here for it!)
Your adventure awaits!
About Lauren
Reader, writer, traveller, itinerary-creator & mapmaker extraordinaire
Detroit-born, Nashville-bent, everywhere-bound, some of her favorite things include drinking coffee, eating in roadside diners frequented by locals and truckers alike, reading entire guidebooks front to back, visiting local bookshops, spirit questing in New Mexico, watching wildlife documentaries, listening to unapologetic amounts of Taylor Swift, and sitting in aisle seats. To name a few.
