20220619_121653View of La Jolla (June 2022)

Following our first night in San Diego last June, my family and I decided to spend a half-day at La Jolla (“la HOY-uh”), a seaside neighborhood located about 10 miles/16 kilometers from San Diego city proper. Home to a small, but stunning coastline, this part of San Diego offers a quieter, more laidback feel away from the big, bustling city.

Origins of the name “La Jolla” remain disputed– either it’s taken from the local native’s naming of it as “the land of holes,” which the Spanish later translated as “la Hoya,” or derived from the Spanish “la Joya,” to mean “the jewel.” If the former rings true, then it’s confirmed by the many sea caves, tide pools, and inlets that cover the coast. Regardless of its original namesake, La Jolla is a popular spot for families and students to reside and study at, given that the well-known University of California– San Diego campus is located here.

My family and I left early to make the drive to La Jolla, arriving around 9h30. Parking was a hassle to find, as many spots along the beach were already taken– we ended up parking in downtown, and we were especially lucky to snag the last spot. Given that we were visiting on a weekend, it wasn’t a surprise that La Jolla was already busy!

Our first stop was at Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave, a 100-year-old cave that was once a smuggler’s tunnel, as legend’s have it. The name “Sunny Jim” is derived from the profile of a cartoon man of the same name, which had been featured on a wheat cereal package Force, created in the US but popularized in Great Britain in the early 20th century. The cave’s opening is supposed to resemble the profile of this Sunny Jim, and with its angular face and very prominent chin, there are definitely similarities.

20220619_094807Me inside the cave– do you see the profile of Sunny Jim?

The sea cave entrance is actually located inside of the Cave Store souvenir shop: you pay $10 USD to enter, and then it’s a steep, 145-step descent to the bottom of the cave. In the past, tourist would go down by rope, but thankfully, the stairs are a lot more manageable! Once you reach the bottom, the views of the opening and the sea outside are stunning. Even more interesting is that you see many silver crabs scuttling around the rocks, even a couple of divers who alight from here!

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Afterwards, we headed out to stroll the promenade. We saw an abundance of sea lions lounging about on the rocks in the distance, along with their adorable pups. Apparently, we were visiting during “pupping season,” so much of the rocky coastline was closed off to deter tourists from getting too close to the animals– and to protect the sea lions as they raise their babies!

We had a brief stop at a parked silver van that served Turkish coffee– although I didn’t opt for Turkish coffee, the lavender latte I ordered was delicious and hit the spot. It was then a matter of heading to Hospital Beach, home to a vast stretch of tide pools, to check it out. We were there at low tide, so the tide pools were barely wet, but it still made for some distinctive views of the rocks and ocean.

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Lunchtime was at one of La Jolla’s taco institutions: The Taco Stand. Located in downtown, we left the beachside and walked inland to the restaurant, arriving just before peak rush hour. Even then, it still took us about 15 to 20 minutes to receive our order, but it beat having to wait longer– by the time we finished eating, the line was wrapped out the door!

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The tacos were the best I had in San Diego: although on the small side, they packed a punch: the al pastor was tender and the carnitas (my favorite) was incredibly crispy and smoky to the tastebuds. I’d go back to have them again!

Our last stop was at the Scripps Institute, located on a hill and a part of the university campus. Specifically, we went to find the Hidden Swing, which actually isn’t that hidden: you just have to park in the lot and take a dirty hill trail up for 30 seconds to the top, and it’s right there. It’s one of those colorful, Instagram-worthy seats that looks over the ocean, and it can get crowded if you don’t know when to go. Luckily, there weren’t too many people out at midday, so we had our chance to take photos and swing on it. That concluded our time in La Jolla, as we made the drive back to San Diego to continue exploring more of the city.

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…and that concludes my trip to San Diego and its surroundings last summer! It was a short three-day holiday weekend, but my family and I did so much in that time off. We saw many beaches, ate so much good food, and overall spent quality time together that we otherwise wouldn’t have had time to, given we’re all adults now and with our own busy lives…the visit to San Diego gave us the chance to slow down time and to reconnect with each other, to cherish each other’s company as a family.

Thanks for reading, and I promise more adventures are on the horizon. Stay tuned!

— Rebecca

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Published by Rebecca

Blogger, world traveler, poet, foodie, part-time penguin. Welcome!

50 thoughts on “Destination: La Jolla, California”

  13. I love the look of those tide pools – very photogenic 🙂 We intended to visit La Jolla when in California many years ago but somehow missed the turning and decided to explore elsewhere rather than double back – seems we missed a treat!

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    1. Wow, missing a turn really made all the difference! But to be fair, there’s so much to explore in that part of California that you weren’t missing out too badly! Hope you can return to see La Jolla some day. 🙂

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  15. The name fits it perfectly! I would love to explore the caves, beaches and taco restaurants. Seeing the sea lions would be an amazing experience. The tidal pools are quite a sight. Glad you managed to have some quality time with your family on this trip.

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    1. Absolutely! This family trip had been a long time coming: we’d done many family trips when I was a kid, but over the years we haven’t been able to go on as many due to growing up, jobs, and other adult responsibilities…that said, SD was a great way to bond again!

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  17. If La Jolla translates into English as The Jewel then this Southern California beach city certainly lives up to its name! And don’t you just love these small seaside communities that offer amazing attractions, views, natural beauty, history, culture, and wildlife? Thanks for sharing and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx

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  22. I just went the long way to see your blog outside the wp reader and see your About page. I’m in Long Beach, CA!

    A word of caution on your domain decision… it often means people can no longer view your posts though the wp reader. It shouldn’t work like that but I’ve seen it happen to 3 bloggers.

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    1. Okay, good to know! I’m still staying on WordPress, but with my own domain (not self-hosted, though). Hopefully, I don’t disappear off of Reader– let me know if it happens, though!

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  23. I love LaJolla! But even in pouring rain, it can be hard to find parking!

    Did you explore the tide pools and their creature? I love finding a baby octopus or other fun creatures!

    I wish I could do the cave but I’d need for it to have a slide and elevator!

    I believe I’m the only person in the world who thinks tacos are, at best, “meh”. I’m a burrito gal!

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    1. I didn’t explore the tide pools in detail, but it’d be really cool to discover some sea life there! I love tacos AND burritos, so I’d have them all! Thanks for reading!

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      1. Lots of little fish, crabs, anemones, etc are in the pools… just waiting to be admired till the tide come back in!! I hope you get to visit again!

        9+ hr drive…. from… Oregon?

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