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La Jolla

Where a spectacular coastline and upscale village atmosphere define San Diego's Jewel by the Sea

One of the top beach destinations in the world

With a dramatic coastline boasting incredible views, it's no surprise that La Jolla is one of the most popular beach destinations in California. Surrounded on three sides by the sea and backed by the steep slopes of Mt. Soledad, La Jolla's natural beauty, abundance of activities and upscale village lifestyle ensure that it lives up to its nickname as "the jewel" of San Diego.

Consistently voted one of the top beach destinations in the world, La Jolla offers a wide range of accommodations from luxurious hotels to casual coastal retreats, along with museums and art galleries, one-of-a-kind boutiques, great restaurants and a slew of outdoor activities. Home to the famous Torrey Pines Golf Course and The Lodge at Torrey Pines, the scenic cliff area offers well-groomed hiking trails with spectacular views, and world-class golf. At Torrey Pines Gliderport you can soar out over the beach cliffs on a hang glider or just relax and watch the action above.

Along the dramatic coastline lies Scripps Park, where families can picnic throughout the summer, while enjoying Fourth of July fireworks and concerts under the stars. Just south of the park is the Children's Pool, where a seawall was originally built to protect kids from incoming waves, but has been long taken over by a local seal colony. People are no longer permitted to swim here, but you can walk out along the seawall for a close-up view of the wildlife.

La Jolla is also home to Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institute of Oceanography and plenty of cultural attractions including the La Jolla Playhouse and the Museum of Contemporary Art, all situated in close proximity to The Village. The University of California San Diego, which hosts the popular Geisel Library and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, are both located in La Jolla as well.

La Jolla's biggest draw for locals and visitors alike are the beautiful beaches. During the summer and autumn months, the surf is relatively gentle, with warm waters in 70s. Swimmers, snorkelers, scuba divers, kayakers and surfers can enjoy the golden sands of La Jolla Shores, the Cove and Windansea. And be sure to keep an eye out for migrating whales off the coast as they travel to and from Baja California.

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The seaside community of La Jolla occupies 7 miles of coastline along the Pacific Ocean within the north county of San Diego. It is surrounded on three sides by ocean bluffs and beaches. The main route in and out of La Jolla is the I-5 freeway, from the south exit at La Jolla Village Drive and from the north exit La Jolla Parkway. It is approximately 14 miles from the airport with an average drive time of 20 minutes. La Jolla is serviced by multiple bus routes and Old Town Trolley Tours offers a La Jolla option with on and off privileges.

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Make a splash in La Jolla

Take a tour with Alana Nichols - Gold Medalist, Motivational Speaker, Water Enthusiast

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Torrey Pines Natural Reserve

Get back to nature and enjoy one of the most beautiful coastal hikes in America.

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Shopping La Jolla

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Museum Month

Feb 1 - Feb 28, 2023

February remains the perfect month to discover (or re-discover) the story of San Diego during Museum Month with 50% off admission to more than 60 San Diego County museums, historic sites, gardens, zoo/aquariums and more.

Join us every day in February as we explore a rich world of cultural experiences, including virtual activities, behind-the-scenes tours, and other special museum moments you can only find in San Diego. #SDMuseumMonth

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Pairings With a Purpose Dinner Party

Mar 2, 2023

Enjoy a 4-course culinary exploration with Chef Angelo Sosa, star of Top Chef and executive chef of Tia Carmen, and Chef Ruffo Ibarra, chef/owner of Oryx Restaurante and executive chef of The Guild Hotel, benefitting Feeding San Diego, the county's leading hunger-relief and food rescue organization.

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PRIVATE CUSTOMIZABLE ICONIC CITY HIGHLIGHTS TOUR

Jan 24 - ongoing

Journey with award winning tour guide Julie around San Diego’s cultural and historic sites—on a private tour of fun and informative must-see sightseeing hotspots.

OLD TOWN: Take a trip into the past and learn about our rich Spanish and Mexican heritage and why we are the “Birthplace of California.” Experience our original city—colorful and festive now, but find out why it wasn’t always that way.

DOWNTOWN: Explore these San Diego Downtown essentials: scenic San Diego Bay’s Embarcadero waterfront, the famous and vibrant Gaslamp Quarter, hip and historic Little Italy, and Petco Park.

BALBOA PARK: The cultural heartbeat of our city; you will fall in love with the country’s largest urban cultural park and be dazzled discovering its origins as you take in its incredible vegetation, gorgeous flowers and ornate architecture.

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PRIVATE SUNSET AND NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR

Aug 16, 2022 - ongoing

Learn how to capture the essence of the late-day light and magical nighttime beauty of America’s finest city, on an Instagrammable private photography tour. Whether mastering how to shoot our outstanding coastal scenery or our lit-up fairytale-like urban wonders, your private tour will be led personally by Julie Kremen, an award winning professional photographer and certified tour guide. Read the reviews and see why she is top-rated on TripAdvisor, and Yelp.

Julie works closely with you before the tour to nail down exactly what you want to concentrate on so you can get the most out of your experience. Contact us to book a private session, boost your shooting skills and make your friends say “Wow!” when they see your photos!

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Make a splash in La Jolla

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Torrey Pines Natural Reserve

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Shopping La Jolla

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Museum Month

Feb 1 - Feb 28, 2023

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Pairings With a Purpose Dinner Party

Mar 2, 2023

Discover

PRIVATE CUSTOMIZABLE ICONIC CITY HIGHLIGHTS TOUR

Jan 24 - ongoing

Discover

PRIVATE SUNSET AND NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR

Aug 16, 2022 - ongoing

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La Jolla on Instagram

San Diego’s Rich Maritime Heritage

History Ahoy!

Ever since Spanish ships first sailed into the natural harbor under command of Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542, San Diego Bay has played welcome host to visitors.

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Music

5 Amazing San Diego Music Festivals

Each with their own unique character and charm

Filled with a mix of national names and up-and-coming talent, here are five music festivals that are well worth marking on your calendar each year.

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Arts & Culture

Explore San Diego’s Colorful Public Art

Vibrant artworks by internationally renowned artists

With nearly perfect weather year-round, most visitors to San Diego want to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Fortunately for art lovers, San Diego’s great outdoors also happen to be home to vibrant artworks by internationally renowned artists. Make a day (or two) of hunting for these famous sculptures around San Diego.

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Arts & Culture

San Diego's Drive-in Movie Theaters

A Little Bit of Americana in San Diego

With state-of-the-art projectors and San Diego’s average 70 degree weather, drive-in theatres offer the perfect setting for a night at the movies.

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