La Jolla Coast Walk – Could Anything Be Prettier?
If you visit San Diego, don’t miss the views from the La Jolla Coast Walk! You’ll see surfers, ocean kayakers, sea lions, pelicans, bluffs, and the wide Pacific. A quintessentially Southern California experience.
I’ll admit, I took these pictures in April, on a beautiful spring day, nasturtiums and daisies blooming. If you visit today, the last week of January, the surf will be higher and wilder, wind blowing, seagulls careening. But still stunning.
How to find the La Jolla Coast Walk? The path starts at the far north end of Coast Blvd, which runs along La Jolla Cove and Ellen Scripps Browning Park. At the very end, before the street goes up a steep hill (one way only, downhill) to Prospect Street, is the La Jolla Cave Store.
La Jolla Cave Store
The Cave Store was founded in 1902. It is a historical landmark in San Diego. If you want to explore the caves below the bluff, the entrance is inside the Cave Store. Look at the picture of the chalkboard sign above: Entrance to Sunny Jim Sea Cave. Tunnel entrance is only $4 for adults and $3 for kids. What a bargain! What can you get for $4 these days? The Sunny Jim Sea Cave is fodder for a future post. Today we’re just going to skirt off to the left of this cool old building, redwood-shingled I’m guessing, and head off to the start of the La Jolla Coast Walk.
La Jolla Coast Walk
Here we are, approaching the trail. Dramatic cliff overview of the La Jolla coastline. Under pine trees. Sea lions roosting and barking on the rocks below. Views to La Jolla Shores, Scripps Institute and Pier, UCSD, and Torrey Pines State Beach. People say this view compares with anything along the Mediterranean Sea. (Someday I hope to learn for myself if that is true.)
A rustic wooden bench waits for you under the pines. Settle in awhile, take a deep breath, relax, and savor God’s gorgeous creation. Then pick your way out to the edges of the bluff. But don’t get too close to the edge.
Now the fun of walking along a dirt path through the flowers, along the coast, right in the midst of a city. How wonderful to actually get your shoes dusty, after so many concrete sidewalks. What a treat! Lucky people who live with this view. A surfer carries his board on his head down toward the beach.
The La Jolla Coast Walk meanders for a bit, and eventually winds back up to street level, opening at a street named. . . wait for it. . . Coast Walk. The street is just a short cul-de-sac off Torrey Pines Road.
Now it is time to turn around and head back to where you started. Spend some time watching the sea lions and sea birds below the bluffs. La Jolla is home to a variety of sea birds, including cormorants, brown pelicans, and gulls.
La Jolla Beach Wildlife
Some people complain about the smells that the birds and sea lions cause. But I’m not one of them. I love nature, and can hardly believe that whole colonies of seals, sea lions and sea birds have chosen to live among us, right under our very noses. We can enjoy them for FREE folks! No admission charge. I find that a great bargain, and feel blessed to observe nature so closely.
If you ever find yourself in San Diego, don’t miss this walk! Parking is tricky. It takes patience and some driving around in circles. But the beauty is worth it.
Let’s go next time we’re down!
Yes, please! Come down soon!
Ah, La Jolla! It’s been a while. We used to visit often and I recognize some of those places in your photos. Maybe, someday we’ll come again.
I hope you can. Thanks for stopping by the blog in the meantime.