Finding Myself in La Jolla, California
La Jolla Cove, La Jolla, CA (pc: Anieka Sarmer)
Sea lions, surfs, and sun all day every day. It took our friend only 9 words to describe the scene of La Jolla where he had been living for the past few years. Yes there are sea lions, the weather is gorgeous, the ocean is wondrous, and the waves strong and powerful. The quaint city has tons of adorable aesthetic shops and nick-nackeries, as well as tons of restaurants and cafés to explore (for you foodies out there). What you must know when planning a trip to La Jolla, is that businesses close down shop early and it is a known fact that once the sun sets, the people set. So, make sure to hit your favorite shops along Prospect Street and admire all the gorgeous beaches along the coastline, before an early dinner at one of La Jolla’s many exquisite restaurants.
Day One:
The first day my friend and I delved into La Jolla, we visited La Jolla Cove, where you can walk down amongst the crashing waves of the rocks below the cliffs and take pictures of the sea lions (from a distance!). There is also an underground stairway leading into one of the coves, called Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave. Here, you can get extraordinary views of the ocean, as well as interact with some more of the wildlife; like seals, fish, reef sharks — and if you’re lucky — some dolphins in the distance.
The smell of the sea lions was a bit overwhelming for us for our first day in the town, so we spent the rest of that day walking along Prospect Street, which is protected from the unique smell by the businesses that block the street off from the beaches. We stopped by an aesthetic sweet-coffee bar that our friend recommended, called Better Buzz Coffee, which sells ice cream, other desserts, and sugary coffee refreshers. They are just what a tired sweaty tourist would need on a hot summer day.
By this time the sun was about to set, so our friend drove us to Glider’s Point, where we watched the sunset in the grass outside the gliding center. You could take your friends there with a blanket and some snacks for a stunning view of San Diego, La Jolla, and the coastline. You also have the option to cliff jump tandem (strapped to a professional), and glide over the sea.
Glider's point, La Jolla, CA
Picture Taken by: Anieka Sarmer
After the sunset was when we all realized we should have eaten dinner before Glider’s point — not after. All the restaurants along the water were booked up until the time their kitchen closed, and the streets were nearly empty. We wandered deeper into La Jolla, and found a cute restaurant, called Thai 55, where they were still offering food to go with only a 15 minute wait time (everywhere else was at least an hour). Their curries and fried rice were phenomenal, and they had a vegetarian option for almost every dish; which made things a lot more relaxed for both me and our local friend, who are both vegetarian/vegan.
Day Two:
The second time we ended up in La Jolla on our trip was actually for a Kayaking and Snorkeling tour at Everyday California, where we spent two hours on the water stopping at two coves and snorkeling around the rocks. You can swim with fish, sea turtles, small reef sharks, seals, and sea lions. Once we were done we were starved, so smack in the middle of the day, we were finally able to have a sit down meal in La Jolla and the restaurant we chose did not disappoint in the slightest.
The tacos and burritos at Puesto La Jolla are to die for. My friend had their portobello mushroom tacos and I had their mushroom plate. Both dishes were exquisitely flavorful and made our mouths water. After our meal we wandered some more around Prospect street and looked in some shops, before walking along the beaches on the outskirts of the town. If you get a chance, you should walk all along the stretch from La Jolla Cove to Sunset beach, and even further if your heart desires; the views are spectacular and the beaches are stunning.
Wipeout Beach, La Jolla, CA
Picture Taken by: Anieka Sarmer
There’s so much more to do in and around La Jolla that we missed out on. You can definitely spend a few days exploring the city and the surrounding area, with all the beaches, cafés, and restaurants. This is a destination that I will definitely come back to in the future to explore more.
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Now go out and experience!
— Anieka ♡
