La Jolla, California
 

California shopping

Pictured above are shop window images from La Jolla's shopping district. The popular shopping and resort mecca located on the northern San Diego coast includes art galleries, fine clothiers, gourmet restaurants and numerous hotels greet travelers to a city built on hills. La Jolla means "the jewel" in Spanish, though many consider it San Diego's finest pearl.  Located only 15 minutes north of downtown San Diego and bordering Pacific Beach, its scenic ocean views, top notch educational institutions, research facilities and pricey housing provide an exclusive (if not  elusive) feel to guests who visit the coastal gem.  It's difficult to visit La Jolla (pronounced  la hoya - like the boxer Oscar de la) and not want to stay a little longer.

Scuba diving, swimming, surfing, a public boat launch and children's play areas at La Jolla Shores, La Jolla Cove and the Children's Pool or Casa allow guests to separate and do what they like. Shoppers can enjoy the downtown area within walking distance of some hotels, and sand lovers can walk to beach to soak up the sun in a region where it shines over 300 days per year and the average temperature is around 74 degrees.  At time of writing, we were told that there's a fun way to see the sites. Trips departing from Colonial Inn on 910 Prospect include guided 90-minute and 2-hour walking tours. 

La Jolla is known as much for its cultural focus as for its beaches so you might want to visit many of the city's galleries, the Museum of Contemporary Art and one of the finest art festivals in the United States, the annual Festival of the the Arts and Food Faire. As you travel the California coast and enjoy an abundance of fine art, don't be surprised if you see the names of some of your favorites showing at the annual La Jolla festival. 

• Festival of the Arts and Food Faire.  9490 Genesee (at Regents Roads)  La Jolla 858-456-1268 www.lajollaartfestival.org  
• Museum of Contemporary Art,  700 Prospect St.  858-454-3451

La Jolla also has the pleasure of calling itself home to several outstanding oceanic research facilities. Open to the public are:

• Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institute of Oceanography, 2300 Expedition Way,  La Jolla  Phone: (858) 453-3474. This aquarium is very popular with families and school groups.  The entire family will enjoy visiting the lovely buildings atop a hill overlooking the ocean. 
• Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 N. Torrey Pines Rd. is another facility open to the public. Call:  858- 453-4100 x 1200