Entertainment in La Jolla, CA

La Jolla, CA draws countless tourists from around the world each and every year. With its incredible views, picturesque terrain and charming culture, La Jolla California is a visitors paradise. The entertainment in the area caters to a wide variety of tastes and consistently pleases the growing tourist population as well.

Art

La Jolla Village astounds and flourishes with it's distinguished art galleries. The community celebrates an extensive array of art, although most galleries tend to favor contemporary pieces. The Quint Gallery highlights modern art, featuring paintings in water colors and oil, along with sculptures and photography.

The Gallery La Jolla offers various American and European contemporary artists, housing both sculptures and paintings. Further down the street is the Carlton Gallery that is devoted to sculpture showcasing Oriental art peaces as well.

Music

Art clearly dominates La Jolla's cultural atmosphere, however, music isn't neglected. A variety of styles bring music alive to tourists, as well as to local residents. Athenaeum Music and Arts Library has a collection of books and other pieces that are devoted to the world of music.

During the summer months, Concerts by the Sea in La Jolla is a very popular musical event among locals and tourists alike. Located at the picturesque La Jolla Cove, this annual concert series presents live music in a breathtaking Oceanside setting.

Film and Theater

For the world of film, the Cove Theater is an old fashioned theater that shows independent and foreign films that are often neglected by main stream movie theaters. The La Jolla Playhouse is the most popular theater in the area. The theater has been around for many years and known for it's new plays.

La Jolla Nightlife

The nightlife in La Jolla is very energetic and upbeat. Located in the La Jolla Village, The Spot is a popular nighttime venue. Humphrey's La Jolla Grill is another great spot to visit. The Comedy Store is highly recommended for those who are looking to laugh the night away.

La Jolla Outdoor Activities

The La Jolla area amazes with the number of outdoor activities as well. Golf enthusiasts won't want to miss the Torrey Pines Golf Course, which is the only public course in the entire PGA circuit. You can see panoramic views of San Diego County and downtown from Mount Soledad or kayak through the mysterious La Jolla Caves. Those who are seeking adventure may want to check out La Jolla from the air with an airborne journey from the Torrey Pines Gliderport. Great surfing is just steps away along with a whole array of different water activities.

Whether you’re looking for natural beauty, outdoor adventure, art or nightlife, La Jolla, CA has the entertainment for you. There are a lot of things to do here giving you more than one reason to keep coming back for more.

La Jolla Cove

The La Jolla Cove sits below the Ellen Browning Scripps Park in downtown La Jolla, CA. The sandy part of the beach is small and surrounded by rocky cliffs. During high tide, the rocks will trap the water that stays behind as the tide goes out forming mini tide pools, giving children and adults something new to explore every day.
 
The Cove of La Jolla, 1100 Coast Boulevard, is a small beach that's tucked between adjacent sand stone cliffs. The Cove, due to it's amazing beauty, is one of the most photographed beaches in Southern California. Although it's within a short walking distance to the commercial center of La Jolla Village, the Cove still retains a sense of peace and serenity.
 
Facing the north, you will find an unusual amount of coarse sand. The grassy area of Scripps Park is on the other side facing the south, and provides a great area for picnics. The water visibility at the La Jolla Cove can sometimes exceed 30 feet, which makes it a very popular area for snorkelers and scuba divers.
 
The La Jolla Cove lies within the San Diego Underwater Park Ecological Reserve, which will help to ensure that all marine life remains protected and plentiful. This area has a “look but don't touch“ policy, and the possession of game is against the law.
 
The Cove is an excellent area for scuba diving, especially when surf conditions are favorable. You should always telephone the beach information line before you head to the beach, and always check with lifeguards before you dive.
 
With plenty to offer for the entire family, the Cove is an excellent beach. There is plenty of swimming here in some of the most beautiful water in the area and the breathtaking views overlooking the Pacific Ocean. If you're looking for a perfect way to spend a hot summer day then La Jolla Cove is the right place to be.

La Jolla Beaches

La Jolla beaches offer something for everyone. If you are looking for a perfect La Jolla beach where you can have some fun in the sun, sand and surf here you will find the family beaches that are most often preferred by tourists, more secluded coves most desired by divers, surfers and swimmers. From Windansea Beach to the south to Blacks Beach in the north, steep sandstone cliffs separated by coves and sandy beaches make up the majority of the La Jolla shoreline.

Pristine beaches, picture perfect views and beautiful ocean breezes are a vacation paradise for tourists and a water recreation hotspot for the locals. The seven mile coastline is doted by seven unique beaches against a backdrop of luxury homes, resorts, tall palm trees, cliffs and lush scenery.

Downtown La Jolla, CA is conveniently located near most of the beaches which provide parking, plenty of fine restaurants, intimate cafes, culture, art galleries, and other types of conveniences for the visitors.

Between mid day and 4 PM as well as on the weekends and holidays, some of the more popular La Jolla beaches can get a little bit crowded. When visiting any of the beaches in La Jolla California the best advice is to come early and stay late so that you can enjoy the magical sunset views across the ocean horizon.

Each La Jolla beach will offer you something unique with different ways to enjoy your vacation. La Jolla Shores with the largest expansion of flat, sandy beaches is the most popular beach for families. If you enjoy sunbathing, people watching and lazy days on the beach then La Jolla Shores is where you want to be.

La Jolla Cove with steep sandstone cliffs, amazing views and the sparkling blue water is another excellent La Jolla beach. It is a swimmer’s paradise because of its gentle water created by the cove that protects it from the high surf. The Cove along with the Children’s Pool is rich with the abundance of reefs and marine life that attract snorkelers and scuba divers.

There are several La Jolla Caves that were carved by nature into the sandstone cliffs between La Jolla Shores and La Jolla Cove that attract ocean kayakers from around the world. There is one cave in particular, known as “Sunny Jim Cave” that can be entered through a man made tunnel that leads to a steep descent through a narrow underground tube to a wooden deck.

With plenty of beaches, La Jolla California is the place to be during the hot summer months. With well over 7,000 people visiting on a daily basis La Jolla, CA is a well known tourist attraction. If you are a beach lover, La Jolla beaches spread along the magnificent coastline, are going to feel like heaven on earth.

Grande Colonial La Jolla, CA

The trip to the historic Grande Colonial in La Jolla, CA begins with your choice of breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean or views of the La Jolla Village. You have 20 elegant suites and 55 rooms to choose from. All of the rooms in the Grande Colonial are non smoking.

This historic hotel was built back in 1913 and it’s only seconds away from the beach and the always happening La Jolla Village with its restaurants, shops, and art galleries. The Grande Colonial guestrooms are unique, many of them offering breezy ocean views.

The Grande Colonial La Jolla, CA is located within walking distance from the Pacific Ocean and the beaches on 910 Prospect Street. The hotel is 20 minutes from downtown San Diego and Sea World, 15 minutes from the convention center and the airport.

The Grande Colonial has an outdoor heated swimming pool located on the property, with a health club located nearby. All rooms are decorated with renaissance type furniture with the Village of La Jolla and ocean views.

The hotel restaurant is called the Nine-Ten and it offers plenty of hospitality and some exquisite in house dining choices. The hotel has an excellent location, being within walking distance to boutiques, art galleries, fine dining, shopping and the beach.

This fine La Jolla Hotel also offers baby sitting services for families with younger children. There is air conditioning, heating, a hair dryer, view rooms and even in room movies.

No matter what brings you to La Jolla California, the Grande Colonial is worth a stay. The rates may vary, depending on what time of year that you visit. This hotel has been pleasing visitors since 1913 and it’s one of the most well known hotels in San Diego . Once you stay in the Grande Colonial, you'll have a new meaning for tranquil paradise.

Directions to La Jolla, CA

La Jolla California is just a 20 minute ride by going on Interstate 5 north from downtown San Diego. If you are coming from the south (downtown San Diego) take I-5 N toward Los Angeles, take exit 26A for W La Jolla Pkwy, continue onto Torrey Pines Rd, turn right onto Prospect Place and you'll enter the heart of La Jolla Village.

If you are driving from the north (Los Angeles) take I-5 S toward San Diego, take exit 28 for La Jolla Village Drive, Turn right onto La Jolla Village Drive, turn left onto Torrey Pines Road and turn right onto Prospect Place, which is the center of La Jolla Village.

On average, over 7,000 people will visit La Jolla California on a daily basis. With so many people coming to visit such a small place, you can almost bet that finding a parking space could be quite challenging. There aren't any parking meters, although many of the streets closest to the water do have one hour time limits. You can find two hour parking by going a little further out but you'll have to obey the time limits because even in off season, parking enforcement is really strictly enforced here.

If you pay close attention when you visit, you can find a few paid lots that are scattered around the town. If you get closer to the downtown area, the lots will be a little bit cheaper.

Your best bet when visiting La Jolla might be a parking lot that's well hidden - so few people will notice it. If you turn downhill on Coast Blvd from Prospect, you'll find it on the left, right across from the Cave Store. Keep in mind though, vehicles over 6'5" won't fit through.

Even during the off season, finding a parking space is very hard to do especially around the Children‘s Pool Beach area where the La Jolla Seals are. The streets are almost always crowded and for good reason because La Jolla, CA is an excellent tourist attraction, with plenty of fun water and sun for the whole family.

Empress Hotel La Jolla, CA

The Empress Hotel in La Jolla, CA is nestled in the heart of charming La Jolla village. The Empress Hotel is an enchanted palace very popular with tourists located in a captivating exclusive enclave just four miles north of San Diego's Mission Bay. With Warm hospitality, very attentive service and superior accommodations this amazing hotel adds a touch of elegance to the already amazing La Jolla California.

La Jolla, Ca is an upscale coastal resort town with sandy beaches and rocky shorelines, set amidst beautiful cliffs and coves that dominate the stunning landscape. La Jolla California offers fine dining, plenty of shops, distinctive galleries, and amazing beaches.

The Empress Hotel offers some of the best San Diego Hotel amenities and it’s a perfect place to relax and enjoy everything that San Diego has to offer. If you’re looking for luxurious accommodations, the Empress Hotel has them. Accommodations here include either one king or two queen beds, available in several room types, including traditional, deluxe, empress, and even the empress spa suite.

All rooms at the Empress Hotel feature:
- Cable television
- A refrigerator
- Coffee maker and bottled water
- Free local calls and faxing
- Voicemail and data ports
- Private bath with hairdryer and bathrobes
- Iron and ironing board

Services and amenities
The hotel offers superior service, such as courteous room service, valet parking and other amenities.

The complimentary deluxe continental breakfast is served on the sun deck every morning and it includes fresh Starbucks coffee. The famous Manhattan restaurant is located right around the corner, offering some excellent fine dining.
The Empress Hotel also offers spa, sauna and an exercise center, so that guests can pamper themselves. They can also refer you to other local things nearby that you may be interested in.

If you are on a working vacation, the Empress Hotel offers complimentary Internet access on two floors. Private meetings and conferences can be held in one of the two meeting rooms, available for groups of up to 50 people. Both meeting rooms are equipped with high speed internet.

If you’re going to be staying in La Jolla, CA the Empress Hotel is one the best hotels in the area. It has an excellent location just minutes away from some of the biggest attractions such as the Birch Aquarium, Sea World, Old Town and many other popular tourist destinations that San Diego has to offer. At the end of the day after all of the excitement and fun you can retreat back to La Jolla Empress Hotel and just relax…

Children's Pool Beach

Children's Pool in La Jolla, CA also known as the Casa Beach, is a fairly small and partially protected by a sea wall. The original idea here was to create a fully protected swimming area for the children, although sand has now filled in much of the area that exists inside of the see wall.

La Jolla's Children's Pool is a very beautiful beach, offering some stunning panoramic views. Almost all year long, seals and sea lions are present on or near the beach, with a reserve for these marine mammals, known as Seal Rock being just a bit offshore.

The Children's Pool is within a walking distance of the commercial area of the La Jolla community. A short distance to the north and south you can find grassy park areas as well as several small beaches that are nearby, including Shell Beach to the north and Wipeout Beach to the south.

This is also a popular beach for scuba divers because of the reefs just offshore. Keep in mind that these are the same reefs can help create very strong rip currents and other hazards, especially in high surf conditions.

Lifeguard Tower

Lifeguards are staffed daily throughout the year. In the summer, lifeguard hours are normally 9 AM until dark. During other times of the year, lifeguards may not begin duty until 10 AM.

Directions
If you’re coming from the south, take I-5 north to La Jolla Parkway. Continue following it as it will become Torrey Pines Road. Follow this road to Prospect Street and take a right. Watch for the signs then take a right on Coast Boulevard.

From the north, take I-5 to La Jolla Village Drive, westbound. At the signalized intersection, turn left onto Torrey Pines Road. Follow this road to Prospect Street and turn right. Be on the lookout for signs and bear right onto Coast Boulevard.


Parking
At La Jolla Cove, on street parking can be very hard to find, especially in the summer because there is only a small number of parking spaces. The parking is limited to three hours at a time on weekdays and there is no limit on weekends. Always check the signs for any types of parking restrictions. Paid parking is available at several locations in downtown La Jolla and it's also a short walk from the beach.

Always try to get here early, as it can get very crowded in the summer time. Once you are here, you'll find yourself completely amazed with what the Pool has to offer. For a great day of scuba diving, family fun, or just enjoying the water and the stunning scenery, the Children's Pool in La Jolla is a great place to be.

Black's Beach

Black's Beach in La Jolla, CA is a two mile long, stretch of sand located at the base of the majestic 300 foot high cliffs. Also formally known as Torrey Pines City Beach, it's jointly owned by the State of California and the City of San Diego. There is a glider port which is located atop the cliffs overlooking the beach where hang gliders and even remote control gliders can be seen soaring in the sky.

Accessing Black's Beach isn't always easy due to the lack of stairways and high cliffs. The safest way to gain access is from the adjacent beaches to the north and south, even though this way may be obstructed at high tides or pounding surf.

The cliffs there are unstable as well, so it's always best to stay away from them because slides can occur anytime. There's no permanent lifeguard station at this beach even though there are some mid day lifeguards on duty from Spring Break through the end of the October.

Black's Beach is also an excellent beach for surfing, especially at the south end. Scuba diving isn't recommended here, due to access problems and surf conditions. The water activity at Black's Beach is virtually unregulated. Surfers and swimmers may mix, but they are all required to employ care and avoiding hurting each other.

Black's Beach is no exception to the fact that most California beaches experience very strong rip currents, so keep in mind that the rip currents can get very strong here. Always try to swim near the shore or near a lifeguard if possible to be on the safe side.

Black's Beach is still an excellent beach even though access can be challenging. It offers stunning views, plenty of seclusion and plenty of sand for the kids. If you've never had the chance to visit here, this beach can easily prove to be one of your favorites in the whole San Diego area.

Hotels in La Jolla, CA

Finding a hotel in La Jolla, CA can be a pretty challenging task. You'll find some of the best hotels in La Jolla California listed below. This way, you can do your research ahead of time and you'll be well prepared when you visit.

Hyatt Regency

The Hyatt Regency in La Jolla offers all the comforts with modern design, even though it's better suited for travelers than family vacationers. The Hyatt Regency is located at 3777 La Jolla Village Drive, and it offers 394 rooms, as well as plenty of other perks to keep you comfortable and entertained.

Radisson Hotel La Jolla
This hotel offers waterfalls and gardens with landscaped grounds. It is very conveniently located to the La Jolla Village Square and UCSD. The hotel has 252 rooms, with a complimentary airport shuttle. Located at 3299 Holiday Court, this hotel is an excellent choice for your stay.

Travelodge La Jolla Beach
Located close to the Windandsea Beach, this hotel is in a quiet area. There are 44 rooms here, with a fitness center less than a block away. Travelodge also offers free wireless and internet service, which is great for those who like computers.

Empress Hotel

Located in the heart of the town, the Empress Hotel is a well known local favorite. Manhattan's restaurant is located off from the lobby, with a fitness center and sauna onsite as well. The hotel also offers 73 rooms, free local calls, breakfast, and high speed internet. Located at 7766 Fay Avenue, the Empress Hotel is the place to be for those who want to be in the middle of La Jolla.

Grande Colonial
Located on La Jolla's main street, the Grande Colonial is one of the oldest hotels in La Jolla. With 75 rooms and a European style, Grande Colonial also offers you free ADSL internet and valet parking.

La Jolla Village Lodge
The La Jolla Village Lodge is a three stories, and offers quite a bargain in price. With 30 rooms, free parking and a free continental breakfast, the La Jolla Village Lodge is a great addition to the La Jolla area.

Redwood Hollow

The Redwood Hollow is more of a studio or one and two bedroom cottages, offering full kitchens on 1/2 acre of gardens. Close to the beach, this lodge offers 11 rooms and plenty of views. Located at 256 Prospect Street, you'll be close to what you want to do in La Jolla.

If you've ever visited before you’re probably aware of the fact that finding hotels in La Jolla, CA can be a pretty tough task. To help you with your quest, we’ve listed some of the best hotels in La Jolla in this guide.