Why La Jolla Is Consistently Rated One of the Top Beach Destinations in the World

La Jolla is one of the best beach communities on the globe. Packed into under 6,000 acres are beautiful beaches, an aquatic park, two golf courses, fine dining restaurants, upscale shopping, and a university! That’s not even to mention the vibrant neighborhoods filled with large houses, some with direct beach access and others tucked into the woods on the hillside.

La Jolla is a suburb of San Diego, but it feels like its own sweet little town. With a population of over 28,000 residents, the area is known for being close-knit but welcoming. Locals call the downtown area The Village at La Jolla, where residents and tourists wander shops and grab delicious food while gazing out at the sea.

Most people own their homes in La Jolla. The public schools are highly rated, and UC San Diego is one of the best universities in the world. Is it any wonder that real estate in La Jolla is highly sought after, and tourists flock here every year?

Obviously, one of the primary points of attraction of a spectacular beach town is the beaches. La Jolla has some of the prettiest coastlines, but it is so much more than just water and sand. La Jolla Cove is a cove popular with surfers, divers, kayakers, and beachcombers for its vibrant wildlife. Sea lions have been gathering here to deliver and raise their pups for decades, so today, you can see them lying on rocks, playing with their babies, and calling to each other all day long. The tide pools are also fun to explore at low tide, and you can take a short walk from the cove along a pedestrian path to a nearby beach, Children’s Pool, where you can wander out onto a sea wall that allows you to enjoy views you’re unlikely to find anywhere else on the planet.

Then, of course, there’s La Jolla Shores Beach, which is a one-mile stretch of sandy shore complete with a grassy area for picnicking, a restroom, and a playground for the kids. Shell Beach is a small, quiet, tide-pooling location for those interested in peace and exploration. With seven miles of shoreline to explore in La Jolla, from the busy to the calm, this community has some of the best beaches in the world.

 

Aside from beaches, shopping is the next thing people come to La Jolla for. At “The Village at La Jolla,” you will find some of the most exquisite, top-of-the-line shopping for miles. While Ralph Lauren, Lululemon, and Kate Spade hold court as big-name brands, you can also find small boutiques with luxury items, including chocolate and children’s toys.

Several other districts make for a suburb full of shopping options, including Prospect Street, La Jolla Shores, and Ivanhoe Avenue. If you came to San Diego to shop, look no further than La Jolla. You’ll find everything you need and so much more.

 

Fine dining is plentiful in La Jolla. The food is to die for at numerous award-winning restaurants, some with sweeping ocean views.

Ambrogio by Acquerello is owned and run by a Michelin-star chef who ensures the Northern Italian menu is fresh and delicious. Located right on the ocean, where you will likely catch dolphins at play, The Marine Room offers steak, lobster, and so much more. If you’re looking for music with dinner, head to Eddie V’s for a mouthwatering meal and live music. Locals and tourists flock here for a night of food and entertainment.

 

Speaking of entertainment, La Jolla is no sleepy storybook community. It offers residents and visitors an abundance of options for all interests. Art galleries include The National Gallery of Fine Art La Jolla, The Contemporary Fine Art Gallery, and The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, and that’s just to name the biggest ones. The La Jolla Playhouse offers theater, and the Athenaeum Music and Arts Library brings music and the visual arts together.

Add to the art scene the aquatic adventures to be had at the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park, and you have 6,000 acres of sea life to explore. You can dive down and explore underwater caves, kayak through the waters, or wander the boardwalk and take in the view from above. These experiences don’t even mention the presence of UC San Diego and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, where visitors can explore local educational elements or residents can study or work.

 

Finally, La Jolla luxury real estate is a draw for people the world over. With several beautiful neighborhoods on the beach and tucked into the hills, you can find virtually any type of home, from Mediterranean styles with tiled roofs to beach bungalows that ooze the Southern California coastal vibe. Of all the places to live along the Pacific Coast, living in La Jolla is hard to compete with.

If you’re ready to look into buying one of La Jolla’s luxury homes, or a vacation home in La Jolla, Celeste Dunn is the realtor for you. With years of experience in architecture, historic preservation, and community engagement, Celeste has built a reputation for getting her clients exactly what they are looking for and often more. She makes a point of listening to the people she works with, which is largely why she has such a strong cache of repeat business. For all of your San Diego real estate needs, contact Celeste today.