Weekend Guide to La Jolla - Top Things to Do in 48 Hours
La Jolla Cove.
My husband and I lived in San Diego suburb of Escondido and La Jolla was in our backyard for weekend adventures. We’ve visited the coastal city of La Jolla more times than I can count, and I’ve built this weekend guide from all of our personal experiences and favorite local hangout spots.
In this guide you will find the best La Jolla beaches for shoreside picnics and swimming, the best places to eat, shopping destinations, where to stay and more. We’ve also included both adult and kid-friendly things to do in La Jolla.
The Best Time of Year to Visit La Jolla
The beauty of San Diego is that there’s never really a bad time to visit, because they are known for having year-round pleasant weather. Because La Jolla is right on the coast, it generally stays much cooler than the inland areas of Southern California.
During all twelve months of the year, the La Jolla temperatures average between the mid 60’s to mid 70’s. August will have the hottest days of the year, so if you really want to swim in the ocean, that’s your best bet. There’s also many days in La Jolla with hazy and overcast skies, which comes with the territory of being right next to the ocean waters. To see the current weather conditions, you can check the La Jolla live webcam.
Sandwich lunch at George’s at the Cove.
View of the John Baldessari's Brain/Cloud mural from George’s at the Cove.
The Vibe of La Jolla
For those who have never been to La Jolla, allow me to set the scene. This portion of San Diego is reserved for families with children and older generation adults. The streets, buildings and neighborhoods are pristine and very well-maintained. It has a more mature and cultured look and feel, making it ideal for quiet and sensible activities.
In short, La Jolla is not a place to party and be boisterous. If you’re planning a bachelorette party, dirty 30 birthday, or any kind of event where you’ll be drinking and looking for nightlife, I suggest staying closer to Pacific Beach, Mission Beach or North Park.
Coastal views from the Ocean Terrace inside George’s at the Cove restaurant.
Best Beaches in La Jolla
Most people book their La Jolla vacation with plans of spending relaxing days at the beach. Below you’ll find a list of the best beaches for laying out on the sand, swimming in the ocean and cliff views.
La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove is probably the single most popular beach in La Jolla. This is where you’ll find those bright turquoise blue waters which are very rare in California. The water is very shallow near the shore and this is a popular place for swimming. The beach is very easy to access, with multiple staircases leading you down to the sand.
Visitors should be aware that this beach does get very crowded on warm and sunny days, and the sandy beach stretch is fairly small because it’s surrounded by a rocky cove. There are many hotels within walking distance to La Jolla Cove, eliminating the hassle of trying to find parking.
View of the John Baldessari's Brain/Cloud mural from George’s at the Cove.
La Jolla Shores
While La Jolla Cove is a small beach, La Jolla Shores on the other hand is a very large beach that spans over a mile. The beach shore is covered in beautiful white sand and there’s plenty of space to spread out for a big picnic. The waves tend to be very calm and you can feel comfortable dipping your toes in the water.
Our healthy lunch from Urban Plates.
Our healthy lunch from Urban Plates.
Scripps Pier Beach
Scripps Pier Beach is a bit of a hidden gem because it’s less touristy. This beach sits under the grand Scripps Pier which creates a lot of shade and atmosphere. This beach tends to be a bit calmer, and during the week its mostly just surfers catching waves. This is also a popular place for San Diego themed Instagram photos because the pier really captures a vibe.
Pro Tip: You’ll have to park in the streets up on the hill because there’s limited parking at the beach entrance.
Outside Puesto in downtown La Jolla.
Colorful mural inside Puesto in downtown La Jolla.
Visit the Seals at Children's Pool in La Jolla
During our trips to La Jolla we often pay the famous seals a visit. Fun fact about the name of this popular beach spot, back in the 1930's the sea wall was built to create a safe swimming pool for children. Over the years the seals took over the cove as it made a prefect protected breeding spot.
Mango margarita from Puesto.
Tacos from Puesto.
Snorkel in the Cove
Those looking for some aquatic adventures in the sea water, you can book a guided snorkeling tour in La Jolla Cove and through the caves. See first hand the marine life and explore the famous La Lolla sea caves. All of the equipment is provided for you in one easy price. If your kids are over 13 years old then they can join the snorkeling tour.
Walking in downtown La Jolla.
Walking in downtown La Jolla.
Best Places to Eat in La Jolla, CA
The list of La Jolla restaurants below are a mix of delicious yet casual eateries, and then more upscale restaurants for date nights or special occasions.
Puesto Tacos
As you can see in the photos below, the tacos at Puesto are so fresh and delish. Located in the heart of downtown La Jolla, this favorite Mexican taco joint serves up an inventive menu with savory cuisine gems such as zuchinni and cactus tacos. The interiors are very colorful and lively.
La Jolla can be very expensive and if you’re looking for an easy way to save some cash, head to Puesto for their Taco Tuesday and Happy Hour specials.
Seals swimming in the Children’s Pool Beach.
Seals swimming in the Children’s Pool Beach.
George's at the Cove
George’s at the Cove has been voted the best restaurant in San Diego multiple times by local publications and foodie critics. They serve modern California cuisine with seafood, lots of fresh produce and meat entrees. The bar also makes cocktails and serves wine. They are best known for sweeping views of the La Jolla coast from their Ocean Terrace. This place is a bit on the pricier side, so best to save this for a date with a significant other.
Ocean views from the cliffs in La Jolla.
The Cottage
The Cottage is the perfect breakfast or brunch spot while you’re on vacation. They have been voted best patio dinning in La Jolla 4 years in a row, so you know it’s gotta be good. They only serve breakfast, brunch and lunch so make sure to arrive before 3pm. Their menu has brunch classics like pancakes, French toast, omelets and Benedicts. They also have a kids menu so families can feel comfortable bringing their children.
Seals swimming in the Children’s Pool Beach.
Herringbone
This swanky spot boasts stunning interior design and California coastal cuisine and fine meats. Which means you’ll find plenty of seafood on the menu, alongside free-range chicken and grass-fed beef. This is certainly the type of place you want to go for a foodie splurge and top-notch ambiance.
Sunbathing seal at the Children’s Pool Beach.
Urban Plates
Urban Plates is a trendy and modern Southern California restaurant chain. They serve healthy meals cafeteria-style and you can fill up your tray with all kinds of delicious bites. You can pick a main meals and add-on savory side dishes, soups, kids meals, drinks and dessert.
Roy McMakin's Favorite Color Mural.
Roy McMakin's Favorite Color Mural.
El Avocado
If you’re looking for healthy and organic plant-based cuisine, El Avocado is a very cute cafe with a vegan and vegetarian menu. They are located right in the heart of downtown La Jolla and you can see ocean views from their front patio. We stopped here one day to get gelato treats after an afternoon exploring.
Scripps Pier Beach.
Scripps Pier Beach.
Nine-Ten
Nine-Ten is another fancy schmancy place to enjoy a meal in La Jolla. This Michelin-approved restaurant serves all three meals of the day (and brunch too!). The cuisine is elevated seafood and meat dishes. I would say this spot caters to a more mature crowd, so this could be a great place to brunch with your parents.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla.
More Things to Do in La Jolla, CA
Stroll Through Downtown La Jolla
Your visit to La Jolla wouldn’t be complete without a leisurely walk through downtown. The best starting point to the cross section of Prospect Street and Girard Ave. Window shop trendy boutiques and popular clothing brands, grab a coffee or ice cream and then head down to see the seals. The Children's Pool is a short walk from the center of downtown La Jolla.
Seahorses inside the Birch Aquarium at Scripps.
Seahorses inside the Birch Aquarium at Scripps.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
We took our kids to the Birch Aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla on a lovely fall afternoon. Although this is a smaller aquarium, it still had plenty to see and keep the kids entertained for a couple hours. Our favorites were the seahorses, jellyfish and the hands-on tide pools exhibit where the kids can touch real-life marine life. The ocean views from the outdoor terrace are especially scenic.
See more aquarium photos in our kid-friendly guide to La Jolla here.
Jellyfish inside the Birch Aquarium at Scripps.
Jellyfish inside the Birch Aquarium at Scripps.
Sunny Jim Sea Cave
The Sunny Jim’s cave is on my La Jolla bucket list of places I haven’t seen yet. This is the only La Jolla cave that is accessible by land via a tunnel leading down from the historical landmark, the Cave Store. When my kids are a little older I can’t wait to explore this really cool tunnel.
Ocean views from the Birch Aquarium at Scripps.
Ocean views from the Birch Aquarium at Scripps.
Roy McMakin's Favorite Color Mural
If you like colorful backdrops, the Roy McMakin's Favorite Color Mural is hands down one of the best photo spots in La Jolla. This enormous wall of colorful tiles is really a sight to see and makes for a really fun backdrop. Located at 7596 Eads Avenue. See more San Diego murals in my dedicated guide here.
Gelato from El Avocado Cafe in downtown La Jolla.
Modern decor inside El Avocado Cafe in downtown La Jolla.
The Shops at La Jolla Village
When I was pregnant with my daughter, my OB doctor’s office was right across the street from The Shops at La Jolla. I would often stop for lunch at Mendocino Farms or a cupcake from Sprinkles. More noteworthy restaurants and shops inside this open air shopping center are Snooze AM Eatery, Sephora, Philz Coffee and Rubios.
Gelato from El Avocado Cafe in downtown La Jolla.
Gelato from El Avocado Cafe in downtown La Jolla.
Westfield UTC in La Jolla
If you’re looking to do some serious shopping during your La Jolla vacation, then you’ll want to hit up the huge Westfield mall. This mall is super fancy and premium, but still has those cool brands we love such as Free People, Allbirds, Anthropologie, H&M, Lululemon, Madewell, Reformation and Sephora. There’s also a movie theater and a skating rink at the Westfield in La Jolla.
Modern decor inside El Avocado Cafe in downtown La Jolla.
Modern decor inside El Avocado Cafe in downtown La Jolla.
Torrey Pines State Reserve
La Jolla is filled with natural beauty and the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is at the top of the list of outdoor recreation. This enormous 2,000 acre park is located right on the coastline. You can take hikes with ocean views, and photographers can capture incredible natural landscape photos.
Sunset at Scripps Pier Beach.
Sunset at Scripps Pier Beach.
Best Day Trips From La Jolla
You may have booked your hotel in La Jolla, but there’s a good chance you’ll want to explore more area of San Diego. Check out these local guides to help you plan a fun day trip.
Sunset at Scripps Pier Beach.
Book Your Stay in La Jolla:
La Valencia has old-world Mediterranean architecture with an elegant estate and rooms. There’s a pool, two restaurants and a short walk to the beach.
This large hotel has all the amenities you want for a vacation including bicycle rentals, outdoor heated pool and a rooftop with a view of the ocean.
The Cormorant Boutique Hotel is located right in the heart of La Jolla Village. You can easily walk to restaurants and popular beaches like La Jolla Cove.
Shop San Diego Vacation Essentials:
Light and breezy midi dresses are a staple for any San Diego vacation. This one piece of clothing instantly creates an outfit, saving you space in your luggage.
You may have not realized that Lululemon makes amazing backpacks. These lightweight yet quality bags can double as both flight carry-on bags and beach bags.
In order to set up your beach picnic, you’ll need to invest in the perfect beach blanket. You can use a super oversized towel, which is super easy to clean afterwards. Just throw it in the washing machine!
