Showcasing the Best Beaches of La Jolla

La Jolla Best beaches featured image

Today I would like to showcase a few of the best beaches of La Jolla in the hope that the beauty and wonder will encourage others to visit San Diego and experience the loveliness firsthand.

 La Jolla is a seaside community situated on top of towering cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, located 20 minutes north of Downtown San Diego.

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Los Penasquitos Lagoon

Los Penasquitos lagoon featured image

One of my favorite places to explore over the past 30 years is the Los Penasquitos Lagoon at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Can I take you on tour?

Ok! Let’s go!

Los Penasquitos Lagoon

Located between Del Mar to the north and the border of San Diego to the south, the Los Penasquitos Lagoon is a 510-acre coastal salt marsh estuary.

—>San Diego Lagoons and Nature Centers<—

Meaning “The Little Cliffs” in Spanish, the Los Penasquitos frames the northern part of the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.

The Los Penasquitos Lagoon is a Salt Marsh?

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Los Penasquitos Lagoon is one of the last salt marshes in southern California. The lagoon supports many plants and animals, including seven threatened or endangered species.

Another interesting fact is that this lagoon also serves as a refuge for migratory birds that use the Pacific Flyway.

—>Best San Diego Birding Hotspots<—

Since joining the State Park System, there have been quite a few changes to help increase the overall tidal flow here at the Los Penasquitos Lagoon.

Let’s now have a look.

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Torrey Pines State Beach

Torrey Pines State Beach Panoramic Bluffs

Torrey Pines State Beach is located between La Jolla and Del Mar.  I have been visiting this beach for over 30 years and have never been tired of the sights.

While living in San Diego, this was our number one beach to come and visit.

I discovered Torrey Pines State Beach while working as a Fisheries Technician. This beach is a prime spot for surf fishing, and I can not think of a better place to have to work!

I love it here so much!

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Exploring Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve featured image

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is a 2000-acre park located in the community of La Jolla in San Diego, California, off North Torrey Pines Rd. Nothing here has ever been altered or diverted at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, making it one of the wildest coastal stretches left in California.

I can not emphasize enough just how beautiful this Reserve is!

Come and join me for a tour!

Torrey Pine Tree Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

 What is a Reserve?

Everything here and surrounding the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is a protected area. That includes the Penasquitos River Valley east of the highway, one of the last salt marsh estuaries in San Diego, and the Underwater Ecological Reserve offshore.

A Reserve is not a ‘park,’ but an assigned area of importance and commonly contains threatened plants, animal habitats, or unique geological formations.

Over 300 birds and native plant species are threatened or endangered within the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. The Torrey Pine, the Reserve’s namesake, is a scarce endangered pine tree- the rarest pine tree in the United States, but more on that later.

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Birch Aquarium-La Jolla

Warm water tank Birch Aquarium La Jolla

Birch Aquarium is located on the Scripps UC San Diego campus overlooking the Scripps Pier and the Pacific Ocean. Partnered with the Scripps Institute Oceanography (SIO), the Birch Aquarium is a fabulous place to visit to learn about all the ocean’s natural wonders and creatures.

More than 460,000 people visit this aquarium annually. There is so much to do and learn here.

Let’s now take a look at everything the Birch Aquarium has to offer!

Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier

Birch Aquarium-La Jolla General Information

Jellyfish Birch Aquarium

button may birch aquarium la jolla

Website- https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/

Phone- (858) 534-3474

Hours- 9am-5pm daily

Free Parking for 3 hours-Handicap parking available in front of the Aquarium

  • Adults- 19.50
  • Children(3-17)- 15
  • Seniors- 16.50
  • Students- 16
  • College Students for assignment- 12

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San Diego Lagoons and Nature Centers

Agua Hedionda Lagoon San Diego Lagoons

I have prepared a list of all San Diego lagoons and nature centers along the coastline and linked each site to its appropriate website.

Explore, have fun, and learn at the same time!

Nature Centers and San Diego Lagoons

San Diego doesn’t just have the best beaches in the country; we also have some of the most significant coastal wetlands.

With over 70 miles of coast to discover in San Diego, there are also several coastal lagoons to visit. If you are in the mood for a hike or are interested in the area’s natural history, you cannot go wrong!

I will start the list at the most northern location, Oceanside, and make my way South, finally ending at the Mexican Border.

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Cabrillo National Monument-Tide Pools

Cabrillo National Monument

 Situated at the end of the Point Loma Peninsula, Cabrillo National Monument has some of the most popular and easily approachable tidepools in all of San Diego.

After my latest trip this past New Years Day, on a spring tide,  I whole-heartily agree!

Come and join me on a tour of the Cabrillo National Monument tide pools!

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La Jolla Shores Beach

la jolla shores beach

 La Jolla Shores Beach has over 1 mile of sandy Beach. It is between the Scripps Institute of Oceanography and La Jolla Shores Hotel at 8300 Camino Del Oro in La Jolla, California.

This Beach has some of the most gentle waves during the summer in San Diego, making it an excellent beach for the family.

North View La Jolla Shores sand shore pier background

button map La Jolla Shores Beach

Discovering La Jolla Shores Beach

Due to its calm waters, this Beach is ideal for swimming or learning how to surf.   Additionally, a boardwalk is attached to the Beach, which makes biking, skating, and jogging popular activities here.

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Beaches of Encinitas-A Photo Tour

beaches of encinitas

Beacon's Beach Beaches of Encinitas

I have been visiting Encinitas’s beaches for over thirty years, and I have many pictures to prove it! If I had to pick my favorite stretch of beaches on the 70 miles of coast in San Diego, it would have to be the beaches of Encinitas.

Would you like to join me on tour?

Let’s Go!

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Swami’s State Beach-Hidden Paradise

Sunset at Swami's State Beach

Swami's State Beach Sunset

As I have said many, many times, San Diego has some of the best beaches in the country. Most are well known and are almost always busy, but there are a few that not many know about. Today I would like to concentrate on one of my favorites, Swami’s State Beach.

This hidden beach oasis is situated toward the southern end of Encinitas, California, about 25 miles north of Downtown San Diego.

Would you like to come and join me for a tour?

Let’s go!

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