Fun Times for all in La Jolla San Diego #VisitSD

Last month I had the pleasure of joining a few travel media professionals in San Diego California. I had never been before and was quite excited. We had a great visit and I quickly fell in love with the area. One neighborhood in particular I was so excited to visit was La Jolla.

La Jolla, the multifaceted “Jewel of San Diego,” shines with a variety of beaches ranging from expansive shorelines to scenic coves and sea bluffs. La Jolla is a hilly seaside community within the city of San Diego, California, United States occupying 7 miles of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean within the northern city limits. La Jolla features three distinct areas to explore: La Jolla Village, featuring boutique shopping and fine dining along Prospect St. and a pristine cove for swimming, snorkeling and tidepooling; mile-long La Jolla Shores, with its surf shops, kayak tours and iconic oceanfront dining, and the Torrey Pines mesa, home of the world-renowned Torrey Pines Golf Course, award-winning spas, Torrey Pines Gliderport (North America’s largest tandem paragliding/hang gliding site), Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, Birch Aquarium at Scripps and the Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse.

We spent an entire day in La Jolla and only saw a bit of this wonderful community. There was everything a family could want and more in a beach destination vacation. A little surf, wildlife, shopping and amazing food as well as fun entertainment.

Our days activities included the following

Birch Aquarium at Scripps in La Jolla, the “Jewel of San Diego” , featuring more than 60 tanks of colorful marine life, including coral reefs, sharks, jellyfish and three outdoor tide pools. An interactive museum showcases research discoveries on climate, earth and ocean science.  www.aquarium.ucsd.edu

I love to visit Aquariums as they do so much to help the marine wildlife in their areas. The volunteers were super knowledgeable and very kind, willing to answer all of our questions. The shark and stingray feeding gets buys quick, so be sure to grab a seat early.

Fun savings for families- Birch Aquarium is a participant in San Diego’s popular annual Kids Free San Diego Month in October (www.kidsfreesandiego.org) and Macy’s San Diego Museum Month in February, featuring ½ price admission to area museums (www.sandiegomuseumcouncil.org/museum-month).

Sunny Jim Cave, the only known land access sea cave on the California coast – a mini adventure in the heart of La Jolla Village, accessed through the Cave Store.  www.cavestore.com

Enter through the store that is filled with unique beach finds, shells and handmade gifts to find a narrow stairway that drops 145 steps to an opening full of surprises. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children. We climbed down to the bottom and had to stop to allow others to pass. At the bottom there was a high rail and on the other side, paddle boarders, snorkelers and kayakers. I was told there you can often see sea lions or seals as well as the crabs that were on the rocks. The stairs are very steep with low rocks overhead and no landings to rest. So take your time and not recommended for anyone who has problems climbing stairs.

Stroll along the seawall of nearby Children’s Pool, a small sandy crescent-shaped beach that is home to dozens of seals that seek out the sheltered beach to raise their pups.

A great spot for wildlife photographers to get up close and see these mammas nursing their babies. Make sure you give them lots of room and respect the signs and rules posted.

Lunch was at Galaxy Taco in La Jolla, where acclaimed Chef Trey Foshee’s homage to Mexican culture and cuisine shines through. Galaxy’s menu is rooted in the flavors and traditions of Mexico while celebrating San Diego’s local seasonal ingredients; a delectable example of San Diego’s signature Cali-Baja food revolution. This fun restaurant was refreshing and funky. The large murals and authentic decor made for a great atmosphere.

Of course I had to have a margarita and tacos. The food was incredible! Notable tacos include grilled fish and grilled San Diego avocado. Adding authenticity to the restaurant’s concept, handmade tortillas crafted with fresh masa are pressed on-site daily.  www.galaxytaco.com

We later on had dinner at the new Catania Restaurant, located on the top floor of La Plaza La Jolla with sensational views of La Jolla Village. This family friendly restaurant is also a great spot for couples on date night if you can make it happen.

One of La Jolla’s dining hotspots, Catania serves authentic Italian coastal cuisine from Executive Chef Vince Schofield, with a dedication to from-scratch cooking using the freshest ingredients. Handcrafted desserts are overseen by Chef Jojo Rossi, a first generation Sicilian-American. http://wnlhosp.com/our-restaurants/catania   You will want to call ahead for seating as it is a popular spot.

The evening was finished off with the Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse for the new musical comedy “Freaky Friday,” based on the celebrated novel by Mary Rodgers and hit Disney films. The show is a hilarious, contemporary update of an American classic in which a mother and daughter see what it is to be a family and experience each other’s lives firsthand, if only for a day. www.lajollaplayhouse.org

When we arrived there was live entertainment outside welcoming us to the venue. The show itself was quick paced and hilarious, a great one for the entire family. I was pleased there was lots of parking and concession on site as well.

Family savings alert-The Playhouse is a participant in the annual San Diego Theatre Week in February/March, featuring ticket discounts to the hottest shows and theaters in town.  www.sandiegotheatreweek.com 

I loved my visit to San Diego and tell everyone of the fun we had in La Jolla. It is a great destination for your next family travel vacation. My children look forward to me taking them there one day for a visit. Until we visit, I am enjoying watching Grace and Frankie as the show highlights many of the areas we visited.

You can find out more about La Jolla and the rest of San Diego at www.sandiego.org

 

disclosure I visited San Diego as part of a travel media group during a hosted stay. All opinions are my own