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California, United States

La Jolla

Seaside village on sandstone cliffs; New Year's Day for breakfast, sea lions and a coastal walk. We have mapped 4 outdoor spots and 3 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.

Plan La Jolla with friendsBrowse 7 places
La Jolla, California, United States
Places
7

4 Outdoors · 3 Eat

Curated routes
1

San Diego New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

from our route notes

Warmest month
September

25°C / 76°F avg high

Coolest month
February

17°C / 62°F avg high

Wettest month
February

about 69 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in La Jolla

7 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

Outdoors

Trails, views and open space in and around La Jolla. 3 of them are free.

  • Outdoors

    La Jolla Cove

    Small sheltered beach below the cliffs, part of an underwater reserve, where sea lions sprawl on the rocks.

    Tip Watch the sea lions from the Coast Walk railing; do not approach them on the rocks.

    • Village of La Jolla
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Morning
  • Children's Pool in La JollaPhoto: Matt Howard thematthoward · CC0
    Outdoors

    Children's Pool

    A 1931 seawall beach now used by harbor seals, which haul out on the sand in large numbers in winter.

    Tip The beach is closed to people during pupping season from mid-December; view from the seawall.

    • Village of La Jolla
    • Free
    • 30 min
    • Morning
  • La Jolla Shores in La JollaPhoto: RightCowLeftCoast · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Outdoors

    La Jolla Shores

    A mile of flat, wide sand north of the village, the calmest beach in La Jolla for a walk or a swim.

    Tip Walk north toward Scripps Pier at low tide.

    • La Jolla Shores
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Afternoon
  • Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve in La JollaPhoto: Stch2022 · CC0
    Outdoors

    Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

    Clifftop reserve protecting the rare Torrey pine, with short trails to ocean overlooks and the beach below.

    Tip The Guy Fleming Trail is an easy 1 km loop; the Beach Trail drops to the sand.

    • Torrey Pines
    • $
    • 2 hr
    • Late afternoon

Eat

3 places to eat across Village of La Jolla and La Jolla Shores, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Eat

    The Cottage

    Breakfast and brunch spot in a small cottage with a patio in the village, open for more than thirty years.

    Tip Open daily 7:30 am to 3 pm; there is usually a line by 9 on Jan 1.

    • Village of La Jolla
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Breakfast
  • Eat

    George's at the Cove

    Long-running restaurant above the Cove with three levels, including the open-air Ocean Terrace.

    Tip Ocean Terrace is the relaxed level; aim for a late lunch on Jan 1.

    • Village of La Jolla
    • $$$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Lunch
  • Eat

    The Marine Room

    Dining room at the edge of La Jolla Shores where high-tide waves break against the windows.

    Tip It also serves a New Year's Eve dinner; check the tide table for a high-tide seating.

    • La Jolla Shores
    • $$$$
    • 2 hr
    • Dinner

How to fit La Jolla into a trip

La Jolla is stop 2 of 2 on our San Diego New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift La Jolla into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

La Jolla month by month

Average daily highs run from 17°C / 62°F in February to 25°C / 76°F in September. February is the wettest month, with about 69 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. La Jolla weather and the best time to visit →

Near La Jolla

8 other destinations from our guides within about 200 km (124 mi), measured in a straight line.

La Jolla questions, answered

How many days do you need in La Jolla?

On our San Diego New Year's Eve route it is stop 2 of 2 in a 3-day trip. Split evenly, that is about 2 days here, an estimate rather than a rule. The listed visit times for our 7 places add up to roughly 9 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is La Jolla best known for?

Seaside village on sandstone cliffs; New Year's Day for breakfast, sea lions and a coastal walk. Standouts on our list: La Jolla Cove (Small sheltered beach below the cliffs, part of an underwater reserve, where sea lions sprawl on the rocks); Children's Pool (A 1931 seawall beach now used by harbor seals, which haul out on the sand in large numbers in winter); La Jolla Shores (A mile of flat, wide sand north of the village, the calmest beach in La Jolla for a walk or a swim).

When is the best time to visit La Jolla?

Our San Diego New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in September (25°C / 76°F), the coolest in February (17°C / 62°F) and the most rain in February (about 69 mm).

What are the best things to do in La Jolla?

Start with La Jolla Cove, Children's Pool, La Jolla Shores and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Our guide lists 7 places in all, from 4 outdoor spots and 3 places to eat.

Where should a group eat in La Jolla?

Our picks: The Cottage (Village of La Jolla); George's at the Cove (Village of La Jolla); The Marine Room (La Jolla Shores). Open daily 7:30 am to 3 pm; there is usually a line by 9 on Jan 1 (The Cottage).

What is near La Jolla?

The closest destinations in our guides are Downtown San Diego & Gaslamp Quarter (about 18 km / 11 mi), Palm Springs (about 129 km / 80 mi) and Downtown LA (about 161 km / 100 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan La Jolla with your crew

Open the San Diego New Year's Eve route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 7 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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