Tours

Walk La Jolla Village

A trip to La Jolla is not complete without a thorough tour of the city's downtown area, fondly dubbed 'The Village' by locals. Featuring trendy shops, distinguished galleries and delightful eateries, La Jolla Village is best appreciated by a tour on foot. If you are coming from a distance and must drive to the village, parking is not an easy feat. While the downtown streets offer two-hour free parking (for the lucky souls who can locate an empty space), your best bet is to park in one of the garages along Fay Avenue, where a USD4-USD5 flat rate eases your parking worries for the entire day.

Once you have found a place for your vehicle, begin your walking tour at the corner of Fay Avenue and Prospect Street, where some of La Jolla's most popular downtown restaurants are located (including Roppongi, the Hard Rock and Moondoggie's. As you pass the restaurants, you will see the Arcade Building, which bears the hybrid style of an old Spanish mission intertwined with Mediterranean elements. The Arcade Building leads to an alleyway with dozens of specialty shops.

After perusing the clothing and household items found in the Arcade Building's alley, continue north along Prospect Street and you will approach a stretch of art galleries. Images of Nature features masterful works from nature photographer Thomas Mangelsen. Cosmopolitan highlights French impressionist and post-impressionist paintings, while Aja Arts & Antiques showcases a vast selection of Oriental rugs.

The The Grande Colonial Hotel is just across the street from these distinguished art galleries. This hotel, famous for its rate of USD1 per day upon opening in 1913, has since been renovated many times and now ranks as a top historical landmark in La Jolla Village.

As you continue your walk down Prospect Street, you will soon encounter Girard Avenue, which flourishes with dozens of eateries and specialty shops. Popular boutiques along this street include Cara, Sigi's and Melange. In addition, Gallery Alexander provides an opportunity to browse through an eclectic assortment of artwork and Athenaeum Music and Arts Library offers a decidedly musical cultural education.

Explore La Jolla Cove

After completing a tour of La Jolla Village, simply continue northbound on Prospect Street to reach the cliffs above La Jolla Cove, one of the most popular destinations along the Pacific coastline. Like the village tour, exploring La Jolla Cove is most enjoyable as a pedestrian.

Some of La Jolla's most notable galleries are located along Prospect Street just above the cove. The Simic Gallery features 'New Renaissance' works, while Carlton Gallery hosts sculptures with an Asian flair. Other notable art venues include Fingerhut and the O'Bernier Gallery.

In addition to the art galleries, this section of town is also home to some of La Jolla's best dining rooms. A strip of restaurants runs along Prospect Street, perched on a cliff that overlooks the Pacific waters. These upscale, exclusive restaurants include Top of the Cove, George's At The Cove, Azul La Jolla and Crab Catcher.

While many of La Jolla Cove's attractions are located on the cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Ellen Browning Scripps Park is located directly on the Pacific waters. This park, complete with luscious green lawns, palm trees and sea gulls, offers a walkway path along the ocean. The park is a perfect stopping place on this tour for families with children or anyone looking for a peaceful afternoon.

Cruise La Jolla's Shoreline

This last tour is the only one that requires mechanized transportation. From La Jolla Cove, travel northbound on Prospect Street in your vehicle until you reach Torrey Pines Road. Turn left onto Torrey Pines Road, then left again onto La Jolla Shores Drive. The street initially travels through a residential area, but soon offers a scenic drive along the Pacific Ocean.

The first sites you will encounter (beyond the sparkling Pacific waters) are Scripps Institute of Oceanography and Birch Aquarium where visitors can view incredible displays regarding marine life. Further down the road, you will find the UCSD campus. The campus is home to the beloved La Jolla Playhouse, which fans of theater and drama will surely love.

Once you reach UCSD, turn left onto North Torrey Pines Road to continue your scenic drive. Attractions on this voyage include the Salk Institute, Torrey Pines Gliderport and the widely-renowned Torrey Pines Golf Course. Stop for a tee time on this luxurious course, famed as the only public course on the PGA circuit. For those who continue northbound beyond the golf course, the Torrey Pines State Reserve provides beaches and shoreline nature walks.