The best parts of La Jolla
Visiting La Jolla is a must in San Diego. It is one of the best places in California to snorkel, kayak, and observe wildlife. As a beautiful cliffside beach town, it boasts a number of things not found in other parts of the county.
A treat for both locals and tourists alike in San Diego is visiting UCSD’s Birch Aquarium and the infamous Cave Store.
At the Cave Store you can go down a long tunnel carved into the cliffside to see the Sunny Jim Cave which boasts a unique profile overlooking the beautiful La Jolla Cove.
The cave is named after an old cartoon and boasts an interesting history of being used by bootleggers in the early 20th century.
The Sunny Jim Cave is one of many caves hugging the perimeter of the cove but it is the only one that is accessible by land.
To see the other beautiful caves visitors would have to either swim or kayak, which, due to the variability of sea conditions it is a wise choice to take a kayaking tour and have an experienced guide lead you through the caves. An experienced guide will help lead you and your group through echoing cliffside, explaining some of the early history of La Jolla and pointing out interesting facts about the caves and the sea life that call them home.
The Birch Aquarium is known for its beautiful Giant Kelp Forest, a large aquarium mimicking the underwater environment of the California Coastline.
One of the stars of the aquarium is the slender Leopard Shark, a calm and graceful fish that calls the California coastline its home.
In the tank, visitors can also see fluorescent Garibaldi, or as some locals call them, “the forbidden fish taco”, hiding between strands of kelp.
Visiting the Aquarium and seeing these magnificent creatures is delightful on land, but it is an incredible experience to see them in their natural habitat. Taking a snorkeling tour with an experienced and thoughtful guide is the best way to see the underwater forests of La Jolla Cove. At San Diego Bike and Kayak guided tours are available for ages 4 and up and provide all equipment necessary.
Guides will take guests to the greater La Jolla Ecological Reserve where you can swim with Sea Lions, Garibaldi, and the occasional dolphin. On this tour you will see both the sparkly eel grass that covers the ocean floor and the tall giant kelp forests that house many species of fish. Of the many fish spotted