La Jolla Cove

La Jolla Cove Review

This shimmering blue inlet is what first attracted everyone to La Jolla, from Native Americans to the glitterati; it's the secret to the village's enduring cachet. You'll find "the Cove"—as locals refer to it, as though it were the only one in San Diego—beyond where Girard Avenue dead-ends into Coast Boulevard, marked by towering palms that line a promenade where people strolling in designer clothes are as common as Frisbee throwers. A palm-lined park sits on top of cliffs formed by the incessant pounding of the waves. At low tide the pools and cliff caves are a destination for explorers. Divers, snorkelers, and kayakers can check out the underwater delights of the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve. The cove is also a favorite of rough-water swimmers. Best for: diving, long walks, scenic views, snorkeling, tide pools. Amenities: lifeguard year-round (reduced hours in winter), parking on side streets, picnic tables, showers, toilets.