3 Days in La Jolla: Questions for TahitiTams & Other Knowledgeable San Dieagans
 

We're taking a quick end-of-summer jaunt to La Jolla in August before school starts. Plan to stay at the Grande Colonial and enjoy the sunset at George's on the Cove based on previous posts read here. With three teenagers, we would like recommendations on other restaurants with local flavor (Crab Catcher? Alphonsos? good breakfasts spots?), shops, and activities they might enjoy in the vicinity. (We stayed at the del Coronado and saw the zoo when they were much younger so although we'll have a car, we're planning on hanging in the immediate La Jolla area.) Would you recommend Surf Diva or someone else for family surfing lessons? Hiking in Torrey Pines? Is La Jolla Cove the best swimming beach within walking distance of Prospect St.? Many thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Breakfast and lunch at Brockton Villa in La Jolla overlooking the water is gorgeous and the food is pretty good --the best bargain in La Jolla IMO -- very reasonably priced for the location. (they have a website if you google)

There used to be the cutest little cafe right across from the La Jolla Shell Shop (with the underground caves) with a gorgeous ocean view, find out if it's still there -- used to be called Goldfish Cafe, I doubt it's still in business, they didn't charge enough.

The best sandwiches, cookies, and pastries at Girard Gourmet (on Girard of course) just a few minutes walk from the grassy bluffs overlooking the ocean (considered "the cove area").

Also further east on Girard or Prospect (if i recall correctly) is a place called Harry's Diner -- great old-school diner feel, mostly local crowd -- good for breakfast.

There's great shopping on Girard Ave for teens -- used to be a place called Let's Go -- 2 floors of great, funky clothing, great shoes.

If you go down further South to La Jolla Blvd, the shops have a more heavy surf vibe that I think is more amenable for teens. There's a complete dive taco shop called "Dos Pedros"-- dirt cheap, the best rolled tacos ever, right up the street from famous WindanSea Beach. This is a beach worth checking out if it's not totally overrun with European tourists. Take a right down Nautilus or Playa Del Norte and find parking wherever you can... It's a gorgeous beach.

I also recommend Harry's Coffee Shop on Girard, a great, great, old fashioned diner. And Piatti's and Trattoria Aqua are 2 terrific Italian places. In the University area, Phil's BBQ is one of the best BBQ places in the country, and might be perfect for teenagers.

For activities, Scripps Aquarium is very nice,and if you were to make one trip to downtown SD, you could go to a baseball game at their great stadium, the Padres are a good team too. And you could also see a play at The La Jolla Playhouse or Shakespeare under the stars at the Old Globe Theater in Balboa Park, which also has a great science museum and tons of smaller museums and galleries. Have fun

Great suggestions fishee and Bikom. Any thoughts pro or con on surfing lessons?

Hi MRand!
So your taking a quick end of summer jaunt to LJ..Fishee and Bikom really hit on alot of great places that I would recommend as well..
I love the Grande Colonial and the location is perfect..
Restaurants that I love are:
Breakfast
Harry's
Brockton Villa
Living Room
La Valencia on the outside patio overlooking the cove..
Lunch
Alfonso's
Harry's
Brockton Villa
Marine Room ljbtc.com
Cheese Shop LJ Shores
Jeff's Burgers LJ Shores
Piatti's LJ Shores
Sea Lodge Restaurant.. LJ Shores
Dinner
Georges at the Cove Ocean Terrace
Alfonso's
Crab Catcher Happy Hour Best Deal in LJ
Nine-Ten in your Hotel
Roppongi Great Happy Hour App's
I think the kids would love to head to LJ Shores to swim, kayak and take surf lessons and Surf Diva rocks..
surfdiva.com
I like to get sandwiches at the Cheese Shop or Jeff's Burger both are really good..
Perfect for a picnic on the beach..
The ocean water has been warm and it is so scenic and lovely to swim/boogie board.
Hiking at Torrey Pines State Park is incredible and the kids might like to see the Hang Gliders take off the cliffs at the Hang Glider Port.
The Birch Aquarium is beautiful and I think all will love it..
birchaquarium.org
For swimming there are several areas within walking distance of your hotel but I think the best beach would be LJ Shores..
La Jolla Cove is wonderful to snorkel and there is Wipeout Beach, left of the seals but be careful because sometimes it has shore break..
Take the kids to the Shell Shop and walk down the Cave and then when you are done there is a hiking trail that goes along the cliffs and it really is breathtaking..
lajolla.com
lajollacove.com
I hope this helps for you and have a wonderful time and keep us posted!
Best to you all..

If you'll have a car, then drive to La Jolla Shores for a great swimming beach. That's also where Piatti is and your teenagers will probably be happy spending most of their waking minutes there! I don't personally like La Jolla Cove for sitting on the beach/playing around in the water. It's very beautiful, though.

If you go hiking in Torrey Pines Reserve, then you could also go to Torrey Pines State Beach. There is a large parking lot which costs $6 per day.

From Torrey Pines, you can drive into Del Mar (you're just about in Del Mar at Torrey Pines anyway) and go to the beach at 15th Street. There are two restaurants right on the beach there, Jake's and Poseidon. Both have valet parking. There is public beach parking across the road in a pay lot.

Fishee- The Goldfish Point cafe was still open as of last week! Cute place, great view.

vivi -- I'm so glad to hear this about Goldfish Cafe! I haven't been since I was a grad student, around 7 years ago. At that time, the coffee wasn't very good at all and I think I recognized the pastries being from Costco but we didn't care, they actually let us read with that incredible view and they had these huge windows that made it feel like you were outside. They must have improved the food and coffee if it's still around. I miss LJ!

The Birch Aquarium is a great little stop -- my mom loved it and it's not too tiring or expensive. I also really like the museum in downtown La Jolla, built on a bluff over the water -- it's very small and easy to go through, I recall a Frida exhibit many years back that was great.

The Marine Room is overpriced IMO, but if you do go, the view is best if you're there at high tide (just ask a lifeguard what time high tide is hitting). At low tide, the water is receding away from the windows and hence the nighttime view is much less dramatic.

If you have a car and some time to kill you could go downtown and take a cheap ferry ride across to Coronado Island, walk around the shops, grab a snack.

Don't know anything about surfing lessons but if the water visibility is good, the snorkeling is fun.

Hi fishee..
Just wanted to let you know that Goldfish Point Cafe has improved alot since you have been gone..
Also, The Marine Room can be pricey but where are you going to get a view like this anywhere in the world where the actual waves hit the window at high tide and for lunch a Kobe burger with fries is $15 and Filet Mignon is $19..pretty reasonable for LJ..:)
La Jolla is very expensive..that is why us locals love the happy hour deals at certain restaurants..

My teenage boys love to kayak at La Jolla Shores. The sharks will be there (in front of the Beach & Tennis Club) so they will love swimming with them and kayaking over them (they don't bite). You can rent kayaks at the shops up the street from the beach and then pick them up just south of the Sea Lodge hotel. Jeff's Burgers is a classic beach dive that serves great burgers and ice cream. Your kids also might enjoy Belmont Park or riding bikes at Mission Beach. Also, if any of your kids will be applying to colleges soon, you could take a walk around UCSD.

Hi Tahiti,

I can't tell you how happy it makes me that Goldfish Cafe is still there -- haven't been back to LJ for years but it will be a must-stop when I return.

I lived in the "poor" part of LJ, off La Jolla Blvd on WindandSea beach and I really loved it. Marine Room and George's were strictly special occasion, although we were pretty happy to drive South to go to Todai when it opened for all you can eat seafood!

Hi fishee..
There really is no poor places in LJ anymore..:(
Goldfish Point Cafe is the perfect location to sit and have a latte and soak up the view..the food and drinks have gotten alot better in the last couple of years..
I tell the tourist to go to the Marine Room and George's because they are on vacation and the food and view is outstanding and that is something I am sure they can't get at home..
I couldn't eat there everyday but it is a must for people who haven't been to our beautiful La Jolla..
Best to you fishee!

Hi everyone,
I am with a Girl Scout troop in Tustin (1 1/2 hour north of La Jolla) and we are researching for a summer trip for next year. Is La Jolla a reasonable place to take 10 13-year-old girls? We have a budget of $300 to $350 per girl and we would like to stay 2 to 3 nights in a nice clean hotel/motel. Maybe 4 to a room. Would you please make some itinerary suggestions? We just got back from a 4 day trip in Mammoth Lakes, stayed in two condos, did hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing... Had a great time.
Thanks,
Pat

Hi
With regards to surf lessons. My teens had a few hours of private lessons w/ this company. http://www.surfarisurf.com/lessons.asp
I cannot say enough about the instructor. Kids were 10, 14, and 13. The shop is a bit small, but they had a great selection of wetsuits for the kids and lots of help for them getting them on.

They were patient with my many phone calls asking what we needed to bring, how far it was from the hotel, etc.

They got the kids suited up and then brought them their surfboards. They kids had to carry them to the beach...about a block. They had a land lesson for about a half hour and then off to the water. My two girls were up and surfing in no time. My oldest boy took a bit more time, but he did get up and had a blast.

The instructor wanted to do more with my middle girl. She used to be a gymnast and he could not believe that she had never done this before.

We were told that we could use all equiment until the end of the day so the kids stayed out aabout another 2 hours. Needless to say they slept well that night.

Be sure to ask what time of day is best for waves. I was glad that we were not there earlier as the waves were very very small.

All in all it was a WONDERFUL experience and I highly recommend Surfari. Now my middle one wants to go to UC LaJolla...YIKES!
j

Hey buzymom3..
Sounds like your girls had a blast!
Surfari Surf looks great and reasonable too..thanks for the website.
Pat Rick..
I just saw your post and probably the best place that is reasonable and clean that would work for you and the girls would be Best Western Inn by the Sea on Fay Avenue in La Jolla..
858 459-4461 or you might want to try the Sea Lodge Hotel in La Jolla Shores or La Jolla Cove and Suites..
Best to you..
ljbtc.com
lajollacove.com

May I weigh in here despite not being a San Diegan, just a tourist who has travelled to the area a bit?

I do second Barbara's suggestion of paying Del Mar a visit. The beach is really nice there and swimming quite possible. There are also live guards on duty.
Just make sure you feed the meters - violations are enforced and come at steep prices. Should you be in need of coins, there is a change machine in the parking lot of the Poseidon restaurant.

I have also enjoyed a dinner at Sbicca's, a small restaurant just steps from the beach at 15th street in Del Mar.

There is also an Il Fornaio outfit in the Del Mar Plaza shopping center on the other side of the street, which offers really nice Italian fare in a relaxed atmosphere - with seaviews from its terrace.

Nine-Ten in your hotel in La Jolla as suggested by Tahiti Tams is also a really nice place.

Should you venture towards downtown and the Gaslamp at nights, Croce's on 5th St is a restaurant and bar that offers tasty food accompanied by nightly live jazz.

buzymom3, that would be UC San Diego.