We are in Palm Springs for 9 days and we would like to take a day trip to the ocean. We would like to drop off in Temecula and Idyllwyld and end up at La Jolla for a day near the ocean, heading back to Palm Springs in the early evening. Does this sound like a reasonable day trip. We would like to hang out near beach area to walk, maybe swim but also a real nice restaurant on the ocean. Thanks for any comments!

The trip/drive up the mountain to the town of Idyllwild is very long and tiring in my opinion. It's an ok town but not worth the long, winding, curving, mountain roads to get there and get back. It's an all day trip in and of itself.

I personally would drive from Palm Springs early in the morning and spend the whole day in La Jolla (if you are only allowing one day) and you want to go to the beach. You can spend time at the La Jolla Shores and they have tons of kayak and dive/snorkle shops on the main street of La Jolla Shores.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-jolla-kayak-la-jolla

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-interview.cfm

If you want to window shop the main street of La Jolla in Girard and and the foot of Girard is the La Jolla Cove and Scripps Park. Around the corner at the Children's Pool (a natural perserve and protected from humans) are the seals that you can observe on the beach.

Some great restaurants are The Cottage (for breakfast & lunch but go during off hours as it's very popular), my favorite French restaurant (dinner) is Tapenade but it's very pricey. For a casual lunch if you love seafood is El Pescador on Pearl Street, Pannikin a local coffee house and local favorite hang out also on Girard.

I also like Brick & Bell on Silverado for coffee and lunch.

Burger Lounge on Wall Street has organic, free range beef for hamburgers, and Karl Strauss Brewery on Herschel is a popular local brewery and they have lunch and dinner.

If you want a ocean view dining experience George's at the Cover is popular. But make sure you call and request the very top level (not the indoor levels). The sun sets I believe around 7:00 and it get very dark so the advantage of an ocean view is completely lost. You'd want to go early around 5:00 - 6:00 so you can see the ocean.

http://www.georgesatthecove.com/

You want the Ocean Terrace level.

sorry for the spelling errors!

Thanks for your comments

Did El Pescador ever move in to the restaurant across the street?

hi mlgb, Not yet hopefully they will by this summer.