alainaflute
Greg
Jody
E.G.D.Picture Perfect La Jolla Cove and Beach, Southern California
Posted by Jody on July 9, 2012
La Jolla Cove is one of the most spectacular, photogenic locations on the San Diego Coast! Good shots of the cove can come from any angle. If you like taking pictures, I suggest that you pick a spot, enjoy the view of the coastline and wildlife, take some breathtaking photos and then move along and do it again (and again).
These pictures trace a walk Greg and I took from the bluffs, down to the beach, and then over to the tide pools.
La Jolla Cove, Southern California
From almost any vantage point, we had the perfect opportunity to see the amazing diversity of coastal wildlife that La Jolla Cove is famous for.
California Brown Pelicans, Cormorant and California Sea Lions
After enjoying the vistas from the Coast Walk Trail and paved walkways, we headed down to La Jolla Cove’s sandy beach and explored the boulder-filled tide pools nearby.
La Jolla Cove, A View from the Beach
Although a low tide is better for tide pooling, even at higher tides it’s well worth taking the time to check out the rocky puddles. There is usually a fantastic assortment of coastal critters in the high tide zone, too!
At the far end of the beach – pass through to the explore tide pools at La Jolla Cove.
Keep your camera ready! This next shot was totally unexpected.
California Sea Lion at La Jolla Cove
Back to tide pooling…Watch your step! These rocks are slick.
Beautiful solitary anemones are plentiful in the La Jolla Cove tide pools.
If you look closely, you’ll find that these are (mostly) hermit crabs.
Rush hour in the tide pool!
Rough Limpets and barnacles in the tide pools at La Jolla Cove.
To fully experience the calm waters and undersea world of the “look but don’t touch” San Diego-Jolla Underwater Park, many visitors scuba dive or snorkel to discover a wonderful variety of colorful, semi-tropical fishes and other marine life. Kayaking and swimming are also very popular activities here.
If you plan to spend the day at La Jolla Cove, you won’t run out of things to do. Enjoy the wildlife; swim, splash and play on the sandy beach; bring a picnic or buy a box lunch and relax at the nearby grassy Scripps Park; and stroll the cove’s coastline to your heart’s content. Whatever you choose to do with your day at La Jolla Cove, you simply can’t go wrong!
The beach at La Jolla Cove has nearby restrooms, showers and picnic areas. Lifeguards are stationed at the cove year-round. Paid parking is available in the area, although it’s really a breeze to use San Diego’s award winning public transit system (MTS) to get to the beaches.
Sign posted at La Jolla Cove (Photo: Jody Diehl)
If you do plan to tour the La Jolla Cove tide pools, be sure to wear good beach trekkers, or at least something more protective, and slip-proof, than dime store flip flops! You might also enjoy this previous post on tide pooling and tide pool etiquette: Tide Pool Etiquette 101.
Have fun at the beach, and don’t forget your camera!
Greg said
Wish I was there now!
Jody said
Me, too!
lainygardens said
Love this! Brings back memories – used to dive for abalone off the LaJolla rocks. One of the best summers of my life!
Jody said
Yay! Glad you enjoyed both the summer and the post!
Fork in My Eye said
This looks amazing. Great photos. I’ve never been to a beach that has tidal pools. Very cool.
Jody said
Thanks so much! I’m glad you enjoyed the post and photos. It really is an amazing place!
cindy knoke said
Jody-
I was born and grew up here! Great photos. Not as many shells as there used to be, even at Shell Beach next door. I still have hundreds of shells from there including the prized blue sea glass.
Great blog! Love it!
Jody said
Cindy, thank you so much! It sounds like you enjoy beaches as much as we do. ~Growing up in La Jolla, it’s no wonder!~ Please feel free to share a beachy guest post. Check out our Submission Guidelines if you’d like. I’ll happily link back to your site.