Soft white sand, warm sea breezes and constant activity on the beach of southern California’s La Jolla Shores Park will entice you to be a part of this scene. In the 1-mile-long (1.6-kilometer) stretch of beach along the Pacific Ocean, you’ll discover a lot to do. Visit La Jolla Shores Park to let the kids enjoy themselves on the lifeguarded sands or at the nearby playground.
Learn to surf, hiring professional instructors to teach your family how to ride the waves. Because the ocean bottom is sandy, the fear of falling is greatly reduced. If the kids have other interests, introduce them to Kellogg Park’s playground bordering the beach. It is stocked with enough equipment to keep them entertained.
Skate up and down the boardwalk or look for marine life in tidal pools along the coast. This portion of the beach ends at Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier, which is part of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
Take a selfie photograph under Scripps Pier among the tall pilings. This unique setting is one of the most popular areas on the beach for photography. The pier is an important scientific area measuring ocean and climate changes.
Kayaking, swimming, snorkeling and paddle boarding are frequent activities at La Jolla Shores Park. Don’t be surprised if you’re accompanied by one or more leopard sharks when swimming. These animals are harmless and use the area as a breeding ground.
At the northern end of La Jolla Shores Beach is an attractive walking route paralleling the Pacific coast with lots of photo opportunities for watery scenes. This area extends to the 300-foot (90-meter) cliffs of Torrey Pines State Beach. Find beaches in abundance along this stretch, including Black’s Beach, which has a section that is popular among nudists.
The beach is well equipped with showers and restrooms. Free parking is available at the lot in La Jolla Shores Park or on the street. Come early, particularly in the warmer months, to get a parking space close to where you want to settle in.
Find the beach north of downtown La Jolla on Calle Frescota off La Jolla Shores Drive.
