The seaside town of La Jolla is located in San Diego and is most well-known for its beautiful ocean views, delicious brunch spots and multi-million dollar homes. Whether you’re local to San Diego, or looking for your next day trip itinerary – we got you covered! Keep reading for our completely day trip to La Jolla, CA.
Jump start your morning with coffee & pastries at Wayfarer Bread & Pastry
Start your morning in the neighborhood of Bird Rock with a pastry and coffee from Wayfarer. Note: you may find yourself ordering one of everything topped with a couple baguettes. There’s no shame in loading up!
I always opt for the classic plain croissant (you’ll thank me later) and a latte to go. From there, walk towards the water – there are plenty of benches to sit and enjoy your snack!
My personal favorite spots are Calumet Park and False Point which are both within a 5-10 minute walk from Wayfarer.
Have breakfast at Harry’s Coffee Shop
Harry’s Coffee Shop, located in the downtown is a local institution. The diner, which has been family owned for over 50 years, is the perfect no-frills spot for the fluffiest french toast.
Looking for something a little more *aesthetic* or closer to the water? Consider Sugar & Scribe, The Cottage or Cody’s.
Head to La Jolla Cove and visit the Seals
From breakfast, your next stop should be to check out the seals at The Cove. There’s a reasonable stretch of ocean-front sidewalk that you can follow to walk off breakfast! There are plenty of smaller patches of beach or pockets to sit and admire the view.
Take a tour of the Sunny Jim Cave
This historic cave is known for being a smugglers’ tunnel during the Prohibition. Taking the tour is the only way to view the cool tunnel from land (otherwise you need to go rent a kayak). For more facts on the cave, check out this article. Tickets to visit are $10 for adults and $7 for children. You can make your reservation here.
Pro Tip: After your cave tour, head to the right towards the trees. There is a beautiful lesser known walking path.
Walk around Downtown La Jolla and explore the shops and murals.
If you have time, walk around downtown and pop into the little shops along Girard Ave. There are also various murals throughout the area that you can check out. For the extensive list of rotating murals, visit the Murals of La Jolla website.
My personal favorite is the Favorite Color Mural located at 7596 Eads Avenue.
Enjoy the view of San Diego from the Mount Soledad Cross
Next, drive up the mountain to enjoy the view from the Mount Soledad Cross that was built in 1954. It is arguably the best lookout point of the city and is also home to the Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial.
Lunch at Barbarella Restaurant & Bar
For lunch, enjoy Italian food at Barbarella’s in the La Jolla Shores neighborhood. Their cozy space is perfect for lunch or date night. Honestly you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu but the pasta with vongole and the chop salad are my favorites.
Walk to the Pier at La Jolla Shores
End your day with a walk along the beach. You can actually walk all the way to the Scripps Pier from the La Jolla Shores Beach. Hint: it makes for great photos as well!
Looking for more things to do in the area?
- 10 Most Instagrammable Places in La Jolla
- San Diego Travel Guide – Where to go, eat & what to do
