A Weekend in La Jolla
Although we’ve been to San Diego many times, we had never made it over to La Jolla before. I’d always heard it’s a beautiful place for diving and snorkeling, so it’s been on my list of nearby destinations to explore for a while. My husband, Chris, has been especially interested in the paragliding at Torrey Pines Gliderport. This past August, we finally made it—and La Jolla did not disappoint!
The scenery was just as stunning as everyone had described: steep, rocky cliffs dropping into the ocean, waves crashing below, and secluded sandy beaches tucked into coves. One of the highlights was the vast sea lion colony that has made La Jolla Cove its home.
We left Inyokern, CA, around 11:00 am, a later start than planned. Since we weren’t going to make it to La Jolla for lunch, we stopped at the Cheesecake Factory in Rancho Cucamonga along the way.
Hotel Arrival
We stayed at Hotel La Jolla, Curio Collection by Hilton. We arrived around 2:30—before the 4:00 check-in time—but the front desk staff kindly let us check in early. The gentleman who checked us in was very friendly, gave us a quick overview of the area, and marked some recommendations on a local map. The lobby was stylish and welcoming, and the hotel also offers bike rentals, which is a convenient way to explore the area.
Here is a video review of the hotel:
Here is a view of our room:
Once we unpacked our belongings, the evening was already approaching. We decided to head over to the Torrey Pines Gliderport to check conditions for tandem paragliding. Unfortunately, the winds weren’t right, so Chris left his name and number in case things improved over the weekend.
Exploring La Jolla Cove
Next, we drove to La Jolla Cove, parking in a garage directly across from The Cave Store. Parking was steep—$40 for 13 hours. Since there was a long line at the Cave Store and it was nearly closing, we decided to skip it for the evening and return the next day.
We strolled along the shoreline, soaking in the views. Offshore, we spotted groups of kayakers, and below us, waves pounded into cave-like formations. The cliffs were alive with seabirds. As we made our way toward the cove, we came upon the massive sea lion colony, lounging on the rocks while their pups splashed and played in tide pools.
Down at the cove itself, stairs led to a sandy beach where snorkelers and swimmers shared the water with playful sea lions. We stayed here for quite a while, taking video and marveling at the wildlife—it truly brightened my spirit.
Afterward, we wandered through nearby art galleries and shops before stopping for dinner at Beeside Balcony. Since our lunch had been heavy, I ordered the crab cake appetizer—it was delicious, one of the best I’ve ever had. Chris had the Filet Mignon (add description).
Later, we discovered a charming dessert shop, Le Macaron French Pastries, with so many tempting choices it was hard to decide. We settled on gelato: I had X and Chris had X. As we enjoyed our treat, we chatted with the young woman who served us—she shared how she often surfs before work and had recently surfed alongside dolphins!
A Bumpy Night
Eventually, we returned to our hotel room, but the night didn’t go as planned. Our neighbors were very loud, and despite several calls to the front desk, nothing improved. Unfortunately, the hotel was full, so we couldn’t switch rooms.
After a long night, we were exhausted and faced a choice: find another hotel or head home. Since the noisy neighbors were staying all weekend, we decided to cut our trip short.
Breakfast Before Heading Out
Before leaving, we had breakfast at the hotel’s rooftop restaurant on the 11th floor. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered stunning views of La Jolla and the Pacific Ocean. Breakfast and service were excellent—definitely a high note to end on.
Hilton Makes It Right
On the way home, Hilton actually called Chris to ask about our stay. He shared the noise issue honestly, and the representative (who explained that the staff was all new) agreed it could have been handled better. Without us asking, Hilton refunded our stay in points, which we can use anytime. This is why we remain loyal Hilton members and have already booked two more Hilton stays next year in Rome and Athens.
Despite the thin walls at this particular property, the hotel itself was lovely, with helpful staff and beautiful amenities. If you’re a light sleeper like me, you may want to consider another Hilton property nearby (such as Hilton Torrey Pines)—or simply pack earplugs or a small white noise machine.
Final Thoughts
While our trip was shorter than planned, we truly enjoyed the time we had in La Jolla. Between the dramatic coastline, sea lion encounters, and the promise of snorkeling and paragliding still ahead, we’re already planning a return trip next summer.
Products I Recommend for La Jolla