La Jolla, one of San Diego’s most upscale beach towns, is well known for its posh shops and restaurants. But it’s also an ideal destination for families, with stunning beaches, tide pools, the Birch Aquarium, and more. As locals, this guide spotlights 13 of our favorite things to do in La Jolla with kids – although each activity is guaranteed to delight the entire family, adults included.
Jump to:
- Stroll the Coast Walk Trail
- Spot Sea Lions at the Children’s Pool
- Visit the Birch Aquarium
- Scour the La Jolla Tide Pools
- Soak Up the Sun at the La Valencia Pool
- Snorkel La Jolla Cove
- Kayak at La Jolla Shores
- Learn to Surf
- Explore Sunny Jim’s Cave
- Watch Hang Gliders at the Torrey Pines Gliderport
- Enjoy Dinner with a View at Duke’s
- Catch the Sunset at Windansea
- Roast S’mores Over a Bonfire at La Jolla Shores
Stroll the Bluffs Above La Jolla Cove
This gorgeous footpath meanders along the oceanfront bluffs, providing sweeping views of La Jolla Cove and the surrounding coastline.
The path stretches approximately half a mile, between the Children’s Pool and Ellen Browning Scripps Park. EBS Park is also a great spot to post up for awhile – bring a picnic, and let the kids run around! Directions.
Spot Sea Lions at the Children’s Pool
The Children’s Pool was established back in 1931, with a concrete breakwater creating a protected swimming hole for local youth. But by the 1990s, other local residents (seals and sea lions) discovered it and staked their claim.
Today, the pinnipeds have entirely taken over the sandy beach, and the opportunity for year-round marine life viewing makes it one of the most popular things to do in La Jolla with kids. Children will love watching the seals and sea lions swim, play, and sun themselves on the sandy beach. Directions.
Animal Safety Tip: Never approach the animals, and always keep a respectful distance (100 yards is recommended). Human presence can unnecessarily stress the animals, especially mothers with young pups.
Visit the Birch Aquarium
As part of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography on the UCSD campus, the Birch Aquarium is San Diego’s premier aquarium. With over 9,000 animals and 400 species in state-of-the-art exhibits, it’s one of the best things to do in La Jolla with kids.
Children can also enjoy hands-on exploration at the on-site tide pools, watch daily feedings of the resident penguins or sharks, and even meet reptile ambassadors up close.
Sitting high on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the aquarium’s Tide Pool Plaza also provides sweeping panoramic views, that are a treat in themselves. You can learn more at the Birch Aquarium website.
Scour the La Jolla Tide Pools
Half a mile south of the Children’s Pool are the La Jolla Tide Pools, a prime spot for young marine explorers.
Come at low tide, and let the children scamper all over the rocks. They’re bound to find local marine life like sea anemones, crabs, sea urchins, starfish, and more. (Just remember to leave the animals where you found them!) Directions.
Soak Up the Sun at the La Valencia Pool
La Valencia Hotel, affectionally known as the “Pink Lady,” has been welcoming celebrities to La Jolla since the 1920s. It’s easy to understand why, as the hotel evokes an elegant charm that feels straight out of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
However, you don’t have to be a movie star to enjoy the luxe poolside setting. Families can purchase a day pass via ResortPass, and enjoy the facilities without the overnight stay – including the iconic views of the Pacific Ocean beyond.
Learn more at the Valencia Day Pass website.
Snorkel La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove is part of the Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve, a protected conservation area covering one square mile of offshore waters. It boasts some of the best snorkeling in San Diego County, with clear waters and vibrant kelp forests.
Among the kelp, you’ll likely spy seals and sea lions, leopard sharks, rays, lobsters, octopus, and a host of fish – including the cheerfully-orange Garibaldi, the California state fish. Directions.
Rentals and Tours: If you don’t have your own snorkel gear, you can rent equipment at La Jolla Cove Snorkel & Watersports. They also offer 90-minute snorkel tours, for those who would rather explore the waters with a guide.
Kayak La Jolla Shores
Kayaking is an excellent way to explore the deeper waters of La Jolla Cove, past the kelp forests. It’s one of the most popular activities in La Jolla for all ages.
Certified guides will take you out on a 90-120 minute tour of La Jolla Cove, pointing out its ecological marvels and often including an up-close peek into its stunning natural sea caves. It’s a sure way to experience (and enhance your appreciation of) this vital marine preserve.
You can book a tour with one of the multiple kayaking outfitters who all operate out of La Jolla Shores.
Learn to Surf
La Jolla Shores is a reliable beach break for small to moderate sized waves, making it an ideal spot to try your hand at surfing.
Everyday California is a well-regarded surf outfitter (as well as a lifestyle brand). They offer 90-minute, small group lessons to maximize your chances of catching a wave (and catching the stoke).
Explore Sunny Jim’s Cave
This sea cave was always such a fascinating, mysterious (and slightly spooky) adventure as a kid.
In 1902, a tunnel was dug from the bluffs high above La Jolla Cove, down through the sandstone, to the entrance of a sea cave at the waterline below. Popular legend says bootleggers used the tunnel to offload illicit alcohol during Prohibition.
Today, you’ll purchase tickets and enter via the Cave Store along Coast Blvd. The tunnel consists of 145 narrow steps, down through the layers of rock, to a wooden platform just inside the cave’s entrance.
From the deck, you can watch the waves crash on the rocks below, with the boom of their force reverberating throughout the cave.
While it’s a quick outing (taking no more than 30 minutes), it’s a memorable one for young adventurers.
Watch Hang Gliders at the Torrey Pines Gliderport
At the Torrey Pines Gliderport, hang gliders and paragliders soar over dramatic bluffs. We would say it’s mesmerizing for kids, but really – it’s a cool sight for the entire family.
Grab a bite to eat at the Cliffhanger Cafe and Bar, and you’ll get a prime view of the action, including both the gliders and the panoramic views below.
Enjoy Dinner with a View at Duke’s
As golden hour descends over La Jolla Cove, most people head to one of the waterfront restaurants lining Prospect Street for a prime view of sunset. However, most of the dining spots are a bit too posh for a family dinner, which is why we prefer Duke’s.
Named after the legendary waterman, Duke’s offers Hawaiian-inspired dishes in a refined yet relaxed environment. The whole family can enjoy first-rate views of La Jolla Cove over plates of fish tacos, kahlua pork and more – and maybe top off your meal with a decadent slice of Duke’s famous “hula pie.”
Check out the Duke’s website – reservations are recommended.
Catch the Sunset at Windansea
If you want to catch the sunset without committing to a full restaurant meal, head to Windansea beach.
Windansea is a bit south of La Jolla proper, but it remains one of San Diego’s most classic beaches (the iconic palapa hut is even a designated California Historical Landmark).
The beach also features prominently in local surf lore, as one of the original breaks that launched the California surf craze and carried through the sport’s 1960s golden age. It remains one of the region’s preeminent surfing spots to this day.
Windansea provides an ideal location to watch the sun set (particularly in winter), with the famed palapa hut backlit against cotton candy skies. Directions.
Roast S’mores Over a Bonfire at La Jolla Shores
Growing up in San Diego, we spent more nights than we can remember around the bonfire pits at La Jolla Shores. Today, bonfires are a bit more regulated by the city, but remain a memorable way to end your day in La Jolla.
Fire pits are installed seasonally each year (May – October), and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
We caution: due to their popularity, if you want to snag a pit on your own, you have to get there early (think: sunrise) and make a full beach day of it. You should also review the city’s regulations surrounding fire pits, ahead of time.
Bonfire Tip: If you have the means, it’s much easier to reserve a bonfire with an outfit like Beach and Bay Bonfires or Bonfire Pit Rentals. Packages run $200 or more, but they remove the hassle of fighting for a pit, and will handle all of the logistics for you. They’ll also provide chairs, s’mores kits, tiki torches, and more, depending on the package you purchase.