Let's say you are the ambitious sort. You work hard in college and afterward, work hard in your chosen career field. You invest well and regularly. Eventually, you acquire a million dollars. You are a bonafide millionaire. Know what that makes you in La Jolla? One of the unwashed masses, the hired help.
All the views are like this, all the time
La Jolla is so wealthy and exclusive, I grew up about 16 miles south of the place and did not know it existed until I was in my twenties. For a number of years La Jolla has had the highest home prices in the United States. The average home in La Jolla sells for over two million dollars. I'm pretty certain you could buy my entire neighborhood for that - furnished.
Even the squirrels seem to have an "And you would be...?" attitude
Unlike most enclaves of the rich and powerful, La Jolla is very accessible to the public. The entire coast of California belongs to the public (save for military installations such as Camp Pendleton), and there are a number of grassy parks along the shore, as well as picnic areas and wide stretches of sandy beach.
Rocky outcrops abound, perfect for pictures of the moody shore
The beaches of La Jolla vary from rocky and rugged to wide stretches of soft sand so well groomed they look like a movie set. Staircases have been built to allow access to the beaches below the many cliffs that dot the shore, and there are even a number of thatched-roof shelters available should you need to get out of the sun.
The moonscape of the La Jolla shore near La Jolla Cove
La Jolla Cove, a small beach smack dab in the middle of the San Diego-La Jolla marine refuge, is a great place to view sea lions and other marine life. You can swim in the area, but have to give the wildlife at least a 50 foot buffer, and no surf boards, boogie boards or even life rafts are allowed.
Catching some rays in the California sun
The cove has a rare micro-climate. The temperature is amazingly consistent, usually 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which, combined with the extraordinary beauty of the place, explains the real estate market.
If you want to experience a few days of vacationing in paradise without breaking the bank, it's a simple matter of staying in one of the many beach or bay front hotels in P.B. or Mission and just taking the bus a few miles north with a good book and a beach chair. No one's going to know that tan isn't 100% La Jollan...
Junior lifeguard training near the marine preserve
For the adventurous, La Jolla's rough surf offers the opportunity to make a rough water swim. If you're competitive, there is a rough water swim race held at La Jolla Cove annually.
The idyllic beauty of La Jolla has attracted Honeymooners for over a 100 years now, and there are a number of hotels and resorts in the area that specialize in catering to Newlyweds. However, it's not quite like Niagara Falls, as there are no gaudy casinos and finding a commemorative set of shot glasses will be a bit of a challenge.
The surf's picking up and the fishin's good
If you like to fish, feel free to bring your rod and reel and try your luck from the shore. Like all California beaches, a fishing license is not required - just try not to snag a surfer or a sea lion, as both react quite unpleasantly to being hooked.
*Pronounced "Luh Hoya"
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