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How to Get to La Jolla from San Diego, California?

November 30, 2011 | By | Reply More

The La Jolla Cove is a favorite spot of visitors and locals.

La Jolla’s fame as Southern California’s most beautiful beach community draws travelers from all over the world. Unfortunately, most visitor maps don’t make it clear that La Jolla is part of San Diego, which can make getting here a bit confusing.

I’ve already discussed La Jolla’s location, but I never really explained how to get here. (Apologies.)

Your best bet for finding a map is to go online to Mapquest or GoogleEarth or use the GPS on your smartphone. 

In any case, you’ll be able to appreciate how close La Jolla is to other popular areas such as the San Diego Zoo, Little Italy, and Sea World. (This comes as a shock to visitors who think that La Jolla is about halfway between San Diego and Los Angeles.)

If you’re using public transport, the MTS bus #30 from downtown will drop you off right on Silverado Street at Herschel in the heart of La Jolla. From that point, the La Jolla Cove, the Children’s Pool, myriad shops and restaurant options, the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, my favorite little gift shop, a popular local café and many more attractions within easy walking distance.

Alternatively, Tour Guide Tim provides tours of La Jolla that are both fun and informative. His guided coach tours leave from the Santa Fe train station on Kettner Boulevard and include Mt. Soledad, the village of La Jolla, La Jolla Shores, and the Torrey Pines Golf Course. Passengers have time to shop, eat lunch, and walk along the water in the village, or they can spend their time at La Jolla Shores Beach. Here, kayaking, surf lessons, or just hanging out in the sand are a few of the options. Tim also provides great maps on his site.

If you decide to taxi, the ride from downtown will set you back about $40 plus a gratuity. That’s a hefty fee for only 12 miles, so you might consider renting a car for a day and doing the driving yourself. With a car, you can go to Torrey Pines State Park (hiking with a gorgeous ocean view), stop in at the Torrey Pines Gliderport (a fun place for lunch and watching paragliders), and you can drive to the top of Mt. Soledad (a war memorial with a 360-degree view).

No matter how you arrive in La Jolla, I hope you have fun while you’re here.

Click here if you need help planning your La Jolla vacation.

Click here to look for good deals on La Jolla hotels.

Click here to see more La Jolla Photos.

Photo credit ADAMS / HANSEN STOCK PHOTOS.

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Category: Activities, how to get to La Jolla

About the Author ()

I live in La Jolla and I'm a travel writer, so in addition to enjoying my home town's great weather, beautiful surroundings, and range of cultural and recreational options, I also see La Jolla - and the rest of San Diego - as a travel destination. And what I see sometimes drives me batty. People vacation in La Jolla, but don't take advantage of everything our community offers, so I decided to start this blog and provide insider advice for out-of-towners. Hey. I figure if I can write insider tips about exotic destinations on Authentic Luxury Travel, I ought to be able to lead readers off the beaten path that starts just outside my front door. In the process, I'm having fun revisiting my favorite places and discovering some new ones. Travel writers are naturally snoopy, and this blog is my excuse to have a good ol' sticky beak around my home town. I hope you find it helpful. If you are coming to La Jolla or another area of San Diego and would like my help in planning your trip, please read "Need Help Planning Your Trip" and then email me at ehansen298@aol.com. Elizabeth Hansen

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