La Jolla
Located only 15 minutes north of downtown San Diego, La Jolla, or the 'Jewel' as many locals call it, dazzles visitors as much as any of its natural namesakes. Synonymous with wealth, beauty, culture and elegance, La Jolla is internationally known as one of the most fashionable residential, commercial and resort areas in the world. La Jolla's seven miles of jagged coastline are the most picturesque in San Diego California, and La Jolla beaches easily rival any of those found in the south of France.
Situated about 14 miles north of downtown San Diego, the surrounding hills and mountains seclude the village of La Jolla from the greater San Diego metropolis. La Jolla is one of the most exclusive addresses in the country. Oceanfront and view homes in La Jolla range in the millions of dollars, and the architecture of La Jolla represents a potpourri of styles from California ranch and classic bungalow to old Spanish hacienda and wood and glass contemporary. La Jolla also has a variety of neighborhoods, each with its own identity and character - Birdrock, the Muirlands, La Jolla Farms, La Jolla Shores, and Mount Soledad known worldwide for the large white La Jolla cross at its peak. La Jolla homes and areas are uniquely diverse, but it's this diversity which gives La Jolla its special charm.
Visitors in La Jolla CA enjoy the many of San Diego's best restaurants in the fine dining La Jolla restaurants, La Jolla shops and La Jolla art galleries which line the quaint streets of downtown La Jolla village. For the cosmopolitan, La Jolla offers more cultural activities than one has time for, including a world-class contemporary art museum, the highly regarded La Jolla Playhouse theater and a fine chamber orchestra. After enjoying La Jolla shopping, stop for a cocktail or a cup of cappuccino in one of La Jolla's bars or hot night spots or enjoy lunch or dinner in any of the award-winning La Jolla restaurants.
The La Jolla weather, activities and La Jolla beaches along with many other features combine to make La Jolla a perfect resort community to live and visit. No matter what the La Jolla visitor is seeking, from the simple pleasures to world-class sophistication, La Jolla California truly has something for everyone.
Puttering Around Town - La Jolla Shopping & La Jolla Dining
A visit to La Jolla is not complete unless you have wandered in and out of the many La Jolla shops that dot the downtown La Jolla Village streets. People can be seen strolling the sidewalks at any hour of the day. In downtown La Jolla, it isn't any more unusual to see a couple in glittering evening attire enjoying ice cream cones as they window shop, then it is to see teenagers in beachwear munching on freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.
For La Jolla shopping, visit the many fine fashion stores that carry the most popular designer labels; check out the art galleries where internationally-recognized artists are represented; search out rare collectables in the La Jolla antique shops; and find the perfect La Jolla gift for your friends back home in one of the La Jolla gift shops.
Stop for a cocktail or a cup of cappuccino in one of La Jolla's hot night spots. Listen to music while people-watching or just relax and enjoy a breathtaking La Jolla ocean view. Dine in one of the many fine La Jolla restaurants famous for their cozy atmosphere and exquisitely prepared cuisine.
La Jolla Outdoor Activities Abound: La Jolla Resort Living Re-Defined
La Jollans are avid outdoor enthusiasts. Golf, tennis, jogging and many ocean sports like swimming, fishing, boating and surfing play a major role in the La Jolla lifestyle.
La Jolla has three golf courses: an 18-hole course at Torrey Pines, a small pitch and putt at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club and another 18-hole at the private and picturesque La Jolla Country Club. Many legends of the game have played here including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Johnny Miller.
La Jolla beaches are also a favorite recreation spot for both La Jolla visitors and La Jolla residents. La Jolla Shores, La Jolla Cove and Windansea Beach are just a few of the many popular beaches in La Jolla.
For the more adventurous, hang gliding in La Jolla is a popular sport as is paragliding La Jolla skies. Hang gliding and paragliding lessons are available above the cliffs at Torrey Pines gliderport in the Torrey Pines State Reserve and flying here provides a bird's-eye view far out to sea.
La Jolla First in Arts
La Jolla is a community with many cultural organizations and interests. Located in downtown La Jolla, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego has earned an international reputation as one of the finest contemporary art museums in the world. Its permanent collection focuses on contemporary developments in American and European art, with all works created after 1950 and this La Jolla museum hosts numerous exhibitions and traveling shows each year.
La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla on the University of California San Diego campus in the Mandell Weiss Center, has offered the La Jolla community many outstanding theatrical productions since its beginning in 1947. It has earned over 60 awards of excellence, including more than seven Tony Awards. Many famous actors have produced, directed and acted in many outstanding plays for La Jolla Playhouse including: Gregory Peck (a native La Jollan), Olivia de Havilland, David Niven, Mel Ferrer, Joseph Cotton and Celeste Holm to name but a few.
The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library in downtown La Jolla on the corner of Wall Street is a cultural treasure containing one of California's finest collections of material dedicated to art and music. Included in this La Jolla art library are books, recordings, compact discs, periodicals, song sheets and musical scores, photographs and video tapes.
La Jolla is a Scientific and Academic Mecca
La Jolla has become one of the world's most acclaimed centers for research and higher learning. Commitment to education in La Jolla among residents is startling as many of the elite private schools La Jolla are among the best schools in San Diego are extends is revealed b private schools in La Jolla along with many other educational institutions.
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, founded in 1903, is the oldest and largest institution devoted to oceanography in the U.S. Always high on the agenda of San Diego visitors, Scripps' aquarium, known as Birch Aquarium, houses fascinating exhibits and other oceanographic displays which have attracted such prominent rulers as Queen Elizabeth and the late Emperor Hirohito.
La Jolla also attracts academics and scholars from the world who come to La Jolla for the internationally renowned Salk Institute (founded by Jonas Salk who discovered the first polio vaccine), the biochemical industry which is thriving in La Jolla, the numerous healthcare research hospitals in La Jolla, and the University of California at San Diego in La Jolla.
History of La Jolla Origins
La Jolla did not hatch overnight into the modern day luxury resort community, commonly referred to as the French Riviera of the U.S. Rather, La Jolla's emergence as a famous tourist destination took many years to develop. But among the lucky handful of La Jolla residents of yesteryear, La Jolla has always been a Jewel by the Sea.
History of La Jolla begins in 1886 when Frank Terrill Botsford first purchased the La Jolla land. Frank Botsford is thought of as the "father of La Jolla," but he sold part of his interest in La Jolla because finding a source of drinking water posed difficulties. Moving forward through the history of La Jolla a few years, much of La Jolla was sold at auction for approximately $1.25 an acre, a far cry from current land values in La Jolla!
The natural beauty of La Jolla, particularly the many La Jolla beach and coastline areas, began to attract attention which led to growth and development in the late 19th century. And La Jolla village was actually established by 1900.
La Jolla history was forever changed during the 1930s, fondly remembered as La Jolla's golden years.
During this time in the history of La Jolla, La Jolla residents really began to build their community. World War I had ended, and many military men from Camp Kearny, which was located on the Torrey Pines Mesa, brought their families to settle in La Jolla. La Jolla tourism had laid a strong economic foundation for La Jolla, and as vacationers and newcomers continued to flock to the La Jolla beaches and shores, they needed places to stay, as well as businesses and services to sustain life.
La Jolla homes, La Jolla hotels and motels, La Jolla restaurants and dining, La Jolla shops and markets and the like began to pop up all over downtown La Jolla village.
During this period of La Jolla history, hotels became town meeting places as well as fine vacation venues, giving La Jolla an enchanted and lively atmosphere. There was the Cabrillo Hotel at 1116 Prospect Street (opened in 1909), the Colonial Hotel at 910 Prospect Street (circa 1911) and the La Valencia Hotel at 1132 Prospect Street (1926). Roads were paved and the town boundaries expanded to Bird Rock at Turquoise Street to the south and Torrey Pines Mesa to the north.
Casa De Manana helped surge La Jolla forward as Casa De Manana attracted celebrities to the quaint seaside village. In fact, well-knowns who resided or were born in La Jolla included Gregory Peck who frequented the La Valencia Hotel, Charles and Virginia Farrell, William and Mousie Powell, Nigel Bruce, Cliff Robertson, John Williams and Raquel Welch.
Although it seemed as if there was a city of La Jolla given that La Jolla possessed a unique identity and spirit, La Jolla was always part of the city of San Diego, thereby requiring La Jollans to yield their "town" destiny to others. But it was this identity that kept La Jolla residents close and passionate about improving La Jolla for the betterment of the entire community. The establishment of the Chamber of Commerce of La Jolla in 1930 (which became the La Jolla Town Council in 1950) and the national recognition of the La Jolla Rough Water Swim in 1931, are two important events in the history of La Jolla revealing La Jollans commitment to a common goal - one of prosperity, philanthropy and La Jolla community excellence.
La Jolla growth slowed during the 1940s due in part to outside factors like World War II, but largely by design as La Jolla residents approved plans that limited growth.
For La Jolla, the 1950s meant a doubled population, from 5,500 in 1940 to approximately 10,000. World War II had ended, and many servicemen and women stayed in La Jolla to establish their homes and families. The demand for housing, schools, and a more complete service industry was high. Five schools opened during the 50s: Bird Rock Elementary in 1951, Scripps Elementary in 1954, La Jolla Country Day in 1955, Evans School in 1958 and Decatur Elementary in 1959.
With the economy strong and building at an all time high, the real estate business was booming. In 1951, there were 60 agents listed in the La Jolla Blue Book whereas just ten years earlier, there had been only 13.
During the last quarter of the 20th century, La Jolla population finally exploded as did commercial and residential development.
As time marched on into the 1960s and beyond, the history of La Jolla changed forever. As the U.S. experienced the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, the hippie era and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, to the dismay of La Jolla residents, La Jolla experienced its own kind of revolution, its own kind of rebellion.
When two U.S. Marine facilities, Camp Callan and Camp Matthews, were turned over to the regents of the University of California for construction and development of a new La Jolla university on Nov. 18, 1960, there was fervent and unified dissent from the La Jolla community. Despite La Jolla opposition, the enormous university was built over 1300 acres of prime La Jolla real estate.
Other unanticipated changes during this time also altered the La Jolla identity: Scripps Memorial Hospital moved from Prospect Street in downtown La Jolla to North Torrey Pines in 1964; and the first two high rises were built (939 Coast Blvd & the Seville Garden Apartments), 18 and 13 stories respectively.
La Jolla community organizations sprang up in response to rapid growth. La Jollans Inc. and La Jolla Height Limitation Committee mobilized to "Fight High Rise" and uncontrolled growth but despite their strong opposition, La Jolla growth continued, the university was built, high rises sprung up and La Jolla history was altered.
Origin & Meaning of La Jolla Name
For more than a century, the origin of the name La Jolla has been a controversial subject. There are several interpretations which seem plausible and the meaning of La Jolla remains at issue today.
The most popular belief as to La Jolla meaning is that La Jolla was named "the Jewel" after the Spanish word "joya." Although there is no evidence to support this interpretation, thousands of residents living in La Jolla California and La Jolla visitors have no doubts that this place of tranquility and beauty was named "the Jewel."
More probable is the idea that the La Jolla name is derived from the Castillian Spanish word "hoya" which refers to a hollow, cavity or pit. Hoya is a common geographical term repeatedly found in Spanish-California documents and maps and it first appeared early in La Jolla history on the 1870 La Jolla map which plotted out the city's Pueblo Lands.
Yet another interpretation is that the name was an early Spanish rendition of the Indian word for cave- "hoya". And still others believe the name may have been derived from the Spanish word for pot - "la olla." Early Spanish settlers who lived at the Presidio in Old Town San Diego bought many of the pots they used for water from Indians who came from an Indian village in La Jolla or at least what became La Jolla.
The origin and meaning of La Jolla remains open to interpretation which adds some mysteriousness to La Jolla history and keeps the pressure on the La Jolla history society and other La Jolla historians to discover the true meaning of La Jolla.
What is undeniable is the emergence of La Jolla into the Paradise by the Sea.