According
to Wikipedia, La Jolla is a hilly seaside community within the city of San
Diego. With approximately 7 miles of curving coastline along the Pacific
Ocean, La Jolla is home to a variety of businesses in the areas of lodging,
dining, shopping, software, finance, real estate, bioengineering, medical
practice and scientific research. The University of California San
Diego (UCSD) is located in La Jolla, as are the Salk Institute, Scripps
Institution of Oceanography, and the Scripps Research Institute. La Jolla
is most notable for its compelling ocean front setting, with alternating rugged
and sandy coastline, and wild seal congregations.
During
the Mexican period of San Diego's history, La Jolla was mapped as pueblo land
and contained about 60 lots. When California became a state in 1850, the La
Jolla area was incorporated as part of the chartered City of San Diego. In the
1890s the San Diego, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla Railway was built, connecting
La Jolla to the rest of San Diego. La Jolla became known as a resort area. To
attract visitors to the beach, the railway built facilities such as a bath
house and a dance pavilion. Visitors were housed in small cottages and
bungalows above La Jolla Cove, as well as a temporary tent city, erected every
summer. La Jolla became an art colony in 1894 when Anna Held (also known
as Anna Held Heinrich) established the Green Dragon Colony. This was a cluster
of twelve cottages designed by Irving Gill, who had moved to San Diego only a
year earlier and later became San Diego's best-known architect.
I’ve
been to San Diego many times, but regrettably have never stopped at La Jolla
until this trip. Walking along the coast was beautiful and unlike similar
walks here in Orange County. There are several caves in the rocky
coastline and even a long flight of steps in tunnel that ends up inside a cave
at the water’s edge. La Jolla reminded me a little of Laguna Beach with
its many shops and restaurants—quite a bustling central business
district.
Not
too far away is Mission Bay, another scenic area in San Diego. The
next morning’s agenda was a short drive over to the San Diego Zoo to attend a
special morning breakfast and presentation. After that it was time to
walk around the rest of the zoo and check out their latest exhibit, Africa
Rocks. it was good just not what I thought it would be. It’s
been a while since I’ve visited the zoo. I forgot just how expansive and
diverse it is—hence its reputation as being world famous!
Click here to see more photos from my Southern California galleries.
