Adventures in La Jolla

La Jolla was one of mine and Bryan's favorite spots to visit in San Diego. We went to La Jolla almost every day! (We only skipped La Jolla on the day I met Bryan's father.) It was our little paradise during our getaway. We spent hours together watching the waves crash against the beach and enjoyed seeing the harbor seals with their pups sprawl out on the sea rocks. We visited during the day and at night.



At night we would order takeout (Mexican for me and Chinese for Bryan) then head over to the park benches that encircle the bluffs leading down to Shell Beach. There we would watch the moonlight twinkle off the waves while being serenaded by the snores of seals.


During the day, La Jolla's Shell Beach was our destination to check out the tidal pools. During low tide, a large rocky area below the beach is revealed. These exposed outcroppings are pockmarked with tidal pools.


Before exploring these tidal pools, Bryan and I payed a visit to the Birch Aquarium. The Birch Aquarium sits on a piney bluff overlooking downtown La Jolla and a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean. The aquarium is part of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography. At the aquarium we got a hands-on lesson on the various sea life that exists in these shallow pools. Everything in the Birch Aquarium's tide pools are touchable! We touched starfish (which feel like slimy rubber with bubbled ridges), sea anemones (they feel like the pulpy inside of an orange), sea cucumbers and urchins (I wasn't brave enough to touch these last two contenders!)

One particular sea anemone got very friendly with Bryan. When Bryan stroked one of the arms of the anemone with his fingertip, it wrapped around his finger and tried to suck him in! (Back off sea anemone, he's my man!)

Inside the aquarium we were able to observe a cheeky octopus, sea nettles, sea dragons, and sea horses. The sea dragons were my favorite. They were majestic and delicate creatures to watch.

As well, the aquarium had a tank of native sharks and rays. Bryan loved the rays and I particularly like the guitar fish. And the sharks seemed a lot less intimidating -- at least on dry land!

For adults, the Birch Aquarium is a bit contrived but for young children (age 3 through elementary) the aquarium is a great interactive learning experience with the added bonus of a water playground at the end.


Once we'd learned a little about the tide pools, we decided to check out a wild one for ourselves. We headed over to Shell Beach (about a five minute drive from Scripps) to try our luck.


It was wonderful! The tide pools were teaming with seaweed, sea anemones, small fish, and tons of tiny crabs! Every nook and outcropping had a small crab wedged between into it, ready to snap at any unprotected toes. (On a serious note, though, only explore the tidal pools in good shoes. The rocks are slippery and treacherous, plus they hide deep gullies that can cause serious injury in a fall.) I didn't touch any of the wild life at Shell Beach's tide pools but I was able to take home a piece of coral that was washed ashore.


As for the other sea life at La Jolla, Bryan and I saw harbor seals by the dozens, along with a multitude of pelicans and gulls. While walking the seawall, we even found a lost sea lion pup. The harbor seals were chasing the sea lion away (they had seal pups they were protecting) and the sea lion pup kept swimming back and forth while crying. Thankfully, after about ten minutes of whimpering, the sea lion's mother swam a mile down the coast to save her wayward pup and lead him back to their own sunny spot.



Bryan and I regretted having to leave La Jolla behind for our journey back to Pittsburgh, but we took scores of pictures to remember all the wonderful days spent at this picturesque town.


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