Friday, July 24, 2009

A Day at the Beach, LaJolla Style

The beaches of Southern California each have their unique traits. For example, Manhattan Beach has The Strand, Malibu has movie stars, Santa Monica is famous for its ferris wheel on the pier, and Huntington Beach is well known as a surfers' beach.

LaJolla is well known for its pricey neighborhood, not for its wide expanses of sandy beaches. LaJolla beaches have ledges with a little bit of sand.

The trail above the coastline is a great place to walk and watch what is going on down in the water.
Children swimming

Kayakers kayaking

Adults swimming

Pelicans flying

Seals splashing and playing



Pelicans watching snorkelers snorkeling

Just another wonderful Southern California beach.

35 comments:

ellen b. said...

Beautiful shots of La Jolla Willow!

Barrie said...

What fine pictures! And I'll be at La Jolla Shores this coming week. We just bought new boogie boards!

Tracy said...

LOVE that last shot of waves behind the palms... *sigh*... gorgeous, gorgeous summer-drenched photos, Willow...this was a fun post! Happy weekend ((HUGS))

roxie said...

Lovely photos! Still hard for me to remember that it's pronounced, "La Hoya," not "La Jolla."

Knitting Linguist said...

Those are gorgeous pictures! You're making me want to pack up the car and head there now :)

Bumpkin Hill said...

SUCH beautiful shots, the water is wonderful and clear. I saw some really beautiful beaches in Scotland too over the last few weeks, ahhhh wish I was back there already! Catherine x

Anonymous said...

That blue is so inviting. I can already feel the warmth of the sun on my shoulders and the breeze in my hair....

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Looks like you are enjoying La Jolla. I've spent many happy hours there at one time or another.

Anonymous said...

I love the subtle colours in the ocean. I can just imagine it as a sock yarn. So beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Mr Puffy's Knitting Blog: said...

Wonderful pictures! How you caught that seal I'll never know. They are so quick - well done!

I've never been down to that beach - it's so nice that you shared a little about it. I guess this means the water is warm enough to go in now - when are we going to see you body surfing?

Elizabeth said...

The beach, the beach!
Nothing one likes better in the world.
When asked to imagine themselves far away somewhere lovely, my students always said 'the beach'
year after year.........
lovely pictures

Knitting Linguist said...

I had to answer the wheel question -- I'm going to test-drive a Joy and a Sonata. The choice is limited by what I can afford, and by weight (I need something pretty light, because of my back). I'm really looking forward to my first brand-new wheel!!

Thank you so much for offering to put the survey widget up. I'd send it right away, but I don't think I have you email; if you don't mind dropping me a line a jahlersATcsusmDOTedu, I'll send it right away :)

Ally Jay said...

Oh my, how beautiful

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Beautiful shots of a busy beach in beautiful So. CA weather, Willow! My next visit to San Diego I'll try to visit La Jolla!

Thoughts on Life and Millinery. said...

Ummm...trust me...La Jolla (two words) has several wide sandy beaches. You managed to take in La Jolla Cove at high tide! Which of course is the best time for swimming....

The Cove is simply wonderful...the Cave gift shop and the steps down inside are just the thing to cool off with children and if you can manage a shower and tidy up, you can walk to the pink La Valencia for dinner.

I miss my home town a lot! Next trip to San Diego, do try to go to Mt. Soledad (the Mt. with the cross above LJ.) Serious....don't miss it, you will be awed.

Jientje said...

Aaaaw, you have seals there? What a beautiful beach, and the color of the sea is just amazing. *sigh*

ellen abbott said...

Wow. Look how blue that water is! And it's cold too, isn't it?

Thanks for stopping by my blog. The macro is very fun.

SteppeSister said...

Beautiful pix as always. I LOVE the one with palms against the sea!

Unknown said...

Oh the beaches...just love beaches and your photos of beaches. And that BSJ, so pretty in white/cream. I just finished my first one for our great-niece who is coming from Korea tomorrow! Is that great-niece or grand-niece, I'm never sure.

Leslie said...

my last post didn't link to my blog...strange

Flower said...

It's nice that you have so many choices of beaches to visit! Each picture is beautiful..and I especially like the one with children swimming!

Mama Mia said...

Aren't you glad we went there? :o) Next time we really need to snorkel, or at least swim! LOVE the last pic with the palms against the ocean.

david mcmahon said...

That place says come here quick, with ya camera!

violetlady said...

Beautiful photos, Willow!! The color of that water is amazing.

Unknown said...

ah..the beach!! I want to be there, swimming..haven't try kayaking before and we hardly see pelicans here. Oh, you mentioned murtabaks, I haven't eaten them for the longest time...and now wishing to have a bite :D Happy week, kak Willow.

Sandi McBride said...

What beautiful photos...almost ran into grab a towel and dry my hair, lol! COngrats on making POTD at David's

Anonymous said...

oh how your pics make me miss living on the beautiful central coast! looks to me that lajolla has a few gems of it's own. i found you by way of david, and once i saw that you're a sister knitster.. i'm a new fan! ;)

many blessings,
-Tracie

Pseudo said...

Followed the POTD link and loved your photos.

I've been homesick for So Cal all summer (been here 27 years and 2 since my last trip back).

I grew up in a mobile home back on the beach, just North of the Ventura County Line. Address was still malibu. In HS I took diving classes and we had our trainng in La Jolla...

Anonymous said...

Saw a documentery last night about a family of surfers [nine kids, mum and dad] who lived out of an RV and lived, what seemed at first to be the ideal life. Wonderful pictures, looks like heaven.

Marg said...

Give me the ocean right now. It's hot here and so humid...
I'll just dream while I look at your photos.

Elizabeth Bradley said...

We were in La Jolla last weekend. Despite the crowds we had a marvelous time.

Deb said...

Beautiful Blues! I was watching 'Good Morning America' the other day and they were showing incredible waves off the coast of California and surfers needing to be rescued ~ huge waves! I do think surfing looks fun but I don't think I would dare to try it. Thanks for sharing these photos from your corner of the world! I enjoyed my visit!

Sharon Lynne said...

My word this post is crowded! (32 comments)

But I had to add one more. I have great childhood memories in La Jolla. Our family played in an annual USTA tennis tournament there every summer. My favorite was the "mother-daughter" doubles event.

I would spend a lot of time walking on the beach, and I discovered a great bookstore near the coast, but can't remember the name. (too many years ago!)

Cheffie-Mom said...

Very beautiful photos! Congrats on David's Post of the Day Award!

Anonymous said...

La Jolla has some of the best beaches for surfing which include Black's beach for advanced surfers and Tourmaline for beginners. San Diego overall has some fantastic beaches.UCSD was recently ranked the top university in the United States for surfing. www.sdsurfspots.com
hang ten!