24 Relaxing Hours at La Jolla Shores

One of the most alluring facets of The La Jolla Shores Hotel is its location. William J. “Bill” Kellogg, president of both the La Jolla Shores Hotel and the neighboring La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club once said, “The beach is clearly the most significant aspect of our properties.” Guests staying at the oceanfront hotel enjoy refreshed guest rooms offering a multi-sensory front row view of the ocean. Open the sliding door to allow cooling salt-air breezes.

Baja style design elements at La Jolla Shores Hotel include adobe hexagon-shaped red-tiles, archways, water fountains and Mexican tile roof adding ambiance to this hacienda-style resort.

Of the hotel’s 128 rooms, 30 are oceanfront, 37 are ocean view and 61 overlook the courtyard and pool area.  Thirteen of the rooms are equipped with kitchens, and the La Jolla Suite offers a living room, full kitchen, separate bedroom and oversized bathroom.

Walking into our second floor king bed guest room, we unlocked our balcony door and took in the views of the ocean, coastline and activity below. Kayakers were getting ready to explore the La Jolla Coves, surfers were waiting for a wave, and families were building sandcastles near the water’s edge.

Adjacent to the hotel is the companion property, the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, a sprawling enclave that has been a favorite since the 1970s for tennis players and families. There are two tennis courts for guests to use and tennis lessons from USPTA Professionals can be arranged.

The San Diego – La Jolla Underwater Park, a 600-acre ecological refuge awaits. Throughout the day and in the evening scuba divers wade into the surf and swim beyond the break to see an abundance of marine life.

It’s also a playground for kayakers and paddle boarders. Early in the morning until sunset groups are instructed and led on tours next to the water’s edge to explore the famous La Jolla caves and see a variety of marine life along the way. This area is a natural museum of wind-scoured rock formations and the famous “Seven Caves,” a line of cathedral-like fissures cut into the side of 100-foot-high cliffs.

BEACH TIME

Another walk not to miss is two miles north of the hotel to the Scripps Pier, which extends into the Pacific near Black’s Beach. This is a popular surfing area known and hang gliding take off point.

The hotel is happy to provide guests beach chairs, umbrellas, and beach towels. Barbecues and tables are also available for a nominal fee.

After a day at the beach, guests gather around a heated swimming pool and bubbling hot spa. There is also a children’s wading pool and plenty of lounge chairs.

DINING WITH A VIEW

There are two view dining destinations at the hotel. Shores Restaurant, located off the hotel’s lobby is an oceanfront restaurant offering indoor seating and outdoors on a view terrace. Listen to live music on Sunday mornings, while enjoying avocado toast with smoked salmon and a crab and avocado omelette. The restaurant offers a breakfast, lunch, dinner menu with dishes prepared with quality and fresh local ingredients.

Known as one of the oldest restaurant and bars in La Jolla, the fine dining Marine Room and the new Lounge at the Marine Room offer the best water view dining. Opened in 1941, the restaurant’s front row tables not only provide beautiful sunset views, but also during high tide and stormy seas, waves are known to crash against the triple-pane, bullet-proof glass windows, providing an extra exciting dining experience.

Executive Chef Mike Minor creatively mixes seasonal and local ingredients into his signature California with a global twist inspired cuisine. The new lounge menu offers a variety of creative share plates such as caviar service, Japanese A5 Nigiri, Spanish grilled octopus, and Surf and Turf. Cocktails include a tropical tasting ‘Sunset View’ and “Kelp Martini.’

If you only have 24 hours to getaway, La Jolla Shores Hotel’s offers a multitude of enrichment activities, culinary experiences and places to kick-back and chill in the warm San Diego sunshine.