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Came on a weekday so there wasn't a crowd, good experience doing the staircase to Sunny Jim's Cave! Picked up some souvenirs from the gift shop after. There were points of the stairs that were wet and a little slippery, but it warns about that and is natural. $13 for the experience makes sense for the area and would recommend checking out if it's not too busy! Definitely recommend taking in the views from the Coast Walk Trail afterwards!!
I did it went down the 145 steps and back up. Reminds me of the Winchester mystery house steps. Glad we came when it was not busy and early enough that it didn't get hot. Beautiful cave and view at bottom.
The cave store located off Coast Blvd by La Jolla Cove is definitely a must visit when you're in town. I've lived here for 30 years, and this was my first time going!! Why I waited so long, I don't know. It's definitely a steep trek down, and the stairs can be a bit slippery, so hold on. Once you get down, you will see an amazing view of La Jolla Cove. The trek back up is definitely a workout, bring some water and enjoy!
Service: Service was okay. The staff inside at the cashier station were a bit unprofessional. Value: The cost I believe was $13 per adult and $7 per child. The stairs down to the cave is 145 steps. The view is pretty cool from the cave but it is a bit pricey considering you can be in and out in under 15-min. It was a good one-time experience but probably wont be back. Its one of those one and done type of locations. Was def beautiful though.
Plenty of free parking spots along the beach, but it gets crowded. This was such a cute place!!!! Admission is $13, and it's well worth the price. Staff is friendly and nice. They explain a little waiver and explain the little hike for you. We went in the morning when they opened, so it was very empty. When we left, it got very crowded with large parties. I will come back to bring my friends!! It's a must, and we will come at opening. It's such a nice little cave. It's very short, but it's worth it. It's very steep too, so obviously watch your step. Use the handrails! The view is beautiful. I wouldn't recommend r wearing sandals. It's moist and wet inside. Some of the steps have running water. The breeze at the end is calming. You can see fellow kayakers along the water. They waive at you too! It's fun.
This place is definitely a good workout it has over 140 steps and they make you sign a waiver before going so definitely stretch before going down the stairs. Paid $13 per person. But they have SD student and military discounts.
I finally decided to check this place out after living in San Diego for almost a decade. I'd always seen long lines of people waiting to go into the caves, so I purposely came on a weekday right after they opened during low tides. Luckily there was no line at all, and I was able to buy my ticket easily with a card when I got there. The cave itself is definitely cool to see once, but honestly, in my opinion, it felt a bit like a tourist trap. I just personally don't think it was worth the $13 admission. Still, I'm glad I finally went and experienced it for myself after hearing about it for so many years.
This is a souvenir shop but no one is here for the souvenirs. The line out front is to go down into the cave. Yes, you will wait in line. We waited about 20 minutes, which wasn't too bad. Prices right now are $13 per adult and $7 for kids. There is a parking garage directly opposite the store but it is $35 for the day. If you cannot find street parking, you can valet park in downtown La Jolla for about $20 for three hours, I think. So that is another option. There are, I believe, 145 steps down into the cave (and 145 tougher stairs headed back up, of course). Watch your step and also your head as you go down. The steps are very slippery in places and you will probably need to duck your head in a few other places where the ceiling gets lower. The "cave" itself is nice. You will probably see a bunch of crabs on the rocks and, if you are very lucky, a sea lion (we just saw crabs and kayakers). The waves come in and they splash, the waves head out, and rinse and repeat. You will probably spend 5 to 10 minutes on the deck in the cave watching the waves. Far more people than I expected were sucking wind big time heading up the stairs. I am no athlete and handled the stairs back up fairly easily. But prepare yourself, I guess. I did this experience once about 30 years ago and figured I was one and done. But I did it again because my companions had never done it. This is something to do but keep your expectations well in check. Remember, it is completely free to just walk along the boardwalk just south of the cave and see dozens of sea lions snoozing, barking, swimming, and fighting. I could watch them all day.
Checked out The Cave Store in San Diego--the one where you walk down through the shop and end up in a sea cave right at the ocean. Yes, that alone is pretty cool. From what we were told (and saw), you can sometimes spot seals or sea lions hanging out near the cave, depending on timing and luck. I wouldn't guarantee wildlife sightings, but the setting itself is the real draw. Is it worth the $10 per person? That honestly depends on you. Some people might say no--it's a short experience and mostly about the view. Personally, I enjoyed it. The cave is beautiful, the ocean views are legit, and it felt like one of those very "San Diego" moments. We went in the morning, which I highly recommend. It was cool, calm, and not crowded or blazing hot. That made a big difference. Important heads-up: wear good shoes. The stairs are steep, a bit damp, and can be slick in spots. Flip-flops would be a bad idea unless you like tempting fate. Bottom line: Not a must-do for everyone, but if you like unique views, coastal scenery, and quick experiences with a little adventure baked in, it's worth checking out at least once. I'm glad we did.
As a SD native I think going to the cave store to access the cave walk/steps every few years is always a fun treat and view! I will say the price increase has been a lot over the years. Paying over $5 to access the cave seems like a lot, but I understand that they do maintain the cave/steps/railings and it is a historical site and store. The views are great for a few minutes but it's not always a great wonder. I do suggest going early in the morning so it's easy to walk-in and buy your tickets. Also going early helps to avoid the crowd and not have too many people with you on the steps at the same time. I would suggest doing this at least once in your life! Just something fun to do and support local. The store has a lot of great souvenirs and goodies and the staff is always so friendly and welcoming.
Tourist store with access to a cave and some cool pics for $13? Yea I guess its worth it for the one time experience. Parking is extremely difficult to find and they do not have a public restroom. If you see a line outside, that's most likely the line to go into the cave. Workers are friendly and go over the rules with each group before heading into the store to collect payment. Once that's done, you head down the 145 stairs at your own pace
I found this place on Yelp and sounds something different. The price to enter is pretty expensive for what it is 20 for 1 adult and 1 kid, it's a one and done experience and don't think we will come back again. Although it's amazing to walk down the stairs to see the cave and ocean and occasionally wild animals (we got very lucky this time to see some seals up close). It's wet and dark and a lot of steps going back up, so wear comfortable outfits and shoes to avoid injuries.
The Cave Store in La Jolla aka the Gem is a unique little adventure. The descent down feels a bit stuffy at first, but once you commit to the stairs it becomes part of the experience. Heads up: the steps are slippery, so take it slow, and the climb back up is definitely a workout. Once you reach the bottom, the view opens up into something absolutely stunning. The cave and ocean feel almost unreal together Just be aware you might get a little wet depending on the tide level, so it's smart to check conditions before going.
5 months ago
This was a very unique and fun experience. Line to get into the store was pretty long. We waited for about 40-45 minutes. Experience itself is about 20 minutes total. We didn't know there was a charge to go inside, paid $12 each I think. But it was very cool to go down and see the cave. The ceilings get quite low so you do have to crouch down going up and down the stairs. There is also water that drips down from the humidity so the stairs are definitely wet in some areas. Hold onto the handrails for sure. Got some nice pictures looking out of the cave. read more
2 years ago
I moved here 3 years ago and have been wanting to go down into the cave ever since! I've been to the cave store multiple times, but never down into the cave. The lines on the weekends wrap around on the sidewalk. We grabbed our tickets and walked down the narrow tunnel. The steps got a bit slick towards the end, but it was worth it when we got to the end and it opened up into the cave! You are allowed 15 minutes down there. It is a smaller area, so make sure you get your photos in quickly! It's a neat experience, but it is a small space and you don't have too much time down there. read more
Came to see the store and the step down into the cave to see the ocean. Prices are a little high for the quick visual. There are 145 steps which are dark, wet, and slippery but there are handrails to assist you. A nice picturesque area at the end. Lots of neat items in their shop - you definitely need to look at all they have. Worth going to at least once. read more
1 year ago
It's not worth it. There's better picture locations for FREE. We expected a lot more, but you just go down some stairs and the pictures don't come out good if you're trying to be in it. Me and my friends don't recommend read more
It must be nice to run a shop where you can generate an income stream without having to sell anything! I mean, having access to a long staircase tunnel descending into the earth and emerging in a coastal cave filled with sleeping sea lions has got to be a nice perk! It's a fun little jaunt and an experience you are not likely to find elsewhere, and definitely worth seeing at least once, even if you are more likely to see a greater number of seals at the Children's Pool nearby. Just be careful: the descent is steep, narrow, and slick. Use the handrails! That said, there is more to the Cave Store than just the cave. Yes, it is a tourist-focused gift shop selling many things that are only tangentially related to La Jolla (crystals, jewelry, shells, etc), but there are plenty of items here for sale to help you commemorate your visit to this charming part of the California coast. read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Shannon S.
Hi Kristine,…
1 year ago
As natives of San Diego, we'd somehow never done this--and wow, if you haven't, you absolutely have to check it out! The Cave Store is the coolest experience ever. Be ready for a workout with all the stairs--you have to walk down and back up--but the view at the bottom is 100% worth it. Truly unforgettable! read more
7 months ago
1 year ago
Interesting experience in the cave tour. The only other cave I went to was in Spain which was larger, but this is quaint and a good walk. read more
There are seven different caves in and around La Jolla Cove, but only one of them, the Sunny Jim's Sea Cave, is accessible when you're on foot. It's initial use dates back to Prohibition in the 1920s. At that time, it was used by bootleggers and smugglers. The Cave Store is indeed a touristy spot, but you have to enter it to descend into the actual cave. There are one hundred and fourty-four steep, slippery steps on the way down, so exercise caution. Also note that what goes down must also climb up, so be prepared for a bit of exertion when you're done looking at the cave. Despite the need to visit the gift shop and the exertions called for by the stairs, the view from the bottom is pretty cool - you won't be sorry for partaking :-) read more
9 months ago
Finally got to this store while in La Jolla. The staff is super friendly. You need to listen to the introduction whether you are ready to go down 145 steps and come back. You can stay as long as you want and take pictures. Simply beautiful. Lots of nice of souvenirs to purchase in the store. They have military, senior and student specials which is nice. Great value for your experience. read more
There was a bit of a wait to go in and check out the cave but waiting isnt so bad when you can enjoy the stunning view out front of the gift shop. Its $10 to get in with a little over 140 steps down (and dont forget back up too!) The stairs werent super slick or slippery but its advised to hold onto a hand rail anyway and wear good shoes! The cost feels a bit high for an adventure that is less than the wait to do it, but its one of those things thats more of something that is cool to get to say youve done. You walk down the stairs and onto a platform overlooking the ocean and enjoy the view for a few minutes, the platform isnt huge but they seem to do a good job controlling the flow of people so there arent too many people on the platform at one time. Its sort of a novelty to do once. read more
3 years ago
Decided to come here as the name suggests: to see the La Jolla cave. The gift shop itself contains touristy items such as jewelry and toys but there's also a section where you can see the cave. The cost to go down the cave is $10/person (discounts for residents/UCSD students). Honestly, don't think this was worth the price I paid. The stairs going down to the cave is slippery, wet, and narrow and the view itself isn't that impressive. There's definitely better and other places in SD to capture the ocean views without needing to pay. Overall as a tourist, I think it was nice to see but probably wouldn't pay again to go back down. Pro-tip: bring a camera to take pics as the lighting is bad! read more
2 years ago
Although it is somewhat pricey and a short tourist attraction, it's definitely worth experiencing at least once. The steps leading down to the water provide a lovely view that is hard to come by at the beach. If you have a student ID, be sure to bring it, so you can get a discount on admission! read more
This was a nice little shop that had an entry down through a cave that came out on a platform by the water. You have to sign a waiver to go down the stairs and for adults it cost $10 There is quite a few stairs, and it can be a little slick, so hang onto the rail. When you get back up top, there's a gift shop where you can buy some jewelry or Momentos. This was a fun little excursion and I'm glad we did it. read more
Heard about this place through Reels and had to check it out because I've never been to La Jolla and apparently if you're a tourist, you need to go. It costs $10 to go through the cave. It takes about 5mins or so to get to the bottom. When you're there, it's beautiful, but not much to look at. The walk back is brutal since it's uphill so if you get tired easily, this may not be for you! The actual store has cute little things like ornaments, shot glasses, and other random trinkets. Was it worth the money? Probably not. Was I happy I did it? Sure. read more
2 months ago
Business owner information
Shannon S.
Hi Skip,…
10 months ago
10 months ago
3 years ago
San Diego Bucket List item! I have lived in San Diego almost my entire life and I had never even heard about the Cave Store until just recently. Will the Cave Store really is a store (gift shop), the main attraction is the actual cave that you can access from inside the store. The Sunny Jim's Sea Cave is a San Diego Historical Landmark that dates back to 1902. The cave was used back in the prohibition-era by smugglers. When you first walk into the store, there are tons of cool beach and San Diego souvenir type gifts. In the middle of the shop is a stairwell leading down to the cave. There is a $10 per person fee for going down into the cave that you will pay to the cashier first. The trek to the actual cave is a 145 step decent. They warn you to hold on the rails at all times. The cave is wet, VERY narrow. And as you get closer to the bottom you really have to watch your head. The stairwell is for everyone coming down or back up so it can get crowded and you really need to take your time. But once you get to the bottom, the view is incredible. There is a small deck at the bottom of the cave that takes you right over the water. The other warning is that there is always the potential for wildlife in the cave. On my trip, there was a sea lion sleeping on the rocks and tons of crabs climbing around the rocks. You are told before you enter to NOT provoke the wildlife. There is a 15 minute time limit for this experience, but there is also no one monitoring this. It's more of a courtesy so that others are able to experience as well. Honestly, 15 minutes is a long time down there. It's a beautiful view, great opportunity for pictures and selfies...and once that is done in your first 5 minutes, there's not much else. The hike back up the tunnel is the best. We watched as the groups before us came back up. Everyone out of breath and RED!!! LOL!!! But I am a big guy myself and I was able to do the climb back up with no problem. Still out of breath like everyone else, but I made it. Just take your time. There is no rush. It's also good to count your steps. Knowing there is 145 steps helped me to establish when I was have getting close. Very cool experience. For me it's a "one time" thing. Not something that I would visit regularly for myself. Probably only if I had out of town visitors that want to do the whole "Tourist" thing. The history of the tunnel is cool and besides the caves, the La Jolla surrounding area has a ton of things to do. So you can definitely make a day out of your trip and check out all of La Jolla. Parking is a challenge, but that is always the case in this area. read more
For $10, you can walk down a very tight wooden/concrete stairway to a cave. There is a discount for veterans and students. It's by far the easiest way to get to a sea cave and worth the admission if you enjoy that sort of thing. Just be aware that a lot the steps are very slick from the constant moisture, so needed to take it slow while holding onto to the hand rails. Once there, there is a small, sturdy wooden platform above the cave, to take low and high tide out of the equation. Strangely when we were down there, it didn't smell like a sea cave (decaying organic material left by the tide) and there weren't any animals in the cave at the time...which was fine, since it's the cave itself that is the attraction. Probably spent 15 minutes down there before heading back up. read more
10 months ago
Overpriced cool experience. Not too big of an area in the cave. Spending $16 a person. I feel like maybe 10$ or $5 would be reasonable. You're kind of in and out. read more
2 years ago
Good place to visit at least once! Unique experience, def a must do when visiting la Jolla. Price may have gone up throughout the years, but its all worth the climb down and up the stairs, just be careful as it does get slippery (why you sign a waiver) read more
2 years ago
Another San Diego hidden gem! My bestie had the bright idea for us to be tourists in our own city for her birthday! She stumbled upon this super cute store with awesome and unique jewelry, gifts, toys, amongst other cool things. The cave adventure itself is soooo fun! We had a blast! Disclosure! The stairs down to the cave are a super cool experience! You may be lucky and get a little visitor at the bottom of the cave! The walk back up may be intense for some. It's in the cave so nice and cool but I believe it's about 145 small stairs. If you get winded easily, just take your time. It's worth it, if you can tolerate the walk up. I absolutely loved it! And the staff were super sweet as well! Shot out to our fave Lucy! So fun and sweet! Only con: locals discount with ID would be nice. read more
3 years ago
A must do/see if your in San Diego. The parking can be a bit tricky. It's always so busy in this area. We found a parking garage across the street from the store. It was $39 for 24 hours but worth it because we had lunch in the area too. There was a pretty long line to get into the Cave Store, the line went pretty fast though. They took our names and how many in our group as we waited in line. It was a really cool experience to walk inside of a cave, my whole family loved it. They do charge. It was $10 for adults and $6 for minors. read more
The store is a cute trinket store. The cave tour is very short. For $10, you go down 143 steps into near bottom of the cave. At the wooden structure, you can look at the cave opening to the sea. It is worth doing once in your life, but not worth doing again. The parking around there is terrible. Only a few slots. The nearby underground parking charges more than $40 flat fee. read more
1 year ago
Our first time here last week. I highly recommend to come visit here at least once. It was $10 per person. The view is beautiful! Definitely fun for a date, spending time with friends or a family adventure. It is slippery so wear shoes. There was a line when we went so be prepared to wait. The items in their store were adorable. Service was good. read more
You wait in line outside the store and sign a waiver. And then pay $10 to walk down dark, wet and slippery stairs and you see a cave and then walk back up. Seems like the view of the cave from the sidewalk up the hill sums it right up. Wasn't much of a fan of the whole experience. But was always curious since I walked by so many times.... read more
Honestly exactly what we expected it to be lol but still really cool nonetheless! There was a line so be prepared for that, they stop letting people see the cave at 4:30. I'm not sure if he was the owner, but a nice guy came out to explain the rules and we had to give our names for a waiver, the stairs are wet so slipping hazard, and $10 per adult. I think it's worth it though! The views around it are great too! read more
There was a really long line when we first went, it took us about 30 minutes to enter the cave. Make sure your whole party is there in line or they will tell you that you have to wait in line again. It was $10 per person and if you are under 18 it is around 7. As you enter the cave, the steps have water on them and if you are tall then you have to slightly bend downward. Making your way down, you feel like it is mysterious and exciting. As you get to the end you will see an open area where on the left there crabs and other animals that can appear and a big open area where you can take pictures. It felt so peaceful. They only send about 20 people at a time to make sure it isn't super packed. I would definitely recommend everyone to try this place if they are visiting La Jolla. read more
We took a trip to La Jolla on Memorial Day weekend. We came to the Cave Store after eating breakfast. There is a line to get into the store to see the cave but it's worth it. We stood in line for about 30 minutes. It's a very popular attraction. It's open everyday from 9:00am-4:30pm. Adults cost $10 and kids $6. There are a total of 145 steps down into the cave. Of course what goes down, must go up. So, it's 290 steps total You can see sea lions and kayakers on this little observation deck. Once inside the cave store, it takes maybe 3-5 minutes to see the cave. The rest of the time is spent in the gift store. Definitely, something to do at least once. Enjoy! read more
2 years ago
If you have a few extra bucks it's pretty cool to see and do. If you don't have extra money then it's ok, you'll be fine without seeing it. The store has some fun things and the cave steps/view is fun. Glad we went but won't be an annual thing. read more
2 years ago
This was a cool little spot to visit on my trip to San Diego however it was very short lived because the cave was so small. The fee is $10 which I personally don't even think is worth it. It's literally like a 2min walk. People hype it up more than what it really is. It was a cool experience just not something I would do again. The store had cool stuff but nothing that really caught my attention read more
2 years ago
Its a pretty small cave, I thought itd be bigger. But its great for pictures and there even was a seal when I went! Just be careful since there's a lot of uneven steps to go down. Also go as early as you can because they cut off the line near the end read more
More info about Cave Store
1325 Coast Blvd
La Jolla, CA 92037
La Jolla
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(858) 459-0746
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http://www.cavestore.com/
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Can I bring my medium-sized dog inside?
YOu may bring them inside the store but only in the tunnel if you can carry them up and down. No exceptions.
Open on thanksgiving day?
I don't think so, they will most likely be open the day before & after.
Is the store still doing appointments only still? Or can we do walk ins for the tour?
I was there in May on a Friday and they were doing walk ins
Do you need to make a reservation to go down to the cave, still?
They accept walk-ins
What's the best time to go? Mornings or afternoon when the sun is setting? Thank you!
I think around sunset could be pretty but the stairs leading down to the cave are really dark so getting to the end of that and seeing the daylight was nice. I honestly think it's all hit or miss. I read that some people have seen seals on the rocks…
I have two huskies. Can they go into the cave with me? They are very well behaved and I am able to still have my hands free to hold.
Hi Alysa, thank you for your interest in the sea cave. We only allow dogs in the tunnel if they can be carried throughout the entire tour. Because of the physical exertion involved in the cave tours (including the climb of roughly 10 flights of…
Can I bring my dogs into the cave while carrying them with me?
As long as your dog is small enough to carry! We do advise you have hands free to hold onto the handrails as the stairs in the tunnel can get slippery.
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