I am pretty spoiled to have dived some waters where visibility is great so it was a bit…read moredisappointing to snorkel here this morning. I came here at 6:45am and was able to find parking literally right at the cove, so come early, its worth it. Lots of wildlife hanging out there. I saw a bunch of sea lions sleeping, tons of cormorants and lots of badass pelicans flying and scooping down for food. By 7am, I was in the water and there were already plenty of people here. I tried out my wetsuit with all my gear and everything worked well. I wasn't too hot in my 4/3 wetsuits. Visibility was crap today and couldn't see much. I'll have to come back again to see if visibility improves. I got out in 30 minutes, no point wasting time with cloudiness. I used the local showers to get the sand and saltwater off myself and gear. Public bathrooms also available. After getting out, I walked around a bit and it was a lovely day. Beautiful area, no wonder everyone likes coming here. I'll be back!

Okay, I'm gonna start off this review by saying everything is perfect (besides one CRUCIAL thing)…read more The atmosphere, the beds, the town, the restaurants, and the living room are great. The negative thing is the shower... This is the worst shower in the entire universe. This pathetic excuse for a shower was so bad that I started reconsidering life. The shower water, straight from the ocean, was freezing even at its max. There was no pressure. It was like 9 consecutive little droplets every 3 seconds and a little bit of Seal semen in the mix, because there is no way that shit was filtered. At first, when I turned on the shower, I didn't notice that the shower head was in the middle of the shower and on the ceiling, so the tiny droplets ricocheted onto my underwear. The problem with this was that this was, like, my last pair, so I had to sleep commando in the same bed as my brother. If you're going to have such a big shower, shouldn't it be angled and have pressure? I swear, the water radius was 20% of the shower, and the other 80% was just there for you to roam around. Don't even get me started on how it felt being under that 20%. It kind of felt like I was sleeping cutely on a beach chair, and some really suspicious obese man approaches me, with his belly hanging right over me. The obese man proceeds to start slowly crying as his wet belly starts dripping on me, and his eye water starts dripping on me too, as he begs for liposuction money. Some dude came over and "cleaned" our shower, and he essentially poked it with a stick and left the room all confident and shit. One of those seals 100 feet away from the hotel would have done a better job than this dude. It's not even just the shower. THE WHOLE BATHROOM SUCKS. 1. Why is the hand soap also body wash? (Weird.) 2. The toilet is in a very uncomfortable spot. 3. The music button on the mirror is unnecessary, and when you click it, it makes a very annoying noise. 4. The body lotion is closer to the toilet than the sink, which symbolizes the encouragement of masturbation. The sink water at its coldest is warmer than the shower at its max. I will admit that the sink does have a little less Seal semen than the shower, though. In conclusion, I will never go to San Diego ever again. If I ever do go to San Diego again, it's probably to harass the seals for what they and La Jolla did to me. Also, this entire area is anti-Dr. Pepper. I tried 6 times at 6 different restaurants, and all the waiters offered me flat Coca-Cola since they thought that was a proper substitute.

When we visited this beach for the first time almost 2 years ago, it was way too cold and…read morewindy...so we vowed to return for our 31st anniversary. Well, this time in September, the weather was perfect...and we were able to thoroughly enjoy the beach. I won't go into details since I already wrote a review, but while visiting in September, I will say that the crowd definitely surged up! While moderate during the week, it was a ZOO on a Saturday!! Since we stayed on the beach at the La Jolla Shores Hotel, we didn't have to buy any beach lounger or umbrella...as they provided all that for us. A major plus to staying in a beach-front hotel. All I can say is that this beach had a quintessential Californian vibe! Such a picturesque, cove setting on both ends of the beach...with its long stretch of sand, crashing waves. However, since it's on the Pacific, the waters tend to be very cold...so be warned! I spent at least 4 out of 8 days here...and my husband, who's a major "Water Baby", spent at least 6-7 days. We've been to many beaches, some better than this even...but we felt that we had the most classic, beach experience here.

This beach along with the adjacent Kellogg Park made for a lovely stop during our recent visit to…read moreSan Diego and La Jolla. The parking lot did not have space available on a Monday afternoon, but we found free street parking in the neighborhood a couple blocks away. Restrooms and wash stations were located near the playground and grassy field, and lifeguards were on duty with the beach crowd stretching for miles on this warm summer afternoon. We walked toward the sand castle house and settled where it was a little more secluded from all the loud families with kids near the main park. And the water was nice and warm with gentle waves as we swam and waded along the shore to cool off from the humidity and heat of the sun. We also relaxed and napped on our beach mat while picnicking in the sand under the shade of an umbrella we brought, a life saver with the sunshine beaming from above. The La Jolla Underwater Park and Ecological Reserve are cool features to this beach area as well, though snorkeling gear is helpful for exploring in more depth. They seem to offer kayak rentals on site too, with plenty of visitors enjoying watersports while we were there. The place was more congested than we had hoped on a weekday, but all in all, we still had a good time.

Sandy beach La Jolla…read moreHidden gem Small parking Residential area Small beach Waves crashing rocks Step by rip No restrooms No trash cans Walking with views on top Sun bathing beach and rocks Lifeguards durin

I visited Windansea Beach for a friend's go away party, and it completely lived up to its…read morereputation. I even conducted a survey at a Super Bowl party, and Windansea Beach came out on top as the most-loved beach among the locals. I truly enjoyed strolling along the coastline and taking in the beauty of Windansea Beach. While sitting on a bench, I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely couple, and we struck up a wonderful conversation. We all shared the same feeling -- this beach has something truly special about it. It's the kind of place that creates a connection, not just with nature, but also with the people who appreciate its unique charm. Unlike many traditional sandy beaches, Windansea's rocky shoreline gives it a unique character. Walking along the coast, watching waves crash against the rocks, and seeing surfers embrace the powerful ocean made the experience unforgettable. I've visited countless beaches around the world, and Windansea Beach easily ranks among my top 10 favorites. From the moment I arrived, I could feel a different kind of energy. I feel lucky that I can drive to this beautiful beach any day. Counting my blessings. I took off one star because the parking situation was not ideal. Finding a spot can be challenging. The traffic is also a problem. It is all worth it though.

City of San Diego dog hours:…read more Summer Hours (April 1 - Oct 31): Dogs are allowed before 9:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. Winter Hours (Nov 1 - March 31): Dogs are allowed before 9:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m. My dog got the zoomies (excited perhaps?) just being on the sand. We saw a beautiful sunset and a half moon.

Love the chill vibe of this spot. Sandy entry into the water. Caroline's is a great choice for…read morebreakfast or lunch.

* catching up on old backlogged drafts so this review may be a bit out of date…read more Stumbled upon this beach after getting food nearby and decided to post up here for the day and had a lovely time. We went in early August and brought our snorkel gear. Saw lots of little crabs and rock dwelling critters along the rocks on the right side, lots of seaweed/kelp/plant matter to swim through but a good amount of bright yellow garibaldi poking out from them as well! The best part was the harbor seals!! There were some lounging up on rock platforms and we had one curious little guy swimming along with us as well snorkeled the area. The beach was relatively empty on a week day although there were a few people being annoying to the lounging harbor seals and getting a bit too close!

Nice free activity. The beach was closed near Sun set time since there were seals on the shore. We…read morelooked at them for quite a while. And not too crazy crowded. Can get a bit chilly towards the night. There are bathrooms on site in case the tea you drank is done brewing. Street parking can be found ....eventually

Sand is different than other beaches around definitely worth visiting at low tide…read more Will find sea shells most likely at low tide.

Beautiful, clean beach. I've been here many times but it is especially busy in the summer months…read more Finding parking may be challenging during this time.

TikTok took me to Blacks Beach for a hike and I had no idea what I signed up for…read more The hike itself was actually scary but so fun. We took the route that involved a little rock climbing, super slippery paths, and at one point we literally crossed a narrow plank with ropes and I was questioning my life choices lol. But once we finally got down to the beach... wow. I was SO excited. All that hard work actually paid off. The beach was beautiful and it felt so rewarding getting there. Then we started walking further down and suddenly... I realized there were a bunch of completely naked people everywhere. I had NO idea Blacks Beach was a nude beach. I was shocked for like 2 seconds and then started laughing because out of all the things I expected after surviving that hike... that was not one of them. 10/10 experience. Scary, fun, unexpected, and definitely memorable.

A great place to be on a sunny day. The hike down the cliff is a bit of a hike but well worth it…read moreand actually its a fantastic leg workout. The beach is really clean with most beach goers carrying there picnic trash back up. Volley ball games usually take place in the summer. The views are not to be missed. The sun reflecting on the water in the late afternoons is mesmerizing so bring your best sun glasses & suntan lotions. For the shy person the RIGHT side as you climb down the cliff facing the water is for those who prefer bathing suits, Speedos & bikinis. To the LEFT side of the beach facing the water is clothing optional. Usually its a bit farther. Great that nobody bothers you & its a safe space for that all over tan. Sometimes beverages are sold on the beach discreetly, however, I'd recommend bringing your own & lots of water. Its a good idea toto bring food, snacks, fruit and sandwiches... insect repellant if needed. *True, sometimes it is a bit overcast so its best to check the weather report before leaving. *Free parking is available above the beach. Please be considerate while parking in an organized fashion in consideration of others. Thanks. Enjoy the beach & surf!!

Some of our planned excursions fell through, so we had to pivot and found this option on Yelp! It…read morewent with it as it was the only tour group that had a three person option (the world was not built with odd numbered families in mind)! We booked the tour knowing it was a bit overcast, choppy and the caves were likely closed but boy were we in for a treat. Nick was out guide and sadly the other couple with us were not able to join but that meant we had a private tour! On our way out we were treated to. Few dolphins. When we got to the caves the waves were just calm enough for a quick in and out. Then on our way back green sea turtle popped his head out of the water and swam under our boat! It was pretty incredible! Nick was an awesome guide! Super knowledgeable and dropped facts throughout the journey. We took my 7,10 and 13 year old sons and they all loved it. Not a bad pivot!!

We had such a great time on this tour! Got to go in one cave. Wish we got to do more caves but we…read morehad to go in 1-2 kayaks at a time and paddle back out. I thought we would be paddling thru multiple caves but that was not the case. Jade let us get out of our kayaks and swim, and I ended up capsizing our kayak when getting back in. She stayed super calm and helped us both get back in. If she wasn't as calm, I would've freaked out more! But we didn't capsize going in and out of the waves, which is the most common place to capsize!

What a hidden gem, at least for me! Maybe because it is so difficult to park on that area I never…read moreventured to explore what was there or how to reach there and I was content with seeing the whales from far (as I am not that interested in them that I am with the nature surrounding them). Finally, I had to go to a job interview and the parking nightmare was solved for me so I only had to walk a bit and found the 'hiking' path which is actually more a waking trail (but sturdy shoes are better than light sneakers to avoid slippery terrain). Just gorgeous, sunny, not crowded (again, I didn't go to the seals section, just wanted to walk and admire the ocean and the beautiful houses and the blue skies). Very soothing. There are several benches to stop and medidate if you are into this, as well as a commemorative rock dedicated to the Kumeyaay native Americans that lived here. You should expect to visit this between 30-60 minutes as is not a very long trail.

We lived over the La Jolla Underwater Park for a year. It's like waking up every morning looking…read moreinto a vast aquarium! From our balcony, we saw tiger sharks, green sea turtles, Garibaldi fish, and more ... including more than one whale offshore. We had a 'pet" osprey outside our window who'd share dinner with us -- OK, he was eating his fresh-caught fish while we had dinner.

This is a pretty beach just south of the village. It is small and there are lifeguards in the…read moreafternoon. Some of the waves get pretty big & a bit gnarly so when the surf is up, it is not great for little kids. Surfers, strong swimmers & beach activities/sunbathing are best for this little swath of coastline. There is no bathroom on site and you have to park on the street and then walk to the sand. Parking can be tight because this is a residential neighborhood. Food is a short walk away. Peace.

I can attest -- this is a hidden gem. I've been to basically all parts of La Jolla and stumbled…read moreupon this beach. I know it existed and was able to get to it before, but the other entrance I went to was closed off. So, I finally found the opening and it was great -- not busy at all and very peaceful.