A paradise perched on the edge of the Pacific.

La Jolla is a jewel, sparkling with theater, art, fine dining and boutique shopping. Its beaches and shoreline offer some of the area’s best outdoor recreation: Golfing, hang gliding, swimming and surfing are a part of daily life. Take a stroll through this world-class village set beside the azure blue waters of La Jolla Cove. This is a special place you’ll always remember.

Boutiques and Galleries
La Jolla’s spectacular streets are lined with high-end boutiques, antique stores and art galleries. Begin the shopping tour where Prospect Street and Girard Avenue meet. Try Lucy (7868 Girard Ave.) for cozy, comfortable fitness apparel and My Own Space (7840 Girard Ave.) for fun, retro-style furniture and home accessories. Up the road you’ll find home décor items at Nestlife (7636 Girard Ave.), and rare first editions at D.G. Wills (7461 Girard Ave.), an independent bookstore that regularly hosts signings by best-selling authors. Read a few chapters over a cappuccino at adjacent Pannikin Café (7458 Girard Ave.). The Ascot Shop (7750 Girard Ave.) and Jos. A. Bank (7726 Girard Ave.) feature classic menswear, while Armani Exchange (7802 Girard Ave.) carries the latest styles for both sexes. Corrine (7620 Girard Ave.) has high-end women’s wear, and designer Laura Gambucci’s creations (7629 Girard Ave.) are simply stunning.

Prospect Street also boasts a bevy of boutiques, including Nicole Miller (1275 Prospect St.) for women’s clothing and Charriol (1227 Prospect St.) for luxury watches and fine leather goods. Nearby Studio Anastasia (1025 Prospect St.) offers aesthetic services courtesy of eyebrow-shaper-to-the-stars Anastasia Soare.

The village offers more than 30 art galleries, with collections that range from rock ‘n’ roll photography to artworks by Picasso. Must-see galleries include: Fingerhut Gallery (1205 Prospect St.), with illustrations by the famed Dr. Seuss; La Jolla FiberArts (7644 Girard Ave.), featuring handwoven art; Morrison Hotel Gallery (1230 Prospect St.), with classic rock photography by Henry Diltz, Jim Marshall and guest photographers; Quint Contemporary Art (7739 Fay Ave.), offering avant-garde exhibitions by Southern California artists and international talents, and Joseph Bellows Gallery (7661 Girard Ave.), featuring photography and vintage prints.

great find
ROCK ON
This retail treasure atop a flight of marble steps whisks shoppers away from La Jolla’s bustle and into a more intimate setting: Elizabeth’s Closet. This walk-in wardrobe offers a plethora of urban-chic goods ranging from distressed, embossed leather belts to ultra-feminine pointelle camisoles. Owner Elizabeth Patterson—whose business partner and fiance is pro footballer Antonio Gates of the San Diego Chargers—shows off her bold personal fashion sense in the shop’s rocker-esque prints and accessories. Ladies’ apparel includes dresses by Catherine Malandrino as well as stylish tunics and girlish pink boxers, while menswear ranges from quality denim to graphic tees to cozy sweaters. This fall, be on the lookout for trendy leather jackets by Joie and loads of cashmere everything. 1261 Prospect St. #2, La Jolla, 858.459.4673. —Sara Park

Just a short drive up Torrey Pines Road is La Jolla Shores, home to many surf/kayak rental shops and the Shoppe at 2210 (2210 Avenida de la Playa), featuring casual and elegant fine European designers, such as Sonia Rykiel, Valentino, Geiger of Austria and Christian Lacroix.

Arts, Culture and Science
The University of California, San Diego (9500 Gilman Drive) is home to one of the best theaters in the country: La Jolla Playhouse. The theater was founded in 1947 by actors Mel Ferrer, Dorothy McGuire and La Jolla native Gregory Peck. Each season, performances have included classic and daring productions; many have gone straight to Broadway. The Stuart Collection, a group of site-specific outdoor sculptures, adds to the artistic setting at UCSD. A 24-foot giant teddy bear made of boulders and a 560-foot-long Snake Path are among the artworks placed throughout the 1,200-acre campus.

Another UCSD landmark is the Geisel Library, named in honor of children’s author Theodor Geisel and his wife, Audrey. Geisel, the late La Jolla native better known as Dr. Seuss, is fondly remembered throughout this community. The futuristic, diamond-shaped library, designed by William Pereira, houses some original writings and artwork by the author.

Just north of the UCSD campus is the Salk Institute for Biological Studies (10010 N. Torrey Pines Road), an architectural masterpiece designed by Louis Kahn. The scientific research complex was named in honor of Dr. Jonas Salk, who discovered a vaccine for polio and later lived in La Jolla. Tours examining the campus’ architecture are available to the public (858.453.4100 x1287).

Southwest of the campus sits Scripps Institution of Oceanography (8602 La Jolla Shores Drive) and neighboring Birch Aquarium (2300 Expedition Way). Both are among the best centers in the world to learn about ocean life and science.

In La Jolla village, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (700 Prospect St.) examines the boundaries of modern art. Housed in the former home of Ellen Browning Scripps, the museum’s galleries feature an unparalleled ocean view. Explore the large-scale artwork on the west side of the museum, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The sculpture made of boats and nautical parts, was created by Nancy Rubins to honor the great impact that fishing, boating and the Navy have had on this region.

The Athenaeum Music and Arts Library (1008 Wall St.) features year-round art exhibitions, as well as jazz and chamber concerts, and a treasure trove of books and records.

In addition to Dr. Seuss, many well-known names have called La Jolla home. Actress Raquel Welch, motivational speaker Tony Robbins and author Anne Rice have each lived in La Jolla, and sports broadcaster Dick Enberg is a current resident.

Recreation
La Jolla is a hub of outdoor recreation. The Cove (1100 Coast Blvd.) is a haven for swimmers and snorkelers; La Jolla Shores (8200 Camino del Oro) has easy access for scuba divers; and Windansea (6800 Neptune Place), immortalized in Tom Wolfe’s The Pump House Gang, is the ultimate beach for surfing and body boarding.

Children’s Pool, located at the small cove next to Ellen Browning Scripps Park, is a place to observe wildlife, particularly the harbor seals that have taken over the area. The seals’ arrival has caused an ongoing community debate: Some residents want to reclaim the cove for a children’s pool; others are advocates for the seals.

Looking for a quick bite to eat after spending the morning at the cove? Try one of the many restaurants along Prospect Street or Coast Boulevard. Many offer mesmerizing, panoramic views of the blue waters of the cove.

Torrey Pines
Torrey Pines is just north of La Jolla village. There, you’ll find the 2,000-acre Torrey Pines State Reserve, which offers eight miles of hiking trails winding through wind-sculpted pines and wildflowers. Located off Coast Highway 101 between La Jolla and Del Mar, the reserve was established to protect the nation’s rarest pine tree, the Pinus torreyana. The visitors center, a pueblo-style structure at the top of Park Road, is available to help with guided tours.

One of the reserve’s trails leads directly to Torrey Pines State Beach, located on North Torrey Pines Road. The beach, which spans 4.5 miles from Del Mar to the cliffs at Torrey Pines Mesa, is a great place for swimming, boating and fishing. You can also catch these amazing ocean views from up high, via a hang glider or paraglider. The Torrey Pines Glider Port and Flight Park (2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive) offers flights (tandem, too) for novices and extreme adventure seekers.

Adjacent Blacks Beach is a 2-mile sandy strip known for great surfing—and nude sunbathing (which is “not officially sanctioned”). Getting to Blacks isn’t easy. If you can, park near the Glider Port and hike to the bottom of the bluffs, paying close attention to warning signs about unstable cliffs. You can walk a mile from Torrey Pines State Beach, but access may be blocked by high tides.

The Torrey Pines Golf Course provides golfers with the ultimate indulgence: two courses with stunning ocean views. The internationally known landmark is the site of the PGA tour’s annual Buick Invitational and the 2008 U.S. Open.

Golden Triangle
The area east of La Jolla village is known as the Golden Triangle, bordered by Interstate 5 on the west, Interstate 805 on the east and State Route 52 on the south. This triangular area includes upscale hotels, fine dining and great shopping. The shopping district revolves around Westfield University Towne Center (4545 La Jolla Village Drive), which locals call “UTC.” This outdoor mall, anchored by Macy’s and Nordstrom, features dozens of eateries and retail storefronts, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Chuao Chocolatier, Coach and Pottery Barn. From the village, go north on Torrey Pines Road and turn right on La Jolla Village Drive.