La Jolla

Billing itself as "The Jewel of San Diego," of which it's a part, affluent La Jolla exudes its own French Riviera feel, with its dramatic cove-indented coastline and Mediterranean and Modernist architecture. San Diego's equivalent of Beverly Hills one-ups its rival with some of California's best surfing and an irresolutely water-based culture. Ellen Browning Scripps Park offers sheltered snorkeling and diving, as do the warm waters of La Jolla Cove. In late afternoon, you'll want to hike the bluffs of Torrey Pines State Reserve and follow the Guy Fleming Trail for the magnificent coastal vistas, best enjoyed at sunset. Inland, La Jolla is ...

Billing itself as "The Jewel of San Diego," of which it's a part, affluent La Jolla exudes its own French Riviera feel, with its dramatic cove-indented coastline and Mediterranean and Modernist architecture. San Diego's equivalent of Beverly Hills one-ups its rival with some of California's best surfing and an irresolutely water-based culture. Ellen Browning Scripps Park offers sheltered snorkeling and diving, as do the warm waters of La Jolla Cove. In late afternoon, you'll want to hike the bluffs of Torrey Pines State Reserve and follow the Guy Fleming Trail for the magnificent coastal vistas, best enjoyed at sunset. Inland, La Jolla is known for its wide open spaces, such as Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve, offering mountain bike trails. And hikers can work out ascending Soledad Mountain. The La Jolla district is home to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Stephen Birch Aquarium & Museum, which enthralls and educates youngsters and adults alike. Speaking of education, the leafy University of California San Diego campus makes for great strolling, with time to admire the Stuart Collection of Sculpture. All this, and the fabulous museums and historic districts of San Diego are a stone's throw away.

About the Expert

Christopher P. Baker has authored guidebooks to Costa Rica, California, and various Caribbean islands for Frommer's, Lonely Planet, and National Geographic, among others.