Children's Pool La Jolla
Beach · San Diego ·

Children's Pool La Jolla

Beach · San Diego ·

Seals & sea lions sunbathe on rocks, enjoy ocean views

seals and sea lions
watch the sunset
sea wall
free parking
take photos
walkway
beautiful views
pupping season
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null
Children's Pool La Jolla by null

Information

834 Coast S Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037 Get directions

Information

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834 Coast S Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037 Get directions

+1 619 235 1169
sandiego.gov

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Last updated

Jan 13, 2026

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21 Best Things to Do in San Diego, From Museum Visits to Scenic Hikes | Condé Nast Traveler

"Once intended as a protected swimming area, the Children’s Pool now serves as a beloved vantage point to watch seals sunbathe on the rocks and is a popular photo stop in La Jolla Cove." - Archana Ram

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-things-to-do-in-san-diego-from-museum-visits-to-scenic-hikes
Children's Pool La Jolla

Robert C.

Google
WOW!!!!! This is my absolute favorite place to visit! Take a nice walk through La Jolla Cove. Nice large concrete walkway right along the coast. The Childrens pool has a huge sea wall you can walk out to the point. Its quite exciting when the waves are big and they splash off the wall. Many seals and sea lions visit the cove and they love the Childrens pool beach. Its fun to watch the young seals play in the surf and somtimes there are some huge Sea lions around!

Christina P.

Google
Great place to just walk and enjoy the evening and take visitors from out of town! The smell is strong but easy to get used to as you enjoy the bird watching, seals, and sea lions swimming in the surf below. Parking can be a little tricky but not impossible if you are patient. Plenty of bars/restaurants/ice cream shops nearby.

Elton A.

Google
Always a fun place to visit. Unfortunately, the seals have taken over …so no more swimming.

D J

Google
Awesome place to see sea lion 🦭 and sun set. Parking was a headache though. We parked at nearby garage for $15 per day with no in out privileges.

Benny O

Google
Wow, wow wow this place is amazing. Beautiful the scenery watching the Marine light sea lions are close beautiful areas to take family pictures restrooms nearby.

Evan E.

Google
So much fun capturing the waves crash against the seawall. Beautiful place to watch the sunset and sealife - highly recommend!

Yachai R.

Google
Such a perfect area to see the seals! We were also able to see people fishing in their scuba gear.

Steve

Google
Great place to come and look at the seals. Arrive early to heal a parking spot. First time I came there was an abundance of seals, 2nd time I visited there wasn't many. Be careful walking along the seawall, you may get wet.
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Valerie T.

Yelp
If you've never been to Hawaii, picture this: crystal-blue waters and sandy shores so stunning they could've been lifted straight from a Waikiki postcard. That's exactly what the Children's Pool looked like on this day. For as long as I've lived here, I'd never seen the water this clear or the beach this free of the usual sea lion sunbathers who normally claim every inch of sand. I was completely mesmerized, the kind of awestruck that makes you want to dive right in, snorkel around, and let your inner mermaid run wild. Even better? Watching families and kids splash around, laughing and enjoying the pool it felt like the beach came alive again. If you do visit there are public restrooms and outdoor showers to rinse off after splashing in the water. A quick word of advice: if you do visit and the sea lions are hanging out, please give them space. They may look cute and sleepy, but they can get extremely feisty. Don't feed the wildlife, and always leave the beach cleaner than you found it. That way, this magical spot stays beautiful and safe for everyone human and sea lion alike for years to come.
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Michael G.

Yelp
It was only recently that we discovered this part of La Jolla, which is another beautiful spot to enjoy the beauty of La Jolla and the sea lions. When driving to GIRARD AVE , turn to COAST BLVD and drive all the way down until you see this Facility called the CHILDRENS POOL. You won't miss it because you'll see a lot of people looking for Parking or already posing for Pictures. Coming from the Parking lot we thought it was just an Ocean view we gonna see, getting closer people are walking down to get to the small Bridge. My family enjoys the view and the closer we kept something to see and take pics of the Sealions and Seals . So walking towards the Bridge it felt so nice the Breeze and a little bit of the water splashing on you. This spot of La Jolla became our regular stop, it's really beautiful here.
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Taura G.

Yelp
It was Seal Pupping Season in June and this brings out so many large crowds of people to the Children's Pool and to La Jolla Cove. The seals are at the cove now and along the walkway/boardwalk they are pupping/birthing. The smell is very pungent and not very pleasant. This does not sway tourists and visitors from coming out to witness the live births. Back in the day we would come here to the Children's Pool to swim and avoid the current and high surf with the sea wall that is there. There were no seals nor sea lions coming here in the space. Now they are safely habituating in 2 larger areas on the outside of the Cove and the Children's Pool. This place is nostalgic and people have returned to both the Cove and the Children's Pool to enjoy the space.
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Bryan And G.

Yelp
We came back for a SECOND TIME, but this time it was sunny, sunny and, and sunny!!! It was about 12:30 PM, and somewhat crowded. I stayed up top. As I sat up top, my partner and sister in law, walked out on the wall!!! It was fun to watch them walk out there. It was also fun to watch the seals, AND HOW THE PEOPLE WERE LEAVING THEM ALONE!!! We didn't find real close parking, or for that matter, DISABLED PARKING, but we did find parking. We ended up walking a small loop, not long at all. It was really pleasant!!!
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Madeleine L.

Yelp
Really great place to take a walk or to take the kids to see nature in action. The sea lions are loud but the seals aren't. Only drawback is the amount of people in the summer, making parking truly impossible. Go during and off time, if possible.
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Anita L.

Yelp
Lovely beach in La Jolla with Lifeguard station right above. While this is a "beach", it is usually closed to the public between December to May during seal pupping season. Even if it is open to the public, I don't recommend letting your children loose here, because seals are in the area year-round. However, it is still a nice spot to visit when you are in the area. You can watch people fish at the seawall, look at wildlife or just enjoy the peaceful beach and waves in general.
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Ping L.

Yelp
A relatively small beach down a cove surrounded by impressive cliffs with various erosion patterns. We visited there on a Sunday around 1:30 pm. It was difficult to fine parking as the shore line was full of pedestrians. The water looked clean, a bit of seaweed but it wasn't that crowded on the beach partly because of the warning sign saying that the bacterial counts were high. The beach site has restrooms but relatively primitive if you are used to the regular kind. Shower stalls are also available and you have to line up for its use. There were a few seals lying lazily on a rock a bit out from the beach. More seals were seen further out on the manmade bank guarding the mouth of the cove. You can walk on top of the bank and watch the seals close by. There are many more beaches along the coast line but only a few were opened to the public. It was a nice place to visit especially to watch the waves come in from an expansive sea vista.
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Susan H.

Yelp
The pups are in season! The beach was closed but we got to see the baby and mama pups interacting which is super cute! Pulping season is from Dec to May.
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Monique W.

Yelp
The Children's Pool in La Jolla is so much fun! The beach was closed when my husband and I visited La Jolla in early April, but it was amazing to see the seals! During the Harbor Seal Season, which runs between December 15 thru May 15, the Children's Pool is closed. The cliffs and the coves are spectacular. There are great walking paths that you can traverse in the La Jolla area. The Children's Pool area has a few benches where you can sit down and overlook the ocean. You can watch a lot of the seals and some sea lions just sleeping on the beach! The small beach is partially protected by a seawall. It's a great area for scuba divers since the reefs are just offshore. There are several other beaches nearby, such as Shell Beach to the north and wipeout Beach to the south. Children's Pool is one of the beaches that has a permanent lifeguard station. It's not active during the Harbor Seal Season. This place was wonderful to visit. If you're visiting San Diego or in the La Jolla area, I'd highly recommend visiting the children's pool!
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Samantha V.

Yelp
This is a beautiful walk down the coast to see the seals! Recently had some visitors in town interested in seeing the seals, so we headed down to La Jolla. I wasn't really sure where to go (having visited over 15 years ago) so I navigated to the Children's Pool area. We were able to find parking right before sunset, right across the street, as it was pleasantly busy for a Sunday evening in November. I wish I had known there were grassy areas for a picnic so we could've caught more daylight to watch the seals! So heads up to you there's places to play and picnic and run around. As for the children's pool, I know there's some history behind it but now it seems that the seals have taken over. There is a rope that says to stay 50 feet from the seals, and it was REALLY disappointing to see folks sneak wayyy closer than that for their photos. I can promise you, your photo is not that impressive/important for your social media friends if it means you have to get close and stress out the sleeping seals. It was really wild to see some folks also walking on slippery rocks at low tide just to get close to these wild animals. I hope it continues to remain open so everyone can enjoy it.
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Tony H.

Yelp
Children's pool is located pretty much in the same area as the La Jolla Cove. It's a good viewing area to see seals and sea lions although when I came in January most of them were hanging out by the cove. During the winter to early spring beach access to children's pool is off limits since many of the seals and sea lions have their pups with them. Even without access to go down to the beach for a closer looks this is a great location to relax, take in the views, and enjoy nature.
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Sarah T.

Yelp
Beautiful! Enjoyed a walk and weather was perfect. Clean and many benches to sit if you want to just enjoy the area
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Melissa B.

Yelp
California 01-2024 Seal Island at LA Jolla near San Diego. Tony and I happened upon this right along side the beach. You can literally just walk up to it. It's absolutely Free and so is the parking. It's amazing to see the Seals and Sea Lions playing in the water and relaxing on the beach. The seals are more playful. The sea lions more noisy
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Joel C.

Yelp
When you come to the many Oceanside parks for the kids there are those that have the jellyfish that maybe floating in the tide pools. The many areas of the beach are are especially marked for the seals and and the bulks that come to raise their young is never come into those areas of the nursing areas The history along the beaches you find the many things from the ocean life to the wayward sandshark and the sting ray hiding you need to shuffle your feet to let them know thst you are there . Yes for the beaches you Also have the times of dangerous things of stepping on nails or lit ciggerets that is why there is no smoki.ng or drinking on the beach due to the many problems it causes. From the many walks alo.g the beach the mSny beaches are enforcing the rules and if you have beer on the beach that is a hefty fine to make beach areas much safer . The children's pool has been one with a long line of line of history from the 1800s when the first beach users came to the beach in the long suit size dresses and the men wore the PJ style style swim suit. For the
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Jason V.

Yelp
It may be awkwardly named (don't ask me why, I'm not a local), but the real draw here, besides the spectacular view and accessible beach) is, let's face it...the seals. Just about anytime you visit, you are guaranteed to see hordes of seals, young and old, lounging, resting and/or barking as they climb all over each other, take in the sun, and bask in the attention of all the tourists (myself included). It's free, it's fun. Just keep your hands to yourself!
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Julie D.

Yelp
Loved stopping by. The Children's Pool had great views of the ocean and was great to see seals and sea lions! It was fun to watch them all sunbathe, swim, and to hear the sea lions vocalize! Definitely a great place to see wildlife. Lots of walking paths along the coast and plenty of parking.
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Nick P.

Yelp
The Children's pool also known as Casa Beach, is worth a visit if you're already by La Jolla Cove. It's a small beach area where you can see seals and sea lions swimming and lying on the beach. Free admission. You should be able to find free parking nearby, try to avoid going during the busier hours of the day. With the weather in San Diego, there is never a bad time to go. I recommend coming here to enjoy the beautiful views and capture some awesome pictures.
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David S.

Yelp
This is a very cool place to observe harbor seals and their pups whether they are on the beach or playing nearby in the ocean (December - May) in San Diego. My wife and I went on a beautiful day in February. Thirty to forty adults seals and another dozen pups easily spotted on the beach or within the ancient breakwater.
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Juri P.

Yelp
Parking is a big of a nightmare. But the walking all along the road that leads to the Children's Pool and beyond is beautiful. A real jewel of San Diego
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Craig Y.

Yelp
Located off 850 Coast Blvd, in La Jolla. This is a little pool area where the sea lions come to lay on the beach. Free parking but spaces are limited. You can catch a good sunset from here as well as seeing all the sea lions laying on the beach sleeping or drying off. There is also restrooms below the Lifeguard station. Overall a cool spot to catch a sunset and possibly sea lions sleeping or drying off on the beach .
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Mark J.

Yelp
Super cute place to come and visit the lazy seals What more can I say except these seals are fun to watch and basically are napping constantly.
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Ben A.

Yelp
After our Big Sur reservations were canceled due to COVID (aside: they opened restaurants but cancelled CAMPING? What kind of horse manure is that?) we opted to Air B&B a house in San Diego and try to salvage a vacation. The house is a whole other review... but suffice to say our day at "Children's Pool" was a novelty at best. Heading down on a Friday helped a little bit with parking-- we actually found a couple of 2 Hour spots just down the street. Thanks to the Mayor of SD for directing local parking enforcement to lighten up, because we had occasion to stay a little longer than posted. A short walk to this diminutive stretch of imported sand just behind a somewhat ugly concrete break wall, Children's Pool is one of the small shore access spots here in La Jolla proper at the base of the cliffs. It is well-known for being a harbor seal and sea lion haul out area, and it has the stank to prove it; it seems the pinnipeds don't miss an opportunity to vacate their bowels on the rocks, and the stench is palpable. Considering this factoid, Children's Pool has one of the highest bacteria counts of any CA beach, regularly earning F scores from water quality organizations. All that aside, this seems to be a big draw. There's a big lifeguard station on the bluff above, and they bark orders at people for most of your stay: "Get away from that nesting seagull!" "Kayaker, stay outside the break!" "Guys, you can't launch your kayak here!" The last one was classic SD lifeguard awesomeness, as they watched two divers set up their inflatable, load all their gear, walk it down to the water, and then and ONLY THEN told them they were prohibited from launching. Awesome move. Baby seagulls and baby humans and quite a few people trying to find something to do here. You can't really swim, there's no waves, and the water gets deep in a hurry. Maybe you can take a couple of photos here? To send to Aunt Gertrude in Greenfield, IN? I idly walked the short beach along the tide line looking for sea glass and a few shells. Found a baby abalone she'll and a few decent pieces of glass, so not a total waste of time. Thought about walking through the cave on the north end, but wasn't motivated I guess. It's sandy. There's ocean there. But this is not a beach.
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Elizabeth M.

Yelp
This is an excellent spot to visit. I arrived around 8 a.m. mid-June, before anyone else arrived, and there were numerous seals on the beach, some of them just waking up. As a bonus, there were pelicans. Once people started to arrive, the seals started to go back into the water, so get there early, before there's a crowd. You don't have to go close to the spot to get an awesome view (and you shouldn't--please observe the ropes!). There are plenty of benches and viewing spots from above.

Lola F.

Yelp
Please go see the sea lions if you're able to. Accidentally came across them and instantly brought me to tears by how cute they are but DAMN DO THEY STANK. worth it
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Vlad V.

Yelp
When you visit San Diego, you'll hear a lot about La Jolla. This well-to-do suburb of San Diego is known for two things: its picturesque beaches and its sea lions/seals. Children's Pool is a great spot to check out the seals and sea lions. You'll learn the difference between the two animals (even though they look the same, there are three main differences that will help you differentiate between them). Beyond the animals, you'll also have scenic views. Children's Pool, while not exactly a pool for children, is a great spot in La Jolla to get yourself a good helping of the animals and the views.
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Patrick M.

Yelp
The Children's Pool is awesome! It's the best place in San Diego to see a bunch of sea lions. It's not the kind of place you hang out for more than 10-15 minutes but it's really cool to get to see the sea lions all takin it easy on the beach. The baby sea lions are really cute and there's always a few of them around.
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Kathy T.

Yelp
I have not been to the Children's Pool in a very long time, at least for several years. It made me very sad to be here the other day, for so many reasons. The beach was filled with both children and adults swimming and sunning on the beach. I cringe at the thought of all the seal and sea lion feces that pollutes this man-made beach, and seeing anyone swimming in it makes me ill. The seals and sea lions congregate on these sands throughout the year, and especially when the Children's Pool is closed from December 15 through May 15, which is when pup season occurs. During those five months, the seals and sea lions congregate on this beach in even larger numbers. You can imagine their bodies carry bugs and diseases. Since the Children's Pool is enclosed by the semi-circular 'viewing wall' (Point Mencinger seawall) that surrounds the cove-like area of the beach, bacteria marinates in the water there and I don't have to tell you it is very unhealthy. I also would never touch that sand, but that's just me. The kids out here (and some adults) chase the seals. The Federal Marine Mammal Protection Act became a Law that people are required to keep a distance of 150 feet away from the seals and sea lions, but I see it ignored all the time. If provoked, these wild animals will bite. And worse, if nursing seals and sea lions are frightened, they might abandon their pups and head to the sea. It is not cool to bother or harass them, so stop! Also, sea lions are food to sharks and there have been several instances when the Children's Pool has been closed because of shark sightings. When I moved to California in the early 90's, this beach was so clean. If you look at the older pictures on this timeline from just 8 years ago, the water was clear. Now all you see is the black stuff floating in the water close to the shore. There is a lot of political controversy about this challenging issue available online if you care to Google or Wikipedia it. I won't go into it here, as my review was not meant for that purpose. I only seek to make both tourists and locals aware. For these reasons, I implore you to rethink whether or not you would allow your kids to swim at the Children's Pool. I sure wouldn't.
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Grace L.

Yelp
Children's Pool A seawall was build in 1930s to create a beach for little kids so they can have a natural "Children's Pool." https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sdentertainer.com/lifestyle/la-jolla-childrens-pool/%3famp Located in La Jolla, CA! Beautiful cliff side views! It's magical! This is a mix of a man made wall plus the ecological reserve that surrounds the area. Wild life is so active here especially Sea Lions; you "sea dogs!" Came here on a glorious Saturday after lunch! Parking was packed. It was a nice walk to get here. Drive slow and hope someone leaves. Be prepared to walk. If you have kids and picnic, it would be ideal to have a beach wagon or a the backpack chairs that can carry your snacks etc etc! We were greatest at the top of Children's Pool with a friendly seagull who leaned how to say " Yum! yum!" There is a life guard station above the Children's Pool that will tell you the water stats. Right below it are restrooms and showers. You can also access the sea wall and walk on it: Tide Permitting! Uneven steps so pay attention! This little spot has alot of kids! The water is so clear! You can see the rocks and the sand! And if you look out, you will most like see a sea lion swimming! Keep your distance! They are wild animals! There are a lot of vendors here especially the ice cream truck selling popsicles that are geared to lure your kids. A guy selling corn in a cup! And bacon wrap hotdogs. Bring your snacks for the littles! You can easily break the bank if you don't. Enjoyed my day here. And getting the walk in! As absolutely needed! We also got lucky to see 4 weddings being celebrated near the cliff tops here! Beautiful place to enjoy Mother Nature Beauty with Vitamin Sea and D! So get your walking shoes and your patience for parking and head outside!
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Adam S.

Yelp
If you're looking to see some pretty scenery and wildlife in San Diego, Children's Pool is the place! Children's Pool was recommended to us by a friend that previously lived in San Diego and said we had to stop here for the scenery. The Children's Pool is located in the heart of the La Jolla's downtown shopping district, and we were surprised to see all the free parking right next to the beach. It's so cool to walk alongside the beach and see the seals! Usually you can see them on the beach and rocks and the scenery is truly stunning!
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R P.

Yelp
If you're in the San Diego area this is a really nice place to visit along the coast line. There are many outdoor vendors, seals to see and a board walk. Beautiful place! plus the museum is across the street with a lot contemporary art with amazing views. There are restaurants and stores further down the children pool. There is free parking but it's always really crowded and hard to find parking.
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Ee Vonn Y.

Yelp
Beginning of May, around 12PM - Lots of sleepy seals on the rocks and beaches. Someone really had the overly excited tourist in mind when they built out the walking areas of Children's Pool so humans can observe the seals safely. Signs are clear, and guard rails are in place. There is an area where you can walk out the rocks and get within a few feet of interacting with them. Fortunately, it seems everyone around me kept a respectable distance. The seals made for some adorable and hilarious pictures. They also seemed very accustomed to people, and minded their own business.
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Kristina M.

Yelp
I love stopping here and seeing the seals. It's one of San Diego's best free attractions. I could spend hours here with a cup of warm tea watching the pups. We came around sunset. It was a little chilly for us natives, so don't forget to bring your sweater or sweatshirt and your camera. Also not a bad idea to have a towel in the car. If you walk out on the walkway, sometimes the water will break and your get a wee bit wet. As a reminder, you cannot actually go onto the beach, you can only watch the seals from afar, so maybe a set of binos also, or a camera with a good zoom.
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Nick P.

Yelp
Hidden gem at La Jolla! Recently visited this spot with hubby and we loved it. You get fantastic views of La Jolla cove and there's a walkway that takes you into part of the ocean. It's amazing. You can't miss it! Parking can be a bit tricky. We parked about two blocks away further into the neighborhood, but the walk here is easy.
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Mary V.

Yelp
While this location can get crowded and the parking at times can be difficult, all of your endeavors to get here will be worth it. This location is, without a doubt, one of the most serene, beautiful, intriguing and natural locations that you'll visit in California. The view is spectacular. The seals and sea lions are a dream to watch. You could stand and marvel at them in their natural habitat for hours. Bring a jacket if you plan on going in the morning, as the sea breeze can make it kind of cool. Make sure to wear water/beach-friendly shoes, too, just in case you want to walk out on the stone catwalk breaker (which is regularly splashed with sea spray). You can also walk down to portions of the beach to get a closer look at the seals, sea lions and the coves. Absolutely beautiful.
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Nadine C.

Yelp
A man made structure in La Jolla creates a safe beach and provides a pathway for humans to get closer to the ocean! This is a fantastic place in San Diego! I had this bookmark and Chel brought us here! I didn't know how awesome it really was until I actually came here to experience it in real life! It was such a wonderful visit that Alana and I brought Yuri to see it one week later. There's a sea wall that you may walk on. The wall separates the wild ocean from the calm beach! On the wall, it's so cool to be above the waves and look down at the water. Sometimes, especially at high tide, the waves might hit the top of the wall, so be careful because you might get wet! The first time we visited with Chel, there were baby seals swimming on the beach side of the wall! They were so cute! I could watch them for hours! One baby seal was trying to scoot up on the rocky shelf near the wall, but the waves pulled him back. The other baby seals looked so happy playing in the ocean! On the beach, people set up canopies for shade so they could hang out longer. The children looked like they were having fun! It's a really nice, safe, clean beach! I wouldn't mind returning to watch the sun set and maybe having a picnic! Bonus: the street parking is free! Let's go!
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Mary G.

Yelp
Before coming, I saw reviews about the side with wall having seal poo.... So we went to the other side and didn't notice any of that there. We were there when there were pups with mamas. A sign let us know not to get too close (though it appeared some either didn't see or didn't care), and we heard an announcement reminder to not get too close. The waves on the side without the wall were like normal beach waves. Sandy, beautiful, and still got to be close to seals! It was fun to see them playing in the water and our kids playing on the shore. Super neat! There is a restroom in the building between the two sides. We didn't need to use it, so can't really update on the inside. But, good to know it's available! Parking was like normal southern CA beach parking - circle till you find something. Haha!
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Victoria S.

Yelp
Beautiful beach, tide pools, and great place to see seals and sea lions on the sandy beach and on the rocks. Walk along the wall to get great perspective of the water and wildlife. Minutes walk from Shell Beach and Scripps Park, I recommend visiting all 3 places. Street parking available, lots of great restaurants and art galleries nearby.
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Andrew M.

Yelp
This was an awesome FREE experience. I was taken back by the scenery and the seals, oh and the smell. Be prepared for the smell, but it's totally worth it. Make sure to walk all the way to children's beach, if you park by the cave Store it's less the a mile walk along the beautiful coast seeing sea and land animals and keep an eye out for stray seals. PARKING: Go early. La Jolla's Coast Boulevard runs along the shoreline from the Cave Store to Pearl Street and is the best place to park if your goal is to see the seals and sea lions, experience La Jolla Cove, and walk the coastline.
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Jennifer D.

Yelp
What a beautiful place to come enjoy the seals in their natural habitat. Definitely not a beach to swim at. Last time we were here many years ago you couldn't even walk down to the sand because of the seals. This time people were on the sand but there was a rope across the shore line. All of the seals were in the water or on the rocks all around. Street parking is free but there are 2/3 hour limits. Watch the street signs.
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Rachel M.

Yelp
This is a quintessential San Diego experience. It is free and fun for all ages. Stay on the side walk area and check out the seals (&babies in the right season!) or take a walk out the long walkway to the edge for great photo ops and maybe even a wave splash or two! It can be slippery when wet so watch your step! Catch the sea breeze with beautiful views, THIS is San Diego showing off! Pro tip: Please stay off the sand and let the seals warm themselves in the sand.
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Maria E.

Yelp
This is a small public beach area where you can relax and swim and snorkel. You can also watch seals lay out on the rocks, crabs scurry in the tide pools, and birds fly overhead. It's beautiful and peaceful. The beach area is closed during pupping season but you can still come by and observe the seals. If you can, come here on a weekday. Less people and easier time finding street parking (which is free but can be a bit tricky during busier times). If you're lucky, you'll see a swimming seal with their cute little head bobbing up and down in the water. CUTEST THING EVER.
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Joy M.

Yelp
Breathe In Breathe Out. Inhale.Exhale. When you own your breathe nobody can steal your peace ! Just breathe. ***^*** Beach relaxing vibes here. Close your eyes. Serenity. Clear your heart and release the BS!!! {~~} Came here today to chill and hangout with fambam. Just beautiful laid back afternoon - This popular beach spot is loved by locals and tourists and must see attraction of La Jolla shores. A beautiful 360 degree incredible views of La Jolla, Pacific Ocean and of course gorgeous sunset. We literally enjoyed watching the waves, harbor seals,sea lions and squirrels and pelicans. Most of all they have public restrooms and showers open to the public. Must visit. The kids will have a blast !!! Parking is a pain in the butt but keep driving around and you'll find one few blocks away. We were lucky we got one nearby and just steps away. Awesome La Jolla ;) Peace;)
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Yana S.

Yelp
Must see at La Jolla, especially in the summer time. My family and I enjoyed passing by this breezy area and getting just a bit of salt water misted on us.
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Alyanna C.

Yelp
While Northern California is a plethora for seeing sea lions, San Diego is a plethora for seeing seals! A short walk from La Jolla Cove, Children's Pool is another great spot for watching the seals and waves. It suffers the same issue as La Jolla Cove in that the beach is pretty smelly due to the seals, but they're so darn cute to watch laying on the beach. I really enjoyed walking along the sea wall - there's a bit of excitement since you never know when a wave is going to hit and get you soaked. Luckily we managed to dodge them and make it to the end for some great photos. Since it's pretty far out in the ocean, you can even watch seals swimming in the water as they make their way to shore. I'd recommend wearing proper footwear, since there's some uneven footing on the sea wall... at the same time, make sure they're shoes you don't mind getting wet. They do have bathrooms and shower facilities onsite... it's a beach bathroom quality, so don't expect it to be super clean. But the showers are handy for cleaning off your flip flops of the sand.
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Alexander G.

Yelp
On our drive down the coast, one place we just had to stop was the Children's Pool in La Jolla to see the seals! This is a heavily traveled spot, so you may have to wait for parking (which is free). It's a quick walk down to the water, where an observation pylon stretches out onto the rocks. There's a small beach in this crescent where the seals come to have pups. It's amazing to see so many and watch their behavior. It's the perfect place to take photos. There is a children's education center that offers classes, although it was closed during our visit. Restrooms are free and open to the public (but were not the cleanest). Beaches seem to be accessible during non-pupping season. This is a must-stop for tourists and animal lovers!
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Steve V.

Yelp
We came here on a Saturday and wanted our kids to see the sea lions. They were not at the main pool area by the long dock, but rather were further up north, about an extra 5 minute walk. It was nice there and there was a decent crowd, but nothing overwhelming. There were so many sea lions and the smell really made the experience that much more authentic. People were taking pictures and some of them were being dumb, getting so close to the animals. Folks, they are wild and this is their natural habitat. Disrupting this is both hazardous to them and your own safety. We sat and watched for about 30 minutes as some of the babies followed their parents around, and some got into and out of the water. Mostly, they just laid there, and some wrestling around with one another. It was a good experience overall.
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Karen D.

Yelp
Excellent place to see the seals! Parking can be difficult here, but if you circle around the area, you're bound to find something street side for 2-3hrs. There are a few rocks to sit on and plenty of space to watch these peaceful creatures. Very lovely!
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Kimberly H.

Yelp
We love love love this place. All of our family live out of town so this is always a must stop when they visit. We come simply to watch the seals and enjoy the view and sounds. Some people like to swim in this area but the seals have taken it over and they don't smell awesome so I would not recommend swimming in this particular area. There are mass stretches of beach where the seals don't hang out for people to swim and enjoy the water. You can venture down the stairs to the sand to be closer to the seals but don't be a jerk and please do give them their space. You can walk out on the wall and have an ocean view to one side but be cautious, the wave can be crazy and you may get wet! Or you can peer down the other side to see into the cove area where the seals are chilling.
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Jay Z.

Yelp
I could have stayed to watch the seals and sea lions alllllll day! Very awesome spot- heavily trafficked, but that didn't bother us. Stunning views and a paved path to walk up and down the ocean to take in the gorgeous sight. We didn't go out on the man-made-jetty-walk because it was very crowded, however the views from the other side were sufficient enough. There was a loser who decided to walk down and get a closer look... don't be that guy.