Car Guy Nirvana, January 10

SAN DIEGO:


Classic cars. Vintage vehicles. Boys' toys. Call them what you will. They'll be the center of attention at the sixth annual La Jolla Motor Car Classic held at the La Jolla Cove on Sunday, January 10 from 9am to 3pm.

Organizers expect about 130 vehicles, and the fabulous oceanfront setting will be enhanced by sunshine and a predicted temperature of 68.

The cars designed by Carroll Shelby are the featured marque, but what I'm really excited about is seeing the Munro Special #36 Streamliner Indian motorcycle - on which Burt Munro, a 68-year-old Kiwi, set the world land speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967. If you haven't already seen it, The World's Fastest Indian, starring Anthony Hopkins as Munro, will be shown as the La Jolla Library Saturday at 3pm. It is easily one of my favorite movies.

While you're in the village, stop by The La Jolla Historical Society, sponsor of the Motor Car Classic, and check out their latest exhibit "All Roads Lead to La Jolla: A journey through our automotive past. Included are images and maps depicting the the rise and impact of the automobile in La Jolla from the first cars in 1903. The exhibit is open Thursdays and Fridays 12-4pm from now through February 20 at Wisteria Cottage, 780 Prospect Street. Admission is free, donations welcome. http://www.lajollahistory.org/.

Tickets to the Motor Car Classic (available online) are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the show. Children 13 and under are free. You'll find more details at http://www.lajollamotorcarclassic.com/

See you there.

La Jolla Lodging By Location

Where you stay in La Jolla will influence your vacation more than any other factor, so I want to make sure you find just the right hotel, motel, B&B, or resort.

LA JOLLA HOTEL RESERVATIONS

Before you make a decision, check out the deals offered via the “reservation box” in the top right corner of this blog. You may be surprised to find that La Jolla has cheap places to stay, as well as luxury hotels, suites, and spas. San Diego Hotel Week (http://www.sandiegohotelweek.com/) is another good source of bargain beds.

What follows below is a listing of local accommodation, grouped by neighborhood. I’ll follow up with details on the various places as time permits. In the meantime, check out the map at http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=102753819517919873889.00044c7eebf5647208f7d&ll=32.847866,-117.232361&spn=0.138446,0.219727&z=12&source=embed

North Torrey Pines Road

This is a great area if you want to play golf or watch a tournament at the beautiful Torrey Pines Golf Course. However, both of these luxury resorts sit atop sandstone cliffs, making them a poor choice for beach-goers. A car is a must here because a taxi into the village for shopping and dining costs about $20 each way.

• Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines
• The Lodge at Torrey Pines

Near the University of California San Diego

Easy access to UCSD is the big draw for these three hotels. Estancia is on North Torrey Pines Road, but the Sheraton and the Residence Inn are within walking distance of places to eat and a couple of shopping centers that include a movie theatre, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, etc.

• Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
• Sheraton La Jolla Hotel
• Residence Inn

East of I-5, On La Jolla Village Drive

By definition, these places are not in La Jolla, but they are close enough to be of interest. The Embassy Suites and the Marriott are across the street from University Towne Center. Having said that, travelers don’t come to La Jolla to spend time in a mall, so you’ll need a car if you stay in this area.

• Embassy Suites – San Diego
• Marriott – San Diego La Jolla
• Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine

La Jolla Shores

Now we’re getting to the fun stuff. I walk on La Jolla Shores Beach several times a week and never tire of watching surfers, kayakers and kids digging holes in the sand. In addition to the beach, the Shores has its own little restaurant row and a handful of kayak rental places and beachy stores. I wrote about the difference between The Shores and The Village on July 31, 2009, so flip over to that post for a more complete description.

• Hotel La Jolla at The Shores
• La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club
• La Jolla Riviera Apartments
• La Jolla Shores Hotel (formerly The Sea Lodge)

The Village

La Jolla’s heart has it all: charm and personality, myriad dining options, great shopping, the postcard-perfect La Jolla Cove, a world-class art museum, a seal colony, fantastic ocean views…and almost enough parking for the folks who want to enjoy our little seaside community. In fact, in this neighborhood, being car-less has its advantages.

• B & B on the Sea
• Best Western Inn By the Sea
• Empress Hotel
• Hotel Parisi
• La Jolla Cove Suites
• La Jolla Inn
• La Jolla Village Lodge
• La Valencia
• The Bed & Breakfast Inn at La Jolla (pictured above)
• The Grand Colonial
• Redwood Hollow Cottages
• Scripps Inn
• Shell Beach Motel

La Jolla Boulevard

South of the Village, a few motels provide budget lodgings within walking distance of the beach. This area (south of Nautilus Street) also includes places to eat, and the number 30 bus that runs on La Jolla Boulevard is useful for getting into the village or further a field to San Diego attractions (http://www.sdcommute.com/).

• Holiday Inn Express
• La Jolla Beach Travelodge

Why am I doing this?

I live in La Jolla and I'm a travel writer.

What that means is that, in addition to enjoying my home town's great weather, beautiful surroundings, and range of cultural and recreational options, I also see La Jolla - and the rest of San Diego - as a travel destination.

And what I see sometimes drives me batty. People flock to La Jolla, but don't take advantage of everything our community offers, so I decided to start this blog and provide a heads up for would-be visitors. The "inside scoop for out-of-towners," if you will.

Hey. I figure if I can write The Insider's Hong Kong (http://www.ranchandcoast.com/archives/february2006/travel.html) and The Insider's India (http://www.ranchandcoast.com/archives/october2007/travel.html), I ought to be able to lead readers off the beaten path that starts just outside my front door.

And in the process, I'm having fun revisiting my favorite places and discovering some new ones.

Travel writers are naturally snoopy, and this blog is my excuse to have a good ol' sticky beak around my home town. Stay tuned...

In Search of the Best Beach

Even though I live here, La Jolla’s beautiful beaches still take my breath away. To best sure you see the most scenic viewpoints, follow this route:

Starting at the south end of La Jolla - at La Jolla Boulevard and La Cañada Street - take La Cañada towards the ocean. You’ll have a good view of Bird Rock – literally a big rock offshore covered with birds – on your left just after you pass Avenida Cresta. This landmark gives its name to the surrounding neighborhood and is a popular surfing spot.

Continue north on Camino de la Costa, past a gaggle of beautiful homes, and jog left at Palomar Avenue. Now you’re on Neptune Place - witnessing drop-dead gorgeous Windansea Beach. The surf shack on the beach is a designated historical landmark. For decades, Windansea’s surf has attracted the world’s best riders. It was also featured in Tom Wolfe's book The Pump House Gang. For more information, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windansea_Beach

As you follow the coast, you'll pass the Children's Pool (see my April 6 post: “The Children's Pool Has Gone to the Dogs....er Seals”) en route to the La Jolla Cove. From here, walk along Coast Walk (a pedestrians only dirt trail). The path, which starts to the left of The Cave Store (http://www.cavestore.com/), offers one of the most beautiful blue-water vistas in our Golden State.

After stretching your legs, take Prospect Street to Torrey Pines Road and make a left turn. Turn left again onto Princess Street and you’ll find yourself passing the Marine Room, home to the best beachfront dining in town (http://www.marineroom.com/).

Continue along the water, past the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club (http://www.ljbtc.com/) to La Jolla Shores Beach – another great spot for walking and very popular with kayakers.

To see more beaches, continue up La Jolla Shores Drive and turn left onto North Torrey Pines Road. Turn left at Torrey Pines Scenic Drive and follow signs to the Torrey Pines Gliderport (www.flytorrey.com). This spot offers a rare up-close-and-personal view of hang gliders and paragliders (tandem rides offered for the uninitiated). It is also my favorite off-the-beaten-path place for lunch. (See June 2 post: “A Picnic Table with a View.”)

From the Gliderport, continue north on Torrey Pines Road for a beautiful view of Torrey Pines State Beach. The Reserve (http://www.torreypine.org/) above the beach offers more great views...guaranteed to take your breath away.

Getting Hitched in La Jolla

These days, about 20% of marriage ceremonies take place away from home. Given our great weather and beautiful backdrops, it’s no wonder that La Jolla is a popular spot for destination weddings.

Following are a few ideas about places to enjoy your special day:

Cuvier Park, also called The Wedding Bowl, is a small park located at Coast Boulevard and Cuvier Street in La Jolla - directly across from the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art (see photo). The park site is about five steps below street level, which provides some privacy from passersby. It is the most popular spot for weddings along the La Jolla Coastline. There’s more information on the city’s website at http://www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/shoreline/cuvier.shtml

Darlington House, a beautifully maintained historic villa between the village and the ocean, can be rented for wedding ceremonies and receptions. I’ve attended many events here and always enjoy the rich Spanish décor that includes patios surrounded by colorful flowers - complete with Roman arches and tiled benches. However, my favorite room is the handsome library, inspired by Moorish architecture. For details go to http://www.darlingtonhouse.com/

The Congregational Church of La Jolla is a good choice for those who want to marry in a place of worship. Unlike other denominations, the Congregational Church does not restrict weddings to their members. In fact, it is the most open and welcoming church in La Jolla. The church is located in the village and has a beautiful sanctuary that seats 150. Receptions can be held in the social hall or at one of several hotels located within walking distance http://www.lajollaucc.org/

The Martin Johnson House on the campus of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UCSD is a wonderful old world cottage on a rise that provides a stunning ocean view. http://www.sio.ucsd.edu/About/Resources/Venue_Rentals/Martin_Johnson/

Scripps Seaside Forum is also on the campus of SIO but, in contrast to the Martin Johnson House, the Forum is brand new and offers a beachfront location. For more information, see http://www.sio.ucsd.edu/About/Resources/Venue_Rentals/Scripps_Forum/

If you need more information on wedding or reception venues, please feel free to post a comment. I want to help you have a very special day in La Jolla.

Photo courtesy Urs Baumann.

A Picnic Table With A View

Seems like everyone who visits La Jolla wants to find a restaurant with a good view. Certainly there are several of these along Prospect Street, but savvy locals know that the show-stopper vista is up at the Torrey Pines "International" Gliderport (www.flytorrey.com/).

Here, the Cliff Hanger Café (858-452-9858, open daily) serves great made-to-order deli sandwiches, soups, and salads to diners who have an up-close-and-personal view of hang gliders and paragliders taking off over the Pacific. It’s truly a breathtaking sight.

To get there, take North Torrey Pines Road to Torrey Pines Scenic Drive and turn west. The first thing you’ll see is the landmark Salk Institute designed by architect Louis Kahn. As you continue driving towards the water, colorful paragliders and hang gliders floating over the sandstone cliffs will come into view.

Is this really an “international” gliderport? Just listen to the languages spoken by the pilots. They consider La Jolla to be the ultimate destination for their sport.

If you decide to try a tandem flight, you might want to wait and have lunch afterwards.