A different kind of Children’s Pool These Days in La Jolla, San Diego
The La Jolla neighborhood in San Diego is so distinctive and popular, it’s easy to forget it’s still part of the city. With its steep hills and beautiful cliffs and coves, La Jolla offers great shopping, restaurants, and coastal views. 12 miles from downtown San Diego, it’s a quick drive north. Children’s Pool is a huge draw for ocean and animal lovers alike. Plus, a look at a century old building as I look into why this neighborhood is so popular.
On my earlier posts, Settling In at Old Town and Finding Life in a City, I explored the importance of venturing out of downtown on your trips. Sometimes it’s to avoid tourist traps, other times it’s due to the downfall of city centers. Culture has almost moved from the center to various neighborhoods. It’s especially if this is a repeat visit and are looking for something fresh to see and experience.
As mentioned, La Jolla is a hilly coastal neighborhood with lots to do. You’ll also be racking up steps you head into shops and restaurants, since they can be located on steep hills. On a previous trip, I decided to walk a quick mile in between destinations.
Learn From My Mistakes
One mile uphill is a totally different experience one mile flat. Made the mistake of not checking terrain when getting directions. Coming from very flat Illinois, you can see the urban skyline from various points all over the city, I underestimated the walk. I survived by feigning interest in different shops as I made the climb whenever I needed a break. Funnily enough, I thought the high temperatures was going to be my biggest challenge.
But before we get into the sights, let’s get a little history.
The Name
It’s often mentioned that La Jolla is Spanish for “The Jewel” (although it’s spelled differently) as an explanation for the name. However, this hasn’t been confirmed. Another theory, Spanish term La Hoya (which might’ve been spelled Jolla at the time) can be translated as a hole or various geographic hollows (pit, valleys, riverbed). Interestingly, the Kumeyaaye people (indigenous to the area) referred to this area as “Land of the Holes.” This is believed to be referencing the sea caves.
La Jolla History
La Jolla was established in 1850 as the land transferred to the United States, Mexico simply had the land labeled as “Pueblo,” which means village. Prior to that, Spain originally settled into the area in the late 18th century. The Kumeyaay people were in the area for thousands of years.
In 1900, La Jolla had a population of about 350 people. Despite being admitted to the United States in 1850, the first permanent settlers arrived in 1869. In the late 19th century, the railroads were built, which brought lots of growth. Artists, entrepreneurs, and the wealthy made their way to La Jolla. And one philanthropist in particular, Ellen Browning Scripps, made a massive contribution to La Jolla.
Ellen Browning Scripps
Ellen Browning Scripps was a schoolteacher in Illinois but became a newspaper journalist in Detroit after the Civil War. She co-founded with her brother what would be the largest chain of newspapers in the US at the time, E.W. Scripps. The success she found in investing in journalism led to her philanthropy in her later years.
Through her philanthropy, she founded the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Scripps Research (medical), and Scripps Health (healthcare), all in La Jolla. Outside of La Jolla, she founded a women’s college in California and even the National Spelling Bee.
In 1931, she gifted the construction of a concrete wall meant to be break the rough waves on a nearby beach. This allowed a safe place for children to play on the beach that would be called, Children’s Pool.
Children’s Pool
Children’s Pool is still a popular place but these days are mostly attracting people sightseeing. There is a small section of beach that people use. But the main draw is the part of the beach regularly inhabited by seals, and occasionally sea lions.
This was the only reason I headed to La Jolla and I wasn’t disappointed. A crowd was instantly crowding over the barriers facing the ocean. People lined up the rails and a significant group was crowding a viewing point. There were also different kinds of birds around, on the rocks, beach, and in the sky.
Even though it was a cloudy day, the seals were flopped over on the beach. Few were in the water, or laying near the tide, most were on the sand. Seemingly exhausted, the rest seals were a joy to watch. The crowds were excited, and everyone’s cameras at work.
The animals looked comfortable, even the birds. It looked like an animal sanctuary. Although I couldn’t tell if there were any families or babies, smaller seals were often sleeping on another larger seal. In the water, there was a massive rock or boulder inhabited by a flock of birds. The wildlife were aware this was their area.
The Natural Sights at La Jolla
It’s a beautiful viewpoint, overlooking the cove. The sandy mountains had various types of plant life, including wildflowers. The palm trees were few but tall. Interesting to notice the sedimentary rock formed around the coastline. I spotted people either looking in or climbing out from the sea caves.
In the distance, you can see people enjoying the small beach. And the concrete wall protecting them from the waves. You can tell where the water has especially hit on the cliff, rocks seemingly crumbling into the water.
Other than enjoying the beach and watching the seals, this is popular for scuba divers due to the coral reefs. It’s also a great entry point for new and less experienced divers.
Children’s Pool Debate
Despite the beauty of the land, and the cuteness of the seals, there is a major dispute taking place. The seals have been taking over the beach since the 1990s. This was not meant to be an animal sanctuary so the animal waste is in high amounts since there were no logistics in place. It’s gotten so bad, it’s not recommended to swim in the water. The waste is obvious in the pictures and that’s only coming from the birds.
Many people want the animals removed, while many others want Children’s Pool to become an animal sanctuary for the seals. The animals have been using it to bring their young in high volume since the mid-1990s. La Jolla seems to be dragging their heels on any action. There have been times the beach has been closed for the seals when they leave their pups on the beach for an extended period of time as they hunt and forage. A whole new meaning to children’s pool.
The beaches get closed from time to time to minimize people disrupting the pups. And there have been incidents of this. It seems like La Jolla are supporting the seals without publicly announcing it. Time will tell what ultimately happens to Children’s Pool.
After soaking in the sights at the coast, I headed inward on my second pit stop in La Jolla. As mentioned earlier, there was a quick mile walk. This was not done efficiently, going through the commercial area made the walk longer. But I enjoy visiting souvenir shops. La Jolla is a very touristy area based on the shops.
I arrived at St. James by the Sea Episcopal Church, a beautiful salmon colored building with clear Spanish Influence.
Spanish Influence at St. James By the Sea Episcopal Church
Breaking ground in 1907, this Spanish Colonial style church began with a small group of Episcopalians that met weekly in the area. Ellen Browning Scripps once again contributed to La Jolla, and to this religious group. She donated land where the church sits today.
This was a bit further away from everything and felt much calmer. The Spanish influence was all around. From the roof tiles, to the arched entryways, and the massive wooden arched door, this over century-old building fit right in the area.
The clock tower seen below was an addition added 20 years later, again by Ellen Browning Scripps, in honor of her late sister, Virginia.
Louis John Gill was the architect and designed many buildings in San Diego, including some of the original buildings at the San Diego Zoo. He was said to have been inspired by a church in Mexico City for the design of this building.
Thinking about returning to La Jolla just to take an Ellen Browning Scripps tour around town. It’s a pleasant surprise as I kept running into her life and how she impacted La Jolla. This is the kind of wealth I love to hear about. It makes me think of James Smithson, who left his fortune to the United States to establish the group of Smithsonian Museums. Stay tuned for that post.
I’m sure I’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Ellen’s impact on La Jolla. As for other interesting neighborhoods, Settling In at Old Town in San Diego and Finding Life in the City in St. Louis provide another scoop on where to go when downtown just doesn’t feel right. What great neighborhoods do you know that deserve venturing out?
