La Jolla Cove

Pockets of sand collect all along La Jolla's rocky coastline, but perhaps most fascinating for its natural beauty is the Cove. Surrounded by magnificent cliffs, the protected Cove is a favorite spot for snorkelers who flipper out only a few dozen yards to grassy reefs and abundant marine life. From above, the Cove also offers prime vantage points from which to view the annual whale migration.

The Cove became popular as early as 1899 when the railway built the first flight of wooden stairs down Devil's Slide, and the bounty of exquisite abalone below made the precipitous climb worthwhile. The Cove started to draw national attention in 1916 when it first served as the site of the Roughwater Swim. Now considered the largest open swimming event in the country, this challenging race attracts some 2,000 contestants each summer plus hundreds of admiring spectators. Veteran swimmers claim that the one-mile triangular course offers a unique setting for roughwater maneuvering in an unprotected current.