Tour Locations | La Jolla: The Riviera of California

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LOCATION 1
Start - Green Dragon Colony
Welcome to La Jolla, California's version of The French Riviera. La Jolla’s name derives from the Spanish word La Joya which means “the jewel” and it's also called Jewel City by some.
We start o...
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LOCATION 2
Dr. Seuss Exhibit at Legends Gallery
Stop here for a moment at the intersection of Prospect St and Ivanhoe Ave.
Have a look to your left at the arched building across the street.
Can you see a life-like statue of a Dr. Seuss cha...
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LOCATION 3
La Valencia Hotel
On your right is The La Valencia Hotel. Stop in front of it for a moment.
It opened in December 1926 and was owned by MacArthur Gorton who commissioned Reginald Johnson to design and plan the pr...
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LOCATION 4
Cross Herschel Ave
Once across Prospect, turn right to cross Herschel Ave and continue along Prospect.
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LOCATION 5
Jose's Courtroom Restaurant
Continue along Prospect.
On your left is Jose's Courtroom Restaurant.
This Mexican Food restaurant’s roots trace back to 1929 when it was called the La Plaza Restaurant and El Toro Bar. At th...
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LOCATION 6
Left on Girard Ave
At the corner turn left on Girard and continue to the next corner. You'll hear from me at the next intersection.
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LOCATION 7
Athanaeum Music and Arts Library
Stop at the corner for a moment and have a look at the building on your left.
This is the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, built in 1921. It was originally a public library, and was designed by A...
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LOCATION 8
Arcade Building
Once across Girard Ave, enter the walking path between the two buildings under the Arcade Building arch.
Stop for a moment once you're under the arch.
Back in the early 20th century, this bui...
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LOCATION 9
Girard-Fay-Eads-Draper-Cuvier
Keep going along Prospect, crossing the street ahead, Fay Avenue.
Since we started at the Green Dragon Colony on Prospect, we have passed streets that are in alphabetical order. They are Ivanhoe...
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LOCATION 10
The Scripps/Gill cultural zone
Keep going straight.
These next few blocks are referred to as the “Scripps/Gill cultural zone” after the architect/builder, Irving Gill, and Ellen Browning Scripps, the sponsor of these projects...
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LOCATION 11
Wisteria Cottage and The La Jolla Historical Society
Keep going along Prospect.
While you walk, have a look to your right at the building across the road with the large lawn.
That's the Wisteria cottage. It was built in 1904 as a private resid...
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LOCATION 12
St. James by the Sea Church
Stop here for a moment, in front of the St James by the Sea Church, one of La Jolla’s oldest churches.
Its plans were drawn up by architect Louis Gill, Irving Gill’s nephew. The tower's corners...
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LOCATION 13
La Jolla Woman's Club
The building on your left with the high hedge surrounding it is La Jolla Woman's Club.
Continue straight, keeping the building on your left. Just ahead is the gate where you can see the buildin...
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LOCATION 14
La Jolla Recreation Center
Once across Prospect Street, turn left and continue walking.
Across the road on your left, tucked behind the large lawn, is the La Jolla Recreation Center.
The building sits between the baske...
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LOCATION 15
Onto Cuvier Street
Follow the sidewalk and make a sharp right turn in front of the apartment building; we're heading towards the coast.
You’ll pass the apartment garages and come to the Museum of Contemporary Art...
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LOCATION 16
Wedding Bowl at Cuvier Park
Once across the street, head over towards the ocean.
The small green area slightly below you, to your left is The Wedding Bowl.
You’ll probably agree that a more beautiful and picturesque ven...
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LOCATION 17
Museum of Contemporary Art and Ellen Scripps Home
As you walk, look to your right.
Up on the bluff is the Museum of Contemporary Art of San Diego that we passed earlier. Ellen Browning Scripps lived in her home there more than 100 years ago. Sh...
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LOCATION 18
Casa de Manana
Keep following the path as it curves around the shoreline.
As you continue north here, we’re going to that tower ahead but you’ll notice some turnouts where artists, photographers and passers-by...
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LOCATION 19
The Children's Pool
Continue along the path that winds around the shoreline.
On your left is the Children's Pool, another gift from Ellen Browning Scripps to the children of La Jolla that provided a safe place to s...
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LOCATION 20
939 Coast Blvd
Keep walking.
Coming up on your right, it will be hard NOT to notice the huge, 18 story building at 939 Coast Blvd. This 170-unit condominium was built in 1964 before public hearings were requir...
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LOCATION 21
Seal Rock
On your left is Seal Rock, another haven for these mammals.
This rocky section of La Jolla is built on sea floors that are approximately 100,000 years old and are a result of ice ages and interv...
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LOCATION 22
Left to Rocky Point
At the fork, keep left to continue along the shoreline along this stretch called Rocky Point. I'll catch up with you further ahead.
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LOCATION 23
Ellen Browning Scripps Park
Continue walking.
On your left is a staircase down to Shell Beach and a little beyond it is a small outdoor picnic booth that provides covered seating for those who just want to take in the site...
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LOCATION 24
La Jolla Cove Bridge Club
Continue following the path.
The building coming up on your right is the La Jolla Cove Bridge Club. It was built in 1932 as the La Jolla Shuffleboard Club, then changed to the Adult Recreation C...
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LOCATION 25
La Jolla Cove
Keep going.
Coming up on your left is La Jolla Cove. It's arguably the major outdoor destination point in the community. One historical authority described it this way “in my travels across the ...
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LOCATION 26
Red Rest and Red Roost
On your right, across the street are a pair of dilapidated old cottages, that have slowly been deteriorating over many decades.
Once you've had a good look, continue walking while I tell you ab...
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LOCATION 27
Brockton Villa
Continue walking.
The restaurant on your right is the Brockton Villa.
At the turn of the twentieth century, La Jolla was described as a small area “of enchanting seaside topography as barren ...
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LOCATION 28
Cave store and Coast Walk Trail
Straight ahead is the famous La Jolla Cave and Curio shop. Stop in front of it.
The Cave Shop was built in the early 1900’s by its owner, Professor Gustav Schulz, to provide access to a man-made...