La Jolla, Spanish for The Jewel, is indeed the gemstone of San Diego with its exquisite combination of Southern European resort atmosphere and Southern California fun. The La Jolla neighborhood is alive with wonderful beaches, cultural activities and California's finest hotels and restaurants. It is home to one of the most affluent communities in the United States, boasts of some of the best educational institutes and yet has a down-to-earth feel, thanks to the accommodative nature of its residents and the beautiful natural settings.

No wonder, the neighborhood of La Jolla was once voted as the best place to live in the entire United States by the prestigious luxury lifestyle magazine Robb Report.

Geography and Climate

The La Jolla neighborhood is located 15 minutes from Downtown San Diego. La Jolla is bounded by the Pacific to the west, Pacific Beach to the South, Del Mar to the North, and University Town Center to the east. Mount Soledad dominates this town, which is 822 feet above sea level. La Jolla's thoughtful road-planning throughout reveals optimum lots with stunning views. La Jolla's ocean view bluffs, sloping canyons and smooth sandy beaches make this seaside town unlike any other. Narrow curvy roads follow the contours of Soledad and hundreds of homes overlooking the ocean are nestled on the slopes. La Jolla borders the Pacific Beach to its South and extends North to the Torrey Pines State Reserve and Del Mar. Along the way it encompasses neighborhoods like Bird Rock, Windansea, The Village of La Jolla (including "downtown La Jolla"), La Jolla Shores, La Jolla Farms, Torrey Pines, Mount Soledad and La Jolla Village (including La Jolla Village Square).

La Jolla's magnificent scenic beauty is enhanced manifold by its superb weather conditions - with constant sunshine and the sunset blush of the pacific. Table 1 lists the temperature and rainfall statistics of the La Jolla neighborhood.

Table 1: Climate Averages for La Jolla

Demography

The seaside resort community of La Jolla comprises of a little over 42,000 residents. The population is quite wealthy and the population density thick, as can be seen from the tables below.

Attractions

With its quaint village feel, expansive views and easy access to the coast, La Jolla is the perfect destination for family vacations, honeymoons, and corporate retreats. The scenic resort community of La Jolla is an exciting blend of sea caves and clams, tide pools and picturesque beachfronts with a sunny Mediterranean climate. La Jolla beaches offer endless hours of fun and relaxation. Walking along the beach, especially at sunset, is a popular recreation. Those ambling along may be able to glimpse the Green Flash, a rare optical phenomenon that occurs shortly after sunset or before sunrise, when a green spot is visible for a short period of time above the sun. In addition, beaches are a hot spot for spa-goers, surfers, tourists, sailors, snorkellers and nature lovers alike.

The famous La Jolla Cove has emerged as a popular retreat for California Sea Lions and other marine life. La Jolla Children's Pool, a haven for California Sea Lions, is a tourist favorite offering wildlife viewing and incredible photo opportunities.

One of La Jolla's best attractions is the village guided by Prospect Street and Girard, which houses many shops, boutiques, galleries, and a multitude of four-star restaurants, many overlooking the Pacific. Downtown La Jolla is noted for its jewellery stores, up-market restaurants and hotels. Notable for its architectural and historical presence is the La Valencia Hotel, which used to welcome movie stars on retreat from Hollywood during the silent film era.

The La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club is renowned for its high tide mark. La Jolla is also the location of Torrey Pines Golf Course, made famous by the PGA TOUR Buick Invitational held there each February.

The La Jolla neighborhood also hosts a large art community and many retired Hollywood stars and Nobel laureates. Also, because of La Jolla's many educated residents who are privy to world affairs and intellectualism, the arts community thrives and clubs meet regularly.

Business & Education

Just east of Interstate 5 is La Jolla's business center with high rise offices, hotels, apartment complexes, and the like. The La Jolla community has probably the second largest concentration of Biotechnology in the country, behind Boston.

The La Jolla neighborhood is also home to renowned institutions, such as the University of California, San Diego, the Salk Institute, and Scripps institute of Oceanography. Public schools have a reputation of ranging into the 80th to 90th percentile for statewide scores and private learning is offered in abundance. Below-mentioned education statistics for La Jolla are higher than national averages, especially the percentage of college graduates and post graduates.

Real Estate

Grand, luxurious, diverse La Jolla homes dot the La Jolla landscape right into the hills, with plenty of home options to choose from. La Jolla real estate property types include single-family, residential, commercial, town-homes and condominiums. There were 306 condos and 199 detached homes in La Jolla as of July'06. The comparative price averages as estimated by HomeGain are as follows:

Although the La Jolla property is premium, according to experts, the present is a great time to buy real estate in La Jolla. The La Jolla home market has slowed to a normal market so there aren't multiple offers to worry about. Additionally, with interest rates rising and prices softening, sellers are prepared to negotiate prices and conditions.

With its scenic beaches; affluent, educated and cultured communities; and varied attractions, the La Jolla neighborhood is truly the jewel of San Diego. Perched on bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the La Jolla neighborhood is an area of remarkable beauty, visited by many, but home to only a fortunate few.