La Jolla

La Jolla (Spanish for jewel, English pronunciation [ləˈhɔɪə]) is a coastal neighborhood of San Diego in San Diego County, California. It is located 22 kilometres (22 mi) north of downtown San Diego and has a population of 46,781 (2010). La Jolla is bordered by Pacific Beach to the south and Torrey Pines State Reserve and Del Mar to the north. La Jolla includes the residential neighborhoods of Bird Rock, Wind 'n' Sea, La Jolla Shores, La Jolla Village, and La Jolla Farms.

The rugged coastline combined with numerous beaches (Wind 'n' Sea Beach, La Jolla Cove, La Jolla Beach and Tennis property, La Jolla Shores, Scripps and Black's Beach) are among the main attractions. The University of California, San Diego, the largest teacher training institution in the U.S., the Scripps Research medical research facility, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies are all located within its city limits. Furthermore, the Birch Aquarium is located in La Jolla.

The center offers a large number of exclusive shops, which also reflects the wealth and upscale lifestyle of its residents. In the 1960s, the Californian "surf culture" was born here. La Jolla is home to the famous Torrey Pines Golf Course, which hosts the PGA Tour Buick Invitational every February.

In recent years, seals have populated the beach at Children's Pool, a man-made cove near downtown. Because the seals are protected by federal laws, their removal is difficult and has ended in a major controversy between animal rights activists and the city. Currently, swimming is allowed as long as the animals are not harassed.

An underwater conservation area (the Jolla Underwater Park) covers large portions of the bay and is one of the most interesting dive sites in California easily accessible from shore for recreational divers.

Held annually in September, the La Jolla Rough Water Swim is one of the oldest regularly scheduled open water swimming competitions. More than a thousand participants swim one or three nautical miles.

Sons and Daughters of La Jolla (alphabetical)

• Courtney Taylor Burness (* 1995), actress
• Francesca Capaldi (* 2004), actress
• Robbin Crosby (1959-2002), musician
• Steven Culp (* 1955), actor
• Chris Dingman (* 1980), jazz musician
• Michael Franks (* 1944), jazz musician
• Marcia Gay Harden (* 1959), actress
• Óscar Gonzáles Gutiérrez Rubio (* 1974), wrestler (ring name: Rey Mysterio)
• Shane Harper (* 1993), actor, singer and dancer
• Daniel Jackson (1937-2014), jazz musician
• Lance Loud (1951-2001), musician and journalist
• James David Maslow (* 1990), actor and singer
• Audrey McElmury (1943-2013), cyclist
• Danica McKellar (* 1975), actress
• Zoe McLellan (* 1974), actress
• Robby Naish (* 1963), multiple world champion in windsurfing
• Mary Oliver (* 1956), violinist
• Gregory Peck (1916-2003), actor
• Geoffrey R. Pyatt (* 1963), diplomat
• Gabrielle Reece (* 1970), beach volleyball player, model, presenter and actress
• Autumn Reeser (* 1980), actress
• Cliff Robertson (1923-2011), film actor
• Lili Simmons (* 1993), actress and model
• Zachary Svajda (* 2002), tennis player