La Jolla Cove Tops US Beaches

- La Jolla Cove is part of the 6,000-acre San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park, which was created in 1970 to protect the area's diverse marine life. This park includes four distinct habitats: rocky reefs, kelp beds, sand flats, and a submarine canyon. - The protected status comes from being within the Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve, where it is illegal to fish or collect any marine resources, including shells. This high level of protection, which dates back to 1929 in some form, has allowed marine life to flourish. - In the previous year's ranking for 2025, La Jolla Cove was ranked as the fourth-best beach in the U.S., with Siesta Beach in Florida taking the top spot. - The area is a haul-out site for a large colony of California sea lions, who use the rocks and beach to rest and raise their young, particularly during the pupping season from May to October. - Water temperatures in the cove are often cooler than other San Diego beaches, ranging from the mid-50s in winter to the upper 60s in summer. Visibility for divers and snorkelers typically averages between 10 and 30 feet. - The rich ecosystem supports a variety of sea creatures, including the bright orange Garibaldi (the California state fish), leopard sharks, moray eels, and sea turtles. - The Tripadvisor "Best of the Best" award is its highest honor, given to fewer than 1% of the 8 million listings on the platform based on a high volume of positive reviews over a 12-month period.