Information About ™La Jolla |
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La Jolla, California , is a Seaside Resort Community of 42,8081 within the city of San Diego . Pronounced "la-HOY-ah" (which is based on ''"La Joya"'', Spanish for "The Jewel") it is often referred to as the "Jewel by the Sea". La Jolla borders Pacific Beach to the south and extends north to Torrey Pines State Reserve and Del Mar, California . 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). Interstate 5 forms La Jolla's man-made border to the east, with the minor exception of some University Of California, San Diego and commercial property east of I-5 and north of La Jolla Village Drive also considered by some to be part of La Jolla. Alternatively, the name is thought by some to derive from an indigenous Native American word (either Diegueño or La Jollan culture) meaning "the cave", derived from the once extensive number of caves in the hills along the shoreline. Most of these have since either collapsed due to ongoing erosion, or have been intentionally destroyed by local authorities to prevent the drownings that were once frequent occurrences. IDENTITY La Jolla residents and business owners often refer to the "village" or "town" of La Jolla. The official postal address for La Jolla's 92037 zip code is "La Jolla", not "San Diego" as it is for most communities within the City of San Diego. This distinction sometimes confuses tourists into believing that La Jolla is actually a separate city, which it is not. It is a community of the City of San Diego. La Jolla has several community groups which work to unify the voice of the community, including the non-profit La Jolla Town Council organization which represents the interests of the La Jolla businesses that belong to the Council. The USS La Jolla , a Nuclear Submarine , is named in its honor. LANDSCAPE With its palm-lined streets, large estate homes, and Mediterranean climate and atmosphere, La Jolla is reminiscent of a southern European village with touches of Beverly Hills along the upscale retail shops on Prospect Street. Much of La Jolla's natural charm stems from the presence of the ocean and Mount Soledad . Narrow curvy roads follow the contours of Soledad and hundreds of homes overlooking the ocean are nestled on the slopes. The sandy beaches, dotting the coastline extend from the south to the north, are Windansea Beach, La Jolla Cove, La Jolla Beach and Tennis property, La Jolla Shores, Scripps, and Black's Beach (leading up to Torrey Pines State Reserve ). EDUCATION The University Of California, San Diego (including the Scripps Institution Of Oceanography and the San Diego Supercomputer Center ) is the center of higher education in La Jolla. National University is also headquartered in La Jolla. Among the several research institutes near UCSD and in the nearby Torrey Pines Science Park are The Scripps Research Institute , the Burnham Institute (formerly called the La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation) and the Salk Institute . The town's Prep Schools are La Jolla Country Day School , The Bishop's School , and The Preuss School UCSD . The public high school, La Jolla High School, is in the San Diego City Schools district. It is home to several famous alumni, including Gregory Peck and Raquel Welch . LITERARY LA JOLLA Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss , was a resident of La Jolla at the time of his death in 1991 . Unlike many Celebrities , his address and phone number used to be listed in the local phone book. In fact, the main library at the University of California, San Diego, is dedicated to him. Raymond Chandler , an early influential noir novelist, moved to La Jolla late in his career. He died there 13 years later, but not before delivering a bleak aphorism about then-stuffy La Jolla, "A nice place -- for old people and their parents." The title article in Tom Wolfe 's The Pump House Gang is about a group of surfers from Windansea Beach in La Jolla who "attended the Watts Riots as if it were the Rose Bowl game in Pasadena ." (see {Link without Title} for an excerpt) ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES La Jolla is also the location of Torrey Pines Golf Course , made famous by the PGA TOUR Buick Invitational held there each February (in 2005, the competition was held in January). Down the steep cliffs from the Salk Institute and the Torrey Pines Golf Course is the famous De Facto Nude Beach , Black's Beach . Walking along the beach at all times (but especially at sunset) is popular recreation. Those ambling along may be able to glimpse the " Green Flash ." Downtown La Jolla is noted for its as jewelry stores, upmarket restaraunts and hotels. Prospect Street and Girard Avenue also have several famous boutiques and restaurants (including local favorites, such as the Girard Gourmet and Harry's Coffee Shop). 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. In recent years, Harbor Seal s have taken over the Children's Beach, a quaint man-made cove near downtown. The seals are protected animals under federal law, so removing them has become a difficult and controversial issue. As of now, the beach is open; the rope is down. However, harassment of the animals is prohibited; swimming is allowed but not recommended. ORIGIN AND PRONUNCIATION The area was known as ''La Jolla Park'' at least as early as 1886 . The origin of the name is obscure. It is pronounced "Lah HOY-Ya," not "Lah Ho-Ya" as it should be in Spanish . Some say it is a corruption of ''ahoy'', called out by sailors seeking the attention of people on the shore. The people of La Jolla claim it is a misspelling of ''La Joya'', meaning "The Jewel" in Spanish. Perhaps the most-likely, although least-glamorous, theory is that ''La Jolla'' is a corruption of the Native American word "Woholle," meaning "hole in the mountain," referring to the caves in the north-facing cliffs next to La Jolla Cove Park. NOTABLE RESIDENTS OF LA JOLLA
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