San Diego Beaches: Shell Beach and Boomer Beach

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Ellen Browning Scripps Park is the heart of the La Jolla coast.  This grassy area sits on a bluff above the ocean. It is great place to hangout and have a picnic.  It also benefits from having three small, unique beach areas:  Shell Beach, Boomers Beach and La Jolla Cove.  Here we are talking about Shell Beach and Boomer Beach which are right next to each other at the park.

• Beach Type: Small scenic rocky beach areas with some sand and
• Access:  Staircase, possibly some rock climbing
• Parking: Free street parking
• Facilities: Restroom changing at La Jolla Cove facilities
• Good For: Laying out in the Sun, snorkeling, body surfing, tide pools, seal viewing
• Not Good For: surfing, body boarding, inexperienced swimmers

The first thing to know about both Shell and Boomer Beach is entering the water here can be dangerous.  These western facing beaches have rough surf and many rocks.  For swimming, you are better off directly south at Children’s Pool or directly north at La Jolla Cove.  Both areas are shaded from the large waves.

San Diego Beaches: Children’s Pool

Children’s Pool is a beach area protected by a breakwater wall.  It was created in the 1930s with a gift from Ellen Browning Scripps.  The idea was to have a safe area for children to swim.  In the 1990s, seals and sea lions took over Children’s Pool and human swimming all but ended.  However, as […]

San Diego Beaches: La Jolla Cove

La Jolla Cove is the entryway to an underground water park, the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve.  This protected area has a very diverse marine habitat.  As such it is primarily designed for snorkeling and scuba diving. Beach Type: Small sandy beach areas protected by cove Access:  Staircase, possibly some rock climbing Parking: […]

Shell Beach is marked by a staircase leading down to the beach.  This beach is best visited in low tides when there is more sand and also opportunity to explore the tidepools.  Off the beach you can see Seal Rock, where many seals hang out.  Overall this is a tiny beach area, but it is scenic and conveniently located.

Directly north of Shell Beach is Boomer Beach which is even smaller.  This beach is known for bodysurfing.  However, I would only recommend this for experts.  Personally, I cannot imagine going in the rocky water here.  Bodyboarding and surfing are strictly prohibited.

However, we almost always visit Boomer Beach when we come to Ellen Browning Scripps Park.  This is great area for climbing on rocks and exploring tide pools.  In recent years, seals have moved away from the Children’s Pool/Seal Rock area and have taken up residence in the rocks surrounding Boomer Beach.

Even if you don’t spend a day at these beaches, the scenery makes them worth a visit on a trip to La Jolla.  You go by both beaches in our central La Jolla walk.  The next beach up is arguably San Diego’s best snorkeling spot, La Jolla Cove.

As a final note, that applies to all the beaches in the La Jolla Cove area, this is a popular place.  There is free parking but it can be hard to find.  We almost always park a few blocks away in central La Jolla village and walk down the hill.  However, this also requires walking back up hill.

Be sure and check our full guide to all San Diego beaches.

Guide to San Diego's Best Beaches

The ocean is a major San Diego attraction.  San Diego County has 70 miles of beach along the Pacific Ocean.  Deciding which beach is most appropriate can be a difficult decision.  Fun Diego Family is mapping out the entire San Diego coastline.  This is our guide to San Diego’s Best Beaches. The San Diego County […]

For nearby lodging suggestions check out our guide on Where to Stay in La Jolla.

Where to Stay San Diego: La Jolla

The San Diego area is huge and getting around can be a challenge.  Choosing a general location to stay is essential for maximizing the enjoyment of a visit to San Diego.  Fun Diego Family has created a detailed guide to each of San Diego’s major areas.  This is our guide to staying in the La […]

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