Morning kickoffs
Growing up in Southern California, I often spend weekends at beaches along 70 miles of glistening sand and rolling deep waves. If you are looking to take in the seascape of San Diego coastal lookout points, outdoor dining by Mom ‘n Pop restaurants, and quick coffee catch-ups, visit La Jolla.
Wayfarer Bread
Start your morning early at Wayfarer Bread, a small craft bakery specializing in fermented pastries and French bread. To avoid lines — a wait that only takes up to 10 minutes — try to arrive at 8:30 a.m. Or, if you are a late waker, lines usually die down by 10 a.m., but you can also opt to preorder the pastries and pick up the baked goods. Wayfarer has a seasonal menu based on local produce, and updates their menu regularly. Parking is fairly easy to find if you come earlier than 10 a.m. It opens at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and closes at 2:30 p.m. except for Friday and Saturday, when the bakery opens again from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
In November, their Fall menu features Savory Butternut Squash Scone and Apple Galette, and even offers tacos on Tuesday nights, pizza on Fridays and Saturdays and breakfast sandwiches by pre-order any day. The inside of the shop is tight yet homey, displaying local trinkets and selling merchandise.
Oceanside vista points
With a Jalapeño Fontina Croissant in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, take a 10-minute walk two blocks through the seaside neighborhood of Bird Rock to the vista point at 205 Bird Rock Ave that looks out to the Pacific Ocean. You will pass college students, morning joggers and dog walkers — a common morning site in San Diego.
If you prefer more lively tourist attractions, drive north to the Children’s Pool Beach in La Jolla, a popular spot, especially if you are visiting with children. Sheltered by a seawall and a rope barrier, tourists often watch Pacific harbor seals sunbathing and rolling in the sand. However, keep in mind that the Children’s Pool is closed during seal pupping season (Dec. 15 to May 15). Along Coast Boulevard, you can find sea caves, gazebos, artist galleries and small shops as well as several other beaches along this walk.
Whichever route you take in this beach town, you will find yourself surrounded by the picturesque atmosphere of La Jolla. Downtown, murals from The La Jolla Mural Project decorate corners of skyscrapers, and by the shore, surfers and boogie boarders. From coffee to coast, a morning in La Jolla offers time to unwind, laid-back waves and a salty breeze.
by Claire Zhou
