Sunny Jim Sea Cave
1325 Coast Blvd., La Jolla, California
Numerous sea caves are carved into the sandstone cliffs along San Diego's La Jolla coast, but Sunny Jim Sea Cave is the only one accessible by land. To reach the natural attraction, walk through a man-made tunnel allegedly used for bootlegging during Prohibition. The souvenir shop that houses the tunnel entrance displays historic photos and information.
Once you emerge into Sunny Jim Sea Cave, you’ll see ancient carvings and a rainbow of colors from various mineral deposits on the walls. Guided tours of La Jolla sometimes include a stop at the cave, or you can explore on your own—it’s a quick side trip that easily fits into a day of sightseeing. To reach the bottom of the cave, you’ll need to descend a staircase, which can sometimes be slippery, and there’s a walkway leading out to the middle of the cave. You can also view the cave from the water on kayaking excursions.
The cave was named by Wizard of Oz author Frank L. Baum, who noted that it resembled a British cartoon character named Sunny Jim.
It takes about 15-20 minutes to tour the cave.
There is an admission fee to enter the cave.
Sunny Jim Sea Cave is fittingly located on Cave Street, off Coast Boulevard in La Jolla. The entrance to the cave, which is open daily, is inside a souvenir shop (The Cave Store). Segway and e-bike tours of La Jolla typically pass by the cave but do not stop to visit.
The best time to visit La Jolla is from July through October when you’ll experience pleasant temperatures and little rain. The period from November through March can bring more rain, but overall, San Diego is generally sunny and warm year-round. If you plan to explore the sea caves by kayak, book a tour during low tide.
Formed by the erosion of the cliffs by the ocean water, the sea caves in La Jolla are considered a must-see. Except for Sunny Jim Sea Cave, the caves are only accessible via kayak, so consider booking a guided tour. The Clam’s Cave offers ocean views from the inside and protects from rough surf conditions because of its position, while the Sea Surprize Cave is home to calcite-coated sea anemones and orange walls due to rock deposits.
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