There are two parts to La Jolla as far as I am concerned. There is the shores and then there is the cove. Both have a great amount of sand and are not overpopulated on a daily basis.

La Jolla Cove is good for sitting around looking at the organisms in the real live tide pools, or you can amuse yourself by doing some people watching. Lots of people come and visit, some fishing, some just sitting, and others swimming (there are sectioned off areas to swim in that are off-limits to fishermen). I love to bring a book to the beach and read for a while. When I have had my fill of that, I take a quick swim followed by a nap expedited by the sound of waves crashing against the rocks.

Every year at the Cove, there are incidents where, either out of stupidity or on a dare, teenagers are reported found dead among the rocks from having jumped off the cliffs where it is not safe to land in the shallow waters.

La Jolla Shores is distinguishable from the Cove because, unlike the Cove, the cliffs are recessed about two hundred feet or so from the water line. There is a strip of sand that runs from one end of the cliffs to the other. On the one side of the strip, there is the ocean, and on the other side, there is the two lane road that is one of two that connects Torrey Pines to Del Mar. This road, although heavily traveled, has never interfered with a great day at the beach for me.