The Grande Colonial Hotel in La Jolla has it all: history, charm and an incredible waterfront location. Add to this a walkable town with tasty restaurants, and beaches with seal lions and leopard sharks, and you know why the hotel is one of my favorites in the San Diego area.

The family and I recently escaped to the Grande Colonial for three days and two nights of fun and relaxation. Our getaway began when we checked into a comfortable suite overlooking the hotel pool and the Pacific Ocean a block away.

The 3rd floor suite came with two queen beds, an office desk with free Wi-Fi, large HD TV, a huge bathroom and walk-in closet, and a memorable view of the ocean from vintage windows. Just outside the room was another cool feature – a balcony a few steps away overlooking the quaint downtown district of La Jolla.

When not enjoying our room, we explored La Jolla’s stunning coastline. A block from the hotel is Children’s Pool, where sea lions and seals relax on cliffs and rock outcroppings. The area has a large seawall protruding far into the water, which visitors can walk along to get a close look at the animals and also get spectacular views of the ocean. This place was recently named by TripAdvisor as one of the “Top 10 Wonderfully Unique Beaches” in the world.

During our visit, the rocks were crawling with giant sea lions, sleeping, barking and grunting as waves splashed all around them. Besides these creatures, the spot offers picturesque photo opportunities.

Near Children’s Pool is La Jolla Cove, a popular spot for swimming, scuba diving and snorkeling. The cove is surrounded by sandstone cliffs and has a small sandy beach with lots of rocks to climb and investigate. If you arrive at low tide, you can also enjoy the clear tide pools. There is also a small rock island here that is habited by hundreds of large pelicans.

After playing at the beach, we headed back to the Grande Colonial and explored the 93-room boutique hotel and grounds. Opened in 1913 as La Jolla’s first hotel, the Grande Colonial started as an apartment / hotel. It soon added a pharmacy run by the father of actor Gregory Peck, who grew up in La Jolla. In coming years, the hotel would host notables such as Charlton Heston, Groucho Marx, Jane Wyatt, Eve Arden, Pat O’Brien and David Niven.

Throughout its 100 years, the five-story hotel has seen numerous upgrades and owners, but has always kept its signature Colonial revival-style architecture and prominent corner location, one block above the ocean. The hotel’s most recent renovation was to its signature dining spot, the NINE-TEN Restaurant & Bar (www.nine-ten.com), which is located next to the lobby.

Recognized with MICHELIN Guide 2023 distinction, the NINE-TEN Restaurant & Bar offers California cuisine that emphasizes a farm-to-table philosophy. Led by award-winning Chef Jason Knibb and Pastry Chef Jose Alonzo III, the menu showcases seasonal foods dictated by the local harvest and unique cooking styles. Current dinner menu highlights include hamachi sashimi, with marinated baby shiitake mushrooms, watercress and scallion vinaigrette; grilled prime ribeye, with roasted sunchoke, king trumpet mushroom, kale, amaranth sprouts and black truffle demi; and pan seared Maine sea scallops, with braised turnip, romanesco cauliflower, caper-raisin puree, meyer lemon sauce and herb oil.

Another great food option at the hotel is room service for breakfast. Our first morning, we ordered delicious Huevos Rancheros, with corn tortillas, Oaxaca cheese, ranchero sauce, Rancho Gordo beans, guacamole, sour cream, sunny-side-up eggs, and cilantro. We also tried shakshuka, which is two poached eggs baked in tomato sauce, onions, peppers, feta cheese, parsley and grilled bread; and blueberry and lemon pancakes, with powdered sugar & maple syrup.

While eating breakfast, a curious seagull landed on our window seal and wanted a bite or two, so I hand fed him some toast with butter. After this we drove a couple miles to La Jolla Shores Beach, a one mile-long sandy beach located near the San Diego La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve.

La Jolla Shores is not only great for swimming and scuba divers, but is also popular with leopard sharks. In fact while I was playing in the waves, about a dozen of these sharks appeared out of nowhere and began swimming next to people. Harmless to people, the spotted sharks are about 4 feet long and have all the characteristics of their larger, scarier cousins.

After swimming with the sharks and playing in the sand, we strolled through downtown La Jolla and found the Burger Lounge (www.burgerlounge.com), where we enjoyed great grass-fed burgers and fantastic dairy free ice cream. Back at the Grand Colonial, we swam in the hotel’s round pool and then watched the orange sun fall into the ocean from our suite.

The Grande Colonial Hotel is located at 910 Prospect Street, La Jolla, CA 92037. The hotel also offers 5,000 sq-ft of indoor and outdoor event space, in-room spa treatments, concierge-arranged ocean activities; airport shuttles and more. For more information and reservations, call (888) 828-5498 or visit: www.thegrandecolonial.com

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The first I ever heard of La Jolla was when my mother went there for a psychology conference focusing on the studies of Carl Jung. It was during the Hippie generation and mother embraced a lot of that culture. So, I expected to see a community built on those values. I was only here for a weekend and these are just my first impressions.

La Jolla (La-HOY-a) stretches out along Southern California’s western coastline, just a brief drive north of downtown San Diego, and about 30 miles north of the Mexican border. It’s famous for its small cove and its beach, surrounded by residential homes perched on its cliffs. Its fame also includes surfing, snorkeling and scuba activities. Free public parking is very limited — mostly found on the street. There is a strong ecological movement, so it’s a haven for sea lions, sea gulls, and various fish. There are many important restrictions imposed by the (California Coastal Commission) as to what and when to bring floating devices (surfboards, boogie boards, kayakers, inflatable mattresses, etc.) to the beach, so it’s best to check the regulations first before you head out to paradise. Sorry, no dogs allowed in the beaches. I did see several surf boarders and a swarm of kayakers huddled in the waters. As is typical in California, there is a war between the free-spirited locals who access the beach and water for fun, and the conservationists who wish to preserve it.

Did you know it isn’t called a city or even a town? The locals call it a Village. From the hotel staff to the man-on-the-street, there didn’t seem to be a consensus of what was unique about this place (other than the imposing cove) they call home. There weren’t any famous landmarks except maybe the local library or the museum. No one seemed to be aware of the artifacts discovered throughout La Jolla over the decades, indicating that the Native American La Jolla Band of the Luiseño Tribe settled along the shoreline nearly 10,000 years ago. The actual name of La Jolla is also a mystery among town historians; whether it comes from the Spanish word La Joya (which means the jewel) or from the La Jolla Band term Woholle (meaning hole in the mountains. The mystery continues with others claiming that the Kumeyaay Native Americans coined the name Kulaaxuuy (land of holes). With no historical records or documents, the history of La Jolla remains mudded, so mudded that it would require more than my weekend stay in the village to reach an understanding.

I later discovered that there were actually quite a few celebrities who had lived or once-lived in the Village. Why didn’t any of the long-time residents of La Jolla not even know about their famous neighbors? Maybe it’s because the Village is mostly residential and wealthy residents commonly covet their privacy. Actor Gregory Peck was born in La Jolla, and political commentator Tucker Carlson was raised there. Spiritual writer Deepak Chopra ran his “Center for Well Being” in the Village, and Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel was a life-time resident. Novelist Anne Rice (“Interview with a Vampire”) moved there from New Orleans, while one of my favorite mellow songwriters, Michael Franks, also made it his home-base. Utah senator Mitt Romney bought a $12 million La Jolla vacation home in 2008, and the first female astronaut Sally Ride lived above the cove before her spectacular explosive death on a rocket ship. And, one of Musicdom’s hotest artists, Alicia Keys, lives there as well.

Larry, who drives a shuttle bus and has lived in La Jolla forever, in an impromptu interview about his hometown.

They have one major commercial downtown area they call the Village where businesses and (mostly) restaurants and other tourist destinations are located. The University of California, San Diego, also the site of the La Jolla Playhouse and James’ Place restaurant is about half an hour away. When I browsed through the local newspaper, I noticed that real estate agents boasting of their multi-million-dollar sales comprised much of the advertisers. Houses averaged in the five-million-dollar range. If you own a house in La Jolla, you’re instantly part of the exclusive Rich and Famous.

Each house had its own personality. They weren’t track housing common to middle class society. I loved the magnificent variety of trees. Apartments looked small and expensive. Parking at night might be a problem here. The homes along the cove are architectural delights. Almost all of which have glass walls to enjoy the beauty of the crashing waves. A few were undergoing major renovations. One seemed to be fortifying the stilt foundation it has been perched on.

Walking along the side roads towards the Village from my hotel, I observed the houses below me and I’m guessing from the dusty cement structures along the main road, these owners have lived here forever — part of the old rich. The white flat-roofed houses were staggered along the cliff and weren’t particularly flashy but “location, location, location” made them expensive. At the Village, I noticed quite a few flashy low-riding sportscars parked by the mall. Due to the pandemic, many of the restaurants had outside extensions where young professionals chatted in their fashionable summer attire.

I enjoyed the flat and 3-dimensional artwork in the high-end galleries. You know there has to be a market for these shops to survive. The antique wooden intricately-decorated Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, located in the heart of La Jolla, proved to be a highpoint. I had a fascinating conversation with the knowledgeable librarian who seems to enjoy her work. The shelves were lined with faded books that begged me to ruffle through their pages. I was the only outsider in that huge building. There was a music room where the UC San Diego Music ensemble gave a concert just a few days ago. Also, it’s well worth the short one-mile drive to La Jolla’s Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial for a view of the only memorial that honors veterans, living or deceased, from the U.S. Revolutionary War to the war on terrorism today.

La Jolla. It’s the expensive beach cove of America. If you want to observe the vacation home of the quietly rich and famous, this is it.

Accommodations:

We stayed at the La Jolla Shores Hotel. It’s a long-established beachfront hotel. You literally see the pounding surf waves a hundred feet away from the building. Judging by its architecture, it was made in the 1980s. It isn’t a sparkling high-end hotel but the rooms are decent. The bathroom fixtures are of an earlier era. The location of the electrical outlets didn’t account for the Internet technology so they weren’t conveniently located. The food was as good as expected. The staff was very friendly and full of smiles. I was especially glad to have (free) complimentary shuttle service because I walked about two-miles from the hotel to the Village and I was too tired to walk back. Aside from beach sports, tennis, ping pong and golf are a favorite pastime. It’s a great place to hold an overnight wedding party or a weekend retreat.

Click here for more information about La Jolla

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Another Long Week

As you read this, I will probably be in La Jolla, CA beside the beach. No, I won’t be soaking in the sun. I will be resting in our hotel room while my wife attends a company retreat. Because of my wife’s work activities, I have traveled to several US tourist areas. I guess you can call it a blessing. But I enjoy a nice conversation more than any travel.

Take these past few days for example, I had a brief reunion with my Australian friend over breakfast. She and her husband were rushing to the airport so we only had an hour to chat. I could have spent the whole day with them.

Wednesday, I held my first Bible study with 3 young men. We started on the book of James who was Jesus’ half brother. (Some people don’t believe Jesus had any siblings but I respectfully disagree because scriptural passages prove otherwise.) And if you know anything about James, you know he’s all about action and not just words. We dug deep and we’re looking forward to digging deeper in the weeks to follow.

It was Indoor Camping # 2 with the grand kids the past weekend. Things didn’t turn out exactly as planned. It was still fun. Let’s just say there was a mixup of itineraries and we spent a lot of time with dog Halloween activities. I did get to share the Parable of the Talents and the Parable of the Soils before bedtime. We practiced my composition but we didn’t sound good. (It’s embarrassing to share). I mean, was I asking too much? I had grandkid #1 playing the drums, grandkid #2 playing keyboard. Just because they had never played their instruments before is no excuse to sound awful, right? I’m glad my daughter was able to sing with us. She and I will be practicing with some other local musicians this Sunday for a performance next Thursday at the Veteran’s Day celebration.

How was your week? Busy? I’m happy but I guess you can tell that I’m also tired. La Jolla will be so nice.

TGIF people! I’ll send you a postcard from La Jolla. Not!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Maling of New Manila, Philippines for this joke.

Video of the Week

Thanks to Maling of New Manila, Philippines. This is just a simply fun video. No translation needed.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA.

Thanks to Mel of Washington. DC

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA. I guess the season has started.

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena

The post Checklist for Joy appeared first on Traveling Archive.

A friend and I recently escaped to the 100-yr-old Grande Colonial for a memorable seaside getaway. Our adventure began when we checked into a beautiful suite overlooking the ocean. The suite dripped with classic design and elegance. It was like a night at a governor’s mansion back in the 1930s or 40s, but with all of the modern luxuries of a AAA Four Diamond Award recipient.

The room was located in the hotel’s Colonial Suites building, surrounded by lush gardens and the pool. Upon entering the suite, we encountered an entertaining room with comfortable lounge chairs and an office area with desk and free high-speed Internet, a Keurig coffee maker, and a large HD TV.

There was also a sleeping area with two queen beds, with goose down comforters; a dressing room with double sinks and a walk-in closet; and a bright bathroom with classic, black and white checkered tiling. The room was highlighted by huge old-fashioned windows that opened wide to let in cool sea breezes and offer magnificent views of La Jolla’s beach and rocky coves.

Once acquainted with the suite, we explored the 93-room boutique hotel and its grounds. Opened in 1913 as La Jolla’s first hotel, the Grande Colonial started as an apartment / hotel. It soon added a pharmacy run by the father of actor Gregory Peck, who grew up in La Jolla. In the coming years, the hotel would host notables such as Charlton Heston, Groucho Marx, Jane Wyatt, Eve Arden, Pat O’Brien and David Niven.

Throughout its 100 years, the five-story hotel has seen numerous upgrades and owners, but has always kept its signature Colonial revival-style architecture and its prominent corner location, one block above the ocean. The hotel’s most recent renovation was to its signature dining spot, the NINE-TEN Restaurant & Bar, which is located next to the lobby.

Last month the restaurant opened after a $300,000 upgrade. The result is an exciting, new upscale dining spot with modern vibe, and colors infused with emerald green and light wood, and a stone tiled floor. The design focal point is a vibrant and locally inspired ocean and fauna wall panorama created by renowned artist Dana Montlack.

While the décor is refreshing and enticing, the real star of the restaurant is the food. Led by award-winning Chef Jason Knibb and Pastry Chef Jose Alonzo III, the place specializes in a farm-to-table philosophy and features a harvest from local artisan farmers where produce is selected daily for the restaurant’s seasonal menus.

Our meal at NINE-TEN began with grilled octopus, with haricot verts and Spanish chorizo relish, whipped hummus, sherry vinaigrette, and spiced potato chips. For the main course I enjoyed an incredible 40-day aged prime rib-eye steak with mashed potatoes, onion rings and Japanese peppers – all on a unique plate made from a sliced tree ring. My friend devoured the Alaskan Halibut, with a summer succotash of corn, squash, zucchini, fava beans, dried cherry tomatoes, chanterelle mushrooms, fennel pollen and corn dashi emulsion.

After dinner, we had a drink in the restaurant bar and then relaxed in the heated pool before retiring for the evening. In the morning we walked to the La Jolla Underwater Park, a 6,000-acre tideland area of rocky reefs, kelp beds, sand flats, and submarine canyons. The park is naturally a popular destination for colorful fish, snorkelers, scuba divers and kayakers.

Near the Underwater Park is the Children’s Pool, where scores of adorable harbor seals can be found lounging on the sand inside a beautiful cove. This place was recently named by TripAdvisor as one of the “Top 10 Wonderfully Unique Beaches” in the world.

The Grande Colonial Hotel is located at 910 Prospect Street, La Jolla, CA 92037. The hotel also offers 5,000 sq-ft of indoor and outdoor event space, in-room spa treatments, concierge-arranged ocean activities; airport shuttles and more. For more information and reservations, call (888) 828-5498 or visit: www.thegrandecolonial.com

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