Seeing Wild Seals Up Close at La Jolla Cove in San Diego

2025-05-22 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Prices in parentheses are approximate conversions. Read the original Korean post →

After grabbing a bite to eat, I headed out for some more sightseeing. A friend recommended La Jolla, saying it was their absolute favorite spot in San Diego. As soon as I arrived, the green grass and wide-open horizon instantly put me in a great mood. I tried to think of a similar place back in Korea, but no specific marine park came to mind.

The unofficial mascots of this place are the seals. Even before going, I heard you could see not just one or two, but a whole colony of wild seals, so I headed there with high expectations.

Even total homebodies would probably want to go outside if they lived here

One or two pelicans are pretty, but seeing a whole flock gathered like this is actually a bit scary

Peekaboo

I heard the waves were a bit strong today, and the ocean looked like it was topped with white cream. Before I could even spot the seals, a flock of pelicans was flying around noisily. They were all gathered near what looked like a cave entrance searching for food, and seeing them in such a massive swarm was a little intimidating. It was especially hard to get close because of the sheer amount of bird droppings and the terrible smell.

Walking a little further, I spotted a flat rock completely covered in seals. It must have been nap time, as they were all leisurely sunbathing. It was a bit chilly for us humans, but I guess it was the perfect day for them to rest. It still smelled pretty bad, but maybe because it was an open space, it wasn't completely unbearable.

It was my first time seeing so many wild animals in my life, so I was watching them in awe. A few of them seemed curious about people and actually came close enough for a photo op.

There were a few people swimming, but honestly, it seemed less about swimming and more about showing off their bodies and enjoying the attention. Thanks to them, my eyes were blessed, so I was just grateful.

Some little kids thought the seals were pretty and tried to run right up to them, but since they are wild animals, they can be aggressive. Seeing the seals bump into each other makes you step back pretty quickly, but it's best to keep kids close before that even happens.

If it had been March instead of January, I probably could have enjoyed a warm picnic and just spaced out with absolutely zero thoughts. But since it was a bit chilly, I went to a nearby cafe to warm up. It was only about 10 degrees Celsius (50°F), so it wasn't freezing, but because I was dressed a bit too lightly for the weather, I really needed to thaw out.

Out of all my memories in San Diego, this was the day my body felt the most relaxed, even if my ears were deafened by the sound of the seals.

Whatcha lookin' at!