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

2025-05-22 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →

After grabbing a bite to eat, we headed out for some more sightseeing. My friend recommended La Jolla, saying it was their absolute favorite spot in San Diego. As soon as we arrived, the green grass and wide-open horizon instantly put me in a great mood. I tried to think of a similar ocean park back in Korea, but nothing really came to mind.

The unofficial mascots of this place are the seals. Even before going, I was full of anticipation because I heard you could see not just one or two, but whole herds of wild seals.

A person walking in a park with a view of the ocean beyond green grass and tall trees

People resting with a stroller parked on a grassy field overlooking the ocean

Even total homebodies would probably come outside if they lived here.

A coastal cliff landscape with people walking and white waves rolling into the ocean

A flock of pelicans resting on rocks by the crashing ocean waves

A flock of pelicans densely gathered on a rock cliff rising above the ocean

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

A sea lion lying stretched out on a sandy beach with cliffs and crashing waves in the background.

A sea lion resting with its eyes closed, lying next to seaweed on a sandy beach

A sea lion lying on a sandy beach with its head raised

Peekaboo!

A sea lion is lying on a sandy beach with rolling waves.

White waves crashing fiercely against a rocky coast and a view of a village on a distant hill

People are standing on a rocky cliff with a cave by the crashing ocean.

A seagull is standing on a beachside promenade where people are standing.

I heard the waves were a bit strong today, and the ocean looked like it had white cream floating on top. Before I could even look for the seals, a noisy flock of pelicans was flying all around. They were gathered in droves near what looked like a cave entrance, searching for food, and seeing such a massive swarm was a little intimidating. Plus, there were droppings everywhere, so the smell was awful and it was hard to get too close.

Walking a bit further, I spotted a flat rock completely covered in seals. It must have been nap time because they were all leisurely sunbathing. It was a bit chilly for us humans, but I guess it was the perfect weather for them to rest. The smell was still pretty strong here, but since it was a wide-open space, it wasn't 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 just as curious about us humans, coming up close and giving us a little photo op.

There were a few people swimming in the ocean, but honestly, it looked less like actual swimming and more like they were showing off their bodies and enjoying the attention. My eyes were definitely blessed, so I'm just thankful.

Little kids would see how cute the seals were and try to run right up to them, but these are wild animals and can be aggressive. You can see them backing off quickly when they bump into each other, but it's best to keep children close before anything happens.

If it had been March instead of January, we probably could have enjoyed a warm picnic and just zoned out with zero thoughts. But since it was a bit chilly, we went to a nearby cafe to warm up. It was around 10 degrees Celsius (50°F), so not freezing, but as the temperature rose slightly, our clothes got thinner, so we needed to thaw out a bit.

Out of all my memories in San Diego, this was the day my body felt the most relaxed, while my ears were the loudest with the sounds of seals.

Numerous sea lions are gathered and lying on a large rock next to the ocean.

Several sea lions lying on a rock basking in the sun.

Waves breaking white as they crash against a rocky coast.

A seagull sitting on a structure against the backdrop of the blue ocean.

A seagull standing on a structure against the backdrop of the ocean

What you lookin' at!

A stop ahead sign and a parking information sign on a palm tree-lined street.