One of San Diego’s most affluent districts , La Jolla, whose name is a modification of the term “La Joya,” is rightly known as the jewel of Southern California. La Jolla is a beachside community built on 7 miles of unspoiled coastline on the Pacific Ocean , surrounded by the sea on 3 sides and by Mount Soledad on land.

La Jolla also features world-class dining, art galleries, museums, luxurious hotels, and world-class boutiques. Prospect Street, La Jolla’s main commercial thoroughfare, is frequently compared to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills . In addition to luxury and glamor, La Jolla is a state-of-the-art biomedical research and higher education center. This region is home to the San Diego campus of the University of California, the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, the Scripps Research Institute (one of the largest non-profit biomedical research organizations), and the Salk Institute.