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Children's Pool
Categories: Active Life Parks Active Life Beaches Parks, Beaches [Edit]
850 Coast Blvd(between Eads Ave & Jenner St)
La Jolla, CA 92037
(619) 235-1169
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
57 reviews for Children's Pool
57 reviews in English
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Review from Greg E.
Nice little spot to watch the seals. There were plenty of them out there. Again this is another controversial area of La Jolla for reasons I am not sure of. I really don't care enough to know though. I guess this used to be a children's pool but has been transformed into some sort of a seal beach.
Lots of seals were out that day and the tide was low. A nice place to come out here with your gal and just shoot the breeze on a slow day.
Again very limited parking so patience is a must. -
Review from Jen S.
12/1/2011
Controversial spot in San Diego; has been for years.
This place brings out my misandrist feelings. Why? Because once again mankind thinks it is entitled to everything. Before the seals showed up here, this was a popular beach for kids due to the calm waters and easy beach access. But now this is the only beach (not counting the rocks at La Jolla Cove) where seals congregate, and feel safe. It pisses me off that people can't shut up about it, and find another beach. I mean, there are LOADS of them.
The fact that the seals chose to make this spot their home has many positives. (1) It brings tourist dollars to the area, (2) the viewing platform serves as a great way for people and kids to get good looks at the seals and learn more about them, (3) it gives people an idea as to the shark activity in our local waters (I have seen several seals with shark bites, some with rather large bite radiuses), and (4) La Jolla should be proud to have the seals as part of their community.
But people who still want to swim here, and who still do, are not only stupid, but they are disgusting. Anyone who has been here knows what I am talking about. Where seals live, there is seal crap. The water is brimming with it, and the stench is pretty over-powering. Yet gross people still violate the laws, and swim in this giant toilet regardless because they feel entitled to it.
Seals have more class than these people; no seal would swim in our toilets. -
Review from Trish C.
Vista, CA
I don't see what all the fuss is about. The seals seem to be doing alright, even with all the people stopping by to visit.
The Children's Pool was literally built in the early 1900s for exactly what it sounds like: a place for kids to swim in, in a protected area (hence the large wall). But now, since the pool is filled with sand, the harbor seals are using it as a sheltered area to get a rest from the buffeting waves of the Pacific.
I visited the cute little blubbery figures on Saturday morning around 9AM. Some guy stuck a large pole that said "OPEN" in the sand, and I walked down by it.
Even with me approaching, and hitting the sand, the seals just freakin' laid there. Like the Honey Badger, they didn't give a sh... They raised their heads to check me out, then went right back to sun bathing (er, overcast bathing. The sun wasn't really out that morning). I had no wanting to touch them. I just observed them, and they didn't seem to have a problem. One even edged closer, and I was the one who backed away. No one said anything. I got as far as sitting in the sand and just staring at them for 15-20 minutes before I got up and walked around La Jolla.
As long as you don't try to touch the seals on land, and keep a respective distance, I don't see why you can't enjoy their company and vice versa. They are docile in the water, and it's nice to see people attempting to interact with sea life. Just don't poke, prod, or pester them, or THINK about doing it, and you'll be fine.
Follow up: The second time I went was in the afternoon, when there were oodles of people. Yes, most of the seals stayed in the water, and one alpha male/female of sorts came on the beach... so for all the idiots that got within 20 feet of the seal, one of the monitors from the lifeguard tower boomed the loud PA of "STEP AWAY FROM THE SEAL. THE SEAL CAN BITE. YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY ON THE BEACH, STAND BACK, AND USE THE ZOOM FEATURE ON YOUR CAMERA OR DIGITAL RECORDER."
That's all it took... the people backed off, the seal went back into the water, and reemerged a minute later with a friend. Then everyone gawked at those two until sunset.Listed in: Beach Bums (the good, the bad,…
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Review from S H.
San Diego, CA
1/15/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Tourist place since all those seals took over the beautiful beach, but nice tidepools & sunsets.
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Review from Arty V.
Solana Beach, CA
9/14/2011
As an outsider, who knows nothing about this pool have looked at the 3 apparent sides to this beach it appears obvious that the 2 extremities are nutcases who are trying to impose their will on peaceful visitors.
I don't want to be accosted by some terrifying mental case hippy women, trying to sell stupid tat whilst screaming in my face how we shouldn't go near the seals
I don't think that the guy with the umbrellas, trying to counter the pro seal crowd should be necessary; hasn't he got better things to do?
In the middle of all this, lies sanity, a sign from the city, democratically elected, managing the issue for the benefits of all. Go to the beach, enjoy it, try not to bother the seals. Seems like a reasonable stance.
This is a beach created by someone for the benefit of the people, which the seals want to enjoy too. There is room for both if people act sensibly; if they don't then that is what the cops are there for.
Here is an example where free speech has been allowed to overcome the will of the people and their democratically elected representative; such a shame. Maybe the people can use the infrastructure they pay for through their taxes to get people with mental problems locked up in some sort of institution where they belong so we can all go back to behaving sensibly and enjoying what nature and our ancestors left for us. -
Review from Cynthia H.
San Diego, CA
7/25/2011
You should be ashamed of yourself if you're one of the people swimming where the seals used to sunbathe. Breaks my heart. What...you can't find another beach in San Diego?
I hope the biggest flock of seagulls poops in the faces of those who thought it was a priority to take down the rope...and again in the people who go there.
No seals anymore. Way to go. -
Review from Rachel N.
Belmont, CA
8/28/2011
It's a really pretty area to see... but I will agree with the others that have reviewed this- it's very sad that humans have taken over this area and have scared away all the seals. There were a few seals far out where people couldn't get to. There was a little seal swimming around and this guy kept trying to swim toward it and the seal was trying to hide and stay away. He eventually scared the little guy off. This isn't a human habitat- it is a seal habitat that they no longer feel safe in. Bummer.
Although there are signs saying do not disturb the seals- it obviously isn't followed strictly/seriously. -
Review from Saira K.
11/30/2011
Oh, I loved this place - it smells, and the seals are loud, but I could just watch them for hours - and hearing them was just great! I can't believe they'r.e just there - and this isn't a zoo. And they aren't afraid of us, and when I was there, people were very respectful of them. It is so peaceful to see animals so at ease with their surroundings. Wish we could be more like them - free and relaxed and majestic. There are pelicans, sea lions, and all sorts of birds and sealife here
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Review from Frank R.
Brooklyn, NY
8/29/2011
Typical of human nature. If the beach was taken over by sharks, there would be no debate. However, because the seals are afraid of humans, some humans feel the need to flex their muscles and scare them away. Sounds like some type of Napoleon complex. If all the seals do eventually leave, hopefully sharks come to take over and then the humans can be scared away.
Respect nature, respect life and find another beach to take your kids... -
Review from Sarah C.
4/22/2011
Dear Children's Pool,
I'm sorry you are the center of so much controversy in La Jolla; sadly, you have also become the center of controversy in my heart.
I don't know how to feel about you when I come visit you with friends. Really, I only ever want to come visit you when out-of-towners are here; otherwise, I'd rather stay away.
You are such a nice little area of beach; I wish I had the guts to go down the steps and spend more time with you. But, I don't actually want to get that close to wild harbor seals. Also, I don't want to get into a confrontation with the people who spend their day sitting on the walls to "guard" the seals. I don't like conflict, see.
You have been the spot of some of the greatest people watching, though, due to your controversy. I would not be surprised if one day I bring friends here and end up seeing more fist fights and screaming matches than seals. Sad.
Hopefully things will all get worked out. Personally, I'm going stick to looking at you from above and then moving on to other beaches and tide pools nearby.Listed in: When you come visit me...
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Review from Emily J.
San Diego, CA
4/6/2011
Getting ready to take the kids in the water snorkeling for the first time this year. Last weekend kayaking the caves near the Cove, we saw a HUGE colony of sea lions on the rocks near the caves, just hanging out. I have never seen them so concentrated there before. I wonder if the harbor seal population being scattered at the Children's Pool has made the sea lions also shift hangouts. Unknown. But doubtful. I think they got the memo that humans are sissies!
What I can say is that snorkeling next to sea lions is much more scary than snorkeling next to leopard sharks. I wish there was some way to scatter the sea lions first so we can teach the kids what the underwater world is all about in safety. The goal is to get them to respect the ocean.
A new secondary goal is to get them to understand that people, adults particularly, have misguided passions a lot of the time. Animal rights crusaders like the video camera folks, especially these intimidating types cause children to question adults' credibility. In the end, after having been cursed for walking on the sand outside the ropes, my kids concluded it would be fun to harrass the animals just to irritate the activist people. Bad conclusion. I hope it doesn't stick throughout life, but I fear it might, despite me trying to teach them reason. -
Review from Casey S.
Alpine, CA
4/27/2011
I wanted in on the controversy, so here it goes.
Im a fan of this debate. At least it brings real issues to light.
So whats the big deal? There must be a reason why they are still there.
There must be a reason why people are upset about them being there.
Why there's all the fuss and arm raising against seals without the seals attacking you first.. well thats just some violent nonsense.
Why theres all the fuss with animal protection persons harassing others without being intimidated or attacked first is pacifist nonsense.
but the world is a bunch of bs nonsense and we live here. -
Review from Jessica M.
San Diego, CA
6/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
ADIVICE:
Don't get to close to the seals and drive them away. We all like seeing them and love having them. They were here first before we took over thier beach. Enjoy them....doing crowd them. -
Review from Sara B.
San Diego, CA
1/12/2011
Personally I'd also rather watch a bunch of stinky, cute seals hang out on the beach then a bunch of loud kids litter the beach with plastic shovels and toys with parents that are to lazy to watch their kids drowning in the 'children's pool'.
Just kidding, but really I do love to watch these seals sleeping and scratching. With all the other visitors around I don't think I'm the only one. Kids like it too. Be warned though parking is difficult, the seals aren't always there, it smells just awful, and there is the occasional show down between pro-seal and anti-seal activists. Sure if you are brave and have something to prove you can go down there and use the beach but you might get arrested if you try taking a picture with your arm wrapped around one.
I felt that if I was going to do this review I needed to learn a little more about the debate. After I did some reading from both sides and beyond I came to the opinion that building a 'children's pool' might not have been the greatest idea in the first place especially between a place called Seal Rock Point and Seal Rock. I think the idea of a children's pool is also outdated there are plenty of places for them to learn to swim and this part of the coast has evolved into a place where people young and OLD can come and witness these great creatures. Hopefully the politics can simmer down and nature can take its course.
Here is a pretty interesting article about the dilemma. http://cmbc.ucsd.edu/O...Listed in: S. D. On A Dime or Less
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Review from Maricela H.
Chula Vista, CA
7/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Really sad to see all the seals exhausted trying to come on shore and all the people chase them into the water. So gross who would get in that water anyway? It is so dirty. Sad to see what happened to a nice little piece of SD.
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Review from Emily S.
San Diego, CA
11/22/2010 1 photo
Was once wonderful...
Adults ruin it for "children" on both sides...
Too little too late for all involved, I won't even drive past it anymore.
RIP to whatever it was and whatever it turned into... -
Review from Kenny O.
I came here today at 6am to take some long-exposure photographs of the ocean. Man, did this turn out to be great!
It was a bit chilly, but because of the recent November heat that came our way, the climate was very tolerable, even this early in the morning.
This early in the morning, parking is plentiful and you don't have to tailgate cars looking for a spot.
I'll just shut up now and submit some photos :) -
Review from Joe S.
Alpine, CA
5/16/2010
At one time, by all historic accounts, this was a pretty cool little spot, but those days ended long ago. As you make your way past the dilapidated structures choosing the route to the sand, or the wall, you quickly come to realize that something stinks at the La Jolla Children's Pool.
For years now, this place has been plagued with a menace that has just gotten so out of hand that this once happy little spot, is now a toilet to one of the most disgusting creatures ever to come trolloping out of the Pacific Ocean... And NO, I don't mean your MOM..
Seals, they are not the fluffy cute little animals that people think they are. They are fat, lazy, disgusting things that lay around on the beach all day and do nothing, but poop. Oh, occasionally one will roll over and blast an enormous fart skyward, taking out anything that happens to be flying within 6 meters above it, but that is about it...... Come to think of it, I dated a girl like that years ago...
Women don't exactly lie about farting you know, many of them really do believe that they do not fart. What happens is, that they go the entire day holding it in, and they are so trained at doing this that they can make it through just about any activity without producing as much as a squeak, it becomes second nature. This all changes of course come time for sleep. As they drift off into the billowy softness of the dream world, they slowly begin to relax, and the more relaxed they become the more those contracted muscles start to release.... The human body is capable of producing some truly nasty things.... That goes double for women....
I also believe that this is what causes such a high rate of Sleep Apnea in married men, it's a form of unconscious avoidance. The brain is setting off an alarm, saying, "HEY SOMETHING NASTY IS GOING ON, WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T BREATHE." I would suspect an inability to contract Sleep Apnea must result in Night Terrors, where some truly horrifying things will manifest in your dreams.
As for the Children's Pool.... Bring a respirator if you plan on visiting... -
Review from J C.
San Diego, CA
7/18/2010
So I've lived in San Diego all my life and have loved coming here since I was a kid. This was always "my spot"
Back in the day, you could go out on the beach in the children's pool and I remember the water being so clear and beautiful with people snorkeling and little kids (like myself at the time) playing in the water.
Now, it is a shit-infested sesspool that is totally murkified with seal shit.
It smells like a litter box that hasn't been changed in 5 months.
Yes, seals are cute. Too many of them overbreeding and taking over the beach is not cute and really bad for the environment. Plankton and fish aren't cute, seals are. That's why seals get to stay and kill off the other creatures with their massive amounts of noxious shit. Seriously.
You can't even walk onto the pier/jetty/bridge thing without covering your nose and gagging.
So now you can't go on the beach most days because it's roped off. And even on the rare occasion that it isn't, there are these animal rights pricks who yell at you for going down -- even when there aren't any seals on the premises! These people are the worst! They have really bad attitudes and I often wonder how much they get paid to be there at all.
My husband and I went down to check out the water (not go in because there was an advisory not to because of the polutants from the seals) and there were maybe one or two seals down there in the corner. We kept away from them as we know it is a federal offense to disturb them. There was no rope. we were on the other side of the children's pool. Mr. Jerky-jerk up top starts screaming at us in front of everyone that we are in a "natural habitat" (the children's pool is man mad, btw) He started swearing and calling us names and mocking us. IT WAS HORRID!
(FYI, I'm a vegetarian and an animal rights advocate myself. I also have a brain in my skull though and I like to think I try and base my opinions off of science and logic)
Meanwhile, there were actual cops there who were doing nothing, meaning they weren't telling us to leave as we weren't breaking any laws ... which was nice. My point there is that if real cops aren't bothered by us being down there, why the hell should this prick? But they also didn't take much notice of Mr. Jerky-Jerk and his rudeness either. Not that belittling strangers in public is against the law either. But he could have incited violence if we'd been the type of people to march back up the stairs and deck that little wiener. Good thing we don't believe in that.
So now we stay away from that place altogether. Totally not worth it.
It's actually really sad because this used to be such a wonderful place for everyone! -
Review from Andrew F.
Escondido, CA
6/22/2011
I came here often as a child. There is nothing quite as exciting as laying out on the beach and having a seal lay crawl out of the water, look you in the eyes, and lay down next to you. It saddens me that many will never have this experience because of the political debacle. Adults ruin everything.
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Review from Marisol C.
San Diego, CA
Went here yesterday for the first portion of Karyn's Hookey event
http://www.yelp.com/ev...
and while I was waiting for Bill or Karyn to return my call, I sat on a bench looking across the Children's Pool.
It makes me nostalgic to days gone by when I'd go on late night jaunts with friends and out of town guests to check out the seals.
There were only 3 baby seals at the Children's Pool this time...you could tell they were basking in the adoration that those on the bridge were fawning over them.
It's a pretty spot...great for hand holding and late night make out sessions
(not that I would know)
Only downside- it smells to high heaven (CLOSE YOUR LEGS!) : / -
Review from Kristin F.
San Diego, CA
1/7/2010 9 photos
Beautiful, serene. During a trip to La Jolla on Monday I was reminded how much I enjoy this place.
My boyfriend took me here--gosh, the name "Children's Pool" is such a thing of the past--for the 1st time last January. There were so many seals on the beach that day, and the nerdy former biology major in me was in awe; there were all these wild seals just chilling in a well populated area!
Fast forward to mid-July 2009. My mom came to visit, so of course I had to take her to see the seals! Words can't really describe the feeling of horror that overcame me when we turned the corner and saw just an empty beach. No seals?! There were just a few frolicking in the water, but on the beach there was nothing but sand.
Later that July day, while browsing in shops on Prospect Street, my mom and I learned from a store owner that the seals were purposely being driven from the area in order to reestablish the Children's Pool, a protected beach area where children once played before the seals came. (I don't know how I wasn't aware of all this. Must have been living under a rock!) While shopping we noticed old-fashioned black and white postcards showing children on the beach as well as modern postcards with the seal-covered beach.
The seals now seem to be back, and good...because I want them here! My brother and his fiancée really enjoyed our little trip to La Jolla earlier this week, and I'm so glad that the seals were there for them to see.Listed in: San Diego Sun
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Review from Yoon P.
8/22/2009
Watch the seals, leave them alone, enjoy the beach, BRING YOUR CAMERA.
MUST-go place when you visit San Diego. Just be aware of the lack of parking spots near the beach on the weekends.
Very peaceful and BEAUTIFUL. -
Review from Devon C.
I don't get why this place is called the Children's Pool when it's clearly been overtaken by tons of seals...unless of course they are trying to compare children to seals. I guess I can kind of see the resemblance...a lot of sqawking and pooping and laying around? ha ha ha JUST KIDDING!! For real though, I don't get it??
On the real, this place is absolutely picturesque...and I'm not just talking about the seals that reside here. The beach is magnificant, and really makes you forget you are in San Diego and feels like you are on a beach in the Mediterranean. It's also nice to check out seals in a more natural habitat than at a place like Sea World where they are caged, spoiled and turned into whiney little pussies.
It's pretty sweet to come here and watch the sun set over the horizon, as well as to walk out onto the jetty and observe the waves crashing on the rocks. I'd imagine it would be quite exciting when it's windy because the water would splash right up and hit you...you know, it'd give the term "The Perfect Storm" a whole new meaning. Or how awesome would it be for a scene from "Jaws" to come to life right in front of your eyes and for a great white shark to come jumping up out of the crashing waves? Totally unrealistic, I know. But still exciting to imagine.
Baby seals are one of nature's cutest wonders...so why is it that they have to grow up and morph into big, lazy blobs of flubber? I'll personally never understand.
I'd say this is a definite must-see if you're in San Diego. Magnificent!!!
Woulda been a five but I had to knock off a star because of the gawd awful smell those lil rascals leave in the air. -
Review from Michael L.
Brentwood, TN
10/16/2008
Even though this place was originally built for kids, I'm cool with the fact that the seals have taken over. It's not often that you can get so close to wild creatures like that. This place makes a great stop at the end of a walk along the cove.
So why only 2 stars? I'll tell you. Because everytime I go, there's some animal activist that gets in my business when I walk up to the line. Back off lady! I'm not trying to hurt them, I'm not trying to mate with them, I'm not even trying to feed them. Back the fuck up off me. It's you and your overzealous laws that almost got that baby seal with the net around its neck killed. -
Review from Bruce A.
La Jolla, CA
6/29/2009
The seals are one of the best parts of La Jolla. People have 99 percent of coastline... give the poor seals this little niche! If people want to take their kids to the beach, there is hundreds of miles of coastline to do that.
What kind of monster wants to chase away those adorable animals? Barking dogs scaring away harmless seals? We would look like a joke to the rest of the country and world!
KEEP THE SEALS!
Besides, they are protected by the Marine Mammal Act... I do not see why this is up for debate??? -
Review from Andrew C.
Manhattan, NY
3/2/2009
When it comes to issues like this, I have to stick with my morals:
I hate children.
I love seals.
In fact, I would go so far as to make the argument that IF we were to force the seal population of La Jolla to emigrate, the children who would thus take over the children's pool would produce as much noise and as much smell as the pool's prior inhabitants. BUT these children would provide less of an attraction for beach-goers.
So I says: 'The Seals Stay!' -
Review from Grace D.
San Diego, CA
4/12/2009 1 photo
Seals are cute and I love them, let them stay at Children's Pool. Cute pups sunning and most of them sleeping.
FAT, BIG, HUGE and baby seals they are cute! -
Review from Julie G.
Berkeley, CA
12/29/2006
The Children's Pool is actually a beach spot created years ago for the children of La Jolla and visitors to experience the beach in an enclosed section of the La Jolla cliffs. Nature didn't particularly care for this beach to be only for children so she sent signals out to the sea-life that was being hassled by pollution and other naughty anti-nature influences that has disbursed and diminished sea life as we use to know it. So the sea-lions came a calling which caused some of the local residents to become very disgruntled. After all the beach should only be for people.
However these wonderful creatures began creating quite a stir as they seemed to be well-liked by the visiting tourists and even some of the locals. Business was booming in and around the shores but that small group of residents persisted and they changed the law to encourage the sea-lions to leave. So now they are trying to share the space but it's not working out so well. I think the sea-lions will win out in the end. -
Review from SanDiegoJoey D.
San Diego, CA
5/28/2010
This place has been ruined. The Scripps family built it for Children and the politicians took it away. What used to be a wonderful place to enjoy sea life and SHARE the water with nature has become a bio-hazardous litter box for seals. If standing two stories above a beach and watching sea lions sleep is your idea of fun with family then visit the once majestic "Childrens Pool". Or, you can go a quarter mile north to the Cove and actually share the water with these animals and other sea life. Shame on San Diego for taking this from our Children.
http://www.friendsofth.../
P.S. Visit at your own risk, daily arguments and real fist fights are not uncommon. Overzealous activists sign boards and t-shirts will almost surely disrupt any hope of enjoying your visit.Listed in: San Diego Places and Events
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Review from Christine C. M.
Oceanside, CA
3/9/2009
I didn't manage to make it to the Children's Pool until a couple months ago when I was scouting out the park for a wedding and just kept walking down the boardwalk, looking for other cute little beaches. I came across the Children's Pool and was mesmerized. I sat down and just watched the seals. For an hour. Then I walked down the the seawall and watched more. Between the cute pregnant seals and the cute kids stoked to see the seals, it was an awesome morning. I've since brought my guy, my parents, and my friends with kids down here for early-morning seal watching. (One of my out of town friends thought it was called "Children's Pool" because of the number of happy kids running about when we visited!)
There are plenty of places to lay out and/or swim in San Diego, but not a lot of places to see wildlife relatively undisrupted by people. It should be preserved as such so our children can experience it! -
Review from Jena S.
Updated - 2/25/2010
I went home again this week and stopped by my favorite place in the world... a little beach lined with seals nestled by a cove in the magic city.
I'm not really sure there could be anything better than the feeling I get as I drive along the roads leading here. I need to make a point to do that as soon as the bike is fixed again.
http://www.youtube.com...
This trip was to visit a marine. He'd only been there once prior. It was part of a tour I gave him of a couple of "must sees."
For the history.
For the seals.
For the whimsical magic of this place:
its something I've shared with 2 lovers, an ex husband, my child, my dad...
its difficult NOT to get swept away by the magic of the Children's Pool.Listed in: Happily Ever's, Do you come here often?, Summer Lovin', Best ofs
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/22/2009
This is my first stop whenever I go home to San Diego. Whenever something was wrong when I lived… Read more »
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Review from Christine C.
San Diego, CA
11/7/2006
I love going to the Children's Pool. There is a lot to see in La Jolla, but whenever I have a friend visiting from out of town, I try to show them the Children's Pool.
For me, paying a little visit to the seals never gets boring. It is a tourist attraction, just like UTC, but looking at the seals doesn't cost anything, unlike Sea World and it is also a lot less depressing because the seals are in their natural habitat.
What is depressing, is seeing the seals trying to swim up to the beach, but they can't because some fat tourist from Arizona has parked their ass in the seal's spot.
So I say enjoy the Children's pool as an observer, it's fun it's free and environmentally sound. -
Review from Melinda T.
San Diego, CA
2/19/2009
Another great spot to take guests when they are visiting. Best time to go is when the pups are freshly born. Those ugly animals are so cute when they're little. Seems somewhat daring to walk out on the seawall during rough waters, if you're into that.
I've been a few times and it still makes me smile. -
Review from Allen P.
La Jolla, CA
4/28/2009
Best thing about Children's Pool: you get to watch nature at its best, with hundreds of awesome seals sunbathing and living a nice, lazy life while tending to their close-knit families.
Worst thing about Children's Pool: you stay there too long, you'll inevitably witness a baby seal do something completely mundane (like sneeze, or roll over and bark), deem it to be the most adorable thing in the world, and spend hours plotting some incomprehensibly-complex-yet-completely-doable plan to kidnap said seal and raise him in your bathtub. -
Review from Susan C.
Granada Hills, CA
7/18/2010 1 photo
My friend and I arrived for breakfast in Downtown La Jolla half an hour too early, so we decided to go down to Scripps Park instead of waiting around until 8.
Due to limited parking, we kept driving further until we arrived at Children's Pool. Granted that we viewed the pool from a distance, and had no contact with seals, our proximity from the location, commonly referred to as "Seal's Beach," was an amazing place to enjoy:
good company,
the sounds of the Pacific's crashing waves,
a nice sea breeze,
and a beautiful view. -
Review from Raina S.
4/15/2010 3 photos
I'm sure this was once a great place for kids to swim, but now it's a mecca for lazy seals. CUTE lazy seals.
My daughter loved this place. You can get really close to the seals, as they seem to have no fear of people. They are in a roped-off area where they must know they are safe. I envy those seals. What a great life! They looked very happy. -
Review from Christian B.
San Diego, CA
2/17/2009
I say let the seals stay!
We all know that the Childrens Pool was built for children. It seems that some think that Miss Scripps is tossing off in her grave, but I think thats bs. She was an environmentalist as well and I don't think she would have any problem with seals using her precious pool. I would wager that the seals bring much more tourism to La Jolla that the excitement of swimming in a calm, cold, salty pool does. Besides, the cove is usually calm and 1/4 mile away. The ocean was not built for people only. There are other creatures in it.
Its a beautiful place to walk and spend a sunny afternoon.
Best political cartoon for La Jolla - A seal being crucified on the Mt. Soledad Cross. Two of the stupidest things that take up time on NPR during my morning commute. -
Review from grace b.
Irvine, CA
11/12/2007
BIG, FAT, LAZY SEALS. Just everywhere.
I loved this place. Good to just spend some time walking around and checking out the silly seals. Also, it's free... Nothing's better than free!
It's a beautiful location and it's nice to see the seals just hanging out.
There was a seal pup who was SO adorable and there was one really fat seal who basically jiggled his fat until he got to the water's edge. That was hilarious. hehe...
I would definitely stop by here again on my way down to San Diego. -
Review from Dave P.
Carlsbad, CA
10/1/2009
The La Jolla Childrens pool was created about 70 years ago with a donation from the Scripps family and is a must see for all visitors to San Diego.
A few notes:
- There is a lot of controversy surrounding the pool,and there are some very angry, uneducated, loud animal activists there who will lie to and even assault the public, so be careful.
- Currently (as of OCT '09), it is legal to go on the beach, The seals don't seem to mind 1/2 as much as the animal extremists do. Be careful not to disturb the seals if you do go on the beach. If you do go on the beach, be careful, the animal extremists at the top of the stairs have been known to threaten and lie to the public. Recently, one of them was arrested for allegedly assaulting a 16 year old girl. I personally have been harassed for going on the beach NEXT DOOR by these crazies, but it's still worth it to see the awesome animals.
- The seals are not naturally occurring on beaches like this, which makes it unique. Sea World began dumping rehabbed seals at the Children's pool a few years ago, they liked it, and stayed, creating a neat viewing opportunity to see domesticated seals acting very different than they do in the wild.
- Swimming is very safe at the Children's Pool. (after all, it was created to give human children a place to swim that is sheltered from the waves) There are severe rip currents and sharp rocks on the other beaches in the area, so use extreme caution should you swim elsewhere in La Jolla (this is coming from a decade a s an ocean Lifeguard in the area)
The Children's Pool is AWESOME. Enjoy it, but don't let the violent animal activists in the area keep you from fully enjoying it by going on the beach or swimming in the area.
