San Diego moms- which beach is calmer/better for toddlers?

[cdlamis]

We are looking to rent a beach house with my sister and family. We all have young kids and would prefer a very calm beach. So far we have found a beach house on Mission Beach and La Jolla. Which is better?
I know I can probably find this info on tripadvisor but sometimes its hard to find the answers there.

Thanks!
Daniella

[geochick]

When we go to San Diego, we always take our kids to the beaches in and near La Jolla...plus I just love La Jolla's restaurants and shops (there's a great all-you can eat sushi restaurant on the main road in La Jolla). The beach I like best is La Jolla Cove (I think that's the one), but it's a small-ish beach with little parking. We always see sea life there. My kids like the water there. When you're at the Cove and look back towards the main part of California (La Jolla sort of sticks out), there's a good beach there too, but I can't remember the name. The Cove is part of a nice ocean-front path system and very close to a good little park. My vote is for La Jolla.

[Tondi G]

I would probably go for La Jolla!

Have you seen the Local Wally site?

Here is his beach review
http://www.localwally.com/beach.html

Here is a link to the main site... he has lots of great advise and reviews on food, beaches, things to see etc.

http://www.localwally.com/

HTH's you!

~Tondi

[sdjeppa]

Native San Diegan here...Where is the house in La Jolla? I think the best "kids" beach is La Jolla Shores (the big beach you can see from La Jolla Cove), but I don't know how many of the rentals are near there - I think most are closer to the other side of La Jolla? The cove is great, but not very big, and gets crowded quickly.

Mission beach - you are very close to the beach, if not right on the beach, but know that that is more of the "party" area of the beach...depends on what time of year you go, though - I would definitely skip spring break and summer...its a pretty calm beach also.

Another place to look is Coronado. The beaches there are really good also.

[kransden]

We went to Mission Beach last Nov. It is a big party area. A few people were whooping it up in the streets at 2am. I think I would be nervous with a toddler if the ocean was the point of the visit. I just kept having visions of dd drowning. The waves were so fast that she couldn't be near the water by herself. Let me know how your trip goes. We want to go back sometime.

[mom2binsd]

I lived in San Diego for 5 years...ah.....

Depending on when you go the water is pretty cold!!! I remember how cold it was one Memorial Day weekend (May), unlike Florida the Pacific can be pretty cold.

La Jolla Shores is very calm, La Jolla cove, depending on the tide can be pretty small/parking scarce...Coronado beach is great!!!...the kids love the 'gold' in the sand, flat calm surf, parking not too bad but not many rentals right on the beach...

Mission Beach/Pacific Beach/Ocean Beach...I found all it be kinda of dirty/lots of action, some not that desireable...more for college kids.

My fav, but again depends on the tide is Windansea beach in BirdRock in LaJolla....lots of surfers to watch but the water can get deep pretty quick....

Mission Bay..not really the "ocean" lots of jetski's, warmer water....

Love Torrey Pines State Beach and Del Mar too and further up in Encinitas, Moonlight beach is great.

Take me with you and I'll give you a personal tour!

Beth

[kozachka]

If I had to choose between the two, I'd vote La Jolla. We also loved Del Mar beach and its playground. And there are enough places where you can grab something to eat. Torrey Pines beach is a bit more remote but even at two DS could not get enough of fishing there.