San Diego - La Jolla Village

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San Diego San Diego - La Jolla Village Map
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A trip to La Jolla is not complete without a thorough tour of the city's downtown area, fondly dubbed by locals as “ The Village . ” Featuring trendy shops, distinguished galleries and delightful eateries, La Jolla Village is best appreciated by a tour on foot. If you are coming from a distance and must drive to The Village, parking is not an easy feat. While the downtown streets offer two-hour free parking (for the lucky souls who can locate an empty space), your best bet is to park in one of the garages along Fay Avenue, where a $4-$5 flat rate eases your parking worries for the entire day.

Once you have found a place for your vehicle, begin your walking tour at the corner of Fay Avenue and Prospect Street, where some of La Jolla's most popular downtown restaurants are located including Roppongi Restaurant, Bar and Cafe, Hard Rock Cafe, Moondoggie's and Il Forno. As you pass the restaurants, you will see the Arcade Building, which bears a hybrid style of an old, Spanish mission intertwined with Mediterranean influence. The Arcade Building leads to an alleyway with dozens of specialty shops.

After exploring the clothing and household treasures found in the Arcade Building alley, continue north along Prospect Street and you will approach a stretch of art galleries. Images of Nature Gallery features masterful works from nature photographer Thomas Mangelsen. In addition, Cosmopolitan Fine Art Gallery highlights French impressionist and post-impressionist paintings, while Aja Arts & Antiques showcases a vast selection of Oriental rugs.

The The Grande Colonial Hotel is just across the street from these distinguished art galleries. This hotel, famous for its rate of $1 per day upon opening in 1913, has since been renovated many times and now ranks as an historical landmark in La Jolla Village.

As you continue your walk down Prospect Street, you will soon encounter Girard Avenue, which flourishes with dozens of eateries and specialty shops. Popular boutiques along this street include Cara, Sigi's Boutique and Melange. In addition, Gallery Alexander provides an opportunity to browse through an eclectic assortment of artwork and Athenaeum Music and Arts Library offers a cultural education.

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Athenaeum Music and Arts Library