Spend a day with us in Windansea, feasting on endless ocean vistas and specialty foods while immersing yourself in laidback culture and creativity.
Aptly named, the Windansea neighborhood of La Jolla is renowned for its coastal breezes and breezy living. A network of streets that all lead to the shoreline, Windansea has its own vibe, separate from those of The Village, Bird Rock or La Jolla Shores.
Windansea, listed as part of the larger Beach Barber Tract in La Jolla real estate distinctions, stretches from Natulius Street south to Palomar Avenue, and from the ocean west to La Jolla Boulevard.
You won’t find much shopping in Windansea aside from a few niche boutiques; the neighborhood is mostly residential, with a grocery shop, several eateries, and that brilliant coastline, home to the renowned Windansea Beach, which has appeared in films, advertisements and Instagram posts worldwide.
Read on for a close look at the La Jolla neighborhood known for its culture and anchored by the water and prepare for your own day in Windansea.
The history and development of Windansea
Aerial view of La Jolla looking north over Windansea in 1920/San Diego History Center
The area known as Windansea, originally Kumeyaay land, began its modern history initially named Neptune Beach for Neptune Place, the neighborhood street that borders the sand.
In 1909, the popular oceanfront Strand Hotel was built at the corner of Neptune Place and Playa Del Sur Street, a 22-room, one-story wooden building.
Ten years later, after the new owner of the Strand Hotel held a renaming contest. The winner suggested “Windansea Hotel,” a creative spelling of the pleasant climate descriptors there; the city of San Diego adopted the name Windansea Beach soon after (the hotel burned down in 1943).
It wasn’t long until the surfers arrived, after legendary Hawaiian surfer Duke Kahanamoku introduced the sport to Southern California beaches during the 1920s and 1930s.
The sport took on a life of its own in La Jolla, and surfing thrives as a mainstay of Windansea culture due to the beach’s reliably high-performance reef breaks, churning out the best waves and the best surfers.
Today, Windansea remains a cultural icon, attracting both locals and tourists for sunbathing and socializing.
A day in Windansea: Where to eat and what to do
Immersion Coffee, La Jolla
Start your morning with a coffee or matcha drink from Immersion Coffee on La Jolla Boulevard, a relative newcomer creating plenty of buzz in La Jolla. No syrups or shortcuts here; Immersion is packed with creative flavor from housemade purees and more that make their signature drinks the perfect complement to your Windansea day.
From here, head north to Bessell Surfboards, a gallery on Westbourne Street where renowned surfboard shaper Tim Bessell, who grew up in La Jolla and began surfing in 1966 at age nine, making his first surfboard at 13.
Tim Bessell
Art and surfing are intertwined for Bessell, who leaned into his San Diego art education and is now among the premier surfboard manufacturers in Southern California. Check out his gallery for the latest and greatest of his work, which has also been featured in solo exhibitions at the StolenSpace Gallery in London and at La Jolla’s Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.
Valley Farm Market, La Jolla
Once you’ve gotten a feel for the vintage surf heritage in Windansea, it’s time to grab a few beach snacks at Valley Farm Market, where the neighborhood shops for high quality groceries and delicious, accessible food to go.
Food in hand, walk west on Nautilus, delighting in the seeming wall of ocean water that beckons from the end of the road. Once at the coastline, head down the stairs and find a spot to sit, eat and enjoy the massive marvel that is Windansea Beach.
With moss-covered rock formations and jutting sandstone, no one stays only a couple minutes. You’ll be entranced by the natural beauty, invited by the waves to sit and appreciate.
For shade, bring your own or find respite at the historic, architectural icon “The Shack,” a palm-covered surf hut built in 1946 where surfers can rest their boards and enjoy shelter from the sun.
The Shack is also where San Diego lifeguards post up to watch you surf, swim or simply play in the waves, mainly among the locals who have been coming here for generations.
Anyone trying their hand at surfing here needs to come with experience, however: Windansea waves aren’t the friendliest, nor are the rocks and rip currents.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head back to La Jolla Boulevard for lunch at The Shack Bar & Grill, noted for its social energy, a Windansea gathering hotspot for food and fun. Find your way to a burger or tacos, or any number of satisfying meals.
Stomach and spirit full, head south past the engaging murals on either side of the Mandarin House and then west on Playa Del Norte Street, because you can’t leave the shore for much longer. Stroll south on Neptune Place, where the ocean makes a great backdrop for selfies.
You’ll be in good company, with many others walking, biking and more along Neptune, taking in the salt air and healing mists. Find another seat on the rocks, another vantage point to enjoy the view. We can’t get enough either.
For a short deviation out of Windansea, head east on Palomar at the end of Neptune and make a quick right (south) onto Camino de la Costa. The next few blocks are chock full of history, with impressive and distinctive architecture that reveal why it’s called the “Street of Dreams.”
Turn around at the view point at 6000 Camino de la Costa, but not before drinking in the breathtaking panorama of Bird Rock and beyond, across the South La Jolla State Marine Reserve. Sharp eyes will note view corridors along Camino de la Costa back to Windansea, from which short jaunts to the unobstructed coast are accessible.
Nautilus Tavern, La Jolla
Find a seat at Nautilus Tavern, where Happy Hour La Jolla style is in full effect. Be among friends and raise a glass, nosh on appetizers or tuck into a full dinner – this place of local lore is a choose-your-own-adventure paradise.
Don’t linger too long, for an unforgettable sunset awaits (note: if it’s winter, plan for an early sunset before settling in at the tavern). With eyes on the horizon, you won’t be disappointed, joined by several residents coming out to enjoy the show with you.
This is where the golden hour of photography really shines, as evidenced by the number of family and wedding photographers during the evening hours, cameras pointed seaward as the La Jolla sun does its grandiose, gorgeous thing.
Getting to Windansea
Parking in Windansea is along the streets (there are a few spots at the beach in a small lot on Neptune, but those go fast); pay attention to whether there are time limits on particular streets.
If you’re using public transportation, the San Diego MTS line 30, Old Town to UTC via Pacific Beach, runs north and south along La Jolla Boulevard.
Windansea hotels
The Shoal La Jolla Beach, La Jolla
Staying in Windansea after your day? Your choices are The Shoal La Jolla Beach or the Holiday Inn Express & Suites La Jolla/Windansea, though there are plenty of options in The Village and otherwise.
Looking for more La Jolla hotels or events? We have you covered: click here and start planning!
