Boomer Beach(Boomers)

Located in the community of La Jolla, Boomer Beach - also known as Boomers - is a largely rocky beach with a small narrow sandy part. This beach is situated below the western part of a blufftop park known as Ellen Browning Scripps Park. The bluff sides along this beach are composed of sandstone. 

While Boomer Beach does not have lifeguards, the grassy park above the beach has many amenities including picnic tables, restrooms, benches, and showers. In addition, there is a phone box near this beach that is open during summers and can be used to contact lifeguards during emergencies. The beach allows dogs on a leash before 9 am and after 6 pm between April and October. Between November and March, the beach allows dogs before 9 am and after 4 pm. 

Boomer Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, wildlife watching, bodysurfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. The water near this beach is more exposed to frequent and rough waves, which make activities like swimming, surfing, and paddleboarding here difficult and potentially unsafe. In addition, boogie boarding and surfing are also prohibited in the water near this beach as it is a part of a marine reserve. However, bodysurfing is allowed here and many bodysurfers often bodysurf here despite the rough water conditions. In addition, the water near this beach is also home to many marine mammals including seals, sea lions, and migrating grey whales (between December and April). Divers and snorkelers can also see a diverse array of fish and marine invertebrates in the water near Boomer Beach. There is also a lifeguard memorial near Boomer Beach dedicated to a lifeguard and bodysurfer named David C. Freeman who died while bodysurfing in the water here. This memorial also has a payphone which is available for use during summers and can be used to contact lifeguards in case of an emergency. As an interesting fact, the area around this beach serves as a rookery for sea lions usually between June through October. You can see young sea lion pups with their mothers along the coastline during this time period. However, we strongly recommend staying at a safe distance from sea lions and their pups as these animals can get quite aggressive and occasionally attack humans. In addition, sea lion pups may also lose their body scent due to excessive human interaction, leading their mothers to abandon them. Boomer Beach is ideal for those looking for a quieter beach experience as this beach is less popular than other La Jolla beaches due to its unruly water. However, if you are looking for a beach with calmer water, we recommend visiting the adjacent La Jolla Cove beach, where the water has milder waves and is ideal for swimming. The Ellen Browning Scripps Park above the beach is a great spot for hiking, picnicking, and photography. In addition, the park offers wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean and the San Diego County shoreline.

Getting to Boomer Beach is easy - the access trail to the blufftop area above Boomer Beach is situated near 1160 Coast Boulevard. However, there are no stairways or trails leading down to Boomer Beach - you need to scramble along the bluff sides down to Boomer Beach from the blufftop area above. We also recommend visiting this beach during low tide as during high tide this narrow beach can be significantly submerged. While street parking is available on Coast Boulevard, we recommend visiting this beach early as these parking spaces often fill up quickly.

There are many attractions near Boomer Beach. Legends Gallery displays artworks made by renowned illustrators and artists including Tom Everhart, Mackenzie Thorpe, and Dr. Seuss (the acclaimed author of How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Cat in the Hat). The La Jolla Recreation Center was built in 1915 and was designed by Irving Gill. This recreation center has many amenities including playgrounds, basketball courts, tennis courts, and weight room facilities. In addition, this center also organizes many interesting programs like taekwondo classes, gymnastics, yoga classes, and adult fitness classes. If you are looking for another attraction near Boomer Beach, La Jolla Historical Society’s Wisteria Cottage Gallery offers many interesting artistic and historical exhibitions.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants near Boomer Beach. Manhattan of La Jolla is a New York style-Italian steakhouse and restaurant which has a charming old-school ambiance. This restaurant also offers delicious steaks, seafood, and Italian dishes. Puesto La Jolla offers fantastic Mexican dishes including tacos and burritos. In addition, this restaurant has also been mentioned in the MICHELIN Guide. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Boomer Beach, Cafe Vahik offers amazing breakfast dishes including eggs, bagels, sandwiches, and salads. 

If you are looking for a hotel near Boomer Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 5-Star The Lodge at Torrey Pines offers many amenities including two restaurants, a pool, a hot tub, a spa, and a golf course. As another upscale option, the 4-Star Hotel La Jolla, Curio Collection By Hilton offers numerous amenities including a pool, fitness center, and a restaurant. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Empress Hotel La Jolla which offers many amenities including an Italian restaurant, a gym, and complimentary breakfast. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Boomer Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star The Shoal La Jolla Beach offers many amenities including a pool, hot tub, and fire pit. In addition, the hotel offers free accommodation to children aged 17 and under staying with an adult.