La Jolla, California (Sea Lions, Seals, and Pelicans)

As we continued to explore the West Coast of the USA, we found ourselves in the hilly, curvy, seaside community that is currently called La Jolla (la hoy ah), California.

We spent nearly all our time here by the cozy seafront, easily watching sea lions, seals, and pelicans up close. Adults and young on sand and boulders, sunning, snuggling, feeding, preening, and playing.

It was vital that we viewed this wildlife in a sustainable, non-harming way—by using the zoom on our cameras, by remaining quiet, and by remaining on the viewing platforms—no matter what.

La Jolla Cove, a small sandy beach with rocky points, placed us close to sea lions, their pups, and pelicans. The sea lions with their large front flippers, walked with their flippers on land, had visible ear flaps, and were noisy. The pelicans mesmerized us.

Children’s Pool (aka Casa Beach), a sandy and crescent-shaped seal rookery, placed us close to seals and their pups. The seals had small front flippers, wriggled on their bellies on land, had no ear flaps (but tiny holes), and were blissfully quiet.

And we were most appreciative to learn that the indigenous First Nations Kumeyaay tribe call this area Mat Kulaaxuuy. This is their unceded homeland and territory.