Take a break from the daily grind and observe some real relaxation – harbor seal style. The Children’s Pool sits on the tip of La Jolla Cove and was originally designed to be a safe wading pool for children in the 1930s. The “”pool”” quickly filled with sand and, later on, about 40 seals.
Walk down on the sand and watch how well these seals take it easy. One seal lies on its side, its mouth drawn in a smile. Just a few feet away, a seal pup – it’s pup season – yawns and sticks out its tiny red tongue.
Despite the tourists, loud-mouthed corporate yuppies and occasional small helicopter flying overhead, the seals manage to fall right back asleep. They just look up, scratch their whiskers a bit and return to their slumbers. The imposition of tourists and seal watchers is actually the spark of a long-standing controversy regarding the seals’ presence. Activists are calling for the protection of the area and seals while others want the beach back for their children.
The pier affords the best place to observe the seals without disturbing them. There are several deep tide pools that line both sides of the pier, and after close inspection a fish or two becomes visible, waiting for the tide to come back. Look at the coastline and you can see the imprints the seals leave in the sand as they come in for their naps.
The best time to go is right before sunset, when the seals are at rest. Make your way up on the pier to see the seals roll around and wake up (head toward the end of the pier near the coastline). Then they’ll inch their way down to the water’s edge. The seals with pups will inch a little and wait, so that the pup can imitate them, learn and catch up.
Once they move 20 feet to the coastline, they quickly swim off for dinner. And just when you think the show’s over, you get to see a beautiful West Coast sunset and revel in the fact that you go to school in San Diego. There is plenty of parking next to the pool. Make sure to bring a coat, and be prepared to get a little wet for the waves.
