La Jolla, Calif., about 20 minutes from San Diego, is an upscale beach community that offers amenities and services that are one of a kind. The history of La Jolla is somewhat mysterious and fascinating at the same time. La Jolla in Spanish means the jewel, which fits well with the natural beauty of the area. In 1850 La Jolla became incorporated as part of San Diego and in 1869 the Sizer brothers were the first two permanent settlers to the area. Their land was sold to them in 80-acre plots for $1.25 per acre. This same land would be worth more than $1.25 million by the late Twentieth Century. Today, La Jolla continues to be the pristine area for residents and visitors from around the world.

When mentioning La Jolla, the first image that comes to mind is amazing beaches offering fun and recreation for all age levels. Blacks Beach, La Jolla Cove, La Jolla Shores and Windansea Beach are just some of the beaches that offer surfing and other types of recreation. Childrens Pool offers a beach for small children that is partially blocked by a sea wall so as to provide more protection and safety for children of all ages.

Accommodations in and around La Jolla offer every level of service imaginable. Those who have deep pockets will look forward to places such as the Empress Hotel of La Jolla, The Grande Colonial and Hotel Parisi are all upscale resorts that will cater to every need. More affordable accommodations can be found farther inland. These include the Marriott La Jolla, Radisson La Jolla and La Jolla Beach Travelodge. For those female visitors and permanent residents alike, many health and beauty locations are within an easy reach. Extreme Salon, Body of Essence and many more are located all throughout La Jolla.

Real estate in La Jolla will generally be marked at a higher price than surrounding communities, mainly because of the mystique and heritage of the city. With this in mind, be sure to do thorough research before making a final decision on any real estate transaction. With more than 50 real estate agencies to choose from, be sure to find the right real estate agent that fits your basic needs. The easy way to divide up La Jolla would be to divide all real estate that is along the coast from the rest of the inland real estate. All real estate along the coast can easily be 10-15 percent higher than anywhere else. Property along the coast contains greater views of the ocean, beach and any coastal wildlife. Inland property will not have the views, so the price will be considerably lower. For example, a three bed, three and a half-bath is available for around $16 million. The same type of house farther inland from the coast is available for around $1.5 million.

Some other nice features that come with La Jolla are the various shopping options and the surrounding tourist destinations. Shopping in and around La Jolla is endless. Four or five main shopping centers, both indoor and outdoor, are awaiting your visit. Surrounding tourist destinations are just as numerous, if not more, than the shopping options. The San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Wild Animal Park, SeaWorld Adventure Park, Knotts Berry Farm and Disneyland are all within two hours driving distance. All of these destinations are enjoyable for the whole family. La Jolla has just about everything that you will want in a future place to live and enjoy life.