La Jolla, California: Gift Shop Built Over a Sea Cave
From The Cave Store descend 145 slippery steps into Sunny Jim Sea Cave, named by the author of The Wizard of Oz after a cereal company mascot. Open as an attraction since 1902.
Sunny Jim Sea Cave
- Address:
- 1325 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA
- Directions:
- Sunny Jim Sea Cave. I-5 exits 28 or 28B. Drive west on La Jolla Village Drive, then turn left onto Torrey Pines Rd. Drive around three miles, then turn right onto Prospect Place, then bear right and go downhill on Coast Blvd. The Cave Store will come up quickly the right.
- Hours:
- Shop daily 9-5, cave by appt. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 858-459-0746
- Admission:
- Shop free, cave $10.
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
Visitor Tips and News About Gift Shop Built Over a Sea Cave
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The Cave Store is a tourist knickknack shop built over a tunnel dug in 1902. The tunnel leads from the store down through the sandstone cliffs and into Sunny Jim's Sea Cave. Visitors are advised to wear shoes with a good grip, because the 145 steps in the tunnel can be slippery. There's a fenced platform at the bottom, and seals and sea lions can sometimes be seen in the water. during Prohibition, bootleggers smuggled alcohol and opium into San Diego through the sea cave by carrying it through this tunnel!
[Julie Martin, 03/29/2021]Nearby Offbeat Places



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