A San Diego-area hot spot for catching rays and waves has been named the best beach in America, as well one of the tops across the global.
Travel site TripAdvisor named La Jolla Cove the No. 1 beach in the US over several picturesque locales in Hawaiia and Florida beaches.
La Jolla Cove is situated about 13 miles outside of San Diego proper and is known for its barking sea lions, rocky cliffs and pristine water. Parts of the cove are ideal for snorkeling during the summer months.
The cove is part of a protected marine reserve, and visitors occasionally get too close to the sea lions to take selfies, which the city advises against.
TripAdvisor ranked the list based on beaches that receive a “high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions” from users over a year-long period,’ adding that fewer than 1% achieve the milestone.
The rankings were determined by global TripAdvisor reviews between Nov. 30, 2024, and Dec. 1, 2025.
La Jolla Cove also ranked highly among beaches around the world, landing in the No. 7 spot over sandy havens in Italy, Australia and South Africa. Mexico’s Isla Pasion topped the global list.
Two Los Angeles beaches landed on the US rankings, with Santa Monica State Beach coming in at No. 9 and Venice Beach at No. 13.
Florida and Hawaii each boasted four beaches in the top 10.
