Entry No. 24 — the San Diego file — filed under: cave

Sunny Jim Cave (The Cave Store)

In 1902, a German entrepreneur hired two laborers to hand-dig a tunnel with only a shovel and pickaxe from his clifftop house down through sandstone to a sea cave below — 145 stairs, no elevator — and author L. Frank Baum later named the cave after a British cereal mascot because of its profile. Prohibition-era bootleggers reportedly used it to move liquor and opium.

The move: Pay the small admission inside the unassuming gift shop, descend the 145 hand-carved stairs into cool dark sandstone, and stand at the cave mouth where the Pacific surges directly beneath your feet — self-guided, 15-20 minutes, no reservation needed.

• 📍 La Jolla
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: 1325 Coast Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037

Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Wikipedia · Official site

last checked: 2026-07-19