Welcome to La Jolla Alta
If you live on the sunny slopes of Mount Soledad and need a dentist near La Jolla Alta, Barbara Young DDS is only a short drive away. Dr. Barbara Young has cared for San Diego families since 1995, and our Clairemont office welcomes patients of all ages from La Jolla Alta, Crystal Bay, Ventana, and the surrounding hillside communities. We offer cosmetic dentistry such as veneers, dental crowns, and custom whitening trays, along with root canal therapy, implant restorations, dentures, and routine cleanings.
Getting here is simple. From La Jolla Alta, head down the hill toward Pacific Beach and pick up Garnet Avenue eastbound. Garnet becomes Balboa Avenue as it crosses Interstate 5, and from there it’s a quick turn onto Clairemont Drive. Most patients arrive in about 15 minutes.
A Brief History of La Jolla Alta
Long before homes lined its curving streets, the land that is now La Jolla Alta was open coastal hillside. During the Mexican period, La Jolla was mapped as pueblo land, and when California became a state in 1850, the area became part of the City of San Diego. For decades, the slopes of Mount Soledad remained mostly wild, offering sweeping views but few residents.
La Jolla itself began to grow in the late 1800s. A railway built in the 1890s connected La Jolla with the rest of San Diego, and the community earned a reputation as a resort destination. Even so, development stayed close to the coast for many years. A detailed map from the 1920s shows almost no development on Mount Soledad beyond early versions of the Muirlands and La Jolla Country Club Heights.
That changed in the second half of the 20th century. City records from the early 1970s show Tech-Bilt Construction building single-family homes in La Jolla Alta along streets such as Calle Miramar and Calle Delicada. Those Spanish-inspired street names still give the neighborhood much of its character today.
The 1980s brought another wave of growth. Ventana, a gated community at the southern end of Cardeno Drive, added 168 homes in 1986, and Crystal Bay followed with 122 mostly one-story luxury homes built in the late 1980s. Today, La Jolla Alta is a settled, established residential enclave in a community that the city describes as 99% built out.
Living and Working in La Jolla Alta
Life in La Jolla Alta blends quiet hillside living with easy access to everything San Diego offers. The neighborhood sits on the southern slope of Mount Soledad, with generous quarter-acre and half-acre lots, and many homes enjoy views of the ocean, Mission Bay, and the city lights. Residents of Crystal Bay can use the La Jolla Alta Country Club, which features two pools, five lighted tennis courts, a gym, and a clubhouse.
Pacific Beach and the Village of La Jolla are minutes away, making beach days and dinners out wonderfully convenient. For work, residents are close to UC San Diego, the research and biotech campuses of Torrey Pines Mesa, and downtown San Diego. Families appreciate access to San Diego Unified schools, nearby parks, and a strong sense of neighborhood pride.
The Must-Sees of La Jolla Alta
Discover exceptional attractions within minutes of La Jolla Alta and our Clairemont practice:
- Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial: Perched near the summit just up the hill, this memorial honors service members and offers some of the best 360-degree views in San Diego County.
- Kate O. Sessions Memorial Park: This hillside park just below the neighborhood is a local favorite for picnics, dog walks, and sunset views over Mission Bay.
- La Jolla Cove: Part of a protected underwater park, the cove is a popular spot for snorkeling and watching sea lions. It is a short, scenic drive from home.
- Birch Aquarium at Scripps: Operated by Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the aquarium features Pacific marine life exhibits, tide pools, and stunning views of the coastline.
- Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego: The La Jolla location occupies Ellen Browning Scripps’ former residence, built in 1915, and showcases rotating modern and contemporary art exhibitions.
- Pacific Beach Boardwalk and Crystal Pier: Just down the hill, the boardwalk offers biking, people-watching, and oceanfront dining, with the historic pier stretching out over the surf.
Book Your Visit With a Neighborhood Dentist You Can Trust
Whether you need a routine cleaning, a brighter smile, or relief from a sore tooth, Dr. Young and her team are ready to help. We see patients of all ages, participate with most PPO insurance plans, offer payment plans through CareCredit, and provide nitrous oxide to help nervous patients relax. Call Barbara Young DDS at 858-273-7777 to schedule your appointment. We look forward to welcoming our La Jolla Alta neighbors to our dental family.