I had never been to Bird Rock or La Jolla; I picked Karen's place because there was really nothing else close to La Jolla, where I was headed for a wedding. Bird Rock is fantastic! It's the way I remember the California coast beach towns (OK, I realize that very pricey fixer-uppers make it pretty different now). It was great to come back to the peace of Karen's place after a lot of family excitement every day. The bike she provided got me exploring along the coast, with tidepools and sandy beaches a short distance away. The apartment is very comfortable; it's small, but the glass door and windows make it feel bigger and keep things bright. I would definitely stay here again.