Life is full of ironies. Secrets that are told are often found carried in the wind. Injustices, once so brazen, are later rectified by a few good people who had the courage to fix what was broken. We'll tell you about two La Jolla secets that share a connection.

La Jolla has long been the shining star, the tony town of San Diego. But, even La Jolla has her secrets. Secrets that threatened her legacy and secrets that often go untold.

Going back to 1926 or so, La Jolla had a deep anti-semitic history. The "La Jolla Covenant" or "Gentleman's Agreement" was a protected code of conduct that allowed for Jews to be restricted from buying homes, joining country clubs, and owning businesses in La Jolla. The worst offenders were the real estate companies. Real estate companies took secret actions to prevent Jews from coming into the community. For example, "For Sale" signs were not used in La Jolla which would essentially make it impossible for Jews to know which houses were available to buy. There were many ways that discrimination played out behind closed doors, but fortunately, those days are gone.

Part of the reason that those days are gone is because of a man named Roger Revelle. Many people know that Roger Revelle did a lot for San Diego through his founding of the University of California at San Diego (UCSD). What many don't know is that Roger Revelle believed that it was unconscionable to build a leading university without Jewish scholars. He pushed hard on the community of La Jolla to lift the "La Jolla Covvenant" and eventually, the tide began to change. Rising from the dirt came the La Jolla Scenic Heights development. La Jolla Scenic Heights was non-restrictive and it became a neighborhood in which the Jewish community could establish roots. From those roots, the Jewish community began to grow.

Up until that time, Jews couldn't own property and suffered through racial slurs and the indignities we've heard so much about around the world. By 1962, as the great influx of Jewish professors needed to buy homes near the university, the real estate industry had to surrender. If they wanted business, they'd have to sell to Jews. Funny how that works.

Times have changed. Now, La Jolla has one of the largest Jewish communities in all of San Diego.

Even community names have changed. Now, there is a La Jolla Heights which is not the same as the La Jolla Scenic Heights started by Roger Revelle. It gets confusing.

La Jolla Heights, a quiet secluded neighborhood above the village of La Jolla, is a mixture of mega-mansions, old-style homes, and amazing finds along the way. We were surprised to see the presence of 1920s era cobblestone-lined gutters or "swales" that add a certain characteristic quality to an otherwise mundane asphalt street. We always wonder why those types of extraordinary elements of neighborhoods from yesteryear were forsaken and replaced with the ordinary. We know, we know...moohlah, dinero, greenbacks. It's a shame.

Toodle around La Jolla Heights and you'll find Exchange Place, Country Club Drive, Romero Drive, Brodiaea Way, Encilia Drive, and Upper Hillside Drive. Go to Torrey Pines Road and Exchange Place, go south on Exchange Place, drive up the hill, and away you go. You'll swing by the 100-year old La Jolla Country Club's 72-par golf course as you putter around.

La Jolla is famous. It often seems as if there's no stone unturned when it comes to the purported places to visit in La Jolla. We'd suggest you quietly sneak around La Jolla Heights. If you follow our directions, you'll find a short trail (approx. 10 minute stroll) leading to the La Jolla Reservoir. The trail has an awesome panoramic view of La Jolla. This place, up in the La Jolla Natural Park or the La Jolla Heights Natural Park, is so secret that when we called the City of San Diego's Parks and Recreation Department, two staff people had no idea what we were talking about. Don't laugh. It's true. This open space park encompasses 42 acres. Forty-two acres that Park and Rec. should know about. All the better, though. We love a good secret.

There are a couple of other good secrets up in them thar hills. We'll save them for another "Tip" but if you find them, let us know. Wink.

Secrets are secrets for a reason. People don't want other people to know something. Our guess is that the residents of La Jolla Heights don't want "us" to know about this secret spot or their neighborhood. Can't blame 'em. We can, however, respect their privacy and community. Enjoy the spot, but we'd suggest not bringing a busload of lookie-loo's with you.

Note: There is a 'no trespassing' sign and a trailhead sign at the little gate outside of La Jolla Natural Park. The signs don't make sense and they're contradictory. Go on and take a stroll.