What is a soundwalk?

Generally, soundwalks can be any type of walk that focuses on listening to the environment with or without the use of technology. Some enhance the experience through the use of voice and sound. You can think of this experience as a site-specific padcast.

Where can I get the app?

You can download the app for free on iphones from the App Store, and on android phones from Google Play Store.

After downloading the app, make sure to allow location services when prompted - your location and movements in the park influence what you are hearing. If location services are not allowed, you will not be able to hear the content.

How do I use the app?

It is very simple:

• Install the free app
• allow location services when prompted
• bring your charged phone and headphones
• go to the plaza in front of the box office at La Jolla Playhouse
• plug in your headphones
• and the sound and voice in the app will guide your from there

For more detailed instructions, read our Get the App Page.

Is it free?

It is!

What equipment do I need to participate?

Bring your own smartphone with the downloaded app. Make sure it has plenty of battery life so you won’t run out. And bring your own headphones. If they are wireless, make sure to charge them too.

We also recommend wearing comfortable shoes and bringing weather appropriate clothing as the walk is outdoors

How long is the walk?

The experience takes about 60 minutes. The experience takes about 60 minutes. You will walk approximately 1.5 miles round trip on the university campus which includes terrain of grass, pavement, gravel and natural soil. The walk has accessibility ramp alternatives whenever there are steps or stairs. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket for inclement weather.

The walk begins at La Jolla Playhouse and ends at Geisel Library. From Geisel, it's a 0.8 mile (approx. 15 min) walk back to La Jolla Playhouse.

When can I do the walk?

Every day from sunrise to sunset.

Once you have downloaded the app, you can experience 59 ACRES whenever you want within those hours!

We recommend doing the walk in the morning, or between late afternoon and sunset, when the sunlight beautifully changes.

Can I experience it from home or elsewhere?

59 ACRES is a site-specific experience built with geolocated technology, and the app will only work when you go to the plaza in front of the box office at La Jolla Playhouse.

How long will the experience be available?

You can experience 59 ACRES from April 2024 onwards.

Where can I park?

Please check here for parking information.

Where does the experience start?

The experience starts at the plaza in front of the La Jolla Playhouse Box office in the Potiker Theatre.

Restrooms

Restrooms along the walk are noted on the UCSD facilities map.

Can I attend with someone else?

59 ACRES is designed as experience for an individual or a small group of people. Feel free to bring anyone you’d like.

Will you be collecting my information?

We do not collect personal information, and we take your privacy seriously. You can view our privacy policy here.

Mobility

This is an audio experience which covers approximately 1.5 miles on the university campus which includes terrain of grass, pavement, gravel and natural soil. The walk has accessibility ramp alternatives whenever there are steps or stairs. Audio is geo triggered through the app as you move through the different areas at your own pace. Headphones required.

I have more questions before doing the walk

If after reading the FAQ you have special requirements, or any questions during the WOW Festival, please contact La Jolla Playhouse's Patron Services on boxoffice@ljp.org or +1 858-550-1010 and we will do our very best to assist.

How can I spread the word?

We’d love you to share your experience! Please share images and thoughts on social media with the hashtag #59acres. You can find us on Instagram @59acres. If you have questions or comments, you can reach us through the contact form on our website.

The app is not launching.

If you have an Iphone, the app might not be launching if the ring/silent button on the side of your phone is switched off.

Make sure you are connected to data or wifi to download the app.

I downloaded the app but I do not hear any sound.

Make sure the sound on your phone is turned on. If you have an Iphone, you might not be hearing sound if your ring/silent button on the side of your phone is switched off.

I am hearing other music cutting through the soundwalk.

Make sure you have music apps like Spotify and Apple Music closed out, as they may continue to play in the background when you connect headphones to your phone.

I am at the starting point but I only keep hearing the instruction that I should go to the starting point.

If you do not get past the instructions screen and audio when you are at the starting point, it is likely caused by one of the two reasons below:

1. you have not allowed location services when you downloaded the app. Make sure to enable location services while using the app.

2. You are at the wrong location. Please make sure to go to the plaza in front of the box office at La Jolla Playhouse.

Why do I need to turn on location services?

The app triggers the content based on where you are, and in order to do that the app needs to be able to read your location.

For instructions on how to enable location services on an Iphone, click here.

For instructions on how to enable locations services on an Android phone, click here.

I am experiencing technical issues.

59 ACRES is experienced through a new custom built app. We have done what we can to make it as smooth as possible, but because it is new software you may run into some issues we didn't know about before. It's very helpful if in this case you can report to us what happened and at what point in the experience through this contact form. We appreciate it!

I want to submit an archive contribution after I did the experience.

Sure! You can email it to 59acreswalk@gmail.com.