The sea, the sea! With a sublime location on a peninsula lapped by the warm waters of the Pacific, Coronado is among the most popular of California beaches, especially for those looking for an effortless holiday of fun in the sun. Coronado is like San Diego's spoiled little sister: it peers across the harbor and soaks up the adoring looks of its many visitors and amours.
With a population of just over 24,000, Coronado is small enough to feel relaxed and cozy, but big enough to be full of things to do at any hour of the day. Fortunately, with its sunny summers and fairly mild winters, it serves up the perfect weather to accommodate all the wholesome activities you have planned. A key resort destination since the late nineteenth century, when the famous Hotel de Coronado planted its feet in the warm sands of the peninsula, Coronado has a long history of keeping tourists and visitors entertained—and you'll be more than taken with what this friendly little outcrop has to offer.
Flanked by naval bases, Coronado attracts plenty of binocular-toting airplane aficionados, but there's plenty to be seen at ground level, too. Orange Avenue is worthy of a lengthy promenade, and is abuzz with theaters, boutique shopping, and some fine dining options so impressive you'll find yourself wishing you'd worn looser trousers.
Self-avowed beach-goers will find themselves whiling away the days on Coronado's west side, which is a mile-long stretch of beach featuring dazzling white sand and aqua-hued water. Bring your towel and swimsuit and spend some time splashing about or dawdling along the dunes that butt on to the stunning Hotel del Coronado. Parks and Marketplaces abound nearby, so bring a picnic basket or stock up on trinkets. For surfing, fishing, and swimming, pop over to the Silver Strand State Beach.
Coronado basks in its status as a must-see destination among things to do in San Diego, and puts on a show at just about any time of the year. The 4th of July parade is a popular tourist draw, and features beguiling attractions like a two-hour parade and a glorious fireworks display. Athletes go crazy for the July Sports Fiesta, while horticulturists and flora-lovers statewide put down their secateurs to visit the Coronado Flower Show, which takes place each April.
But it's not just the fleeting and the flashy that makes Coronado such a must-see location. Coronado earned its name, meaning “the crowned one,” the hard way, building its reputation over many long decades. It's famous for its bright and sunny architecture and its wealth of parks and gardens: it even manages to squeeze in a world-class 18 hole golf course.
If exclusivity is your thing, and the galleries, theaters, and museums don't quite hit the mark for you, you'll be able to book a suite at one of Coronado's ultra-privileged resorts and spend your days being pampered away from the gaze of the public. These self-contained mini villages offer all the pampering, entertainment, and recreation you could possibly need, so get out that black Amex and go to town.
QUICK FACTS
Just across the harbor from its big sister the city of San Diego, Coronado is a bustling resort town that bursts with activity all year around. Its northern island is home to an active Navy facility, and you'll see plenty of intriguing aircraft taking to the sky. Move slightly south, and you'll find yourself in the thick of all things vacation-oriented, with sand, surf, and shopping all at your feet. Coronado lends itself to the boutique and the unique, and its quaint personality is one you'll want to become acquainted with.
WHEN TO GO
Summer delights weather-wise, but the claustrophobic crowds aren't much fun to navigate. If you want to catch some rays but skip the tourists, stop by in October, when things are far quieter. Coronado's mild winters make for a welcome respite for some of the chillier areas of the US, and while we wouldn't recommend trying to get a tan at this time of the year, you might be able to watch the whales frolicking about nearby.
HOW TO GET THERE
Coronado is a hop, skip and a jump from San Diego International, and is also easily accessible from Downtown San Diego. The two routes in are the Coronado Bay Bridge, which is a must if you're the happy-snapping type, and the Silver Strand. Shuttles and cabs run between SD and the island, too, but if you're a romantic at heart, you might enjoy taking the San Diego Bay Ferry, or one of the several Water Taxi services running to the island.
GETTING AROUND
Coronado is teensy-tiny, and is easily enough traversed on foot, on a bicycle, or on any other small-wheeled device that takes your fancy. There are gondolas, too, and if you're not worried about getting somewhere quickly these can be a fun option for making as though you're in Venice. Getting around by car is easy enough, although parking can be a menace.
THINGS TO DO
Freddie Mercury of Queen fame had plenty of good things to say about bicycles, and so do we. If you want to get about Coronado without the hassle of finding a car park, and like the idea of working your leg muscles while you do it, then a bike is a great option. Visit Bike & Beyond (619-435-7180), pick up a nifty little number with streamers and a noisy bell, and whiz around the island.
If you want to absorb some culture along with all of that sunshine, then head down to Lamb's Players Theatre (619-437-0600), the sister offering to Downtown San Diego's theater of the same name. If you can't get enough of the stage, Coronado Playhouse (619-435-4856) is another worthy destination to indulge your love of the arts.
If you prefer to seek your culture in a bottle, then Coronado has you covered. With myriad wine bars, breweries, and homely pubs to its name, this little beach-side town will have you more pickled than a jar of sauerkraut. For a stern glass of Guinness and some stodgy eats to line the stomach, you'll be hard-pressed to beat McP's Irish Pub & Grill (619-435-5280). If you want to watch a sport other than soccer on the TV, then visit Island Sports & Spirits (619-435-3456).
If you love wine, then there are plenty of things to do in San Diego. Start by visiting the ENO Wine Bar at the stunning Hotel Del Coronado (619-522-8546) or if you prefer your booze to come with a lashing of foam, then head to the Coronado Brewing Company (619-437-4452) instead. Get your grill on at Danny's Palm Bar and Grill (619-435-3171), a dive bar serving up some of the best burgers and fries around, or for an ultra-cozy experience, try the aptly named The Little Club (619-435-5885).
If you need to restore your chi after a hard night out, head over to the swanky Sea Spa at the Loews Hotel Coronado Bay Resort (619-424-4000), or check out the heavenly offerings at the Spa at the Del, the Hotel del Coronado's in-house spa (800-HOTELDEL). If the male of the species isn't into treatments and massages, get him out of your hair by booking him in for 18 holes at the Coronado Golf Course (619-435-3121).
