Luckily, San Diego is a quick 3-hour flight from Calgary. So, we went for a few days the end of April. It’s not hard to find something to do, including long leisurely walks on the beaches and waterfronts. With San Diego’s Spanish past and proximity to Mexico be prepared for incredible food.
We have tended to stay at the historic beachfront “Hotel del Coronado” or “The Del” when we go to San Diego. Which means technically we are on the island and in the City of Coronado. “The Del” was built in 1888, and has entertained Princes, President’s, Celebrities and Ghosts. The movie “Some Like it Hot” starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon was filmed here. There is a gift store with all kinds of memorabilia.
“The Del’s” 131-year-old; person operated elevator located in the Victorian Building is beautiful. One employee has worked on the elevator for 39 years. He remembers many guests’ names, not only for that visit but on return visits and was a true delight. The Victorian Building does need some tender loving care to restore it to the crown jewel it once was. I’ve also stayed in the Beach Villas, which are stunning. The prices at “The Del” are not for the faint of heart, but anyone can easily access the public areas of “The Del”, restaurants and the beach (5 km looped walk end to end).
Coronado Island’s beaches are pristine. We left “The Del” one morning and walked Glorietta Blvd, along the Bay and Golf Course to arrive at Old Ferry Landing. The homes on Coronado Island are architecturally beautiful, Spanish to Colonial and anything in between. For a more direct route take Orange Avenue, (the main street) with shops and restaurants.
There is much to explore in San Diego and how you get there is part of the puzzle. Ferries travel regularly between Old Ferry Landing, Coronado; to either Broadway Pier (Embarcadero Marina) or the Convention Center (West Broadway) for $5.00 per person each way. From there Little Italy, Downtown and the Gaslamp District are short walks.
Little Italy is a short walk from the Embarcadero Marina hosting designer Italian shops, breweries and patio cafes. The newer Hilton Bayfront Hotel is a good option if you want to stay in San Diego, along the waterfront in the Embarcadero area. Friends stayed there and enjoyed the hotel and waterfront.
The Gaslamp District, which borders the Convention Centre is home to almost 100 heritage buildings and has a hopping, fun night life. Petco Park, home to the San Diego Padres Baseball team is adjacent to the Gaslamp District.
Another popular and great value way to explore San Diego are the “Hop On/Hop Off” daily Trolley Tours. They are more expensive (about $40.00 per person) but will get to some of the sights that are not within walking distance, such as “Old Town”, California’s birthplace. There are markets, specialty shops and real Mexican food – anywhere showcasing someone making the tortillas is a good bet.
And if you’re starting out from San Diego, the Trolley will take you to Coronado Island; pack a picnic for a day at the beach or just stroll around. The weather is coastal so prepare for anything. We were on the beach for hours every day, and the weather was consistently breezy to windy, and partly cloudy.
Balboa Park/The San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld are easily each a day, not visited on this quick trip.
We rented a car and drove to La Jolla one afternoon. It’s a seaside neighborhood in San Diego surrounded by cliffs, about 20 km from Downtown. The beaches are not as nice as Coronado, but they are home to Sea Lions and Seals pupping 6 months of the year.
At La Jolla Cove the Sea Lions entertain, and there are divers and snorkelers braving the crisp water. There is a lifeguard on duty during the day. A 15-minute walk away is The Children’s Pool on Casa Beach, which is closed from December 15 – May 15 annually for the Seals. Before we saw all of the seals, we smelled them. It can get pretty ripe.
You can walk along the La Jolla coastline for miles or drive the very spectacular Coast Blvd to take in the views and homes. La Jolla has a thriving restaurant and specialty shop area as well. We suspect it could get pretty crowded during busy months, both the roadways and the walkways.
The famous Torrey Pines Golf Course overlooks the cliffs of La Jolla, a city owned golf course, on the PGA Tour. A friend was headed there the next day, we were off to Palm Springs!