It was a successful conference in San Diego and I stayed a couple of extra days in Southern California to explore this amazing coast. My plans were to snap some photos of the local scenic views, hike the Anza-Borrego, shop Coronado Island and sneak off for a couple of hours in Tijuana. My home-base hotel would be the Wyndham San Diego Bayside (with amazing views of the bay), the perfect location for enjoying the beach and hanging out on the south side of town.
My friends suggested that I visit the Cabrillo National Monument for its scenic views of the bay and Navy Base. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo is credited as the first European to step foot on California soil in 1592. From the Mexican city of Navidad, Cabrillo and his ship, the “San Salvador” reached the west coast, what is known today as San Diego. At the top of the hill overlooking Point Loma is a statue of the Spanish explorer commemorating his voyage.
In addition to the monument, the New Point Loma Lighthouse is one of the main draws to Cabrillo. Replacing the original lighthouse where the memorial now stands, the new light shines from the Point Loma peninsula in San Diego. The tide pools surrounding the cape are home to an amazing number of sea creatures that include starfish, anemones and barnacles.
Only a thirty minute drive to Coronado, I left Point Loma, hopped on Interstate 5 driving south and crossed over the bridge to reach the famous Hotel del Coronado. Built in 1888 in grand Victorian-style, The Del was once the largest resort in the world. Its iconic red rotunda provides views of the bay, ocean and city of San Diego. Hosting numerous United States Presidents and British Royals, the Hotel Del was the place to stay for celebrities such as Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Katherine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers. The resort is best known as the backdrop to the movie Some Like it Hot starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon.
I enjoyed the rest of my afternoon hanging out at The Del and met up with some friends who were staying at the resort for the weekend. We enjoyed fruity drinks and light appetizers overlooking the bay. We booked a reservation at the restaurant and returned to the terrace to watch the extraordinary sunset.
I rose early in the morning to hike Anza-Borrego which was about a two hour drive from San Diego. The weather was spectacular and I could not wait to spend the morning there until meeting up with friends before they flew back to the east coast. While I really wanted to hike “The Slot”, I learned that I would need a four wheel drive vehicle, so I opted to explore the 3-mile Palm Canyon trail. Parking at the campground, it took me nearly 2 hours to complete the hike which included extraordinary palm groves, waterfalls and typical desert plants.
Arriving back at the Hotel del Coronado, we all agreed to make a quick run across the border into Mexico for some fun and margaritas. We parked on the San Diego side, crossed through border control and grabbed a taxi for Avenida Revolucion. Stopping by Dandy del Sur, we learned that this is the oldest bar in town. The drinks were cheap and strong and of course we had the most fun people-watching. We stayed for a couple of hours, found a taxi and stood in line to wait for border patrol. Street vendors were selling churros so we bought a few orders while we waited and finally made it across to the US.
I had another great weekend in San Diego and since I booked the red-eye, I packed up my belongings, ordered In-N-Out through the drive through and arrived at the airport in plenty of time. With so many things to do in SoCal, I never tire of visiting whether it’s for work or pleasure. One day I am going to hike The Slot at Anza and can’t wait to mark this off of my bucket list.
Have you visited San Diego and do you have a favorite place in town you like to visit? I would love to hear from you if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for catching up with me in one of my favorite US cities on the west coast and wishing you many Happy Travels!
What to See and What to Do:
Cabrillo National Monument
1800 Cabrillo Monument Drive
San Diego, CA 92106
Telephone: 619 557 5450
Hotel del Coronado
1500 Orange Avenue
Coronado, CA 92118
Telephone: 619 435 6611
Anza-Borrego State Park
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
Telephone: 760 767 4205
- Admission Fee: There is no charge for visiting Anza Borrego Desert State Park
- Hours: Open daily from dawn to dusk; The visitor center is open seven days a week from 9AM to 5PM.
- Amenities: Camping, hiking, biking, horseback riding, historical/cultural site, picnic areas, parking
- Scenic View: The vista point provides scenic views of the park.
- Length of Visit: Over 3 hours
- Tips for Your Visit: February and March are the best times to visit to see the spring flowers. Cellular and internet service may be limited at times. Make sure you have plenty of water and snacks and that you fuel up your vehicle before entering the park. Because this is the desert, make sure you have plenty of sunscreen as temperatures can be very warm.
Where to Stay:
Wyndham San Diego Bayside
1355 North Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
Telephone: 619 232 3861
Hotel del Coronado
1500 Orange Avenue
Coronado, CA 92118
Telephone: 619 435 6611
Where to Eat:
In-N-Out
3102 Sports Arena Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92110
Telephone: 800 786 1000
I either order the animal style burger with lettuce, tomato, mustard, pickle, extra spread and grilled onions or the protein style which is wrapped in lettuce rather than a bun.
What to Eat:
- Mexican cuisine, especially tamales
- California wood-fired pizza
- Southeast Asian foods
- Sushi
- Seafood
- Local Wines
What to Read:
- The Dawn Patrol, by Don Winslow
- San Diego Noir, by Maryelizabeth Hart
- I So Don’t Do Mysteries, by Barrie Summy
- Under the Perfect Sun: The San Diego Tourists Never See, by Mike Davis
Photo Guide for San Diego:
- The Botanical Building and Lily Pond at Balboa Park
- Greetings from San Diego mural on the sidewall of Belching Beaver Brewery
- Sunset Cliffs
- Old Town San Diego
- Hotel del Coronado
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Waiting for the sun to set was worth every minute and as we started the uphill trek towards the parking lot, we had one last view of the beautiful sky. A view never to take for granted.
