Coronado, one of San Diego’s most elite addresses, offers a relaxed atmosphere with exciting arts and culture and an abundance of outdoor activities.
Situated across San Diego Bay just a few miles from downtown San Diego, CA, Coronado boasts a unique combination of quaint small-town friendliness and sophisticated luxury. Many of the homes and businesses were built in the 1900s, and the mix of Victorian and modern-day architecture gives the island a unique personality. Measuring in at just 13.5 square miles, Coronado is a small but enchanting city. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Glorietta Bay, and San Diego Bay, this seaside gem is linked to the Southern California coastline and the city of San Diego by the expansive San Diego-Coronado Bridge.
The breathtaking San Diego-Coronado Bridge became an area landmark the moment it opened in August 1969 during San Diego’s bicentennial. Then-California governor Ronald Reagan became the first person to drive across the span. The distinctive, soaring bridge made Coronado widely accessible by vehicle traffic for the first time in the city’s history. Over two miles long and five lanes wide, the bridge has a clearance of approximately 200 feet that allows massive merchant and military ships to pass easily beneath it.
Coronado’s careful approach to planned development lends stability to the quality of both the residential and business communities. Quiet tree-lined streets and friendly parks are found throughout the city. Coronado tourism is robust, with over two million visitors a year coming to soak up the warm southern California sun and enjoy its small-town charm.
Known for picturesque coastline views and expansive stretches of white sand, Coronado is home to world-renowned beaches. Occupying the area between the iconic Hotel del Coronado and Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado Beach is a 1.5-mile long aquatic wonderland. Just north of Coronado Beach is North Beach, a favorite site for surfing in the morning and bonfires in the evenings. The northernmost section is known as Dog Beach, where four-legged visitors are permitted off leash. Then there’s Silver Strand State Beach, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay along the isthmus that connects Coronado southward to Imperial Beach, making it a popular spot for swimming, biking, and camping.
Catering to travelers who seek one-of-a-kind properties, seaside escapes, and decadent dining, Coronado’s resorts and boutique hotels make for the perfect vacation destination. Famous for its peaked red roof and Victorian charm, the Hotel del Coronado is an iconic landmark and a tradition for locals and visitors alike. Located directly across from the Hotel del Coronado, the Glorietta Bay Inn was built around the historic mansion of John Spreckels, one of the island’s original investors and developers. The mansion has been carefully restored to reflect the house as it looked in the 1920s. In addition to 11 spacious rooms in the main house, this impressive boutique hotel features 89 rooms in the adjacent contemporary wing, an expansive music room, and spectacular bay views.
Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a wide range of activities on Coronado, from surfing to enchanting waterfront golfing. Options include driving across the beautiful San Diego-Coronado Bridge, taking a ferry or water taxi across San Diego Bay, and driving along the seven-mile long Silver Strand peninsula. The Bayshore Bikeway, a scenic bike path along the shores of San Diego Bay, provides cyclists, inline skaters, and walkers an invigorating route that spans 11 miles from the Coronado Ferry Landing, stretching down along the eastern shore of the peninsula, and then continuing parallel to Silver Strand State Beach south toward Imperial Beach.
However, perhaps the best way to experience charming Coronado is by foot or bicycle along the relatively flat, mile-long downtown stretch of the town’s main street, Orange Avenue. Featuring cafés, parks, numerous galleries, and a small-town feel, this popular street spans the midsection of Coronado from Centennial Park along the San Diego Bay to Ocean Boulevard along the Pacific.
On and off Orange Avenue, Coronado offers a mouthwatering array of dining options. From elegant dining at Mistral at Loews Coronado Bay Resort to Sunday brunch at The Del to a more casual bayside experience at Current in the Coronado Island Marriott Resort, the menus at these popular epicurean delights please a variety of palates. Another option is to venture outside of the popular resorts to enjoy a romantic evening at the quaint French eatery Chez Loma or an exquisite meal in a more casual environment at Tartine Bistro.
For those who think quaintess can’t equate to luxury, they have not been to Coronado. The small community embraces a relaxed atmosphere and pairs it perfectly with first-class accommodations, exciting arts and culture, and abundant outdoor recreational activities. The “Crown City” offers an enchanting island lifestyle for the lucky few who call it home, as well as a home-away-from-home experience for the millions who visit.
FEATURE
Hotel del Coronado
The iconic Hotel del Coronado is a favorite resort destination for local residents, celebrities, and everyone in between.
Hotel del Coronado
As a National Historic Landmark, the Hotel del Coronado has more than 120 years of stories to tell. It was the vision of Elisha Babcock and Hampton Story, two investors from the Midwest, that came to fruition in 1888. The resort is a living legend, visited by celebrities, dignitaries, and 11 U.S. presidents.
Today, a new era of luxury has taken shape alongside the historical beauty. Steps from the iconic hotel is the Beach Village at The Del, which is available for whole ownership/limited-term use to a lucky few. Beach Village is comprised of just 35 two- and three-bedroom condominiums, each with its own private balcony overlooking the Pacific. The Beach Village ups the ante on luxury at The Del, offering private beachfront cottages, pools, and personalized amenities.
Whether visiting for the weekend or an extended period as a cottage owner, The Del offers abundant shopping and dining options, in addition to the stellar views. At Shops at The Del, there is an exquisite variety of boutiques featuring upscale women’s and men’s apparel, fine jewelry, and bath and spa products.
The property’s signature beachfront restaurant, 1500 OCEAN, delivers a farm-to-table culinary approach. 1500 OCEAN’s Chef de Cuisine Robert Hohmann uses California coastal ingredients to create dishes infused with the contemporary Mediterranean flavors of Italy, France, and Morocco. For a fabulous brunch, nothing beats the scrumptious spread at the Hotel del Coronado’s Crown Room on Sundays – also a top-rated local favorite. hoteldel.com