Coronado, San Diego

I posted a few photos of Coronado before as part of the San Diego album when this blog was still new.  But given that it is almost summer here in Southern California, I think Coronado, especially the beach, deserves its own post.

You can get to Coronado from San Diego by:

Crossing San Diego Coronado bridge by car

Going there by car is more convenient especially when you are carrying  picnic stuff for the beach.  However, during the peak weekends of the summer months, parking can be a real pain.  We went there on a Fourth of July weekend and we were just about to turn back when we found parking after almost an hour of searching. 

A million thanks to that stranger who did not like Coronado beach so much and left early, creating a parking spot meant for our group!

OR riding the Coronado ferry: starboard view

Ferries are available at the Broadway pier or at the San Diego Convention center. A one way ferry ride will cost you US$4.25.  You are also allowed to bring a bicycle or a Segway on board for free. The ferry ride from San Diego to Coronado and vice versa is around 15 minutes.

Broadway pier is where West Broadway meets San Diego Bay, so this is where you will find the docked cruise ships and the mothballed Midway aircraft carrier.  Hopefully, these two landmarks are big enough for anyone not to find. :)

If you are staying in one of the downtown San Diego or Gaslamp Quarter hotels, you might be able to see the pier's massive ships from your hotel room if you look to the west.  

San Diego convention Center on the right

Ferry landing Marketplace shops

At the Coronado ferry landing Marketplace, there are shops that rent out bicycles and other human powered machines for more carbon-friendly ways of exploring Coronado

Note that the beach at the ferry landing is not the one for swimming. It is on the other side of Coronado, 1.6 miles due southwest of the ferry landing.  You can drive, bike or walk on the major streets Orange Avenue or B Avenue.

The ferry landing's awesome view of the San Diego skyline

The Coronado ferry landing also offers various dining options, but we will feature that some other time. Our focus right now is having a nice beach bod for the summer!

 Historic Hotel Del Coronado is your landmark for
the beach on Ocean Boulevard

And once you get there, you know what to do.  Enjoy!

Embrace the sea with open arms

Coronado sunset

If the San Diego skyline views during the daytime ferry ride failed to impress you. the nighttime view will surely not.

The bright lights near the center are from Petco Park, San Diego Padres' stadium

Midway aircraft carrier museum

Alright we are almost back at Broadway Pier! USS Carrier 41's night lights seem to serve as a beacon for incoming boats and ships.

Time to head back to our hotel, shower, change and then head back out again.  San Diego has so much to offer for party people!

*Prices in US$ as of 2011 & does not yet include gratuity

And if since you still have energy after enjoying one of the cleanest beaches in the US, you have San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter for nightlife.

*Prices may be different now 2 years later, but the change is probably very minimal. I've been to Las Vegas and LA bars/clubs recently and the price range for drinks above are still same.

NOTE: Coronado is also home to a number of US naval facilities and is a major training facility of the SEALs. Please try not to get in trouble by taking photos/videos of certain areas of Coronado.

I'm glad we never got to hear these words during our 'voyage'