Why you should experience Coronado in San Diego.
Across the glittering blue expanse of San Diego Bay lies Coronado, an island that feels like another world entirely, where timeless elegance meets laid-back coastal charm.
Linked to the mainland by the sweeping Coronado Bridge, this palm-lined paradise has been stealing hearts for more than a century. From the moment you arrive, the pace slows, and the air seems lighter, scented with salt, jasmine, and the faint whisper of sea breeze. Coronado’s crown jewel, the Hotel del Coronado, rises like a storybook castle above the beach, its red turrets gleaming against the Pacific horizon. Built in 1888, “The Del,” as locals fondly call it, has hosted presidents, movie stars, and dreamers alike, yet somehow remains warm, welcoming, and deeply human. Along Orange Avenue, boutique shops, galleries, and open-air cafés hum with a rhythm that feels more small-town than resort. Sunlight filters through the canopies of palm and eucalyptus trees as bicycles glide past white picket fences and pastel bungalows. But it’s the beaches that define Coronado’s magic, wide, golden stretches of sand that sparkle with mica like crushed glass. Coronado Beach itself often ranks among the best in the world, drawing families, surfers, and sunset chasers who gather to watch the sun sink behind the Pacific in a blaze of gold and rose. Coronado is more than an escape, it’s a feeling, a timeless invitation to slow down and remember what joy feels like.
What you didn’t know about Coronado.
Though Coronado glows with effortless beauty, its story is woven with fascinating history, innovation, and a touch of mystique.
Once a barren sand spit, the island was transformed in the late 19th century by visionaries Elisha Babcock and Hampton Story, who dreamed of building a seaside retreat “fit for royalty.” Their vision gave rise to the Hotel del Coronado, a feat of Victorian engineering powered by its own electrical plant, one of the first in the West. The hotel’s legendary past includes a roster of distinguished guests: Thomas Edison, Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, and even Prince Edward all walked its breezy verandas. Monroe’s film Some Like It Hot was shot here in 1958, cementing The Del’s place in cinematic history. But beyond its glamour, Coronado has always been deeply connected to the sea. The Naval Air Station North Island, established in 1917, is often called “the birthplace of naval aviation.” Its runways launched the earliest aircraft carriers and continue to support the U.S. Pacific Fleet today. Few realize that L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, wrote several of his sequels while vacationing in Coronado, his imagination fueled by the island’s dazzling light and whimsical architecture. The nearby Coronado Ferry Landing, once a simple crossing point, now hosts waterfront dining and panoramic views of downtown San Diego’s skyline, a juxtaposition of urban energy and island calm. Even the sands of Silver Strand State Beach hold secrets, formed by centuries of tidal shifts that created this narrow isthmus connecting Coronado to Imperial Beach. The island’s design, a harmonious blend of history and modern coastal living, reflects something few places achieve: it balances nostalgia with renewal, always fresh yet quietly eternal.
How to fold Coronado into your trip.
Experiencing Coronado is best done at an unhurried pace, a gentle rhythm that mirrors the tides lapping against its shores.
Start your journey with a ferry ride from downtown San Diego to the Coronado Ferry Landing, where the city’s skyline glimmers across the bay like a mirage. Stroll the boardwalk, browse local artisan shops, or sip a latte while sailboats drift by. From there, rent a bike and follow Orange Avenue toward the Hotel del Coronado, stopping along the way at galleries or at Clayton’s Coffee Shop, a 1940s-style diner beloved by locals. When you reach The Del, step inside to admire its grand wooden lobby and the scent of history that lingers like salt in the air. Outside, the beach awaits, a perfect expanse of golden sand where the Pacific feels endless. Spend your afternoon swimming, paddleboarding, or simply walking along the water’s edge, watching sandcastles rise and crumble with the tide. For a quieter escape, head south to Silver Strand State Beach, where the crowds thin and the sound of waves drowns out everything else. If you’re drawn to local culture, visit the Coronado Museum of History and Art to uncover stories of shipwrecks, aviators, and early settlers who shaped the island’s character. As the sun begins to dip, settle into a spot at Peohe’s or Il Fornaio near the ferry landing, where you can dine on fresh seafood as the city lights begin to twinkle across the water. Then take one last stroll beneath the palms, the bridge arching above you like a crescent moon. In that stillness, you’ll feel what makes Coronado unforgettable, not just its beauty, but its rare ability to make time itself seem to slow, if only for a while.
Hear it from the Foresyte community.
Golden sand stretches for miles, crowned by a seaside hotel that feels straight out of a storybook. The air carries a salty sweetness that makes time slow down.
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