Posts Tagged San Diego

Crystal Pier

Located at the end of Garnet Ave in Pacific Beach, CA, Crystal Pier is a long wooden pier which debut in 1927. The pier’s main attraction, Crystal Pier Hotel, features 29 blue and white cottages built in the 1930s. The cottages extend to about the half way point of the pier. Patrons can park their cars next to their cottages and listen to the rumble of the waves below them. For those who don’t want to be directly over the water, some of the cottages are directly over the beach near the entrance. For hotel reservations, go to www.crystalpier.com.

Although there’s a hotel on the pier, Crystal Pier is open to a public during daylight hours for sightseeing and fishing.

At the pier’s entrance is the historic “Crystal Pier” sign, as well as the famous Pacific Beach Boardwalk, which stretches for 3 1/2 miles along the beach from North Pacific Beach to South Mission Beach. Also at the entrance is a palisade park on the north side with stairway leading down to the beach. This is a center of activity with shops, restaurants and hotels nearby.

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Coronado Beach

Coronado Beach is a wide, sandy beach which stretches for about 1 1/2 miles from the Hotel del Coronado to North Island Naval Air Station.  Considered one of the world’s best beaches, Coronado Beach has a pleasant atmosphere, with a panoramic view of the Los Coronado Islands and Point Loma.

Coronado City Beach

Coronado City Beach

Choose from an array of activities like swimming, volleyball, boogie boarding, surfing, kite flying, fishing, and sunbathing. The beach is next to a residential neighborhood of expensive historical homes, and with downtown Coronado’s Orange Ave is just a few blocks away. Parking is available along Ocean Blvd and side streets.

Beach access can be reached from a dirt path near the hotel and farther north on a concrete path that leads down to the beach and restrooms.

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Torrey Pines State Beach

Torrey Pines State Beach is a long sandy beach that extends over four miles from Del Mar to La Jolla. The beach is away from development in one of San Diego’s most scenic natural areas. The closest shops and restaurants are on Carmel Valley Rd, east of N. Torrey Pines, Road, and in Del Mar Village.

Torrey Pines State Beach

Torrey Pines State Beach

At the north end from Del Mar Beach to Carmel Valley Rd, Torrey Pines State Beach is hidden below bluffs. On the bluffs is a small natural park. To the south is Los Peñasquitos Marsh inlet which separates the northern section of beach from the main stretch of beach to the south.

This main stretch is open to the coast highway with easy street parking and access along side the beach. Some rocks separate the beach from the highway. Across the highway is Los Peñasquitos Marsh, a scenic preserve, nestled in a small valley, closed to the public.

Further south, the bluffs begin again, taller than those to the north. Atop the bluffs is Torrey Pines State Reserve, which can be accessed from a road at the base of the bluffs near the highway. A large beach parking lot is located next to the park reserve entrance. Both parking and access to the reserve require a fee.

The beach below the Torrey Pines bluffs is more secluded and less crowded than the beach to the north. This southern section of beach is popular for walking, jogging, and photography. The south end of Torrey Pines State Beach is marked by Bathtub Rock, a small flat rock that protrudes above the surf several feet from the beach.

Beyond this point is Blacks Beach, San Diego’s most secluded beach, hidden by tall bluffs, and difficult to access.

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Embarcadero Marina Park South

Embarcadero Marina Park South is a large park on San Diego Bay, next to the San Diego Convention Center. With sweeping scenic views of the bay, the park is an ideal spot for a picnic, stroll, or snooze. For a quick meal or snack, a permanent snack bar resides at the park near the water. For more formal dining, Joe’s Crab Shack is located at the park’s entrance.

Embarcadero Marina Park South

Embarcadero Marina Park South

The park has a small public fishing pier, basketball courts, picnic tables, bike paths and parking, exercise stations, a gazebo, waterfront pathway, grassy knolls beside the bay, and a large, flat grassy peninsula near the marina.

During summer, the grassy peninsula, which makes up about half the park, becomes the setting for the San Diego Symphony Summer Pops, featuring popular classical tunes, broadway melodies, and nostalgic Americana themes, presented by the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.

Embarcadero Marina Park South is within walking distance of Seaport Village, popular waterfront hotels, PETCO Park, Convention Center, Gaslamp District, and Embarcadero attractions.

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Seaport Village

By Mark Goodkin
San Diego Coast Life

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One of San Diego’s most popular tourist attractions, Seaport Village is reminiscent of an old Spanish sea village located on the San Diego Bay waterfront near Downtown San Diego. The village is a mixture of restaurants, both formal and casual, specialty stores, and open air plazas, with cabanas, water fountains, a Japenese pond and bridge with coy, and a fully-restored 1895 antique carousel with hand carved animals by Charles Loof.

Seaport Village

Seaport Village

Families, convention goers, and other folks love Seaport Village because of its easy going atmosphere, with outdoor dining on the bay or in the plaza with live music; exciting shops with clothing, wind chimes, kites, artwork, toys, hats, flags, hammocks, candles, soap, souvenirs, candy, fudge, and more; and its proximity to downtown attractions and the waterfront.

Speaking of attractions, Seaport Village sits next to the Embarcadero, a boardwalk, which connects many popular waterfront attractions, including the USS Midway Museum, Maritime Museum of San Diego, Embarcadero Marina Park North and South, the San Diego Convention Center, Hornblower Cruises, San Diego Harbor Cruises, America’s Cup Cruises, B Street Cruise Ship Terminal and more.

Other downtown attractions include PETCO Park, Gaslamp District, and Little Italy.

A large parking lot resides next to Seaport Village with the first two hours parking free with a receipt from one of the village shops or restaurants.

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Cabrillo National Monument

By Mark Goodkin
San Diego Coast Life

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Cabrillo National Monument is a historic landmark and park near the tip of Point Loma in San Diego, CA. The monument commemorates explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s first landing at San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542. This Spanish explorer was the first European to visit what is now the west coast of the United States.

Cabrillo National Monument Park

Cabrillo National Monument Park

The center piece of the national park is the tall monument of Cabrillo himself looking toward the San Diego Bay, considered a natural harbor at the time. The statute with bay is a popular backdrop for photo opportunities of families and friends.

Nearby the monument is the visitors center, which includes a large gift store, along with a theatre for viewing movies about the park and local history. Outside the visitors center are decks which face the bay. The decks have large stationary binoculars and educational pictorial displays about the bay, the park and the areas history.

These decks offer a panoramic view of San Diego Bay with Coronado and North Island in the foreground and the downtown San Diego skyline and Coronado Bay Bridge in the background. Farther south is Mexico.

Another feature of Cabrillo National Monument is the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, just a short distance along a trail, up the hill. The lighthouse, now a historic landmark, once guided sailing vessels into the harbor during the second half of the 1800s. The living quarters of the Keeper of the Lighthouse appear much as they did during the 1880s.

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Children's Pool, La Jolla, CA

Children’s Pool is a small, made made cove with a protected sandy beach. The beach is within walking distance of  La Jolla Cove, Ellen Browning Scripps Park, and La Jolla Downtown Village.

Children's Pool, La Jolla, CA

Children's Pool, La Jolla, CA

Several years ago, a concrete seawall was built to act as a barrier between the surf and beach, and create the protected cove. Children’s Pool was so named because the gentle water, created by the sea wall, was considered suitable for children.

For years, Children’s Pool was popular spot for beachgoers. More recently, the beach has been a protected haven for harbor seals and off limits to people.  People can walk out along the seawall to catch closer glimpes of the harbor seals, as well as enjoy watching the surf roll in and scenic ocean view.

Steps lead from beach to the cliff top walkway and street above. Another popular gathering spot for viewing the Harbor Seals is along the rim of the bluff, next to the pathway. Docents are usually available to keep people off the beach and answer questions about the seals.

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La Jolla Cove

La Jolla Cove is a small, secluded beach below Ellen Browning Scripps Park in La Jolla, CA. The beach is a popular entry point for scuba divers and swimmers alike. The water can get a bit rough, especially in winter, so it’s always well to exercise caution. A lifeguard tower is located at the beach with lifeguards who keep watch all year round. The tower also has daily surf and tide reports.

La Jolla Cove

La Jolla Cove

The beach is popular in summer, when the surf is more gentle and the water warmer. Most people like to sit in the sun or wade only a short distance out. Steps lead from the sand to the rim of the park above, where people like to gather and enjoy the scenic ocean view.

La Jolla Downtown Village is just a block away, with cafes, specialty shops, art galleries, ocean view dining and luxury hotels.

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San Diego Boutique Hotels

Hotel Solamar

Hotel Solamar, Downtown San Diego

By Mark Goodkin
San Diego Coast Life

San Diego Boutique hotels run the gamut from small Inns and cottages to large, luxury resorts. Boutique hotels are not chain hotels, but independently owned and operated. They tend to be smaller and more personable than chains, and offer custom amenities and features.

Downtown San Diego
Downtown San Diego boutique hotels are sophisticated and ecclectic, combining old fashion luxury and elegance with modern design features and amenities. These hotels tend to be in older, ornate, mid-rise buildings, which have been renovated and yet still retain much of their old world charm. They have elaborate spas and restaurants. Rooms tend to be lavish with no detail overlooked. Friendly, with personable service, these hotels  cater to both the vacationer and business traveler. Nearby attractions include San Diego Bay, The Embarcadero, PETCO Park, Convention Center, Gaslamp District, and Downtown San Diego. Examples: The Westgate Hotel, Ivy Hotel, and Sophia Hotel. Read the rest of this entry »

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Oceanside Harbor

By Mark Goodkin
San Diego Coast Life
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Entering Oceanside Harbor

Entering Oceanside Harbor

Oceanside Harbor is San Diego County’s northern most harbor, located in Oceanside, CA. Everytime I drive down the hill on Harbor Drive and enter the harbor, I’m struck by its secluded and peaceful quality, with commercial fishing boats in the foreground and the Harbor Village and lighthouse behind – a fairytale setting.

I usually go to the harbor to take photos or just walk around. Oceanside Harbor has a north and south section. The north harbor is a marina for small to medium-size private boats, while the south harbor has a commercial fishing fleet, with charters, and boat rentals, as well as private boats.

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