Charming history meets sun-splashed beaches a ferry ride from downtown.

There’s something magical about Coronado Island. Maybe it’s the elegantly simple bridge that spans a stretch of Mission Bay, linking Coronado the San Diego. Maybe it’s the presence of the Hotel Del Coronado , the magestic red-roofed lodging built over 120 years ago, hosting presidents and kings, and still having a glamorous luster harkening back to Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot, filmed here in 1959. Whatever makes this island community special, it’s worth including as part of a San Diego visit, or as a charming destination unto itself.

While driving across the 2-mile-long bridge is fun, another way to explore is by ditching the car altogether. Start by boarding the Coronado Flagship Ferry (three departure locations from San Diego); the 15-minute cruise lands at the Coronado Ferry Landing, which features a marketplace packed with shops and restaurants. Load up a backpack with nibbles to go, then rent bikes (available at multiple locations) to pedal through elegant neighborhoods filled with grand homes. Consider joining weekly docent-led historic tours . Stretch out on the island’s shoreline, Silver Strand State Beach where you can choose from ocean waves on one side and gentle bay waters on the other. Return to town to toast your day with cool drinks at the Hotel del. It doesn’t get much better than this.
 

Discover Science, exploration & adventure! The tiny Storm Petrel bird spends its entire life at sea, only coming to shore to lay its eggs and nest for a short period each year. Learn more about amazing ocean-going birds and discover how adaptations allow them to survive in a watery world. Meet Scripps Oceanography scientists studying birds, learn about amazing migrations, and find out the best spots to catch a glimpse of these amazing creatures. Young adventurers can make a bird craft and listen to story time. Included with admission.