Built in 1888, the historic Hotel Del Coronado is a well-known landmark on Coronado Island. Photo: Hotel Del Coronado RELATED LINKS Panama City Beach, Florida
Beautiful beaches and near perfect year-round weather make Coronado Island a favorite southern California destination. Posing as an island one mile from downtown San Diego, the "Crown City" is actually a peninsula, connected to the mainland by a thin strip of land to the south. Get here by way of ferry or the well-traveled San Diego-Coronado Bridge. Family-friendly resorts, a quaint downtown area and five beautiful beaches are great for families looking to relax and spend time together on the Pacific Ocean.
Besides five beaches with tide pools and great views of the sunset, check out Ferry Landing Marketplace and downtown Orange Avenue for dining and shopping. Grab the family and hop on the Old Town Trolley to get to nearby San Diego attractions, like the world famous zoo. Coronado is also home to the Naval Amphibious Base and the North Island Naval Air Station, so the area is very military friendly.
San Diego Zoo Long considered one of the best zoos in the world, the San Diego Zoo is a must-see the the entire family. Just a short drive from Coronado, the zoo has 4,000 animals, daily educational shows and a children's zoo.
2920 Zoo Dr., Balboa Park, San Diego, CA
619-231-1515
www.sandiegozoo.org
San Diego Harbor Excursion This company offers a variety of boating trips, including dinner and brunch cruises, harbor tours and whale watching. Take the kids on the new nature cruise, a half-day trip that explains the history of Coronado Island while passing by elephant seal rookeries, kelp forests and even whales.
1050 North Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92101
800-442-7847
www.sdhe.com
Loews Coronado Bay Resort With 440 rooms (37 of which are suites) you'll find plenty of room for the entire family at this hotel. Luxury features include dive-in movies (float in the pool and catch a flick), a serenading gondolier for romantic canal cruises and poolside dance lessons for the kids.
4000 Coronado Bay Rd., Coronado, CA 92118
619-424-4000
www.loewshotels.com
El Cordova Hotel Located in the heart of Coronado, kids will love that this hotel is only a block from the beach, five minutes to the San Diego Zoo and 10 minutes to Sea World. Forty rooms make this hotel a less crowded option, with all the amenities: a new pool and spa, three restaurants and some rooms with full kitchens.
1351 Orange Ave. Coronado, CA 92118
800-229-2032
www.elcordovahotel.com
Tent City Restaurant Open seven days a week, this lunch and dinner spot serves up grilled seafood and fresh salads and paninis. Located next to the Coronado Historical Association, the restaurant is appropriately named for the historic Tent City. From 1900 to 1939, vacationing families flocked around the Hotel del Coronado in makeshift tents for summer fun.
1100 Orange Ave., Coronado, CA 92118
619-435-4611
www.tentcityrestaurant.com
Beach-N-Diner In the center of town, dine either inside or out in this family-friendly casual diner that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
1015 Orange Ave., Coronado, CA 92118
619-437-6087
www.beachndiner.com
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