San Diego Places

Point Loma and Coronado

Although Coronado is actually an isthmus, easily reached from the mainland if you head north from Imperial Beach, it has always seemed like an island and is often referred to as such. To the west, Point Loma protects the center of the city from the Pacific's tides and waves. Both Coronado and Point Loma share stately homes, sandy beaches, private marinas, and prominent military installations. Nestled between the two, recreational Harbor and Shelter islands owe their existence to dredging in the bay.

In 1950 San Diego's port director decided to raise the shoal that lay off the eastern shore of Point Loma above sea level with the sand and mud dredged up during the course of deepening a ship channel in the 1930s and '40s. The resulting peninsula, Shelter Island, became home to several marinas and resorts, many with Polynesian details that still exist today, giving them a retro flair. Following the success of nearby Shelter Island, in 1961 the U.S. Navy used the residue from digging berths deep enough to accommodate aircraft carriers to build another recreational island, adjacent to the airport. The result, Harbor Island, is known for its views of the bay and the downtown skyline. It is a popular spot to watch the Parade of Lights each December, when local boat owners dress their craft in elaborate holiday light displays and embark on a festive procession around the bay. The hilly peninsula of Point Loma curves west and south into the Pacific and provides protection for San Diego Bay. Its maritime roots are evident, from its longtime ties to the U.S. Navy to its bustling sportfishing and sailing marinas. The funky community of Ocean Beach coexists alongside the stately homes of Sunset Cliffs and the honored graves at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Its high elevations and sandy cliffs provide incredible views, and make Point Loma a visible local landmark.

As if freeze-framed in the 1950s, Coronado's quaint appeal is captured in its old-fashioned storefronts, well-manicured gardens, and charming Ferry Landing Marketplace. The streets of Coronado are wide, quiet, and friendly, and many of today's residents live in grand Victorian homes handed down for generations. Naval Air Station North Island was established in 1911 on Coronado's north end, across from Point Loma, and was the site of Charles Lindbergh's departure on the transcontinental flight that preceded his famous solo flight across the Atlantic. Coronado's long relationship with the U.S. Navy and its desirable real estate have made it an enclave for military personnel; it's said to have more retired admirals per capita than anywhere else in the United States.