Affectionately known as The Del by locals, Hotel Del Coronado is the crown jewel of Coronado Island. Built in 1888, the sprawling seaside resort is certainly as impressive as ever.
Famous for its peaked red roof, classic Victorian architecture, and serene ocean vistas, the luxury resort is an iconic landmark that has guests in awe from the moment of arrival.
There is an expansive swimming pool, an eclectic collection of stores, a world-class spa, and a wide range of activities from beach yoga to surfing lessons.
Inside the hotel, many of its walls are a place to learn about its fascinating and colorful past which includes royalty, politicians, scandals, ghosts, and celebrities.
Hotel del Coronado is located at 1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado. For reservations or more information, call 1.800.468.3533 or visit hoteldel.com.
Dine In Style
The Del’s signature fine dining restaurant is called 1500 Ocean. Acclaimed Chef de Cuisine Robert Hohmann fuses California Coastal ingredients with contemporary Mediterranean flavors of Italy, France, and Morocco to create a bold and flavorful menu.
Drawing from The Del’s herb garden, his seasonal menus offer the very freshest ingredients while a vast wine library highlights local vintners.
1500 Ocean’s warm, contemporary interior and fantastic oceanfront terraced seating provide a unique Southern California dining experience. The outdoor Sunset Bar offers fireside cocktails and unparalleled ocean views.
Beach Relaxation
The Del has opened its new full-service “Del Beach” with luxurious lounge chairs with cushions and terry covers, fringed umbrellas, half-moon cabanettes, and plush day beds for full day rental. Del Beach also offers food and drink service, including salads, sandwiches, and cocktails. Plus there are sun-tastic recreational activities on its expansive golden sand beach, such as an interactive kids’ play area with kids’ toys.
Pamper In Comfort
The Spa at The Del, which opened in January 2007, takes advantage of the resort’s beachfront location and encapsulates the time-honored powers of the ocean to heal, restore, and relax.
The spa, named one of the “top 20 hotel spas in the world” by Travel + Leisure, offers a variety of luxurious, ocean-inspired treatments, including massages, wraps, and facials. Bathed in natural light, the spacious spa includes 21 treatment rooms, sanctuary areas, hydrotherapy tubs, and steam rooms.
A private terrace and vanishing-edge pool overlooking the magnificent Pacific offers the ultimate therapeutic retreat.
Bike Around Town
Seven speeds, tandems, kids’ bikes, or even a four-person surrey are available to rent at PeDels, which is located on the boardwalk in front of The Del. Navigate a six-mile trail for a scenic coastal ride around Coronado Island or cruise south along The Silver Strand.
Coronado: A World-Class Destination
Coronado Island is the quintessential Southern California vacation destination with its picture-postcard setting between tranquil San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
With its year-round idyllic climate and 28 miles of beaches, there is an endless list of things to see and do.
Coronado is one of San Diego’s most desirable shopping districts known for sophisticated, upscale, designer apparel boutiques, art galleries, jewelry shops and more.
Coronado’s historically-preserved downtown also offers one-of-a-kind specialty shops, especially along Orange Avenue which is lined with bookstores, antique shops, home and garden stores, and gourmet food shops.
When the sun sets, popular restaurants and bars dot the walkable one-mile stretch that was originally named after the numerous orange trees that were once planted down the median.
In addition to enjoying a plethora of outdoor activities like surfing, kayaking and golfing, visitors to this popular island paradise can experience several upcoming summer events, including a star-spangled Fourth of July celebration (www.ecoronado.com/4th), the 9th annual Unleashed by Petco Surf Dog Competition at Loews Coronado Bay on July 15 (loewshotels.com/coronadobay), a magical Wizard of Oz festival from Aug. 1-10, and a premier Navy SEALS exhibition that runs through January 2015 at the Coronado Museum of History and Art at 1100 Orange Avenue.
For more information about Coronado Island, visit www.VisitCoronado.org.
Paddle Power To Panoramic Views
One of the best ways to enjoy the San Diego Bay and views of San Diego’s downtown skyline is paddling in a kayak on a guided tour.
Bike & Kayak Coronado, located at the Coronado Ferry Landing shops, offers a two-hour tour that takes guests under the Coronado Bridge in super stable sit-on-top kayaks.
The tour provides panoramic views of Petco Park, the Embarcadero, the USS Midway, Naval Station North Island, the Silver Strand, and the Convention Center.
Bike & Kayak Coronado started in the garage of co-founder Nick Bauman in 2004.
Bauman said his company, which also operates tours at La Jolla, has more than 100 employees and serves more than 100,000 guests a year.
“One day over dinner, my co-founder Marcella Di Michieli opened a fortune cookie and the fortune read: Find something you love to do, never work a day in your life,” Bauman said. “I love coming to work every day and working with such a group of wonderful people.”
Bauman said his staff had made the tours such a success.
“We are home to some of the best and brightest in the industry,” he said. “Regardless of our youngest 18 year-old staff member to our 54-year-old staff member they all love what they do. Our internal slogan is safety, fun, and learning. Our tour guides are highly trained, highly energetic and eagerly come to work each day excited to share the adventure with our daily visitors.”
As for the most interesting things that’s ever happened on a tour, Bauman said a sea lion jumped on the back of a guest’s kayak a few years ago, and then again a few months ago.
“It’s only happen twice that I know of,” he said.
The group sizes are less than 10 kayaks, and there is a 5:1 ration for customer kayaks to guide kayaks.
Tours run every hour in the summer and although rates do change seasonally, there are rates as low as $39 per/person year round at special times each day.
No experience is necessary to take part in a kayak. The Coronado location accommodates children as young as four years old, but they must be able to swim (life jackets are also provided to each kayaker).
For more information, call 858.454.1010 or visit www.bikeandkayaktours.com.
