Spots – SaDiego

The Coronado Ferry

Chonkers — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 21:32:12 +0000

The honest take

You could drive to Coronado over the big blue bridge. Or you could take a boat. The Flagship ferry leaves Broadway Pier downtown and crosses the bay to Coronado Ferry Landing in about 15 minutes, with the whole downtown skyline behind you and Navy ships off to the side.

At Ferry Landing there are shops, restaurants and bike rentals. Coronado is flat, so renting a bike and riding to the beach is the move. It’s roughly a mile and a half across town.

One-way tickets cost $9 for anyone 4 and up, and kids under 4 ride free. Boats usually leave on the hour, but the schedule changes by season, so check before you go so you don’t end up stranded with a lot of fudge.

Worth it? Skip it?

Worth it if

You’re staying downtown and want an easy, scenic way to Coronado.

Skip it if

You get seasick crossing a bathtub. It’s calm, but it is a boat.

Quick facts

Area	Broadway Pier (downtown) to Coronado Ferry Landing
Cost	$9 one way (ages 4+), under 4 free
Ride time	About 15 minutes
Schedule	Usually hourly; check flagshipsd.com before you go
Bikes	Yes

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Photo: Krithika Saravanan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Coronado Beach and the Secret Sand Sign

Chonkers — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 21:32:06 +0000

The honest take

Coronado’s Central Beach is wide, flat and shiny. The sand sparkles because it’s full of mica, a mineral that catches the light, so you’ll go home looking slightly glittery. Kids love it. Your car’s floor mats will love it less.

Now the secret. The dunes in front of the beach spell out C-O-R-O-N-A-D-O in giant letters. A maintenance worker named Armando “Mando” Moreno started shaping them from piled-up kelp after a storm in 1988. The letters are too big to read from the ground, so you’ll walk right past them. Look them up on a satellite map after, then feel smug.

The famous Hotel del Coronado sits right behind the beach, so you can wander over for a look at the red roofs.

Worth it? Skip it?

Worth it if

You want a calm, wide family beach with a fun secret.

Skip it if

You’re after big surf or a party scene. Coronado is more book-and-nap.

Quick facts

Area	Coronado, Central Beach along Ocean Blvd
Cost	Free
Parking	Free street parking along Ocean Blvd (often full), or paid parking at the Hotel del
Best time	Weekday mornings; late afternoon for golden light
Kids	Yes, one of the best family beaches in the county

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Photo: Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ocean Beach Wednesday Farmers Market

Chonkers — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 21:32:00 +0000

The honest take

Every Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m., the 4900 block of Newport Avenue closes to cars and turns into a street party that happens to sell vegetables. There’s fresh fruit, prepared food, crafts and jewelry, and a crowd that ranges from surfers to grandmas to someone playing a didgeridoo.

Come hungry and graze your way down the block. Then walk to the end of Newport and watch the sunset from the sand, because the beach is right there.

It’s a real local market, not a tourist show, which is exactly why it’s fun. Bring cash just in case, and expect parking to be tight.

Worth it? Skip it?

Worth it if

You’re in town on a Wednesday and want dinner, people-watching and a sunset in one go.

Skip it if

It’s not Wednesday. Sadly, this one is non-negotiable.

Quick facts

Area	Ocean Beach, 4900 block of Newport Ave (between Bacon St and Cable St)
Cost	Free to walk around
Hours	Wednesdays, 4 to 8 p.m.
Parking	Street parking and small lots nearby; arrive early
Kids	Yes

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Photo: Tomás Del Coro from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ocean Beach Dog Beach

Chonkers — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 21:31:54 +0000

The honest take

Dog Beach sits at the north end of Ocean Beach, where the San Diego River meets the ocean, and it is pure joy. Dogs sprint, dig, swim, steal each other’s tennis balls and roll in things their owners will regret later. It’s considered one of the first official leash-free beaches in the United States, and it’s open 24 hours.

You don’t need a dog to enjoy it. Grab a coffee on Newport Avenue, sit on the sand and watch a golden retriever have the best day of its life. It’s better than most paid attractions, and it’s free.

If you do bring a dog: the leash-free area ends at the bike path, and dogs aren’t allowed on the main beach between the path and the pier. There are showers by the parking lot, which your rental car will appreciate.

Worth it? Skip it?

Worth it if

You have a dog, love dogs, or need a cheap mood boost.

Skip it if

You’re nervous around big, wet, enthusiastic animals. They will find you.

Quick facts

Area	Ocean Beach, foot of Voltaire St
Cost	Free
Hours	Open 24 hours
Parking	Free lot near W Point Loma Blvd and Voltaire St
Dogs	Leash-free 24 hours on Dog Beach; on the main beach, no dogs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Apr to Oct) or 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Nov to Mar), leashed at other times

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Photo: Ronen Ackerman, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

El Campo Santo Cemetery

Chonkers — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 20:22:07 +0000

The honest take

Just off the margarita-and-souvenir stretch of Old Town sits a small adobe-walled cemetery from 1849. It’s one of the oldest in the region, and its residents include early settlers and at least one famously unlucky outlaw. Some of the graves are under the street and sidewalk, which tells you how fast the city grew.

It’s said to be one of the most haunted spots in San Diego, so ghost tours stop here at night. During the day it’s peaceful, a bit eerie, and a nice change from the shops.

It’s small, so it takes about ten minutes. Read the markers, be respectful, then head back for those margaritas.

Worth it? Skip it?

Worth it if

You’re in Old Town anyway, you like history, or you enjoy a good ghost story.

Skip it if

You’re not near Old Town. It’s not worth the drive on its own.

Quick facts

Area	Old Town, 2410 San Diego Ave
Cost	Free
Parking	Free Old Town lots nearby, plus the Old Town trolley station
Best time	Daytime visit, or a ghost tour at night
Kids	Yes, unless they scare easily

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Photo: Bruce Roberson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Annie’s Canyon Trail

Chonkers — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 20:22:02 +0000

The honest take

Slot canyons usually mean a long drive into the desert. Annie’s Canyon is 20 minutes north of downtown, next to the freeway. The trail winds through the San Elijo Lagoon reserve, then squeezes you through narrow, wavy sandstone walls and up a couple of ladders to a lookout over the lagoon and the ocean.

The whole loop is about a mile and a half and the slot section is short, so you’re done in about an hour. It’s very doable, but the slot is narrow: if you’re claustrophobic or carrying a big backpack, take the easier path around.

Weekend mornings get crowded, and the slot is one-way, so you may queue. Go early on a weekday and bring water, as there’s little shade.

Worth it? Skip it?

Worth it if

You want a quick, unusual hike with a payoff, or kids who need to burn energy.

Skip it if

You don’t like tight spaces, or you’re expecting a big wilderness hike.

Quick facts

Area	Solana Beach, San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve
Cost	Free
Parking	Free street parking at the end of North Rios Ave; fills on weekends
Best time	Weekday mornings
Kids	Yes, for kids happy to climb a ladder
Dogs	On a leash on the main trail; the slot is tricky for dogs

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Photo: Rennett Stowe, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial

Chonkers — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 20:21:57 +0000

The honest take

Want to see all of San Diego at once? Drive up Mount Soledad. From the top you get a full circle: La Jolla and the ocean on one side, downtown, Coronado and on clear days the mountains and Mexico on the other. You can drive right up to it, so no sweaty hiking is required.

The top is a memorial with thousands of plaques honoring veterans, so treat it like the special place it is. Read a few of the stories, then take in the view quietly.

Go on a clear day, as June Gloom can hide everything. Sunset is beautiful, but go just before, as the gates close at 10 p.m.

Worth it? Skip it?

Worth it if

You want the big picture of San Diego in one stop, or the best sunset view that’s free.

Skip it if

It’s foggy. Then you’ll get a lovely view of a cloud.

Quick facts

Area	La Jolla, 6905 La Jolla Scenic Dr
Cost	Free
Parking	Free; a few spaces at the top and a bigger lot a short walk down
Best time	Clear days, around sunset (open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
Kids	Yes

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Photo: Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Kate Sessions Park

Chonkers — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 20:21:53 +0000

The honest take

Pacific Beach is famous for its busy boardwalk. Drive two minutes uphill and you’ll find the opposite: a huge sloping lawn with a view over Mission Bay, the ocean and the downtown skyline. Locals bring picnics, dogs, kites and kids who need to run.

It’s named after Kate Sessions, the horticulturist who planted a lot of Balboa Park and is basically why San Diego has so many nice trees. She would approve of you lying on the grass doing nothing.

Grab takeout in PB, find a spot on the slope and watch the sunset. Dress warmer than you think: it gets breezy up there once the sun goes.

Worth it? Skip it?

Worth it if

You want a chill picnic, a dog run, or a sunset view without the beach crowd.

Skip it if

You’re expecting the beach. It’s a lawn. A very nice lawn.

Quick facts

Area	Pacific Beach, Soledad Rd at Lamont St
Cost	Free
Parking	Free lot at the park, plus street parking
Best time	Late afternoon to sunset
Kids	Yes, there’s a playground
Dogs	Yes, with off-leash hours in a marked area

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Photo: Enigs, CC BY 3.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons

Cabrillo Tide Pools

Chonkers — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 20:21:48 +0000

The honest take

At the very tip of Point Loma, inside Cabrillo National Monument, there are rocky tide pools full of sea anemones, crabs, sea stars and the occasional shy octopus. On a good low tide it’s like a free aquarium without the gift shop at the exit.

The secret is timing. Look up a tide chart before you go and aim for a low tide during opening hours (winter afternoons are often best). Arrive at high tide and you’ll see waves and disappointed families.

Wear shoes that can get wet and have grip, because the rocks are slippery. Touch nothing, take nothing, and watch where you step: those little green blobs are alive. While you’re there, the lighthouse and harbor views up top are worth the entry fee alone.

Worth it? Skip it?

Worth it if

You have kids, you like nature, or you want the best view of San Diego Bay in one trip.

Skip it if

The tide is high, or you only have an hour and don’t want to pay park entry.

Quick facts

Area	Point Loma, inside Cabrillo National Monument
Cost	$20 per car, $10 per walk-in adult; free with an America the Beautiful pass
Parking	Included with entry; a small lot near the tide pools
Best time	Low tide during park hours; winter low tides are the best
Kids	Yes, they’ll love it

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Photo: Angspring, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Chicano Park

Chonkers — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 20:21:43 +0000

The honest take

Under the Coronado Bridge, the concrete pillars are covered in giant, colorful murals about Chicano history, culture and pride. The community fought to create this park in 1970, and it’s now a National Historic Landmark. It’s one of the most impressive things in the city and plenty of visitors never hear about it.

Give yourself time to walk around slowly. Every pillar tells a story, and the scale is hard to grasp until you’re standing next to them. Then walk a few blocks to grab tacos or a coffee in Barrio Logan, which has some of the best food in town.

This is a neighborhood park, not a backdrop. Be respectful, ask before photographing people, and support local businesses while you’re here.

Worth it? Skip it?

Worth it if

You like art, history, great photos, or seeing a side of San Diego that isn’t beaches.

Skip it if

Honestly, don’t skip it. Unless you really, truly hate murals.

Quick facts

Area	Barrio Logan, under the Coronado Bridge
Cost	Free
Parking	Free street parking nearby; the trolley’s Barrio Logan stop is close
Best time	Daytime; Chicano Park Day in April is a big celebration
Kids	Yes
Dogs	On a leash

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Photo: Rpotance, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons