Day Trip to Hotel del Coronado

While living in San Diego we took many day trips to the Hotel del Coronado, swimming, collecting sand dollars, eating ice cream, and exploring the resort. Coronado is a resort city located on an island right off of San Diego. It is most widely recognized by the high-end Hotel del Coronado resort on the beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The Hotel del Coronado, also called The Del, was built in 1888. It is spectacular and sprawling and the grounds are open to the public. We visited the beaches, boardwalks, and hotel several times while living in San Diego.

One of the grand villas at the Hotel del Coronado.

Portrait view of the Hotel del Coronado with palm trees and greenery

When the hotel opened it was the largest resort in the world and had many notable guests including multiple presidents, celebrities, and athletes. One of the times that we visited we spotted what may have been a professional soccer team’s bus parked in front of the hotel. It is also the second-largest wooden structure in the United States.

A sign on the beach lets beachgoers know that when the hotel was first built the beach was envisioned to be and continues to be open to the public. This is what I liked most about the hotel. It was completely open including the beach, the grounds, the gardens, and access to the restaurants. It all felt very welcoming even though we were not guests. It is a luxury resort that can be enjoyed almost as if you are staying there.

Outdoor living space at some of the hotel rooms at Hotel del Coronado.

Table at an outdoor restaurant at the Hotel del Coronado

Beach at Hotel del Coronado on a sunny day.

We visited Coronado at least 5 times in the 4 months that we lived in San Diego, if not more. Each time, I loved taking it all in, admiring all of the beautifully kept grounds and facilities. It was easy to access the shops and lobby inside the hotel too.

On our first day trip to Hotel del Coronado, we went during the day and enjoyed the beach. We went for a brief swim, played in the sand, and ate a picnic lunch. The sand at the beach has beautiful golden flecks in the sand from the mineral mica. The whole beach is shiny and golden, reflecting light from the sun. We also saw dozens of sand dollars along the beach, something I had never seen before on a beach, just souvenir shops. We loved it. It was also fun to watch the military planes from the Coronado Naval Base fly low right over the beach.

Surf Boards standing upright on a surf board rack with sand and a palm tree.

Golden sand with shimmering flecks of mica at the beach at Hotel del Coronado.

Surfboards standing upright on a surf board rack with a cactus and palm tree.

Black and white image of surf boards on a surf board rack.

Yellow and white van for renting surf boards and wet suits outside Hotel del Coronado.

After our time down at the beach we wondered around the hotel property again, and enjoyed some ice cream from Sundae’s at the Del. We also ran around the green in front of the hotel, all five of us shrieking and laughing, playing tag and having the absolute BEST time.

Beach, water, and sky with clouds at beautiful Hotel del Corondao.

We had such a great time on our first trip, that we returned several times. Aside from our little Windansea Beach in La Jolla down the street from our Airbnb, it was by far my favorite place in San Diego. Many of the times that we returned we came in the late afternoon to watch the sunset and bring a picnic dinner. It is a magical place with a stunning coastline and such attention to detail at the resort.

Boardwalk at Hotel del Coronado on a sunny day.

Walkway flanked by palm trees at the Hotel del Coronado.

One of the things that I have learned on our travels is that it just takes one person with a vision. Just one person to set things in motion, to make something beautiful. I think about how incredible the grounds are at Hotel del Coronado, but also at the Airbnb that we stayed at. Our Airbnb was not large, but it had incredible landscaping and small gardens and it was such a pleasure to sit outside. I felt the same way at the hotel. It just felt good to be there.

At the Del, of course, it has taken an enormous group of people with various specialties well over 100 years and a lot of money to build and maintain the resort.

But, I like to think that I can take inspiration from the hotel and our Airbnb and the city of San Diego and bring that back to our own home. To make our home and yard a place that is such a pleasure to be in, beyond being a comfortable and safe home.

If you’re in San Diego or planning a trip with or without kids, I highly, highly recommend a day at Coronado, including staying to watch the sunset and walk along the well-lit boardwalk and hotel grounds during the day and at night.