The Hotel del Coronado is a San Diego gem that should be a must-see on any tourist’s Southern California list. Established in 1888, it is one of a handful of surviving American wooden Victorian structures and has played host to many celebrities and notable figures. With visitors ranging from Thomas Edison to L. Frank Baum, and George Harrison to Barack Obama, this hotel has clearly had a notable history…so of course you should add your name to the list!
Even if you are unable to spend the night, the Hotel del Coronado is a sight to see. Its distinctive conical main building towers into the sky. If you take a few minutes and walk on the beach, the hotel presents a lovely view.
After wandering through the hotel and viewing the historical pictures inside, you could decide (like me) to pretend you are rich enough to stay at a place like this and substitute buying ice cream for staying the night at the hotel. There is a small shop in the hotel called MooTime, which is seriously the best ice cream I’ve ever had (I recommend the chocolate or the butter pecan). Their ice cream is extremely creamy and just the right balance of sweet, and is even handmade in the shop apparently! Alternatively, if the prices are still too exorbitant–which they sort of are–there is another MooTime location about an eight minute walk away at 1025 Orange Avenue that serves the same ice cream for a less expensive price. And of course you could just as easily pick up your ice cream there and then walk to the hotel and stare out at the beach, pretending to be a celebrity. 🙂 But if you are in the area, I do recommend trying the MooTime ice cream at one of these locations.
Finally, make sure to head down to the beach and spend some time in the sun, or take a walk to the nearby Spreckels Park (which has a cute gazebo as well as grassy areas and a playground). But do take the time to walk on the beach, because what San Diego vacation is complete without gaining a tan? (or, in my case, a fresh sunburn) It’s hard to beat this beach for beauty, and there are even little caves you can explore if you so desire. Whether you spend the night or simply a day, a visit to Hotel del Coronado is an unforgettable and quintessential Southern California experience.
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Have you been to the Hotel del Coronado? Do you have a favorite restaurant or place in the area? Share your stories with me in the comments below!