Coronado Beaches
From downtown San Diego, Coronado is less than 10 minutes away by car. NEWSFLASH! - Stephen P. Leatherman, the self-proclaimed "Dr. Beach," of Florida International University jsut released his 2008 annual for the best beaches. The ONLY San Diego beach on his 2008 list was none other than Coronado Beach! Congratulations to the City of Coronado!
Coronado has what we call "easy drive-up beaches" because they just get less crowded and you don't have to spend the day in search of parking.
Coronado has uncrowded beaches for the most part. North of the Hotel Del
Coronado is wide open beach but the downside is there are dunes and a very
wide beach to walk across. This can seem like the Sahara to kids. On the plus side, there are public restrooms and the Del is within eyeshot. This beach is free, as the rest, and parking is found throughout the wonderful Coronado residential areas. Good Kid-Friendly Beach
Just south of the Hotel Del, nestled between the "Taco Towers" as they are called, or the Coronado Shores high-rise condos, is a public access beach. While the beachfront is for all the public, this beach has its own parking lot. Don't let the condos fool you. There is a lot tucked in there for the public. Drive on Orange Avenue just south of the Hotel Del. Look for Avenida de Las Arenas and you'll find a traffic signal. Turn right. Get into the the left lane so that you'll be on the left side of the Visitor's Gate/Guard Booth. Follow that lane into the parking lot. This lot puts you within a very short walk to the beach. The beach is narrower and there is a lifeguard tower. And the Hotel Del is a quick walk to the up the boardwalk. If you are that close, you ought to walk around the Del. And if you want to know the really secret spot, don't turn on Avenide de Las Arenas. Follow Orange Avenue to the end of the towers and turn right. You'll find yourself on a cul-de-sac where you will find a very small lot and some street parking. No bathrooms here. However, you will see a lot of SEALS. Navy Seals. Just to the south of this part of the beach is home of the Navy SEALS. The beach in front of the SEAL property is off-limits to the public.
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