Ride one of the oldest working wooden ferries in the U.S. across San Diego Bay to visit Coronado Ferry Landing in a neighborhood that is almost fully surrounded by water. After completing the roughly 15-minute ferry ride from downtown San Diego, the landing is a destination in itself. Visit its many shops and restaurants. Alternatively, drive your car across the Coronado Bridge to discover why locals and tourists journey to this area that is close to the city in distance, yet far apart in atmosphere.
Choose from a selection of establishments including three superior waterfront restaurants and several clothing boutiques. Rent a kayak or go on a cruise. Reserve a spot on a charter that may include brunch or a gourmet meal on varied watercraft.
Directly adjacent to the landing is a beach area where you can watch ferries going to and coming from downtown. In this zone Centennial Park has an excellent vantage point for city skyline viewing, making it a photographer’s focal point.
Rent a bike at the landing and tour the community, including riding along the Bayshore Bikeway that circles San Diego Bay.
Walk from shore to shore of this area along Orange Avenue for about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) to the iconic Hotel del Coronado, often simply called The Del. Join a tour to learn about its colorful history since opening in 1888. Dine at one of the hotel’s seven restaurants overlooking the Pacific Ocean before heading back to the ferry.
Board and disembark the ferry at Broadway Pier or the San Diego Convention Center or rent a water taxi from Coronado Ferry Landing if you want personal service to cross the bay.
Technically this is a peninsula, even though it’s generally called an island. You can also reach the area on land by driving to Coronado’s southern section and traveling over the Silver Strand Boulevard. This may be a good option if you don’t want to cross the curved Coronado Bridge because of its incredible height of 200 feet (60 meters), which allows naval vessels as large as aircraft carriers to pass below.