We are going to Coronado Island - one of the wealthiest and most beautiful areas of the city, the best resort in Southern California. To the island (if you look at the topographic map, then it is not an island at all, but a peninsula) can be reached in three ways: Coronado Bridge, ferry and Highway 75 (Silver Strand Blvd) from the south . Since we were on the embankment before Embarcadero ( Embarcadero), then for our bus the best option is the first one - across the Coronado Bridge, which was built in 1969 and is one of the city's attractions due to its unique technical characteristics: the length of the bridge is 3400 meters, the height above the water surface is 61... 75 meters (military requirement - that large ships, such as aircraft carriers, can freely enter the naval base), 5 traffic lanes (2 - towards the island, 2 - towards the mainland, 1 - reserve).
Our bus enters the bridge (since 2002, travel on it has become free),
leaving "overboard" some objects of the US Navy
and driving down Orange Avenue ( Orange Ave ) several kilometers
stops
near the stele with the inscription " Hotel del Coronado 1888 (Hotel Del Coronado 1888).
The guide explains the disposition to us, allocates a few hours of free time, we check our watches against the hotel's chronometer
and we're going free-floating.
Before us is the sign "Great Hall" - a complex of premises for receiving guests hotel. Well, we are still some, but guests - so we follow in this direction.
Another piece of information from Del Coronado is that skateboarding is prohibited, and cyclists should stick to designated lanes. We do not seem to belong to this category of tourists, and therefore we continue the route
and soon we find ourselves in front of the US National Historic Site -
Hotel Del Coronado Del Coronado).
Near the main entrance to the hotel
there is a corresponding memorial plaque confirming the above status of the hotel (the decision on this was made in 1977 by the relevant US Department).
Now is the time to find out why the hotel was awarded such a high honor.
The history of the hotel dates back to 1886. It was then that Elish Babcom Jr. ( Elisha BabcockJr ), Hampton L. Storey ( Hampton L. Story ) and Alonzo Horton ( Alonzo Horton ) "had their eye" on Coronado Island, which inspired them with its natural beauty. They buy it together for 110 thousand rubles.$, create the Coronado Beach company and decide to build a hotel here that would impress all vacationers with its appearance, service and would be the most luxurious not only on the continent, but also in the world.
photo from https://hoteldel.com
The implementation of the idea required large financial investments. Entrepreneurs decide to break the island into land plots (having previously created the initial infrastructure) and put them up for auction (having familiarized future shareholders with the Coronado Island development plan in advance, in which, in addition to the hotel, there was a place for parks, shopping areas, avenues, and urban infrastructure buildings). During several land auctions, in which more than 10 thousand people took part, by the summer of 1887, the Coronado Beach company managed to gain over 1.5 million dollars.$(the total proceeds from the sale of land amounted to about 2.3 million rubles).$). The money was immediately invested in the construction of the hotel and related facilities (power station, ferry crossing, etc.).
The construction of the hotel proceeded at a grandiose pace. By the middle of 1887, more than 250 people worked almost around the clock at the construction site.
photo from https://hoteldel.com
In November 1887, the main construction work was completed and the "development" of the hotel's interior space began (furnishing rooms and office space, installing equipment, etc.).
On February 19, 1888, the grand opening of the hotel took place. A technological miracle appeared before visitors: everything was electrified, hydraulic steam-driven elevators ran between floors (there were only two such elevators in the USA), there was a telephone connection in the rooms, there was a modern fire extinguishing system, and much more.
The hotel cost its organizers 1 million euros.$ (600 thousand $ - construction and 400 thousand $ - furnishings). At the same time, the first visitors paid for a regular room (and there are about 400 of them in the hotel) on average about 2.5 0 $ (The price includes three meals a day).
photo from https://hoteldel.com
The luxury of the hotel, its magnificent beaches and service began to attract VIP -clients. In 1891 he was visited by the incumbent US President Benjamin Harrison, who "opened" Del Coronado for Taft, Roosevelt, Johnson, Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush and Obama. Since the early 1900s, movie stars and cinematographers have poured into the hotel. Coronado has become a filming location for many films, including such famous ones as "The Pearl of Paradise", "Only Girls in Jazz" (in the original "Some Like It Hot" 1958).
For those who couldn't afford to stay in a hotel from 1900 to 1938. on the territory adjacent to the hotel, the Del tent city was set up, which attracted additional crowds of vacationers to Coronado. Each tent had electric lighting, furniture (bed, table, chairs, armchair, mirror), kitchen utensils, bed linen. The tent was cleaned daily by the servants. On the territory of the tent city there were restaurants, laundry and even a library. By the beginning of the 40s of the last century, the tent city had become obsolete and was liquidated,
photo from https://hoteldel.com
and modern high-rise buildings appeared in its place.
Now that we are already a little familiar with the history of Del Coronado, we can begin our acquaintance with the territory adjacent to it:
park,
outdoor swimming pool,
numerous bars and shops located on the back side of the main building.
Let's take a look at the courtyard of the hotel...
In order for visitors to imagine where they are at every step around the hotel, such identification "tablets" are installed.
Now it's the turn of the next attraction "Del Coronado" - its beach.
It is quite long and wide here (it is considered one of the best in California and one of the ten best beaches in the USA).
to enlarge the panorama, move the cursor over the photo and click the left mouse button
We should not forget that before us is the majestic Pacific Ocean,
so we have a unique opportunity to get to know him better.
We didn’t notice swimmers at this time of the year, but there were plenty of people who wanted to rinse their legs in the waters of this monster.
Another feature of Coronado Beach is its sand.
When the sun begins to appear through the clouds, there is a feeling
that you have a placer of gold under your feet (the sand contains a large amount of shiny minerals).
The weather is changing before our eyes...
For some time we were engaged in the "conquest" of the waters of the Pacific Ocean,
and then we went to the side Beach Village-
to enlarge the panorama, move the cursor over the photo and click the left mouse button
cottage village (owned by the hotel) built next to the hotel in 2007 and
consisting of 78 luxurious houses equipped (like the hotel) with the latest technology.
Time again reminds of itself and we are forced to return to the bus.
On the way back, we linger for a while near the ornamental garden, laid out under the windows of the hotel.
Rounding the Del Coronado
we are back on Orange Avenue.
Our bus has not yet pulled up from its parking lot and we have some time
to walk down the street within sight of the gathering point of the group.
Directly in front of us is a bay in which boats and yachts of various classes "sheltered". Silver Strand Blvd (Route 75) also starts from here, along which you can leave the island. By the way, at the beginning of the story, we mentioned that Coronado (if you look at the map) is not an island at all, but a peninsula. Then why is it everywhere called an island? It turns out everything is very simple. Initially, i.e. many years ago, Coronado was a real island; washed on all sides by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Then, on its southern side, as a result of sediments associated with the specifics of underwater currents in this area, a sandy spit appeared, which connected the island with the mainland. Today, Route 75 is laid along this spit.
Across from Del Coronado is the Glorietta Bay Inn, a boutique hotel with room rates starting at 180$.
In the meantime, our bus is pulling up.
and we leave first the territory of the Hotel Del Coronado,
and then the island of the same name,
which we will remember for a long time...
But this is not the end of our excursion program in the USA - there are still no less interesting places ahead of us.
Coronado Bridge (USA) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.
- Hot tours Worldwide
The San Diego-Coronado Bridge, which crosses San Diego Bay, looks great from the Point Loma Peninsula (Cabrillo National Monument) and pretty much "makes" a view of the bay. The bridge was decided to be built in 1926, but the leadership of the US Navy did not support the idea, fearing that the bridge could be destroyed by an earthquake or enemies, and then all ships at the San Diego naval base would be locked up. The city council managed to reach an agreement with the military only in 1964, and even then, on the condition that the bridge would leave at least 61 m of "clearance" so that ships could pass under it. In order to fulfill this condition and at the same time not make the ascent and descent from the bridge completely dizzying, a large loop had to be laid at the entrance to Coronado.
And yet, the military was not too pleased: after all, the Nimitz-class nuclear aircraft carrier would still not be able to pass under the bridge without loading.
Urban legend says that in order to appease the Navy, the central span of the bridge was made floating. That is, in the event of a collapse, it can simply be towed along the waves.
On the piers on the east side of the bridge, you can see huge murals that are part of Chicano Park, the largest collection of Chicano art murals in the world.
The construction of the bridge began in 1967. It took 20 thousand tons of steel to create the structure, which was buried 100 m into the bottom of the bay. The bridge was opened to traffic in 1969. Its total length was 3407 m, and the canvas rested on 27 concrete pillars, which at that time were the highest in the world. Traffic on the bridge is carried out in both directions along two lanes (there is a third, spare, in the middle).
Since 2008, cyclists have been able to ride the bridge once a year during the Bike the Bay event.
Coronado Bridge
On the piers on the east side of the bridge, you can see huge murals that are part of Chicano Park, the largest collection of Chicano art murals in the world. The creation of the murals was a response to a surge of public discontent in 1970, when the townspeople complained about the trouble that the bridge brings to residents of nearby areas.
The Coronado Bridge is the third most suicidal in the United States after the Golden Gate in San Francisco and the Aurora in Seattle. From 1972 to 2000 more than 200 suicides have jumped off it.
In 2008, a competition was announced to develop lighting for the bridge. Funds for the project (75 thousand USD, but the city authorities assured the public that not a single taxpayer dollar would be spent - only grants and donations) were allocated only in 2012. It is expected that the bridge will shine with new lights no earlier than 2019, but even today in the dark it looks very impressive.
Practical information
The San Diego-Coronado Bridge connects one of the locations mentioned in the official name with another. Route 74 passes through it.
Coronado Island is the most interesting and most famous place in San Diego. This is a real resort paradise in a million-strong metropolis. Here are the city beaches of San Diego, the best hotels and the best restaurants. The island is located in San Diego Bay and is located almost parallel to the coastline.
The island can be reached via the Coronado Bridge. This bridge was built in 1969, its length is about 3.5 kilometers, and the roadbed is at a height of 61 meters. I couldn’t take my own photo, so I found a photo of the bridge on the Internet:
I must say that the place is really picturesque: it's nice even just to walk around the island. But the main attraction of the island is, of course, the Hotel Del Coronado, built back in 1888. This is what the hotel looks like today
Most of our compatriots have known this hotel for a long time, but many do not even know about it. It was in this hotel that the famous comedy "Only Girls in Jazz" was filmed and the views of the hotel, which is "crammed full of millionaires" very often slip on the screen
It is noteworthy that the action of the film takes place in Florida, but nevertheless, the director was so sunk into the soul of Del Coronado that it was decided to shoot here.
What can I say, the views here are simply amazing! And the fact that there are "a lot of rich Pinocchio" is visible to the naked eye
Next to the main building there is a street with villas, the so-called Coronado Village. Behind each house is its own parking space. Good, don't say anything.
But there are buildings in the hotel a little simpler
I specifically looked into booking to see how much it costs to stay in Del Coronado - it turned out not quite crazy prices. You can stay in a room from $ 250, quite a normal price for such a great place.
Navigation:
On the final day in San Diego, we went to the wonderful island of Coronado. This is a kind of resort for wealthy Americans and tourists. Very cozy and pleasant. And by the way! Some call it a peninsula. And all because if you look at the map, the island will be connected to the mainland by a spit, along which the Silver Strand Bvd now passes. But before Coronado was really a full-fledged island! And then various currents formed this spit, attaching it to the mainland. Now it looks like a ball on a string;)
Our island-peninsula is famous primarily for the Del Coronado Hotel, where more than half a century ago the sensational comedy "Only Girls in Jazz" was filmed with the brilliant Marilyn Monroe. This hotel has even been designated a US National Historic Landmark! But more on that later, but we'll start ... Let's start, perhaps, from the beginning!
How to get to Coronado Island
There are three ways to get from San Diego to Coronado:
1. Over the Coronado Bridge in your own car (free of charge) or bus number 901,
2. By Silver Strand Blvd from south of San Diego and from Mexico by car / bass No. 934+901,
3. By ferry from San Diego Pier ($5*)
Choose what you like best! Ride with a breeze on an amazing bridge on supports more than 60 m high and almost 3.5 km long? Or driving down a natural spit from the Mexican border or south of San Diego? Well, for the most romantic natures, we recommend a boat trip on an authentic ferry along the most picturesque bay!
How to do it, Chief?
We tell. On the southwest coast of San Diego, there are two piers from which you can swim to Coronado on a ferryboat .
Click on the map to enlarge
Broadway Pier, named after the street that leads you to it from the historic center if you go west. The ferry runs every hour from 9am to 9pm, Fri-Sat until 10pm*.
Berth address: 990 N Harbor Drive San Diego CA 92101.
From here you can see the huge American aircraft carrier USS Midway, which participated in the Vietnam War, and now turned into Museum. If you have free 2-3 hours (no less), we highly recommend visiting it. From the Broadway pier to the museum about 500 meters.
By the way! The aircraft carrier offers a great view of the famous eight-meter monument to the sailor kissing the nurse "Unconditional Surrender" (or "Kiss").
Pier next to the Conference Center. You will arrive at it if you walk down from the Gaslamp quarter. The ferry runs every half an hour, starting from 9-25 am until 9-55 (10-55 Fri-Sat) in the evening*.
Berth address: 600 Convention Way, San Diego CA 92101.
At the same time, you will see an interesting structure in the color of the waters of the San Diego Bay.
Photo from visitsandiego.com
Fare(at the end of 2018) - 5$* per person one way. Travel time - 15 minutes. Children under 3 years old and bicycles are transported free of charge;)
Lifehack: Are you an early bird? You're lucky! You can save $10 by getting a free early morning ferry ticket from 5:40 am to 8:50 am and getting a return ticket to return the same day!
The ferry arrives at Coronado Pier (address: 1201 First Street, Coronado CA 92118).
You can sail back to San Diego from 9-10 am to 9-40 pm (Fri-Sat until 10-40)*. Study the schedule carefully! From Coronado, ferries leave for one of the two San Diego piers!
* Check the current schedule and prices forhttps://www.flagshipsd.com/cruises/coronado-ferry
Well, here you are on the island! From the ferry and the Coronado Bridge to the beach with the Del Coronado Hotel on Orange Avenue is about 2.5 km, but nevertheless, we highly recommend walking around the city or renting bicycles. You are in a town of amazing beauty and harmony! Enjoy!
The resort city of Coronado
City-fairy tale, city-dream! Here I have full confidence that any person can become happy. It is worth it just to settle in such a town :)))
We arrived here early in the morning, but life here was already seething. But it seethed so comfortably and measuredly, like a warm mineral spring...
Alexander wanted to go to the Barbie shop, but they almost cut his hair there. I agreed to take a picture only on a bench at the entrance. By the way, do you see this bowl next to the joyful Alexander? Such containers with water for pets are in almost all public institutions. About how Americans love animals, I will write a whole article someday!
But eoooo ... This is a real find! While walking we stumbled upon a real American coffee shop, like in old movies! And look: it's time for breakfast, and it's packed to capacity! Clayton's Coffee Shop! They say there is usually a queue here, but a little later;)
The cafe is a horseshoe-shaped bar with comfortable red chairs around it. Mostly locals sit on the chairs. Heard it's their favorite breakfast spot. The girl inside the counter serves fragrant coffee and a delicious breakfast to customers. On the side there are also regular tables with sofas. Home cooking, huge portions, authentic atmosphere and live communication! True American Spirit! Prices by US standards are quite high. By the way, Clayton's coffee shop is ranked second in Coronado in the "Restaurants" category according to TripAdvisor and has a $ sign (that is, low prices). For example, sandwiches and omelettes start at $9. Open from 6-00 to 21-00.
Clayton's cafe address: 979 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA
And also in orderly rows of artiodactyl Mustangs grazing right on the road:
So, looking around, we did not notice how we reached the legendary Del Coronado Hotel...
This hotel, which became the reason for the formation of the city on the island, is truly unique. Now I'll tell you why.
10 Surprising Facts About Hotel Del Coronado
1. In 1886, three entrepreneurs with the dream of building the most luxurious hotel in the world bought the whole island. And in February 1888, the Del Coronado Hotel opened here in all its glory! How did they do it? They developed a project of the whole city, with parks, infrastructure and a pearl - the most luxurious hotel in the world, which will attract a huge number of rich and famous people to the city! And they began to sell plots on their island to investors. Their idea was so attractive and contagious that more than 10 thousand people fought for their land in auctions! And by the middle of 1987, entrepreneurs had $1.5 million to build a hotel.
2. The entire lighting and electrification system of the hotel was developed by Thomas Edison himself. The hotel was equipped with elevators, telephones and a fire extinguishing system.
3. The cost of building and equipping the hotel at the time of opening was $1 million, while the cost of a standard room with three meals a day was $2.5.
4. In 1891, the incumbent US President B. Harrison visited the hotel, and since then leaders of the country from Roosevelt to Obama have regularly rested here.
5. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the hotel has gained popularity in the film industry: Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, Rudolph Valentino and Mae West liked to relax here.
6. The cult film "Only Girls in Jazz" with Marilyn Monroe was filmed here, although the film says that the action takes place in Miami.
7. Since 1977, the Del Coronado Hotel has been designated a US National Historic Landmark.
8. At the moment the hotel has about 700 rooms.
9. The hotel is open for viewing both inside and outside for tourists and excursions.
10. The cost of hotel rooms at the moment varies from $500 to $2000.
Would you like to live inside the legend? Can you do it! ;) Booking a room here is very simple through the form below.
For lovers of exclusives who are not constrained by funds, I recommend that you look at the rooms in. This is a complex of cottages on the territory of the Hotel Del Coronado, located right on the beach.
But if financial possibilities do not allow you to become like Obama or Charlie Chaplin in this luxurious hotel, you can stay in other hotels on the island (you can see the list and map by indicating Coronado in the form above) or in San Diego in general. And in Del Coronado to come on an excursion, as we did. And now we will tell...
What is there inside?
And inside there is a hall, a reception, a restaurant and everything that a hotel is supposed to have! It is interesting that the hotel was built of wood, and many wooden elements were used in the interior. Tourists are allowed to roam freely around the hotel and its external territory. Walking along the corridors, you will inevitably stumble upon photos of celebrities who were relaxing at the hotel, as well as historical pictures from filming and stills from films that were filmed here. The most popular was the famous masterpiece "Some Like It Hot" in 1959 with Marilyn Monroe in the title role:
And of course, all kinds of shops that profit from the fame of the famous blonde :)) Here, for example, here you can buy a suitcase with Marilyn Monroe:
Leaving the hotel on the other side, we found ourselves in a beautiful surrounding area that adjoins Coronado Beach.
We went there, because we already began to miss the Pacific Ocean ...
Coronado beach
Our bad luck with the weather continued, and the ocean, despite all our love for it, remained just as gloomy and cold. I remind you that it was June! A cold wind blew from the water, but this did not frighten the surfers at all, who were warmed by either adrenaline or special suits (or maybe both):
Here, of course, there was a photo shoot (you can click on all the photos to get a better look):
Write in the comments that we are handsome if you think so: D
CORONADO - that's what is lined with huge sand and vegetable letters on the beach! There used to be the word BEACH, but it was blown away by the wind...
On the left - what we see walking along the beach, and on the right - what birds and satellites see:
(click to enlarge)
And in conclusion - a few facts about the beach.
Coronado Beach is one of the best beaches in San Diego and is on the list of the best beaches in the world, not just the United States. It is very wide, about 150 m wide and strewn with fine white sand interspersed with golden mica (which is why it is sometimes called the golden sands beach). Partially sheltered from the ocean by the Point Loma peninsula, the waves here are less steep and the water is a couple of degrees warmer than elsewhere on this US coast. We were not able to verify this, as you can see from the photographs, but we will take the word of other travelers;)
And finally, here it is for you in its full glory! Admire!
(Click to enlarge)
