Few places in the United States capture that small-town charm like Coronado Island. This seaside belle was put firmly on the getaway map in the 19th century and today it ripples with vintage glamour. With the Pacific Ocean on your doorstep, sealions in the waters and pelicans dotting the skies, it’s got natural beauty in spades, too. Add a cheerful, welcoming atmosphere and charismatic boutique hotels, and Coronado Island becomes a sublime coastal escape.
NATURE
This island is home to some of California’s best – and less crowded – beaches with shores ideal for water sports. Try surfing, skim boarding, paddle boarding, or simply take a dip. When you’re not lounging in a beach chair or swimming with the current, you may wander past fishermen carrying the catch of the day. And you can even join an angler aboard a fishing charter. Once you lose your sea legs, hike along Centennial Park and enjoy open spaces and skyline views.
SHOPPING
Coronado Island is ideal if you like to browse bayside markets, independent art and sculpture galleries, and pretty gift stores brimming with tropical patterns. If a more serious shopping spree is on the cards, San Diego is only a short trip by car or sea from Coronado Island. And for shopping with a view, the Coronado Ferry Landing comes with chic shops beside the ocean.
FOOD & DRINK
Craft beers, sweet lobster and handmade ice cream make up the menu at Coronado Island. Find you way to the Coronado Brewing Co. and order an award-winning drink with a side of fire-grilled pizza. Elsewhere, MooTime Creamery is the perfect pitstop in summer – and there are over 25 hand-made ice cream flavours to suit every taste.
Flag down the Flagship and explore the Californian coast from Coronado.
