Joe Timko (619) 557-2812
jtimko@sdcvb.org
Robert Arends (619) 557-2834
rarends@sdcvb.org
Sarah Weinberg (619) 557-2838
sweinberg@sdcvb.org

June 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CORONADO’S GREAT OUTDOORS BECKONS VISITORS THIS SUMMER

With its year-round nearly idyllic climate and postcard-perfect setting, Coronado is a recreational playground for visitors with an abundance of outdoor activities.  Situated between tranquil San Diego Bay and the sparkling Pacific Ocean, water enthusiasts can swim, surf, sail, kayak, fish, kite-board or stand up paddleboard.  On land, the “Crown City” has just as many diverse offerings, and guests can bike, skate, jog, golf and play tennis under clear blue skies. 

Following are some of the exciting outdoor activities that sun-kissed Coronado has to offer.

JUST BEACHY

Synonymous with one of the finest beaches in North America, Coronado has a total of 28 miles of beaches on San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean, including the following four signature stretches of sand.

• Occupying the area between the iconic Hotel del Coronado and Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado Beach is a 1.5-mile-long aquatic wonderland for swimmers, surfers, sunbathers and America’s military elite.  Popular for its wide, white-sand beach set against a backdrop of beautiful homes, Coronado Beach is consistently named among the Travel Channel’s “Best Beaches in California” and annually ranks among Dr. Beach’s “Top 10 Beaches in the U.S.,” taking the #3 spot in 2010.

Families arrive early in the morning toting umbrellas, beach towels and picnic coolers for an all-day stay. Visitors often fly kites at the southern end of the beach, join pick-up volleyball games on the sand courts behind the main lifeguard station and enjoy romantic strolls along the sand at sunset.

• Just north of Coronado Beach, North Beach is a favorite site for surfers in the morning and bonfires in the evenings.  The northern most section is known as Dog Beach, because four-legged visitors are permitted off leash. In June 2010, Fido Friendly magazine named Coronado’s Dog Beach one of their “10 Sizzling Summertime Fido Friendly Beaches.”  On a typical day, dozens of dogs can be seen rolling in the sand, splashing in the waves and fetching Frisbees. 
  
  
• Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay along the isthmus that connects Coronado southward to Imperial Beach, Silver Strand State Beach is a popular spot for swimming, biking, RV camping and picnicking.  The name references the tiny, iridescent seashells that sparkle along the shoreline. Silver Strand, with its 3.5 miles of ocean and bayside nature preserve, is one of the best kite-boarding spots in Southern California.
  
  
• Silver Strand also offers an easy 10-mile ride between Coronado and Imperial Beach along a portion of the Bayshore Bikeway. Bicyclists pedal parallel to the beach and San Diego Bay, which is considered the most beautiful and cyclist-friendly bike route in Southern California. 
  
  
• Coronado Ferry Landing offers a small sandy beach and lawn along San Diego Bay, perfect for children to swim and play within the bay’s relatively calm waters. Adjacent to the beach, the ferry pier is a prime spot for fishing and viewing the bustling waterfront and sweeping views of downtown San Diego. 

PARK IT

Coronado has 21 beautiful parks, from small neighborhood “pocket parks” to a centrally-located block of expansive green space, Spreckels Park.

• Located in the center of town on Orange Avenue between 6th and 7th Streets, Spreckels Park was donated in 1927 by John D. Spreckels, one of Coronado’s founding fathers. Covering one entire city block, the park features green lawns for picnicking and playing catch, a playground and large gazebo; it is also the site of many of Coronado’s community celebrations and events.
  
  
• Centennial Park, located at the foot of Orange Avenue at First Street just north of the Ferry Landing, affords breathtaking views of San Diego Bay and the downtown San Diego skyline and is connected by bike and pedestrian paths.
  
  
• Tidelands Park is Coronado’s largest, located on 22 acres of bayfront at the base of the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. The park features four baseball fields, playground, skatepark, picnic tables, small beach with an exercise course and boat access, fishing pier and bike and pedestrian paths. 
  
  
• Small and scenic, Glorietta Bay Park on Glorietta Bay, just south of the Community Center on Strand Way, has a playground and boat launch.
  
  
• Sunset Park, located near the entrance to North/Dog Beach, is a three-acre patch of grass perfect for ball games.

JOY IN THE JOURNEY

Getting to Coronado is half the fun – either by water aboard a boat, water taxi or the Coronado/San Diego Ferry, which disembarks at the Coronado Ferry Landing, or by car across the graceful blue curve of the iconic San Diego-Coronado Bridge. Once visitors arrive, the fun really begins as they can explore the island by foot, bike, Segway, electric cart or even gondola!

• Bicycling the relatively flat, mile-long city of Coronado on a beach cruiser, 10-speed or surrey is a breeze with bike rentals located throughout the island, including: Wheel Fun Rentals at the Coronado Island Marriot Resort & Spa, Bikes and Beyond at the Coronado Ferry Landing, PeDels at the Hotel del Coronado and Cruiser King, Little Sam’s Island & Beach Fun and Holland’s Bicycles, all along Orange Ave.
  
  
• Equally eco-friendly is Go Green Coronado, offering electric cart rentals, and Segway of Coronado, offering rentals and unique Electro-Glide Tours of the island.
  
  
• Guests can sit back and unwind on a relaxing gondola ride through the Coronado Cays with the Gondola Company. Their authentic Venetian gondolas embark year-round from the marina at Loews Coronado Bay Resort, situated on a private peninsula on San Diego Bay just across from the Silver Strand State Beach.

WALKER’S PARADISE

With a Walk Score of 98 out of 100, Coronado is a “Walker’s Paradise” where guests don’t require a car to visit most activities on the island. The city offers a few fascinating walking tours to get in step with the island’s easy-paced lifestyle and discover its small-town quaintness and rich colorful history.

• The Coronado Historical Association offers two entertaining, docent-led walking tours that wind past the city’s landmarks, historical buildings and mansions. The Hotel del Coronado Tour is conducted at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday and at 2 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Cost is $15 per person; children aged under six are free.
  
  
• The Coronado Heritage Walk, a promenade through the past where guests learn more about its famous residents, buildings and architectural sites, is conducted at 2 p.m. on Wednesday. Cost is $10 per person and includes admission into the Coronado Museum of History & Art. Reservations.
  
  
• Coronado Touring offers guided historic walking tours of downtown Coronado and historic homes that give the “Crown City” its unique character and magical quality, including the Duchess of Windsor cottage and the home of author L. Frank Baum where he created his classic story, the “Wizard of Oz.” Tours depart at 11 a.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from the Glorietta Bay Inn. Cost is $12 per person; children aged under three are free. Reservations: http://coronadowalkingtour.com,

SPORTING GOOD TIME

Whether teeing off at one of the region’s most scenic golf courses, sailing the coast or jogging the island’s many paths, Coronado offers many exciting offerings that appeal to a wide range of sporting enthusiasts.

• Coronado Municipal Golf Course is one of the finest public courses in Southern California. Golfers can enjoy stunning views of San Diego Bay, Glorietta Bay, the Hotel del Coronado and the San Diego-Coronado Bridge while teeing off from the 72-par, 18-hole course; it also features a driving range, pro shop and restaurant.
   
• There are 19 public tennis courts throughout Coronado, most of which are lighted. The Coronado Tennis Center (1501 Glorietta Blvd.) is the largest venue with eight courts; visitors can also find public courts at the Coronado High School, Coronado Library and Coronado Cays.   
  
  
• For visitors who wish to connect with the great outdoors, Silver Strand State Beach is a slice of seaside paradise for RVs (no tent camping permitted), featuring fire rings, restrooms and showers.
  
  
• Water activities abound in Coronado with Coronado Boat Rental (1715 Strand Way) offering powerboat, sailboat, kayak and jet ski rentals, along with sailing lessons, private charters and seasonal whale watching excursions.   
  
  
• Visitors can get into the swim of things at the Coronado Municipal Pool (1845 Strand Way), offering aquatic classes, such as synchronized swimming and water aerobics. 
  
  
• Joggers can enjoy Coronado’s 15 miles of fairly level paths winding through charming neighborhoods and along San Diego Bay and the picturesque shoreline.

RESORT TO FUN

Coronado’s world-class resorts and hotels offer countless recreational activities, from surf lessons and beach rentals to kayaking, gondola rides, nature walks and more.

• Loews Coronado Bay Resort is an all-inclusive paradise of outdoor recreation. In 2010, Parents Magazine named it one of the “10 Best Family Beach Resorts,” and it’s easy to see why.
  
  Guests can swim in three outdoor pools, including an adult section; play tennis on three lighted bayside courts with a tennis pro on call for private lessons; catch a daily shuttle to and from nearby Silver Strand State Beach, or walk to the ocean via a private pedestrian underpass.
  
  They can also take surf or stand up paddleboard lessons at the onsite Coronado Surfing Academy; rent a sailboat, power boat, jet ski, paddleboat or kayak from the onsite Action Sports Rentals, also offering water skiing, wakeboarding and sailing lessons/excursions including a sunset sail, or enjoy The Gondola Company’s enchanting gondola cruise on San Diego Bay through the canals of the Coronado Cays, departing from the resort marina.
   
  In addition, Loews offers bicycle and rollerblade rentals, aqua aerobics, water volleyball, yoga, sandcastle building, tours of the resort’s herb garden and fun interactive nature tours of the Silver Strand State Beach’s rare plants, animals and birds. 
  
  
• Another recreational oasis is the Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa where guests can swim and enjoy three outdoor heated pools and two hot tubs; play tennis on six lighted courts with tennis lessons and equipment available, and walk or bike along the bayfront boardwalk on one of the resort’s bicycles or surreys, available for rent at the spa.
  
  In the summer, the resort offers a plethora of water sports opportunities, including sailing, water skiing, jet skiing, wind surfing, kayaking and paddle boarding. Beginning in summer 2011, the resort is offering a daily shuttle for guests to and from Coronado Beach.
  
  
• Developed in the late 1880s as a world-class playground, the Hotel del Coronado was made for play. Recreational activities include a pool with complimentary kickboards and water toys for resort guests, a hot tub and private poolside cabana rentals; yoga on the beach; beach rentals, including boogie boards, surfboards, wetsuits, volleyball and umbrellas, and on-site bicycle rentals from PeDels.
  
  Also available are sailboat, speedboat, water ski, jet ski, paddleboat and kayak rentals through the Coronado Boathouse, located adjacent to The Del on Glorietta Bay; surf lessons in the ocean or paddleboard lessons in Glorietta Bay by the resort’s skilled instructors, and sunset sailing excursions around Glorietta Bay by Seaforth Boat Rentals.  
  
  
• The charming Glorietta Bay Inn is centrally-located near many of Coronado’s popular outdoor activities, including the bustling Glorietta Bay. Within a block of the property, guests can walk, surf and swim at Coronado Beach, play tennis for free at the city’s municipal courts, rent a bike, and walk or jog to explore Coronado’s quaint neighborhoods and miles of scenic shoreline. 

Happy happens in Coronado.  For more information on Coronado and San Diego’s offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau's Web site, www.sandiego.org and www.sandiego.org/coronado, or call (619) 236-1212.  In Coronado, visit the Coronado Visitor Center, located at 1100 Orange Ave. (619-437-8788).  In San Diego, visit the International Visitor Information Center, located along the Embarcadero at the corner of West Broadway and Harbor Drive in downtown; the La Jolla Visitor Center, located at the corner of Herschel Avenue and Prospect Street in La Jolla; or the California Welcome Center, located at the Viejas Outlet Center in Alpine.