With its year-round nearly idyllic climate and postcard-perfect setting, Coronado is a recreational playground with an abundance of outdoor activities for visitors. Situated between tranquil San Diego Bay and the sparkling Pacific Ocean, water enthusiasts can swim, surf, sail, kayak, stand up paddleboard and more. 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 fun and 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 popular 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 #1 spot in 2012 (www.drbeach.org). It was also named "Best Beach for Kids" by Jesetter.com (2013) and one of the "10 Best Beaches for Families" by Family Vacation Critic (2013).

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. 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 15-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 one of the most beautiful and cyclist-friendly bike routes 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.

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. 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.
  Visitors can also take surf or stand up paddleboard lessons at the Coronado Surfing Academy; rent a sailboat, power boat, jet ski, paddleboat or kayak from the onsite Action Sports Rentals (also offering water skiing, wakeboarding, sailing lessons and excursions including a sunset sail), or enjoy The Gondola Company's enchanting gondola cruise on San Diego Bay which departs 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 interactive nature tours by foot or kayak of Silver Strand State Beach's rare plants, animals and birds.
• Another recreational oasis is 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, jog 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 stand up paddleboarding, along with a daily summer 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 nearby Coronado Boathouse on Glorietta Bay; surf or stand up paddleboard lessons by the resort's skilled instructors, and sunset sailing excursions from 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. The Inn's new "Golf Play & Stay" package includes one round of golf and a golf cart at the nearby Coronado Golf Course.

JOY IN THE JOURNEY

Getting to Coronado is half the fun - either by water aboard a boat, water taxi or the Coronado 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 begins as they can explore the island by bike, Segway, gondola or even seaplane!

• 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 Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa; Bikes and Beyond at the Coronado Ferry Landing; PeDels at the Hotel del Coronado; Pedego Electric Bikes on First St., and Cruiser King, Little Sam's Island & Beach Fun and Holland's Bicycles, all along Orange Ave. Guests can also enjoy a Coronado Biking Adventure with Where You Want To Be Tours or a 2-hour guided Coronado Cruise bicycle tour of the island's must-see sights.
• Guests can sit back and unwind on relaxing gondola rides on San Diego Bay with The Gondola Company, featuring authentic Venetian gondolas that embark year-round from the Coronado Cays and Loews Coronado Bay Resort.
• For high-flying fun, San Diego Seaplanes launch from San Diego Bay by the Coronado Ferry Landing, giving passengers beautiful bird-eye views of Coronado Island and an aerial tour of sights along the bay.
• Eco-friendly Segway of Coronado offers rentals and unique Electro-Glide Tours of the island.

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 a variety of offerings that appeal to a wide range of sporting enthusiasts.

• The new Coronado Kayak Tour - San Diego's only urban kayak adventure - launches from the calm waters of the Coronado Ferry Landing, offerings guests unparalleled views of the island while paddling beneath the Coronado Bridge to Glorietta Bay.
• Coronado 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 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. www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=654
• 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 Pacific shoreline.

WALKER'S PARADISE

Coronado's navigable streets and flat topography make it easy for guests to explore the island by foot. 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 Monday, Wednesday and Friday and at 2 p.m. on Saturday and and Sunday. Cost is $15 per person; children under 12 are free.
  The Coronado Heritage Walk, a promenade through the past where guests learn about famous residents, buildings and architectural sites, is conducted at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Cost is $10 per person.
• Coronado Touring offers guided historic walking tours of downtown Coronado and historic homes that give the "Crown City" its unique character and magical quality. The tour includes the Duchess of Windsor cottage and home of author L. Frank Baum, where he wrote three of his famous "Wizard of Oz" books. Tours depart at 11 a.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from the Glorietta Bay Inn. Cost is $12 per person; children under three are free.

PARK IT

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

• Located in the center of town on Orange Avenue between Sixth and Seventh 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.
• The quaint Shoreline Park on First Street (cross street I Ave.) is a quiet secluded spot shaded by trees for joggers and bicyclists to rest on benches overlooking San Diego Bay, downtown San Diego and U.S. Navy ships at NAS North Island.

Happiness is calling in Coronado. For more information on Coronado, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority's website, www.visitcoronado.org, download the free Coronado app at http://qr.coronadotourismdistrict.org or call (619) 236-1212.

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