Cabrillo National Monument

San Diego, CA
Print Leave a comment

Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego California

Description

Cabrillo National Monument gives you the most amazing feeling of being on top of the world! Stand on the observation decks overlooking the ocean and San Diego Bay and feel the wind in your hair. Little sailboats way below you glide by. The blue-green water eases your cares. The wide-open spaces cure you of the claustrophobic feeling crowded San Diego brings. Hills covered in native plants spread out on all sides of you. A little lighthouse built almost more for aesthetic beauty than practicality sits atop a hill. And the marvelous white Cabrillo statue stands high on another hill.
There's plenty of walking to be done at Cabrillo National Monument. Bring a stroller if you have a lazy kid! From the parking lot, walk to the bookstore and visitor center, and enjoy the views of San Diego Bay and Coronado Beach from the sunny observation deck. Sit with your legs dangling over the edge and snuggle with your lover. Next walk to the regal statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the first European to set foot on the West Coast. When he came here in 1542 he was searching for a mythical channel between the Pacific and Atlantic that was said to lie north of Mexico. His sculpted facial features and proud stance are wonderfully done.
Walk past flowers galore to the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, built in 1855. This sweet white lighthouse decorated inside in blue will delight you. Each room has been redecorated with Victorian furnishings. Here, the lightkeeper's family had to find creative ways to entertain themselves. Kids will enjoy seeing the musical instruments, crafts, and games that the children in the lighthouse used to play. The winding stairs are fun for kids to peer up, and to climb. The seaview out the windows must have been lovely to live daily with.
There's a military history museum, as well as bunkers along the trails. During World Wars I and II, the military painted Old Point Loma Lighthouse olive green and used it as a command post and radio station.
A 2-mile hilly hike along the Bayside Trail offers views and signs posted identifying the native flowers and shrubs. The Whale Overlook is a good spot to see California gray whales in January and February as they travel between Alaska and Baja California.
On your drive out, take Cabrillo Road to the left and it will take you down to lookout points and tidepools. The hills covered in shrubs and flowers are a joy as you drive down. Rows of palms surround the newer, more practical Point Loma Lighthouse at the bottom, built in 1891. This lighthouse was built because the old lighthouse was often shrouded in fog and was not equipped for foul weather because it was built without a foghorn! The poor lighthouse keeper had to walk the rocky shore firing gunshots into the air on misty nights to warn ships! Parking areas allow you to get out and take in the ocean air while you watch the tall grasses sway with the sea behind. Adventurous souls can walk down short trails and stand on the rock ledges near the sea spray.
Come in September for the Cabrillo Festival when there is a living history camp with 16th century Spanish soldiers and sailors and a reenactment of Cabrillo's landing at San Diego Bay. There is also Portuguese folk dancing, Spanish food, Native American crafts, and Kumeyaay basket weaving.
While you're at Point Loma, take a moment to drive along Sunset Cliffs, stopping to see the surfers at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park.

[continued...]

Photo Gallery

Click on photo to see large version

You're on top of the world!	Watch the sailboats leaving San Diego Bay.	San Diego is filled with wildflowers!
To be so high above the blue-green water is a delight.	A ship heading out to sea, with Coronado Beach behind. See the Coronado Bridge on the upper right.	Observation deck.
The limestone statue of explorer Cabrillo. I love it!	The Old Point Loma Lighthouse, built in Cape-Cod style.	The blue spiral stairs in the lighthouse.
A photographer peeps his head in to take a photo of the spiral stairs.	One of the children's bedrooms on the upper level of the lighthouse- what a view!	White picket fence and dreamy views, at the lighthouse.
The pathway to the lighthouse, surrounded by flowers.	The wonderful hills you pass as you drive down to the tidepools and lookout points.	Ocean view from the lookout point at the bottom of Cabrillo Rd.
Grasses and cactus beside the sea, at the lookout point at the bottom of Cabrillo Road.	People standing on the rocks near the lookout point. See the new lighthouse in the upper left corner.	Pretty sight from one of the lookout points.

Directions

Cabrillo National Monument is at the tip of Point Loma. Cost is $5 per car.

From Highway 5 southbound, exit at Rosecrans St and turn right on Canon Street. Turn left onto Catalina Blvd. Keep driving south on Catalina Blvd and it will lead you to the monument's entrance gate.

From Highway 5 northbound, take Pacific Highway to Barnett. Turn left on Rosecrans Street and turn right on Canon Street. Turn left onto Catalina Blvd. Keep driving south on Catalina Blvd and it will lead you to the monument's entrance gate.

From Highway 8 westbound, exit at Rosecrans Street. Turn right on Canon Street. Turn left onto Catalina Blvd. Keep driving south on Catalina Blvd and it will lead you to the monument's entrance gate.

There are restrooms at the visitor center. The visitor center and overlooks are wheelchair accessible.

This is an interactive map, you can zoom and move it.

Visitor Ratings

Overall Visitor Rating:

SEAN
07/12/2010 20:54

Whats not to like about this photo? Stunning.

Sorry comments disabled due to excessive spam.