Coronado Town

Coronado Town is a great place to walk around. There's plenty of lush green and trees on the main strip of Orange Avenue, and a hip beach feel. Little breakfast places and cafes line the street. Pop into the Vons grocery store to grab a drink to take to the beach. Panera Bread is a great place to get a gourmet sandwich or salad- it is the prettiest Panera Bread I've seen, with blonde wood chairs and maritime-themed murals. Burger Lounge is fast food but has good vegetarian burgers. Clayton's Bakery (not the bistro next door on the left) is handy for picking up a chocolate croissant and heading on your way. Parakeet Cafe (not to be confused with the small juice shop near Clayton's), also a counter service cafe, has good chocolate croissants and smoothies. Their food is a little too loaded with onions. Sit and look out the big windows on the street scenes outside, while enjoying the lively parakeet wallpaper. The music is a bit jarring in the morning. There is an upstairs seating area that is quite private for working on your laptop. Next door is the smoothie section of Parakeet. Paradiso Gelato makes for a delicious treat! Fresh-baked waffle cones packed with up to four different flavors will delight your kids. Skip on Island Pasta, a tourist trap with greasy, inedible food. Better Buzz Coffee is always a very cool place. 

You can also eat at Hotel del Coronado- their pizza or salads at a little counter called Eno Market & Pizzeria make for an easy meal enjoyed outside. 
Next to Parakeet Cafe is a charming toy store called Geppetto's. Enjoy the white wood interior and stained glass windows, and choose from many sweet books and traditional toys. We shopped here twice on our vacation, loving our find: a super long ballet ribbon that one can swirl round and round.
There's a large lush park, Spreckels Park, at Orange Avenue and 7th Street, with a huge playground and grand trees. There's also a nice area where five streets meet, at Star Park and Rotary Park. This is especially fun during special events when the surrounding streets are turned pedestrian-only, as in the car show event shown above.
Orange Avenue ends north at Centennial Park, near where the ferries land. Here you'll find a surreal view of the downtown skyline and the perfect blue water. Families and lovers gather here in the evening, with blankets and pillows on the grass, to take in the inspiring view. There are lots of souvenir shops and restaurants at Coronado Ferry Center, a touristy outdoor shopping center on the water which is lit with strung lights at night. 
On the southern end of Orange Avenue is Hotel del Coronado, with a wide beach of fine white sand and kelp along the shore. There is fog here in summer but fall or spring are great times to come. The sidewalk at Ocean Blvd and the promenade in front of the hotel are popular with joggers. Ocean Blvd is pretty with its mansions and tall Norfolk pines.
The drive to Coronado Island on the San Diego-Coronado Bridge is especially fun. Kids will love it! The view of downtown San Diego is fantastic, and the curved, sleek bridge is a treat. It looks especially amazing in the early morning when the sky is orange and the bridge's night lights are still on.
For a delightful walk among the wealthy neighborhoods of Coronado Island, where you can see flowers in the gardens, varied trees, and immaculate mansions, check out Coronado Island Walk.

Directions

From Highway 5, follow the signs to the San Diego- Coronado Bridge or Highway 75. Once you've passed over the bridge, turn right or left on Orange Ave. Orange Ave is the main downtown strip. There is metered parking along the road. Parking is free on Sundays.
Panera Bread, 980 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118.
Parakeet Cafe, 1134 Orange Ave.
Clayton's Bakery (not the bistro to the left which is waiter-service and not great), 849 Orange Ave. 
Gelato Paradiso, 918 Orange Ave.
Geppetto's Toys, 1146 Orange Ave.

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