Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive
San Diego, California
Tel:
(619) 557-5450
Discover 16th century exploration, 19th century lighthouses, and great military history at this historic monument. Hike through one of the last remaining remnants of coastal sage scrub habitat in the world, and do much more at Cabrillo National Monument.
Cabrillo National Monument commemorates the landing of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo at San Diego Bay in 1542, the first time that a European expedition had set foot on what later became the west coast of the United States. In addition to the monument and museum, the park offers a fantastic view of San Diego's harbor and skyline and, on clear days, a wide expanse of the Pacific Ocean, Tijuana, and Mexico's Coronado Islands are also visible. Be sure to visit the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, one of the original eight lighthouses on the West Coast, restored and refurnished to reflect what life was like in the 1800s. In the winter visitors can see migrating gray whales off the coast and the native coastal sage scrub habitat along the Bayside Trail. Visitors can also pop in at the annual Cabrillo Festival Open House, held each October on Sunday, featuring events such as Kumeyaay, Portuguese, and Mexican singing and dancing, booths with period and regional food, and children's activities. Kids can also join the Junior Ranger Program, a fun way to find out more about the park, and a chance to earn a Junior Ranger badge. If you get hungry, there are thousands of eating establishments located within the city of San Diego, ranging from fast food to casual to upscale.
To get here from Downtown San Diego, take Harbor Drive past the airport, and turn left onto Rosecrans Street, right onto Canon Street, and left onto Catalina Blvd. Follow Catalina Blvd. all the way to the end.
From Cabrillo National Monument - San Diego, California:
The park offers a superb view of San Diego's harbor and skyline. At the highest point of the park stands the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, which has been a San Diego icon since 1854. A statue and museum in the Visitor Center commemorate Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo's exploration of the coast of California. In a former army building an exhibit tells the story of the coast artillery on Point Loma. In the winter, migrating gray whales can be seen off the coast. Native coastal sage scrub habitat along the Bayside Trail offers a quiet place to reflect and relax. On the west side of the park is a small but beautiful stretch of rocky-intertidal coastline.