I’ve got one more post to share with you from my time in San Diego. I was told countless times when I announced I would be heading to CA, to be sure and go to Coronado Island, home of the well-known Hotel Del. My Birmingham friend, Janice, is a CA girl and told me all about it before I left. So I knew I could not miss this one!
Another sweet Birmingham friend who I met up with at BlogHer 11, Heather, decided to go with me and I was so glad she did. We had a fun afternoon on Coronado. 
We took a short ferry ride over to Coronado. No, that isn’t it behind us. The ferry was nothing fancy. 
Leaving San Diego behind, we took off across the water, a beautiful sky blue day with temps in the 70’s. Now that is a nice day!
Again, I can see why Californians are so proud of their state. Weather-wise they have got it made. Now real estate-wise, it’s another story. 🙂
I’m sure this bridge has a name, but I don’t know what it is. I was just enjoying the views. 
Beautiful San Diego! 
Arriving at Coronado Island. 
The ferry landing. 
This little area by the ferry was very cute, with shops and restaurants along the way. 
We couldn’t help but notice the sidewalks were stamped with seashells. How cool is that?
We stopped for a cupcake in this cute bakery. 
And then we started walking up the street towards the Hotel Del, our destination point. We were told it was about a mile. 
OK, so that’s not so bad with this view along the way. Cute and adorable houses. I can definitely like this walk! 
These 2 cuties were inside one of the gates. Mr. Basset Hound wasn’t having any part of us. 
He let me know that we were not welcome in his yard. 
There were so many different architectural styles to look at. I can see why this would be a popular place to live. I’m sure it is sky high in pricing though. 
Beautiful! 
Citrus trees in the yards. 
Loved this one!
And this one! Hard to pick a fave. 
Oh wait! It might be this gray one with the pink Crepe Myrtle out front.
Check out the bark on these trees. We don’t have nothin’ like that in Georgia! 
Wait! This could be my fave! 
Oh, this tree was so pretty stretching up to the blue sky. 
This one was so colorful! 
We finally got to the heart of this area, right in front of the Hotel Del. There was plenty of activity going on, lots of restaurants and shops to choose from. 
Finally, we reached our destination and saw it in all it’s glory! Yes, indeed, the Hotel Del is breath-taking. Established in 1888, it looks like a vintage gem from old Hollywood. I can just imagine all the celebrities who have come through this stately hotel.
Isn’t it gorgeous? 
It was such a beautiful blue sky day, my camera was busy taking pics of this majestic beauty.
The massive Victorian-turreted Hotel Del, is where Edward VIII (then Prince of Wales) first met Mrs Simpson (then a Coronado housewife) in 1920 and where Some Like It Hot was filmed in 1958, posing as a Miami Beach hotel.
Gorge! 
Looking out to the beach. 
And back to the hotel from the beach. There was plenty of activity going on around here. 
Just lovely. 
We walked around to the front entrance to see inside.
And had someone snap pics for us. 
This place is something else! 
Inside was a glorius chandelier and all the woodwork was amazing. 
This is all we managed to see inside, but it was very impressive.
Out in the courtyard, a party was going on. That looks like fun! 
We had to hurry back to catch the last ferry back, but stopped in at a neat Italian restaurant, La Terrazza, and had a bite to eat. Cheese ravioli for me and it was delish! 
Waiting for the ferry, dusk fell. 
How beautiful San Diego looks at night.
Wow, I certainly enjoyed my trip to Coronado Island. What a treat and I’m so glad I managed to fit it in my whirlwind schedule to BlogHer11! It was so worth taking the time to go over and see it in person.
Have you been to Coronado Island before and the Hotel Del?
I’ve got 2 giveaways to announce today! First, the winner of the Saturated Colors $50 giveaway is Andi T!
If you’d like to order from Saturated Colors & get a 10% discount, use this code from now until September 30th: SoHo10
And the winner of the Matthew Mead bookazine, Autumn with Matthew Mead is: Cass at That Old House
Congrats, ladies! I have emailed you and will wait to hear back from you both.
So glad you enjoyed your trip to my hometown! I live about 2 hours north now, but I think a weekend trip is overdue!
Some friends of ours have a painting of the Hotel in their living room. It is where they spent their honeymoon. Loved all the pictures of the island.
One of my very favorite places! I love San Diego and especially Coronado. We were there for our 19th anniversary. The hotel is gorgeous – I have a picture of my husband and me right by that same sign and I’ve seen some of those same houses.
It’s where my husband and I went on our first date in August 19, 1994.
Vow ! everything looks perfect…I can’t wait to go to San Diego!!
love your blog– starting it “on a whim” has turned out to be a great decision I’m sure! It sounds like you have overcome some challenges… I’m so glad you chose to make lemonade out of those lemons! Keep it up… and keep the great work on the blog up as well!”
My husband and I made a trip to San Diego a few years ago. Love the area and like to stay in La Jolla as well. Spent a day at the Hotel Coronado touring and having lunch. Absolutely beautiful! We also went to the world reknown San Diego Zoo. Better than I could have imagined! Great place to visit! Thanks for the pictures and memories!
Breathtaking! I’ve never been but would LOVE to some day!
Hi Rhoda!
First — loved the tour of Coronado — it’s beautiful. We have a daughter in California and this area is on our list to visit the next time we go to see her. Gorgeous! Was there any good shopping? 🙂
And THANK YOU for the Matthew Mead bookazine! I am so excited, and can’t wait to share it with my readers, too. Woo-hoo! I just got home from hurricane-proofing our beach house and was delighted to find your message — made the long drive home through New York just a distant memory!
Best wishes, and thanks again — Cass
What a wonderful place! I’ve been to San Diego several times, but never to Coronado. I’ll make sure I go next time!
Take care,
Lori
We live in Palm Desert (near Palm Springs) and it gets HOT here in the desert. Today we expect to break a record and get to 119 degrees. Yes it is a dry heat but I stay inside and blog 🙂
My husband still works in San Diego and so when it gets this hot I usually go stay with him for the week. I love “the Del” and there is dancing on the terrace in the late afternoon and evenings.
Aren’t the cottages on Coronado so charming… but I hate the traffic.
I bet you will be back 😉
xoxo Bunny Jean
Home to Wednesday’s Bunny Hop Party!
Photos like this make me realize how much I miss San Diego county. It’s so beautiful and clean!
Thank you for the trip back to Coronado. I grew up in San Diego and The Del is where I got engaged to my sailor husband. I haven’t been back there in years but it looks just how I remember it.
I am delighted that you and your guest had such a wonderful time in Coronado! I want to commend you for taking it all in such grand style, ferrying over and walking the Island. I enjoyed looking at Coronado through your eyes (and pictures!)
I hope you will be able to visit again soon,
Casey Tanaka
Mayor of Coronado
I live in San Diego and the Hotel Del is a favorite place to take people who come to visit. Wish my husband and I could live on that island because it is so charming. We visit each Christmas to view their spectacular Christmas tree in the lobby. And we usher for a theater on the island so go there several times a year! And what can I say, we live in “paradise” when it comes to the weather of San Diego….don’t ever want to leave!
I really enjoyed all these pictures. It looks like you had a great time. My favorite pictures were all the houses you got to see along the way. They look so inviting. Wouldn’t it be fun to be able to see inside each one of those. Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
What a beautiful place. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Rhoda
So glad you enjoyed my city. That bridge is simply called the Coronado Bridge and it connects Coronado to downtown San Diego. While it is called Coronado Island, it is actually connected to the mainland by a long strip of land where the Navy Seals train etc but the bridge makes the trip faster.
The house with the citrus trees actually belonged to my best friend. She sold it about 3 years ago for just under a million dollars if you were wondering what property goes for in Coronado.
Hope you come back to visit soon and, if so, let me know and I will really show you around!
I lived in Coronado from 1952-55 while in high school. We had our high school proms at the Hotel del in a circular ballroom. I visited Coronado 2 years ago–54 years later–and found the two homes we rented while living there are still there. One was on I Avenue; the other was on Margarita. My father was a naval officer stationed in San Diego. Every morning Mother drove him to catch a Navy launch (boat) down near the ferry. We loved taking the ferry back and forth to San Diego to shop and tour the area. Coronado is more beautiful than ever and I was thrilled they renovated our Village Theater where we all met to see the latest movies. My happiest memories are of living in Coronado!
–Becky Dobbins Hudson
The bridge is commonly known at the Coronado Bay Bridge or just the Coronado Bridge. Did you do any shopping at the Del? I usually make it a habit to buy something from the jewelry store called the Del Coronado Jewels but didn’t this year because I really didn’t need any more. I have a beautiful rhinestone brooch of a crown I bought there because Coronado means crown.
I checked real estate prices and you can buy a 500 to 100 sq ft condo for around half a million. You can just imagine what a single family house would be.
This year we spent lots of time driving around just looking at houses. There is one street along which I love to drive because of the beautiful hydrangeas growing in one yard.
I used to go to Coronado at least once a week for work when I worked as an Engineer for the Navy. My high school did a senior brunch there and it was beautiful. Thanks for sharing the pictures.
My husband and I went there right at Christmas after my son Graham was born for a little getaway. Our room was small but so nice, very period with the black and white tiled bathroom, etc. Wish you could have seen more of the inside like the ballroom, it’s just fantastic! And the Christmas tree they put up – WOW!