It’s a sunny day in San Diego and I want to go out and explore, so I end up at the Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma. There are many different things to do – visit the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, marine life at the tide pools, walk along trails that overlook the bayside, watch for gray whales, and visit Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s monument that overlooks the San Diego bay. For only a $5 parking fee, you have something to do for the entire day; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the exception of the tide pools closing at 4:30 p.m.
With so much history in one spot, it’s hard to determine just where to begin my adventures. I started at the tide pools where I watched the waves come crashing against the rocky cliffs. There, I was able to take a look at the ocean’s ecosystem that lies along the San Diego coast. During low tide, you’re able to see the creatures of the ocean that get pushed ashore into the rocky depressions. I then ventured along the bayside trails that follow an old U.S. Army roadway through the coastal Mediterranean ecotype. After visiting the tide pools and taking a walk on the bayside trails, I went to view the Old Point Loma Lighthouse where I felt as if I was walking into the mid-1800s. This lighthouse was home to Robert Israel and wife Maria, Cabrillo’s lighthouse keeper for more than 20 years. There’s a narrow spiral staircase that allows you take a look at the different rooms inside, and all the way to the lantern at the top. While I did not see any gray whales during my visit, gray whales pass Point Loma on their yearly round-trip migration of 12,000 miles. During the spring whales head north and then return to Baja California Sur bays in the fall to mate. The best time to view these gray whales is during January and February (but the ocean view is always a pleasurable sight). Finally, I visited the Cabrillo monument, which has one of the best views of San Diego bay and Coronado. Cabrillo was the first European to set foot on the West Coast when he came to the Americas in 1510: and it’s no wonder why he chose to settle in San Diego bay; it’s the heart of the town.
“Summer Fun” Cabrillo National Monument and tide pools Where: 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive Contact: www.nps.gov/cabr or (619) 557-5450 Bianca Weinstein is the social media reporter for sdnews.com. This spring and summer she will be exploring places on the coast and trying out fun things to do for locals and visitors. Contact her at [email protected].