Guests at the historic Sofia Hotel are a short-and-sweet drive or ferry ride from one of the San Diego area’s most cherished getaways: the island (and community) of Coronado, separated from the city by San Diego Bay and joined to the mainland by the 10-mile-long “Silver Strand” isthmus.

Coronado has the stimulating slew of restaurants and shops one would expect from a longtime resort and vacation destination, but much of its charm stems from simple geography. The island offers stupendous views of the San Diego skyline, the handsome San Diego-Coronado Bridge, and the pleasant bustle of the Bay—vistas worth the trip alone.

Stunning Beaches and Parks

Coronado harbors numerous public beaches and parks that provide perfect perches for enjoying the San Diego area’s flawless Mediterranean climate.

The island’s beaches are regularly ranked among the very finest in the country. (Indeed, in 2012, “Dr. Beach”—aka Stephen P. Leatherman, director of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research—gave Coronado Beach on the island’s southwestern coast the number-one slot in his annual rating of America’s best beaches, based on water quality and safety.) They’re coveted by surfers, paddle-boarders, and swimmers—and also ideal for good old-fashioned sun-worshipping.

Silver Strand State Beach south of Coronado proper is a must-see: It straddles both sides of the isthmus, with panoramas of San Diego Bay to the immediate east and the broad Pacific rolling to the western horizon. The park includes plenty of recreational infrastructure, including ramadas and barbecue pits, as well as undeveloped beach—and the bayside waters are ideal for swimming.

Glorietta Bay Park impresses with its view of the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, which opened in 1969. Meanwhile, Centennial Park marks the site of the old ferry dock from which mainland visitors used to disembark in the days before the bridge.

While you’re tooling around Coronado, stop by little triangular Palm Park a couple of blocks from the Bay to marvel at its sublime Torrey pine.

Easy Access from the Sofia

It’s easy and quick to get to Coronado from the Sofia Hotel: The drive or ferry ride from our doorstep over the bridge to the island takes a mere 15 minutes. The views of sparkling waters and downtown San Diego as you cross the Bay are spectacular.

Spare some time for Coronado on your next visit to the Sofia. We have a strong hunch that, once you’ve savored its mica sands and vistas, you’ll make it a regular stop.

Photo Credit: JeffreyRayCoffman