Day Three — Coronado
Day Three
Take the ferry — not the bridge. The 15-minute crossing from Broadway Pier is $8 each way (flagshipsd.com) and the bay views are spectacular. Park at 1201 1st St, Coronado, and you're steps from everything. Day 3 is the most cinematic day of your entire trip: Victorian grandeur at the Hotel del, the sparkling mica-sand beach that literally glitters, and Orange Avenue lined with the best cafés and restaurants you didn't know you needed.
Day 3 Essentials
Six Coronado experiences that are simply non-negotiable. Trust me on all of them.
The Coronado Ferry is $8 each way from Broadway Pier — book at flagshipsd.com. Runs every hour. The 15-minute crossing with the city skyline at your back is the best $8 you'll spend all trip.
If you're driving over the bridge instead, park at 1201 1st St — it's central to everything, a short walk to Orange Ave, Tartine, and the Ferry Landing area. Free for the first 90 minutes.
Coronado Beach sand contains natural mica particles that make it shimmer gold in the sunlight — it's not a filter or a trick. Photograph it in the afternoon light for the full effect.
Walk to the Ferry Landing Marketplace grassy area before your return crossing. The view of the downtown skyline from here at golden hour is the single best skyline shot in all of San Diego.
Additional Things to Explore