We just got back from the Coronado Beach where we went down to see the ocean as the storm front is approaching. The ocean is full of white caps and the waves are hitting the shore sideways. The worst was the sand blasting we got!
Listen to the wind in this video ~
Coronado Christmas Ornament
Look at these lovely Coronado themed Christmas ornaments I found over at Café Press. I just love this Hotel del Coronado ornament. I may even keep it out after Christmas 
We were visiting with friends before the Coronado Holiday Parade where I delighted in my friend Victoria’s Coronado themed Christmas tree. She has collected an amazing array of ornaments that all have something to do with Coronado.
Liking the concept, I started to do some searching for Coronado themed ornaments of my own. What I quickly found were these wonderful ornaments at Café Press.
Whether you live in Coronado, have visited and have fond memories or dream of coming here one day, why not head over to Café Press and choose an ornament from their Coronado Ornament Collection?
The most northern portion of the Coronado Beach is designated as “Dog Beach” ~ a delightful sandy playground for dogs. It lies at the end of Ocean Blvd. right before the back entrance to the North Island Naval Air Station. On the beach itself, there is a fence between the public portion and Naval portion of the beach.
Fence Between Coronado Dog Beach and North Island
To make the fence more festive and less threatening, a series of copper sculptures have been hung, now green from oxidation.
Dolphin Sculpture on Fence at Coronado Dog Beach
While the dogs are enjoying their freedom and playtime on the beach, their humans enjoy the spectacular views of Pt. Loma to the north, the Coronado Islands out to sea and the Hotel del Coronado to the south.
Pt. Loma as Seen from Coronado Dog Beach
I love to go there for a beach walk on Sunday mornings to watch the dogs frolicking in the waves, chasing tennis balls, rope toys, Frisbees and the like. Sometimes, when there are quite a few dogs in the water, it looks as if they’re having a surfing party!
It is a large area and so I never feel over run by the dogs. I often stop to make the acquaintance of a few of the friendly dogs making the rounds greeting dogs and people.
Nearby the entrance to the area is a water fountain for dogs and people, a hose and shower to rinse off your dog and your feet, and a public bathroom. There are plenty of scoop bags and trash cans all along the path and beach.
It is a bit of a hike in from the road to the actual beach and the sand can get hot in the summertime. You have to make sure to keep your dog leashed until you reach the beach and you must not let them go south of the drainage pipe to the people only portion of the beach. Coronado Animal Patrol maintains a zero-tolerance policy with fines up to $500 for unleashed dogs. The lifeguards are more tolerant, but will tell you to move down to Dog Beach if they find you and your dog on the main beach.
Coronado is definitely a dog friendly town from its Dog Beach to its shops along Orange Ave, many of which offer water and treats to dogs stopping by. If you get the chance, bring your dogs over for a visit, they’re sure to have a good time.
Coronado is one of the most festive places I have ever been for the Christmas Holiday Season. The conifer trees on the center median of Orange Avenue from San Diego Bay to the Hotel del Coronado are adorned with strings of lights that are lit from 7:00 pm until 11:00 pm.
The Hotel del Coronado is outlined with thousands of feet of strings of white lights that are visible coming over the bridge making it look like a castle from a fairy tale. And of course in the hotel lobby is a two-story Christmas tree with every inch beautifully covered with lights and ornaments.
The season really kicks off with the Holiday Parade on the first Friday in December. By that day, the store fronts and homes are all decorated and the entire ‘island’ is a Christmas Wonderland.
Click here for a short video of Coronado Christmas Sights.
On Christmas Day, we do our annual Christmas beach walk. Although it has been raining on and off today, for about two hours the skies cleared, the rain stopped and the sun peeked out at us and we were able to enjoy our holiday ritual.
Here is a short video of the beach this morning. Coronado Beach Christmas 2008
Wishing you, your family and friends a magical holiday season filled with love and laughter and may 2009 bring you closer to the fulfillment of your dreams.
Since moving to the San Diego area, my brother Bill has coined a phrase that he joyfully utters repeatedly, “Another day in paradise!”
That sentiment shows exactly how I feel about living in Coronado. Not a day goes by that I don’t feel very blessed and lucky to live here. Walking through the village, riding my bicycle along San Diego Bay, collecting shells on the beach while watching the dogs surf on Dog Beach – this is all a part of my life in Coronado.
And, it’s not just about the beauty here; a big part of the attraction of living here is the strong sense of community. Sure, we have thousands of tourists and visitors every year, but at its heart, Coronado is a small town with small town values. It is evident in our weekly community newspaper, The Coronado Eagle. Distributed every Wednesday, The Eagle is a free publication that keeps the locals up to date on Coronado news, events, sports, weddings, births, and deaths – all the things that happen in our daily lives.
Coronado is a “Navy” town and as such, there is also a strong sense of patriotism here. North Island is home to the Naval Air Station and in land mass encompasses more than half of the island. Many of those who currently serve or have served over the years have made Coronado their permanent home. When a ship deploys, yellow ribbons spring up all over town and when it returns the island is dotted with hand made welcome home signs.
Some of my favorite times in Coronado are during the annual special events. There is the Holiday Parade the first Friday of December, the Flower Show in April, the Summer Concert Series, the Independence Day Parade and the Halloween Open House. Participation runs high at these events and they highlight the spirit of Coronado.
