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In the 1880s, two wealthy businessmen, Elisha Babcock, Jr. and Hampton Story, purchased Coronado and set out to build a town. They sold lots, laid streets, and constructed the landmark Hotel del Coronado (see Hotel del Coronado). John D. Spreckels (see John D. Spreckels (1853–1926)) soon bought them out and turned Coronado into a haven for old-money gentry. The military permanently took over much of the peninsula during World War I. The old mansions, resorts, and military base exist harmoniously and give Coronado its unique identity (see Coronado).

Over one million people a year visit the Cabrillo National Monument at Point Loma. The views are simply mesmerizing, and the peninsula ends at the meeting point of the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay. Half the peninsula is occupied by the military, which has prevented over-development. Spend time at Sunset Cliffs Park to experience the wind and sea and perhaps spot a whale (see Point Loma).

During the days of Prohibition, Tijuana used to be the destination of choice for the Hollywood elite and their followers, and for alcohol and gambling. The palatial, Moorish-designed Agua Caliente Casino & Spa (see Agua Caliente Racetrack) was so popular that it boasted its own landing airstrip for the private planes of the wealthy. Fortunes fell when Mexico declared casino gambling illegal in 1935. US Navy servicemen soon added to Tijuana’s reputation at the bars on Avenida Revolución, but nowadays, the city has cleaned up its image considerably. Take the time and you’ll find culture and great food in Mexico’s fourth largest city (see Tijuana).

Unconventional and laid back, OB, as it’s locally known, still has a somewhat hippie-like feel from the 1970s. On Newport Avenue, its main thoroughfare, you can still find a few original head shops. But OB is mainly about the beach: on any day of the year, surfers are next to the pier waiting for the next swell; volleyball players are spiking balls over the net; and dogs and their owners are running freely on Dog Beach (see Dog Beach).

No matter where you are in San Diego, look up and you’ll see a jet soaring dramatically past the downtown high-rises on its final approach to Lindbergh Field (see Lindbergh Field) as locals call the airport. A 100 years ago, this area was a muddy wasteland that proved to be an ideal spot for budding inventors and pilots to try out their latest machines. In 1927, Ryan Aviation (see World War II) designed, produced, and tested on the beach the Spirit of St. Louis, the historic plane that Charles Lindbergh piloted solo across the Atlantic.

Not really an island but a peninsula that juts out into San Diego Bay from Point Loma, the “island” is home to thousands of pleasure boats and a park that stretches along its length. In the 1950s, the city dredged millions of tons of sand and mud from the bay onto a sandbar to create land for marinas and hotels. A number of hotels still have hints of Polynesian themes, a popular style at the time. At the entrance to Shelter Island is the San Diego Yacht Club, the three-time host of the prestigious America’s Cup sailing race.

Created from 3.5 million tons of mud scooped from the bottom of San Diego Bay, this recreational island is another peninsula that extends into the bay south from the airport. Hotels, restaurants, and marinas take advantage of the gorgeous views across the bay of downtown, Point Loma, and Coronado. Facing the island along the waterfront is Spanish Landing Park, which commemorates the 1769 meeting of the sea and land expeditions of Gaspar de Portolá and Junípero Serra (see Mission San Diego de Alcalá) which permanently brought the Spanish to California.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the quaint Spanish-Colonial buildings were designed by Bertram Goodhue, architect of several buildings for the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park (see Balboa Park). The Command Museum displays the history and traditions of the Marine Corps in Southern California and the wars in which they fought. Exhibits include photos, paintings, training films, weapons, and a World War II ambulance and jeep.

As the endangered Western snowy plover seeks a place in which to lay her fragile eggs, the green-and-white vehicles of the US Border Patrol swoop down hillsides, lights blazing, in search of the illegal immigrant. An enormous, rusty, corrugated metal fence, which separates the US and Mexico, slices through the park before plunging into the sea. This southern part of the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve (see Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve) attracts nature lovers who come to hike, ride horses, picnic on the beach, and birdwatch. On the Mexican side of the fence is a lively Mexican community and bullring (see Border Field State Park).

The center is located in the Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, one of the few salt marshes left on the Pacific Coast. Rent some binoculars and climb to an observation deck to see how many of the 200 bird species that inhabit the refuge you can spot. Or you can also take a self- or ranger-guided tour along interpretative trails. Children will enjoy petting bat rays and leopard sharks. The parking lot is located near the Baysite/E Street Trolley Station; a free shuttle will take you to the center.