Dozen Distinctive Destinations
Coronado, CA
Year Listed: 2003
When it comes to prized locations, it's hard to beat Coronado, a charming seaside village nestled on an island between the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay. Coronado came to life when two developers purchased the site in 1886, envisioning the creation of a world-class resort. Just 11 months after breaking ground, their opulent Victorian dream, the Hotel del Coronado, opened. Celebrated visitors to "The Del," now one of the National Trust's Historic Hotels of America, have included Charles Lindbergh, Frank Sinatra, and the cast -- including Marilyn Monroe -- of the classic comedy Some Like It Hot. The village won the National Trust's Great American Main Street Award and boasts more than 85 well-preserved historical sites - including the house where Frank Baum wrote part of his Wizard of Oz series and the cottage where Wallis Simpson reportedly met Edward, Prince of Wales. Coronado's fine white sands have been named to numerous "Top Ten Beaches" lists, and visitors to this recreational paradise can enjoy everything from kayaking and sailing to biking and tooling about in a classic surrey with fringe on top. With a king's ransom of history and natural beauty on view, it's easy to see why Coronado is called the Crown City.
