Visit the first lighthouse in San Diego at Cabrillo National Monument!Cabrillo National Monument has amazing views of San Diego's harbor and skyline, as well as Coronado and Naval Air Station North Island. On clear days, a wide expanse of the Pacific Ocean, Tijuana and Mexico's Coronado Islands are also visible. The Visitor Center is a good place to start your exploration of the park. There are exhibits, films, and ranger-guided programs which tell you the history of Cabrillo. A short walk leads to the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. This picturesque structure is restored to its 1880s appearance and presents life as it was for the lightkeepers and their families. In the adjacent Assistant Keeper's Quarters, interactive exhibits tell the story of the Lighthouses of Point Loma and, in a nearby historic military building, the exhibit “They Stood the Watch” presents the history of Fort Rosecrans. A self-guided two-mile walk through a coastal sage scrub forest begins near the Lighthouse. This trail offers views of the harbor and city of San Diego and is particularly pleasant during the spring when wildflowers bloom. It's also a quiet place to reflect and relax. A little south of the Lighthouse is the Whale Overlook. This vantage point offers pleasant views of the Pacific Ocean and the New Point Loma Lighthouse. In the winter, migrating gray whales can be seen off the coast. On the west side of the park is a small but beautiful stretch of rocky-intertidal coastline, where tide pools are accessible at low tide. It is also a wonderful place to bird watch year round, with as many as 200 bird species being seen in the area. You have to drive to get there. There is an annual Cabrillo Festival Open House held each fall on Sunday. For more information, park hours, and park fees click the link...
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