California dreaming: An elevated escape to Coronado
With a benevolent Mediterranean climate and plethora of exclusive experiences, San Diego is an ideal year-round destination.
By David Swanson | October 31, 2024
Offering a prime perch alongside one of the finest beaches in the U.S., the island community of Coronado serves as an ideal base for exploring San Diego. This coastal city is ripe for discovery — from wintertime whale-watching, downtown baseball games and the world-renowned San Diego Zoo to the trove of museums in Balboa Park. Here’s how to have an extraordinary visit to Coronado.
Set the stage
Situated just a mile across the bay from downtown San Diego, Beach Village at The Del, LXR Hotels & Resorts and Shore House at The Del, LXR Hotels & Resorts are located on Coronado Island within California’s grand seaside resort: Hotel del Coronado, Curio Collection by Hilton, a National Historic Landmark affectionately known as “The Del.” Beach Village is a quiet, gated community of residential-style beachfront cottages and villas replete with high-end amenities and hideaway pools, while Shore House offers an enclave of sophisticated, modern, multi-bedroom seaside villas perfect for families or those craving extra space. Each property has exclusive pool access for respective guests, is located just steps from the resort's private beach and comes with a dedicated concierge who can arrange elevated experiences, make shopping suggestions for nearby boutiques and schedule fitness classes that are exclusive to Shore House and Beach Village guests.
Dining delights
Culinary offerings are as unique and elevated as the individual enclaves themselves. Guests staying at Beach Village have exclusive access to three restaurants and lounges, including Breezes for fresh, poolside Baja-inspired fare, Ocean Club for curated California cuisine and The Beach Club, the neighborhood's seasonal beachfront lounge. Within Shore House, guest-only private dining venues include Shore House Bistro for classic flavors and Shore House Pool Lounge for savory and vegetarian-friendly fare prepared to perfection. In addition, Hotel Del Coronado offers a constellation of distinguished dining venues open to all guests, serving fresh and indulgent flavors at Sheerwater and acclaimed dining at Serẽa, where sustainable sea-to-table dishes are served in an al fresco, terraced setting. The locally sourced whole catch of the day is a fan favorite served flash fried or wood-grilled, deboned tableside and given Mediterranean flair.
Elevated experiences
San Diego offers near-perfect weather year-round, making it a great destination for active vacations in all seasons. To make the most of the California sunshine, Beach Village guests can enjoy exclusive amenities, including sand chairs and umbrellas included with their stay, or upgrade to a daybed or half-moon cabanette. The concierges at Beach Village and Shore House can also recommend unique activities, from kayaking with harmless leopard sharks and sea lions in La Jolla to paragliding over the cliffs of beautiful Torrey Pines State Reserve. Borrow a bike to meander around pancake-flat Coronado then relax and recharge at Spa & Salon at The Del. The treatment menu includes CBD and snow algae facials, plus Lomi Lomi massages and a variety of unique body treatments like the warm spiced mud wrap or lavender and seaweed body scrub.
David Swanson
A San Diego-based freelance travel writer-photographer since 1995, David Swanson has been published in more than 50 North American newspapers and dozens of magazines and websites. As a third-generation San Diegan, he grew up living the quintessential California dream: beaches at the front door, lemon trees and rosemary bushes outside the pantry and mountains and desert in the backyard. Coronado, and Hotel Del Coronado, has been a treasured escape since his childhood. Swanson's recent outlets include Virtuoso magazine, Travel + Leisure, National Geographic Traveler, AARP, the Los Angeles Times, Westways and others. He is author or co-author of 17 different travel guidebooks, most recently, “100 Things to Do in San Diego Before You Die.”
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