Coronado remained a barren peninsula and its chief population was jack rabbits until the island was purchased in 1885 by Elisha S. Babcock, Jr. and Hampton L. Storey. They rowed over to the island from San Diego to hunt rabbits and decided it would be an ideal setting for a luxurious resort hotel. With the railroad scheduled to reach San Diego, they believed Easterners looking for a more moderate climate would flock to the new hotel.
The Hotel del Coronado opened in 1888 and remains Coronado’s most identifiable landmark today. The hotel is a designated National Historical Landmark.
What I like about the interior is that The Del is furnished contemporary luxury, in an enchanting Victorian atmosphere.
For those who have and adventurous streak and love the wild life, there are actually many species of reptiles and amphibians found on this islands. The best known is the Coronado rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus caliginis), which is a smaller species from the one found on the mainland. There is also the Coronado snake, which feeds off birds’ eggs, the Coronado lizard, which is found in all four islands, and the tree salamanders which live on the three biggest islands. Plated lizards are found on the south and central islands. Scary for me because I dislike reptiles but the caretakers tell me that the hotel grounds are really safe!
Apart from creepy crawlies, there are also several colonies of birds like seagulls, pelicans, petrels, and ducks. The Coronado Islands have the largest known colony of the rare Xantus’s murrelet!
And as we watched the marvelous sunset on one side,
we saw the moon, coming up on the other,
..we think we might never want to leave.
The Dell is certainly a top 5 on my list of cool hotels to stay at in California, for sure! I highly recommend the place if you ever decided to visit that part of the world.
Add: Hotel del Coronado, 1500 Orange Avenue Coronado, CA 92118 Phone Numbers (619)-435-6611 (619)-435-6611
Mei, you should, come to Bali again & visit Geger Beach,in Nusa Dua.The sand is white & thick, so thick that crazy committee decided to suck it up a bit & moved it over Kuta Beach for Asian Beach Games 2008 – silly! Story here http://www.beeamazing.com/a-me-time-at-geger-beach-nusa-dua/comment-page-1/#comment-3064
thank u I must!! LOL – cannot just wait to hang out with you laaa 😛
You know, I stayed here when my family went on holiday to San Diego a LOOONG time ago. I think I was 14 years old. I remember the hotel – it was very special, and the beach was very Baywatch. I hope I have a chance to visit it again.
hi david! thank u for your comment.. yes i love this place.. wow, to think you were there ages before me.. how cool is that? 🙂
When did you go to this place? You are going to the USA pretty soon right?
wooo look at the sand!!! Beautiful! Seems like just right place for me! lol 😀
Juno.
Cantik, cantik, cantik… 🙂
thank u thank u thank u 😛
Great post. Feel free to join eCoronado.com and add the post or any photos to our Coronado FAN site. Great photos! — Steve
great, cheers steve:)