Perched at the very tip of the Point Loma peninsula, Cabrillo National Monument celebrates Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo’s 1542 landing — the first European expedition to the West Coast — with one of the most spectacular panoramas in California.
From the monument grounds you can see the San Diego skyline, the bay, the Coronado Bridge and, on clear days, Mexico’s Coronado Islands. Explore the restored 1855 Old Point Loma Lighthouse, walk the two-mile Bayside Trail, and in winter and spring scramble down to the tide pools, among the best-protected on the West Coast.
It is ideal for view-chasers, lighthouse fans and families: December through March is prime gray-whale watching season from the Whale Overlook. Practical tip: there is a per-vehicle entrance fee (federal park pass accepted), and the tide pools are best at low tide — check a tide chart before you go.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Blervis
