Pacific Coast: Carlsbad to San Diego

On this trip to San Diego we stayed in the Four Seasons hotel Aviara, which was on the route from Carlsbad to San Diego. As we had the car rental, we enjoyed the experience driving the Pacific Coast Highway on daily bases. Here are our memories from this trip.

Carlsbad is a beach city north of San Diego in southern California famous for its flower fields, LEGOLAND resort and water park, surfing, and SEA LIFE Aquarium. It is about 35 miles (56 kms) north of San Diego. The drive will take you about 40 minutes if you take Interstate–5 or about an hour if you follow the coastal route, which is a lovely drive. Honestly, you could plan a terrific week in southern California by spending a night or two in different places between Los Angeles and San Diego.

An image from Carlsbad street walk An image from Carlsbad street walk An image from Carlsbad street walk An image from Carlsbad street walk
An image from Carlsbad street walk An image from Carlsbad street walk An image from Carlsbad street walk An image from Carlsbad street walk

The best southern California beach resorts reside in Carsbad. This is not a much of surprise as this quaint Ocean city is the fifth richest in the state of California. This comes in handy, especially when on a business trip. A host of factors make Carlsbad a destination location for tourists from all around the world.

An image from Carlsbad beach An image from Carlsbad beach An image from Carlsbad beach An image from Carlsbad beach

Carlsbad has what’s called a semi– Mediterranean climate, which means you can pretty much visit all year round. It gets about 12 inches (30.5 cm) of rain a year, and though it can rain any time, you're not likely to see more than a shower or two from May to October.

An image from Carlsbad beach An image from Carlsbad beach An image from Carlsbad beach An image from Carlsbad beach

San Diego

San Diego is a city on the Pacific coast of California known for its beaches, parks and warm climate. Immense Balboa Park is the site of the renowned San Diego Zoo, as well as numerous art galleries, artist studios, museums and gardens. A deep harbor is home to a large active naval fleet, with the USS Midway, an aircraft–carrier–turned–museum, open to the public.

The San Diego skyline image

With a population of over 1.3 million residents, the city is the eighth–most populous in the United States and the second– populous in California after Los Angeles. The city is located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border and is the seat of San Diego County, which has a population of nearly 3.3 million people as of 2021. San Diego is known for its mild year-round Mediterranean climate, extensive beaches and parks, its long association with the United States Navy, and its recent emergence as a healthcare and biotechnology development center.

An image from San Diego street walk An image from San Diego street walk An image from San Diego street walk An image from San Diego street walk
An image from San Diego street walk An image from San Diego street walk An image from San Diego street walk An image from San Diego street walk

The Coronado Bay Bridge is a delight to transverse. A trip across the bridge offers an excellent view of downtown San Diego and the city of Coronado.

The image of the Coronado Bay Bridge

In 1926, John D. Spreckels recommended that a bridge be built between San Diego and Coronado, but voters dismissed the plan. The U.S. Navy initially did not support a bridge that would span San Diego Bay to connect San Diego to Coronado. They feared a bridge could be collapsed by attack or an earthquake and trap the ships stationed at Naval Base San Diego. In 1951–52, the Coronado City Council initiated plans for bridge feasibility studies. By 1964 the Navy supported a bridge if there was at least 200 feet (61 m) of clearance for ships which operate out of the nearby Naval Base San Diego to pass underneath it. To achieve this clearance with a reasonable grade, the bridge length was increased by taking a curved path, rather than a more direct path to Coronado. The clearance would allow an empty oil–fired aircraft carrier to pass beneath it – it is not sufficient for Nimitz– nuclear aircraft carriers in light load condition. The principal architect was Robert Mosher. Mosher's job was to build a bridge that would provide transportation, allow ships access to the bay, and serve as an iconic landmark for San Diego. Mosher proposed a basic box and girder style bridge for the framework, with a prestressed concrete and steel deck sitting atop steel girders and supported by towers. Mosher decided to make an orthotropic roadway, which used a stiffening technique that was new to the United States; it increased the strength and resistance of the bridge. As a result, the bridge was strong and eliminated the need for additional superstructures over the deck to disperse weight. Construction on the San Diego–Coronado Bay Bridge started in February 1967 and The bridge opened to traffic on August 3, 1969, during the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the founding of San Diego.

An image from San Diego street walk An image from San Diego street walk An image from San Diego street walk An image from San Diego street walk

CoronadoCoronado is renowned for its pristine beaches, including the famous Coronado Beach and Silver Strand State Beach. These stretches of golden sand are perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and beach picnics. Coronado is home to the famous Hotel del Coronado, built in 1888 and long considered one of the world's top resorts. It has been designated as a National Historic Landmark and has hosted many notable guests, including American presidents George H. W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Gerald Ford, Lyndon B. Several celebrities lived in Coronado, including Charlie Chaplin, Dick Van Dyke, silent film star Anita Page, commercial–popcorn king Orville Redenbacher, Nick Reynolds of The Kingston Trio and Daniel Stern.

An image from San Diego street walk An image from San Diego street walk An image from San Diego street walk An image from San Diego street walk

Little Italy in Coronado is a chic, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, packed with trendy cocktail bars, brewpubs and restaurants with bustling patios. Upscale clothing boutiques, indie music venues and quaint piazzas dot the area, while the weekly Little Italy Mercato Farmers’ Market draws crowds to its mix of produce, gourmet food and craft stalls.

An image from San Diego street walk An image from San Diego street walk An image from San Diego street walk An image from San Diego street walk
My wife and I on the beach

That is all from this trip. Thank you for watching

Next: San Francisco Bay

Top