The Heart of Coronado Island

Hollywood Glamour at the Hotel Del Coronado

When you think of old Hollywood glamour you might think of Beverley Hills, Rodeo Drive and LA in general.  Not me.  When I think of old Hollywood glamour I think of Coronado Island.  Specifically, I think of Hotel Del Coronado where Some Like it Hot was filmed with Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemon.

The Hotel Del Coronado, or as we natives in our laziness like to call it, The Hotel Del, is still just as luxurious and glamorous now as it was when Marilyn walked through it's lobby.  It still has the impressive and gorgeous wood panelled lobby, grand dining rooms and old elevator that add so much charm to the movie.  The Hotel Del boasts an impressive connection to old Hollywood, both in filming and the many celebrities that have stayed there through the years, including Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.

You can read all about the hotel's Hollywood connection here, for more films and stars that have passed through the doors of this iconic building.  You may even be surprised by the all the famous names you will find.

Coronado Island's Many Attractions

Coronado Bridge to San Diego

If you happen to be in San Diego with an extra day for wandering, you just might want to spend it on Coronado Island.  Cross the iconic Coronado Bridge, watch sailboats coming and going underneath it, relax in Bayview Park, or build sand castles on the beach.

There are charming little shops on the main streets of Coronado Island that are great for wandering through on a warm day with the ocean breeze.  Many of them are housed in buildings that boast charming architecture such as this old bank building.

Cute little house on Coronado Island

If you are interested in more history you can visit the tiny museum that talks about the history of Coronado Island and includes information about The Hotel Del and interesting tidbits about the area, such as the price you would be paid for every gopher dead or alive.  It reads like a fiction.  A quick inspection of any land in the San Diego area will tell you how spectacularly that effort failed.  But it's an amusing tribute to the enduring annoyance of the little pests.  And, if you find this quirky subject fascinating you might be interested in this article on Coronado's history with pests.

If you're interested in a more active day, you can rent bicycles to ride around or even a catamaran for a few hours of sailing.  Of course that only scratches the surface of all the water sports available.  One can find plenty of places for playing in the water; be it swimming, kayaking, canoeing or even a gondola ride.  Yes.  I bet you didn't know that.  And if you happen to find yourself at a loss for things to do on Coronado the Coronado Visitor's is here to help with a list of things to do.

And naturally, there is a historical tour of the island's iconic Hotel Del Coronado.  So, whether you decide to simply wander the island for the afternoon or splurge and stay in the Hotel Del itself on your vacation, you should, at the very least, wander through its lobby and courtyard on your way to the beach.  This is free and well worth the time.  You can still feel all the Hollywood charm in the air of the beautiful old place.

The Heart of Coronado Island - Hotel Del Coronado

Hotel Del Coronado

If you happen to be a fan of old movies, or the comedy Some Like it Hot, you will especially enjoy the visit.  I would advise watching the film before your visit and then you can really picture Tony Curtis pretending to be the millionaire of the Shell Oil company as he scales the balconies of The Hotel Del in his effort to woo Marilyn Monroe.  And if you go out to the beach you can still rent the little cabana chairs that Tony Curtis' character the Shell Oil millionaire sat in to read his paper on the beach.

Everywhere you turn on Coronado Island you find something beautiful.  Whether it's the beach, the bridge, or the charming shops you seem to find a leisurely sort of luxury everywhere.  But somehow, regardless of my agenda or plans, if I'm on Coronado I'm always drawn to the Hotel Del.  To me The Hotel Del Coronado is the heart of the island.  From it's towers and captivating Victorian beach resort elegance to it's kitchen gardens and perfect beach side views, the Hotel Del Coronado makes me want to linger.  

The Hotel Del Coronado looks like it hasn't aged a day since it opened in all it's luxury in 1888.  It comes complete with a history of tent cities, ghosts, and of course all that Hollywood magic.

So if you find yourself on Coronado, take a few minutes to wander through the Hotel Del Coronado and down to the beach.  Think of all the celebrities that have gone before you and just think, you are now part of a long line of visitors drawn to Coronado by it's beauty, whether and history.  And if you happen to come along around Valentine's Day you'll see that the heart of the old hotel celebrates love and history and it's place in the heart of Coronado.

Safe travels,
The Madder Hatter