Growing up in Coronado, I didn’t appreciated living so close to the beach.  Let’s just tell it how it is...I hated the sand, how it got into every nook and cranny of the body, that it somehow always made it into my bed, the cold Pacific water and the inability to see any creature that may be lurking in the waves.  Basically, I was a brat.

Ten years ago I removed myself from Coronado to explore other cities. Now that I have returned to live in this paradise, I have come to truly appreciate the Crown City.  But I've grown up, matured (still under debate) and spent time away from a place that I always took for granted.  I sincerely (appreciate) how the norm is to wake up and be happy that the sun is almost always shining.  In short, my way of thinking...

Need to know the time? I know this may seem old school but listen for the bells.  There are two beautiful churches in Coronado that chime on the hour, every hour of every day.  I know it’s rare to not have a watch or phone to give us the time but there may be an instance where your phone has died or you left your pocket watch at home.

For centuries, the world has used clocks and sundials to know the time of day.  And this ancient tradition continues to this day.  I’m sure it seems obvious but sometimes we get used to the sounds of our town and hearing the church bells may fall into that category.  

Each church plays a little intro, giving you time to listen (no pun intended).  Once the melody is over, there will be a single “dong”...

As I’ve stated before, not every single day in Coronado is 75 degrees and sunny.  On the rare occasion that the sun isn’t shining, you may get days like today.  All of a sudden, out of nowhere, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I could smell the moisture in the air.  You know, like how you can smell when it’s rained? Looking over my shoulder towards the ocean, no more than 150 yards away, coming towards me was a thick dense fog.  

The palm trees came in and out of focus and driving over the bridge was like being in a dream.  The low fog made everything feel overcast but had an almost eerie bright light behind.  The sun was struggling to make its appearance - it was near impossible to go without sunglasses.  Days like today maybe...

I can imagine that on cloudy days such as this you might be saying to yourself, ‘is this weather beach worthy?’  You might be right.  There’s nothing better than going to the beach on a hot summer day.  But the sun is not the only thing that makes the beach so special.  

On a day like today, the marine layer casts a shadow over Coronado and the sun is hidden behind the the thick stratocumulus covered sky.  You may not be bathing in the sun but instead you can grab a blanket, get cozy and watch the waves.  Today in Coronado, the swells are reaching unusual heights of up to ten feet.  The waves here in Coronado are typically mellow.  But today, these waves are stretching to lengths that usually go unseen in the small town.  ...

Going to the beach is always a good thing to do with the family.  But if you’re anything like me and are unnerved by little ones running full speed toward the crashing waves, then perhaps you should visit the Ferry Landing.

Right next to the pier where the Coronado Ferry launches and many partake in some lax fishing, is a modest little beach.  Well, I guess it’s not technically a beach, beach.  It sits on the bay across from downtown San Diego and has sand with tiny, mellow waves.  

The kids (or adults for that matter) can still enjoy hunting for shells and crabs all while dipping their miniature toes in the water.  Also, another plus - the water is warmer than the Pacific Ocean.  It’s convenient that there are public toilets and...

Some of us may feel like New Years Eve is one of those anticlimactic occasions.  Oh, what...that’s just me? Okay, fine. But you can’t deny that there is so much pressure and organization involved in planning your festive evening.

Well, whether or not you feel the same way I do about waiting for the stroke of midnight, there is at least one out of the box idea that can make for a fun filled, relaxing, stress free night.  And that would be camping at Coronado’s beach.  

Spend your New Years night on the beach instead of spending hundreds of dollars for a table at a bar that is so cramped you can’t even order a drink. I mean, why not take advantage of living near the ocean and use it to your benefit?

Located just before the Coronado Cays on the...