Point Loma, San Diego

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Point Loma is often overlooked by visitors to San Diego. It is the peninsula at the northwest end of the San Diego bay.

Along this piece of land there are mostly residentual areas, but also there is the Cabrillo National Monument, marking the place Juan Rodrigues Cabrillo first landed and discovered what we know as San Diego. This National monument includes the original lighthouse--which didn't work wll because it was too high and our traditional "marine layer" obscurred it's light--here you'll find a film auditorium, a large Park Headquarters offering books, flags and many other souvenirs for purchase.

Outside, the Headquarters there is a broad viewing deck and not only can you see the lay of the bay and surrounding land, information boards which identify the different types of boats, and birds to be seen on the bay. One of these boards even gives names to all the hill and mountian peaks in view. There is an entrance fee which includes parking and can be used for the whole week.

Below the Monument on the west side of the peninsula, a road leads down to the present, working lighthouse and the fascinating tide pools. This is a great place to take kids in the summer--or even winter if you are brave--where they'd have a chance of finding sea life caught in the pools left during low tide.

For more information see my Cabrillo National Monument page.

Fort Rosecrans Cemetery is the Navy's western version of Arlington. I've never searched for famous names here--it is my dad, I go to visit--but the Cemetery is open to the public, it is a great place to meditate and the views are awesome. For more information see my Fort Rosecrans page.

Shelter Island is at the foot of Point Loma. It is very similar to Harbor Island, as it too was created as a tourist accommodation center, full of hotels and restaurants. The Island Prime, Humphreys, a couple of my favorite reasaurants can be found here. There are lots of others to choose from. I'll mention that on Shelter Island is a small fishing pier and a boat launch.

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Point Loma Light House was
one of the original 8 West Coast
lighthouses built in 1855 ....

The light had only a short life because
the seemingly good location concealed
a serious flaw: fog and low clouds often
obscured the beam.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On March 23, 1891 the keeper extinguished the lamp for the last time.

4 more images

Point Loma Light House was
one of the original 8 West Coast
lighthouses built in 1855 ....

The light had only a short life because
the seemingly good location concealed
a serious flaw: fog and low clouds often
obscured the beam.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On March 23, 1891 the keeper extinguished the lamp for the last time.

4 more images

Point Loma Light House was
one of the original 8 West Coast
lighthouses built in 1855 ....

The light had only a short life because
the seemingly good location concealed
a serious flaw: fog and low clouds often
obscured the beam.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On March 23, 1891 the keeper extinguished the lamp for the last time.

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If visiting Cabrillo National Monument, don't forget to stop and visit the Tidepool area as well. On the western side of Point Loma lies a small rocky intertidal zone. During periods of low tide, pools form along this shore and you can see various creatures including anemones. We have never seen anything I guess because we don't come at the right times,but that is ok there are plenty of walking paths along the rocky ocean cliffs here and the sunsets are incredible.

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Point Loma separates San Diego Bay from the Pacific Ocean, so the views (on a clear day) are incredible from this vantage point. Point Loma was first discovered by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo on September 28, 1542. The iconic San Diego Point Loma lighthouse was completed in 1854 and first lit on November 15,1855. The lighthouse was used until 1891. You can tour both the lighthouse and the assistant lighthouse keepers quarters.The lighthouse has several rooms to view and where you can try and imagine what it was like to live in and raise your children here at Point Loma as a lighthouse keeper.
There are several wide walking paths and as I said before on a clear day you can see all the way to Mexico, so the views are spectacular from above. The Point Loma lighthouse is within walking distance to the Cabrillo National Monument and a short drive to the Tidepools.

Point Loma is an area which overlooks the main San Diego district. Located here is an historic lighthouse and a modern lighthouse. The area is taken care of by the National Parks Service which looks after the Cabrillo National Monument. There is a visitor center here as well as access to the old lighthouse. The walk down to the new lighthouse is also very pleasant.

Extending south into the Pacific Ocean and curving along San Diego Bay is Point Loma peninsula, the land first discovered by Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo (statue in picture), while sailing for Spain in 1542. Atop Point Loma stand the Cabrillo National Monument and Old Point Loma lighthouse, both offering impressive, panoramic views of San Diego Bay, Shelter Island, Harbor Island, Coronado, the Embarcadero and downtown San Diego.

If you have a couple of hours, take a ride to Point Loma. You will have a spectacular view of San Diego and can get a little history of the Point Loma Lighthouse. There is a small outbuilding that has recordings and historical information about the effect on the local military and townspeople when Pearl Harbor was bombed.

Shelter Island is a small island just of point Loma on the bay side, it has a marina, numerous hotels and restaurants. Its includes this Chinese Bell and also great views across the bay to downtown San Diego