Coronado Island - Once More

After our cruise we had planned to drive directly to Phoenix, however, we decided that another week in Coronado was in order. Especially since my new friend, Jim Callaway, Director of Base Housing on Coronado, whom I had met during our previous stay on Coronado, had promised us accomodations in the DV (Distinguished Visitors) quarters. We arrived in San Diego on a warm Sunday afternoon and with the help of my reliable GPS friend, we crossed the Coronado Bay Bridge and drove a few blocks to Orange Avenue, the main avenue in the village. We would be staying at the Naval Amphibious Base on the south end of the island about a mile from the famous Del Coronado Hotel.

We checked in and carried our bags to the elevator which would take us to our room on the eighth deck overlooking the gorgeous harbor and Pacific Ocean. The picture at right really doesn't do justice to the view, but it will give you some notion of the wonderful sight that we awoke to each morning. The view was magnificent and the room, though somewhat worn, was perfectly adequate. We stayed here for four nights and then decided to move back to North Island Naval Station, to experience their offering of DV quarters.

North Island is the home port of both the Nimitz and the Reagan, two of the Navy's major aircraft carriers, and also an important Navy flight training facility. Building I was the "DV" lodging and it was designed around a Spanish courtyard setting and each room was a single story that looked out to the courtyard. Our room had been recently renovated and though it lacked a kitchen, it served our purposes very well. I took the opportunity to play golf twice on the beautiful course across the street from our building. We spent four wonderful days on North Island and took every opportunity to walk in the inviting weather to the charming village of Coronado.


Wandering through town, we again encountered the great lady, the Hotel Del Coronado, holding court at the south end of the city, just a few blocks from our first quarters at the Naval Amphibious Base. The Del is a National Historic Landmark dating back to 1888. The Hotel has counted some of the world's icons, including Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra as well as every sitting President since Lyndon Johnson, as guests. Once again we walked through the luxurious shops, passing by the grand pool and deck as we made our way to the beach. The beach at the Del is absolutely glorious and the golden sands and moderate surf beckon young and old alike. Shirley walked the beach in search of assorted shells while I dared the oncoming surf to grab my shoes. Here is a picture of her exploring the tide pool.


The beach is separated from the Navy base by an imposing fence that keeps the uninvited from exploring their private beach. Fortunately, our quarters on base were about a quarter of a mile from the beach and we had ample opportunity to enjoy the solitude while we gazed at the numerous beachgoers at the Del.

I believe that Coronado Island is the closest place to paradise that exists and those fortunate residents that I spoke with heartily agreed. Ninety-three year old Cele Kipperman, whose husband and now son, operates an upscale boutique on Orange Boulevard, near the Del, called Kippy's, was a perfect example of the Island's long time residents. I met her on a walk along Ocean Boulevard and she told me that she had lived here for fifty years and that her home was a "modest" red brick bungalow a few blocks down the street. After an interesting, if brief, conversation, we went about our business and subsequently passed Mrs. Kipperman's "modest" home. In perusing the real estate magazines of properties for sale in Coronado, I would venture to say that her home was in the five million dollar range. So much for modesty!

Coronado Island was a wonderful respite from the hustle and bustle of the big city and we enjoyed our visit beyond words. Unfortunately, it was time to move on and our next stop would be a short visit to Las Vegas enroute to Phoenix.