A peninsula jutting into the sea, it's easy to think of Point Loma
as a dead end - "land's end" in fact. But, as the site where San
Diego was discovered in the first place, it seems more appropriate
to consider Point Loma as a starting point - the start of a new
land, a new dream, a new way of looking at things. And that's just
the place to start your own exploration of San Diego, with a voyage
around Point Loma
The Old Point Loma Lighthouse
The Old Point Loma Lighthouse stood
watch over the entrance to San Diego Bay for 36 years. At dusk on
November 15, 1855 the light keeper climbed the winding stairs and
lit the light for the first time. What seemed to be a good location
422 feet above sea level, however, had a serious flaw. Fog and low
clouds often obscured the light. On March 23, 1891 the light was
extinguished and the keeper moved to a new lighthouse location
closer to the water at the tip of the Point.
Today the Old Point Loma Light House still stands watch over San
Diego, sentinel to a vanished past. The National Park Service has
refurbished the interior to its historic 1880 s appearance -- a
reminder of a bygone era. Ranger-led talks, displays and brochures
are available to explain the lighthouses interesting past.
Cabrillo Monument
On September 28, 1542, Juan Rodr ez Cabrillo landed
at San Diego Bay. This event marked the first time that a European
expedition had set foot on what later became the west coast of the
United States. His accomplishments were memorialized on October 14,
1913 with the establishment of Cabrillo National Monument. The park
offers a superb view of San Diego s harbor and skyline. At the
highest point of the park stands the Old Point Loma Lighthouse,
which has been a San Diego icon since 1854. A statue and museum in
the Visitor Center commemorate Juan Rodr ez Cabrillo's exploration
of the coast of California. In a former army building an exhibit
tells the story of the coast artillery on Point Loma. In the winter,
migrating gray whales can be seen off the coast. Native coastal sage
scrub habitat along the Bayside Trail offers a quiet place to
reflect and relax. On the west side of the park is a small but
beautiful stretch of rocky-intertidal coastline.
Sunset Cliffs lies
south of Ocean Beach and has several beaches below. Named for its
exquisite sunset vistas, Sunset Cliffs Park encompasses 68 acres of bluffs
and walking paths high above the wide expanse of the Pacific Ocean. With
its rugged coastline and panoramic views, this area is popular with
surfers, ocean-gazers, and folks who like to cruise Sunset Cliffs
Boulevard, which runs the length of the cliffs. The drive along Sunset
Cliffs Boulevard, which begins at Adair Street and continues south to Ladera Street, offers breathtaking views and photo opportunities. It also
makes a nice bike ride or walk, and it s a great place to watch birds. You
can see migrating California gray whales during the winter months from
high on the bluffs.
