Orsolya D.
Yelp
There are two groups of people in life: those who try to ignore their birthdays and those who are extra are the King or Queen for the day (or week, or month even). I fit into the latter group. My birthday is MY day and you literally don't matter on MY day! I like celebrations for days and being the center of attention. So, when my 35th birthday rolled around my ex-boyfriend and I planned a weekend getaway to Coronado Island and San Diego (don't ask why I still hang with my ex - that is another story); I was stoked and ready to see the beautiful skyline, drive on Coronado Bridge, etc.
Now, if you are like me and was previously a San Diego virgin (or even if you are a regular visitor); the drive across the beautiful Coronado Bridge will take your breath away when heading to the island. The blue sparkling water filled with sailboats on one side, large cargo and military ships on the other, the San Diego skyline twinkling like lights... you really can't beat this postcard-esque experience. But you can try and the way to do so is to make your first pit stop at the Coronado Ferry Landing.
The Coronado Ferry Landing is located in Centennial Park not far from the Coronado Bridge (let's be frank: everything on the island is pretty close). The compound provides ample, free parking that does fill up but there always seems to some open spots. As deemed by the moniker, the Coronado Ferry Landing is literally that: the landing dock of the ferry that one can take between downtown SD and the island. However there is so much more to this place.
The acreage of Centennial Park and Coronado Ferry Landing contains small boutique shops, tourist stores (perfect for your Coronado and SD postcards and trinkets), eateries, restaurants (BBQ, ice cream, pizza), and cafes. Need to work off all that food you just gobbled down? You can burn those calories by renting a bike, paddleboard, or kayak. You can also opt to hoof it on foot and take a walk along the water and on the dock to breathe in the crisp, ocean air and take a million pictures of the SD skyline for your social media accounts (cause we all know if there are no pics, then it didn't happen!). The Coronado Ferry Landing is also the home to various events and hot happenings as my visit was during the weekend of a pumpkin patch for Halloween.
Rest assured that Coronado Ferry Landing will indeed spark countless social media likes on your photos as the view is gorgeous, the water is clean, the small sandy nook is litter-free, and the paths and landscaping is well-maintained. This is a great place for an afternoon stroll, a stress-detox or a romantic date. My only quip? A few of the shops I went into didn't have the friendliest associates even in those I made purchases. Perhaps they are tired of tourists which I can understand but it still made me feel awkward.
The actual dock is short and indeed filled with bird-poop but it is still nice to walk out onto. I can't vouch for the ferry as I didn't make use of the mode of transportation but the dock has a covered seating area for patrons to make use of while waiting for the boat to arrive.
Whatever your reason for visiting, the Coronado Ferry Landing should be your first stop for a solid eat, dine, and play experience and stunning views of the SD skyline. Although not a huge pier/wharf providing giant entertainment; the Coronado Ferry Landing in Centennial Park is a must-see spot.