A grand Victorian hotel dating back to 1888, Hotel del Coronado rests on a peninsula just across the bay from San Diego. The 31-acre seaside resort has direct access to Coronado’s 18 miles of beaches, collectively named the #2 beach in the United States by the Travel Channel.

The Hotel del Coronado’s Beach

If this view looks familiar, you might be a fan of old movies. The comedy film “Some Like It Hot,” starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon, was filmed at the Hotel del Coronado in 1958. The film was set in 1929, making the Del a perfect backdrop. Great Southern California weather didn’t hurt the filming either.

Swimming Pool

The swimming pool at the Hotel del Coronado is within view of the Pacific Ocean. Private cabanas are available. Moreover, other recreation options include bike rentals and a 15-mile bike path, surfing lessons, a full-service spa, and fitness classes like Hatha Yoga.

Balcony With Ocean View

Some guest rooms are located in the original Victorian building and overlook the ocean or the garden courtyard. Guest rooms are also located in the newer Ocean Tower and California Cabana buildings.

Crown Room

L. Frank Baum, the author of “The Wizard of Oz,” was a frequent guest of the Hotel del Coronado. He was so entranced by the hotel’s ornate architecture that he used the inspiration in several of his books. In return, Baum designed the crown-shaped chandeliers in the hotel’s formal dining room, now known as the Crown Room.

The Crown Room was also the scene for a formal banquet honoring the Prince of Wales. Charles Lindbergh also celebrated here after his transatlantic flight. Consequently, modern-day guests can enjoy a lavish Sunday brunch in the Crown Room.

Babcock & Story Bar

The Babcock & Story Bar, located on the ground level of Hotel del Coronado, is named after the hotel’s founders, Elisha Babcock and H. L. Story. The pair bought the entire peninsula of Coronado and developed the hotel originally as a hunting and fishing resort that also offered urban pursuits such as archery, golf, bicycling, music, and chess.

The centerpiece, the original mahogany bar, stretches 46 feet in length. It was carried by ships around Cape Horn from Philadelphia in 1888.

Prince of Wales Restaurant

The fine dining option at Hotel del Coronado, Prince of Wales, offers a romantic and cozy environment with a live jazz pianist. Dining at the restaurant is available both indoors and outdoors. Moreover, the restaurant is named after a possible chance meeting between the Prince of Wales (Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor) and his legendary love, Wallis Simpson.

Garden Courtyard

Gardens were significant to the Victorians who first vacationed at Hotel del Coronado. The central pavilion is a popular spot for weddings, bolstered by Travel Channel claims naming the Hotel del Coronado as the #1 place for weddings in the United States.

Junior Oceanview Suite

A Junior Oceanview Suite at the Hotel del Coronado features modern amenities, including plush carpeting, flat-screen televisions, and renovated bathrooms with Egyptian limestone tiles. The “Del Dreams” beds have 300 thread count, satin striped Egyptian cotton sheets, feather beds, and duvets.

Surfing and Recreation

The Hotel del Coronado presents numerous recreational options, making it one of the few hotels on the West Coast to provide programs specifically for teenagers as well as children. The Coast Club is a lounge for teens, featuring video games, music, pool, foosball, food, computers, and music. Consequently, even the Spa offers specially designed treatments for teens.

In addition, guests can take lessons in kayaking, surfing, tennis, sailboats, speedboats, water skis, and jet skis year-round or participate in a bicycle tour. Hotel del Coronado also rents surfboards, boogie boards, volleyballs, paddleboats, and fishing boats. Nearby, Coronado’s skate park offers 16,000 square feet of ramps, bowls, grinds, and jumps.