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San Diego, United States
Photo: Jon Sullivan, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Sitting at the mouth of San Diego Bay on a peninsula west of the city's airport, Point Loma offers a pleasant diversion from the city's busy tourist-filled neighborhoods and beaches, with lovely scenery and the historic attractions of Cabrillo National Monument overlooking the area's spectacular coastline. Nearby sits laid-back Ocean Beach, a small, relaxed beach town without all of the usual bells and whistles typical of the popular beach neighborhoods just to the north.
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A former World War II military outpost, situated on Point Loma to protect the Naval Base on Coronado from attack by sea. The fort contains bunkers, weapons emplacements and the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, which holds a number of monuments including the USS Bennington Monument. An exhibit in Cabrillo National Monument displays some of the history of Fort Rosecrans.
It is a military base located north of the airport, about 3 mi north of downtown San Diego and 2.5 mi around the runways from the airport terminals. Recruits from west of the Mississippi River are trained here while others from east of the Mississippi River are trained in Parris Island. Recruits graduate every Friday, and there is a Family Day, when the recruits' families can spend time with them on Thursday. This is also where Marines train to become recruiters and drill instructors. Travelers reporting to recruit training and arriving at the airport will proceed to and wait at the USO to be picked up.
Museum exhibits the history of this installation and the history of the Marine Corps. They are open to the public outside of the Thursday and Friday graduation visits. They also have current and past yearbooks of San Diego graduates only. You must have the platoon number, month and year of graduation to be able to order yearbooks which may or may not be available. They do not have individual portraits available.
Located at the tip of Point Loma, Cabrillo National Monument commemorates Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who led the first European exploration to what is now the west coast of the United States, in 1542. Point Loma was one of the places where he stopped, and the first contact Europeans made with what would one day be California. The monument has a statue of Cabrillo and exhibits on his expedition in the visitor center.
A large sandy beach, which cater to just about every beach-going type, offering designated surfing and swimming zones, which are monitored by the local life guards.
At the northern end of Ocean Beach, dog lovers can bring their pets along for a romp in the waves or a swim in the flood channel.
Extends out over the waves and offers great views of the beautiful Pacific Ocean and coast. A tackle shop in the middle of the pier provides bait and supplies for the many fishing enthusiasts who frequent the area. This is one of the few places that visitors can fish without a California fishing license. Pole rentals are available at the bait shop as well.
A lovely setting, Sunset Cliffs is an excellent place for sightseeing, picnics, watching sunsets (as the name suggests) or just driving along the rim of the beautiful cliffs along Sunset Cliffs Blvd. There is also a rather secluded beach there, but it's swim at your own risk. It is quite popular with the more adventurous and seasoned surfer as the surf is rather rough for the area. Be warned, however, that there are no lifeguards at this secluded beach and it is only accessible by scaling a gently eroding (but long-standing) cliff face. Local surfers have been kind enough to provide a rope that aids in 'safely' repelling down the cliff face. Some upper body strength is required to return to the top.
A concert series held every May through October, showcasing some famous entertainers (Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jewel, The Moody Blues, Bonnie Raitt) at Humphrey's Half Moon Inn & Suites. A wide variety of styles, from rock and jazz to comedy, blues and international music. Humphreys Restaurant also has live blues/jazz/disco/classic rock music every night in its lounge.
Provides the closest access to the Pacific Ocean (approximately 3 miles away) of the four boat launch ramps on San Diego Bay. Restrooms and a large parking lot are immediately available. For visiting fishermen, the bait receivers, where anchovies and sardines can be purchased, are on the right side of the channel as you exit the harbor. The bait barges are open 24 hours per day.
This restaurant is very popular, especially on weekends; sometimes the line outside reaches the street corner; their logo is a caricatured surfing burger with a caricature Hispanic person riding on top. they also have a Hodads van parked outside. It's a burger joint with fries and shirts and shoes are not required. A pair of seats inside is shaped like a car, and you sit in the driver seats. Their milkshakes are huge and should not be ordered with a meal.
Family owned and operated for over 35 years; a local favorite for breakfast. They will also serve you bottomless cups of coffee.
Oceanfront seafood restaurant with relaxing patio.
German food isn't the first thing most people associate with San Diego, but this place has been serving top quality Bavarian fare since 1980. Has a lively Biergarten with typical German pub food and a more sedate restaurant with a more extensive menu.
Irish gastro pub with excellent food and a unique beer selection. .
Nightly bands and dancing, karaoke and Monday night football. Watch the lines on the weekend as this place is packed with live bands, even during the daytime on summer Sundays.
Located on Shelter Island, this resort offers many activities including live concerts.
On base lodging for active duty military, DoD and civilian personnel on TAD orders, retired military, and families of graduating new Marines from Wednesday-Saturday of graduation weeks only.
Boating materials, supplies, and equipment are available here.
The place to go for silver, crystal, china, oriental rugs and lamps, and has been highly rated since opening day.
A lot of boating products here, like navigational charts, sailing guides, plotting tools, and nautical-themed books and gifts.
Well known amongst antique collectors for the range of antique lighting and cigar and smoking accessories.
By car
If driving, there are three primary access points into Point Loma: Rosecrans Street from Old Town to the northeast, Harbor Drive past the airport from the east, and Nimitz Boulevard from Mission Bay…
By public transit
The Metropolitan Transportation System (MTS) operates buses in San Diego, but service to the Point Loma area is slim, with routes few and far between and running pretty infrequently.
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