Louise Speaks: As we begin our journey we start out in San Diego, Ca. Nice drive out and we quickly found a nice hotel in Old Town. Once we were checked in and unpacked it was time to set out and see the sights. Our first stop…Hotel Del Coronado. Of course to get there you must go over the Coronado Bridge. What a thrill!
The San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge, built with an eye to appearance as well as transportation service, is rapidly becoming a symbol of the San Diego area-just as the Golden Gate and San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridges symbolize that area around the world. There are 30 towers over the channel that reach a height of 200 feet and the bridge is 2.12 miles long. The 90-degree turn mid-span serves to make the bridge long enough to achieve a 4.67 percent grade, allowing the bridge enough height to clear an empty aircraft carrier.
Once across the bridge the Hotel del Coronado www.hoteldel.com is very easy to see and to find. It resembles a Victoria wedding cake and is the most prominent building on Coronado island, really a peninsula but more fun to call it an island. Since it was first built more than 120 years ago, the Hotel del Coronado has been a beacon of grandeur and refinement among vacation destinations in Southern California and the world. With its iconic red-shingled roof adding a dash of majestic color to the dazzling azure Pacific coastline, the Del stands as the definitive example of what a luxury resort should be. As a National Historic Landmark, the Hotel del Coronado has a rich and colorful heritage that sets it apart from neighboring Coronado hotels. From Marilyn Monroe to Charles Lindbergh, from state dinners to the ghost of Kate Morgan, The Del is an American treasure with more than 120 years of fascinating stories to tell. The Del’s visionary founders – Elisha Babcock and H.L. Story – dreamed of building a seaside resort that would be “the talk of the Western world.” Since then, the resort has become a living legend, visited by celebrities, dignitaries and U.S. presidents. In fact, publisher Rand McNally recognized the Hotel del Coronado for enjoying more fame and historical significance than perhaps any hotel in North America. Eleven U.S. Presidents have visited The Del, starting with Benjamin Harrison in 1891. One of the resort’s most famous visitors was England’s Prince of Wales in 1920. He would later become King Edward VIII, only to give up his throne in 1936 to marry Coronado divorcee Wallis Spencer Simpson. Many have speculated that they may have first met at The Del. The Del has played host to some of America’s greats, including Thomas Edison, L. Frank Baum and Babe Ruth. Famed aviator Charles Lindbergh was honored at The Del in 1927 after his successful trans-Atlantic flight. At this lavish banquet, a replica of Lindbergh’s “Spirit of St. Louis” circled the enormous Crown Room ceiling. Hollywood has been making movies at The Del since 1901. In 1958, The Del was the backdrop for the comedy classic “Some Like It Hot,” starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. The resort has also seen a steady stream of celebrity visitors – from Charlie Chaplin and Humphrey Bogart to Brad Pitt and Madonna. What Victorian resort would be complete without a resident ghost? Kate Morgan checked into the resort on November 24, 1892, and never checked out. Reports of ghostly happenings, all thought to be connected to the death of this beautiful young woman, have been circulating at The Del ever since.
Although the weather was gloomy the day of our visit, the hotel was spectacular. From the bell man, to the concierge, the atmosphere was one of elegance. What a pleasure it would be to stay at such a historic resort. Some rooms were literally steps from the beach. I would rate this resort an A+. Not only for its history, it’s location, its granduer, but just for the fact that it was a fun place to just walk around and enjoy the moment.
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Thelma Speaks: When we were there many flowers were in bloom and every season finds color bursting all around the grand hotel. The flowers only add to the beauty and sensual pleasure of the Hotel Coronado. Watching people enjoy the sights as they walk on the beach right outside their hotel adds to the relaxed, elegant feeling of the del. Weddings and parties are perfect on the beachfront with the hotel as the back drop. Inside we saw the gorgeous chandeliers and wood work over 120 years old which showed the fine craftsmanship of the time. From the time you arrive at the front door until you depart the elegance and grandeur of the Hotel del Coronado will not disappoint you! I would rate this resort an A+!
Wild Woman Wandering 