Backyard Destinations

Photo by Noah C.

You know that feeling of finding an unbelievably good deal when you’re buying something at the mall, or even the grocery store? That’s the kind of deal you get with Cabrillo National Monument in terms of adventures: $10 for access to tidepools, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, a beautiful panoramic view of Cabrillo, and the Cabrillo Statue? Yes please! (Okay, I didn’t get to see the statue or the tidepools because the tide was high, but I did get to see everything else!)

Also, it’s worth noting you pay $10 per vehicle. If you come in by foot, it costs $5 per person. So if you’re in a group, it’s more economical to just enter in a car. For motorcyclists – the entrance fee is $7 🙂

Just for a little bit of background:

• • Cabrillo National Monument was established in 1913 to commemorate the voyage of discovery of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo
  • Cabrillo led the first European expedition to explore what is now the west coast of the United States
  • In 1542, he arrived at what is today known as the San Diego Bay.

If you’d like to learn more, you can read about the history on the National Park Service website here.

I visited CNM with my friends, and we unfortunately did not get to see the tidepools like we had hoped due to high tide. However, we did still get to walk around the rocks, which made for a nice little adventure.

Photo by Noah C.

We also visited the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, which was used to monitor the San Diego Bay for 36 years. It was built in the 1800s and people who maintained the facility used to live in it. Today, the lighthouse is a refurbished version of what it used to be when it was first built and while it was used. There are several information boards inside the lighthouse that people can turn to for more information.

And, of course, the best part is being able to climb all the way to the top and see what everything looks like from there.

Cabrillo National Monument is managed by the National Park Service and is 100% worth visiting if you’re in San Diego. It’s a good idea to allocate a few hours to really enjoy everything without rushing. You get a dose of the outdoors, history, and great opportunities for photos (for only $10)! And – there’s a designated pathway above the tidepools, which is sort of like an informal hike. So you get that there, too!