A Coastal Getaway: Silver Strand State Beach and Coronado Adventures
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
May 2025
Our latest road trip took us to the sunny coast of California with my daughter Holly and my mom in her trusty 17-foot travel trailer. Our destination: Silver Strand State Beach in Coronado—a slice of oceanfront serenity just south of San Diego. With beach views, gelato, ferry rides, and a few surprise detours, this trip gave us more than we bargained for.
Hitting the Road—with a Rearview Reality Check
Before we left, we finally addressed one of my long-standing road trip anxieties: my mom’s lane changes. Let's just say she operates under the “they’ll move” philosophy. So we purchased a wireless rear camera with a magnetic mount. While the camera was easy to attach, the monitor displayed a mirrored view at first, which meant the cars appeared on the wrong side on our screen. Holly than adjusted the settings and we were back on track—now I could relax while watching the road behind us.
Wind, Gas Gauges, and Smart Navigation
The drive had its moments. Strong headwinds were not doing us any favors on gas mileage, and at one point, we realized the gas light had come on while climbing a hill. Thankfully, Holly was on top of it—watching the gas gauge and already knowing where the next gas station was. She also rerouted us to avoid driving over the Coronado Bridge with the trailer, taking the back way instead—which was honestly a game changer. We rolled into Silver Strand State Beach with the salty ocean breeze in our hair and sand in our sights.
Camping at Silver Strand State Beach in Coronado, California
Our site had prime ocean views right from our windows—not bad for a beachfront state park. There’s just something about hearing the waves in the background that instantly puts you in vacation mode. However, a few caveats:
No sewer hookups, so bathroom trips were essential.
Bathrooms and showers close at 8 p.m.
The beach had signs warning of “sewage contaminated water” in certain areas (yikes).
We still soaked up every bit of the ocean vibes—especially in the evenings around our gas fire pit. Roasting marshmallows, making s’mores, listening to the waves roll in,and watched the sunset views over the ocean. The day before we were heading out, we noticed a mobile dump service making the rounds through the campground. Out of curiosity, we asked the price—only $20. Considering it would’ve cost us $10 (and a lot more effort) to do it ourselves, we scheduled them for the next morning. Hands down, one of the best decisions we made on the entire trip.
Exploring the Iconic Hotel del Coronado
Our first full day led us to Hotel del Coronado, and wow—this place is even more impressive in person.
Built in 1888, this historic beachfront hotel is one of the largest wooden structures in the U.S. and a true Victorian masterpiece. It’s hosted presidents, celebrities, and even served as the filming location for Some Like It Hot with Marilyn Monroe. Walking through it feels like stepping back in time—but with modern shops and, most importantly… gelato. We were told it was good, and they were not wrong. We grabbed some and sat on the patio overlooking the beach, watching the beachgoers lounge under their pastel umbrellas felt like we were extras in an old Hollywood film.
Ferry Rides, Shops, and Waterfront Dining
We also explored the Coronado Ferry Landing, a great area filled with shops and the gateway to downtown San Diego via ferry. The real highlight for us was eating on the patio at Peohe's, watching ferries go by and people jetskiing, with great food and happy hour deals-it was hard to beat. Holly also discovered a new favorite: chocolate bourbon.
We loved it so much, we went back twice. Definitely a win.
Morning Walks and Hidden Gems
While Holly and my mom slept in, I ventured out for quiet morning walks. While walking along the beach I noticed several sail jellyfish washed up along the shore-something you don't see every day in Arizona! On another day, I followed a scenic trail near Coronado Cays Nature Preserve, spotting wild rabbits and native plants. The Coronado Cays is actually a unique waterfront community that didn’t always exist in its current form. Developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, this area was created through a process called dredging and land reclamation, where parts of the bay were reshaped to form a series of residential islands and canals.
The vision was to create a Southern California version of a marina-style community, where many homes have direct access to the water with private docks—perfect for boating enthusiasts.
Today, the Cays are known for:
Calm waterways and scenic walking paths
Wildlife like birds and small coastal animals (like the rabbits I saw!)
A quieter, more laid-back atmosphere compared to the busier Coronado areas
It’s a great spot if you want to slow down a bit and enjoy a different side of the coast.
Another walk took me to Loews Coronado Bay Resort, where the outdoor seating and marina views gave me serious relaxation goals. On my last morning, I walked the beach during low tide and found a sand dollar for my mom—definitely one of those small but memorable moments.
Ferry Rides and Seaport Views
We took the ferry allowing us to soak in the views of San Diego’s naval ships, including the famed USS Midway (we skipped the tour this time, but it’s a must if you’ve never done it). Of course, we paid tribute to the “Unconditional Surrender” kissing sailor statue, an iconic San Diego photo op.
Our wanderings led us to Seaport Village, where we grabbed lunch at a Mediterranean restaurant. Holly’s BBQ chicken pizza was the winner, hands down. A free live concert added a festive backdrop to our shopping stroll.
Bonus Stop: Yuma’s River (Sort Of)
On the way home, we broke up the trip with a night at River’s Edge RV Park in Yuma, hoping for river access. Sadly, we discovered there was no actual river access from the park, but it was clean, quiet, and had great Wi-Fi. The narrow speed bumps, though—definitely not RV-friendly.
We made up for the lack of river access with a visit to West Wetlands Park—and this ended up being a hidden gem.
West Wetlands Park was developed as part of Yuma’s effort to revitalize the Colorado River riverfront, turning what was once mostly unused land into a space for the community to enjoy.
The area has deep agricultural roots, relying on irrigation from the river, but over time it was transformed into a park that blends natural wetlands with recreational space—which explains why it feels so different from the typical desert landscape.
Park Amenities:
A fishing pond
Shallow river access
Tubing (through a local rental company)
Playground and walking trails
Holly braved the chilly water and had a blast, while we watched tubers lazily float down the river.
Final Thoughts and Lessons Learned
This trip had a little bit of everything—coastal views, city exploring, unexpected detours, and some really great food.
Some highlights:
Rearview camera = total game-changer
Holly’s route planning and gas gauge vigilance saved us (literally).
Peohe’s and Hotel del Coronado are worth a visit, even if you're not staying there.
Morning walks led to unexpected discoveries—from rabbits to sand dollars.
Dumping hacks: $20 for a mobile dump service beat the $10 self-service fee—and saved us the mess.
We can’t wait to plan our next trip and see what other treasures and hiccups await us on the road!Ω
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