San Diego/Point Loma-Ocean Beach

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.

By Plane
See also: San Diego International Airport

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 to the north.

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. Route 28 on Rosecrans Street and Route 35 to Ocean Beach connect to the Trolley station in Old Town, while Route 923 connects Ocean Beach to Downtown on the weekdays and the airport on Saturdays via Harbor Drive.

If you want to go to the Cabrillo National Monument or Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery via the bus, take the #28 bus to Shelter Island Drive and Rosecrans Street and then take the #84 bus towards Cabrillo Monument. But note that the #84 runs only on workdays, and usually once per hour.

Cabrillo National Monument
Being over 400 feet above the ocean, the views from Cabrillo are marvelous, overlooking the Pacific Ocean to the west and San Diego Bay, Coronado, the airport, and Downtown San Diego to the east. Mexico and several off-shore islands are also visible from this vantage point on a clear day. A short walk from the parking lot is the, which was built in the 1850s to warn approaching sailors of rocks. However, the location proved poor and a new lighthouse was built closer to ocean, leaving the old lighthouse empty. Today the old lighthouse has been preserved and is open to tour. Each year, on the lighthouse's birthday, the top of the lighthouse is opened for visitors to enjoy the same view that the lighthouse keeper had.

In addition to its main sights, Cabrillo also offers a few other attractions:
 * There is a a few miles drive from the Visitor Center, down the cliff on the Pacific Ocean side, where visitors can explore a living tide pool ecosystem. Just be cautious of the marine life and slippery rocks! Wearing shoes with proper grips is a must when visiting any tidal ecosystem.
 * A about Point Loma is near the parking lot, which preserves a few of the old coastal defense mechanisms which were in place during both world wars. Occasionally, a docent will be present to answer any questions about the military history of the area.
 * A, near the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, offers a great place to watch the annual Gray Whale migration every winter.
 * The gives you a chance to stroll through a native coastal scrubland. Sea lions are very often seen from this trail, playing on the buoys bobbing in the ocean below. The trail is one way.

Boating
Point Loma, as the home of Shelter Island and Harbor Island, offers plenty of opportunities for boating on the San Diego Bay.
 * There are two anchorages here;, east of Harbor Island, is set aside for visiting boaters. A permit is required to anchor here; permits are valid up to 30 days at a time. Permits can be obtained at the Shelter Island Harbor Police Facility, 1401 Shelter Island Drive, +1 619-686-6272. , near several yacht clubs in the Shelter Island yacht basin, has room for around 25 boats. La Playa allows stays on weekends only, up to 72 hours. Nearby yacht clubs include: San Diego Yacht Club and Southwestern Yacht Club.
 * is a full-service marina that is also popular for convenience. Dock services include restroom/shower facilities, electric, water, telephone, dock boxes & carts, fuel dock/pumpout station, swimming pool, saunas, boathouse restaurant, deli/liquor store, boutique, sailing club, picnic area, and laundry facilities, to name a few. Liveaboards are also welcome. is on the east side of Harbor Island, with more than 600 boat slips. Dock services such as electrical hookups, telephone jacks, satellite television, wireless internet, fresh water service, and a waste pump-out station are available.
 * There are also several moorings throughout the harbor for vessels ranging from two to 65 feet in length. They are available north of the Grape Street Pier and south of the Coast Guard Station, near Downtown. Mooring balls that are strictly for transients are also available. Visit the, 2040 N. Harbor Island Drive, +1 619-291-0916, for an application.
 * There are also several moorings throughout the harbor for vessels ranging from two to 65 feet in length. They are available north of the Grape Street Pier and south of the Coast Guard Station, near Downtown. Mooring balls that are strictly for transients are also available. Visit the, 2040 N. Harbor Island Drive, +1 619-291-0916, for an application.

Events

 * The local Kiwanis Club hosts the Ocean Beach Kite Festival each Spring, filling the sky above a local park with color. Children get to enjoy kite making and a carnival, and there also vendors and live music.
 * Every April, Point Loma hosts the annual Day at the Docks sportfishing tournament and festival, where you can learn how to catch and cook fish, take part in fishing contests, take a boat ride on the bay, and enjoy lots of food and entertainment.
 * The Ocean Beach Street Fair takes place annually in late June and includes live entertainment, displays by local artists, and a chili cook-off festival.
 * The Cabrillo Festival is held every September to commemorate Cabrillo's landing on Point Loma in 1542. Festivities include demonstrations of Native American, Mexican, Portuguese and Spanish culture, food, dancing, and a reenactment of Cabrillo's landing.
 * In December, the Parade of Lights starts at Shelter Island in Point Loma, as dozens of boats decked out in Christmas lights make their way across the bay towards Downtown.

Buy
Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach offers a great variety of unique stores and boutiques. Any demographic can find something down Ocean Beach's main street. Once a week, typically on a Wednesday, you'll find a farmers market. The market offers food, fresh produce and other fare as well as live entertainment and small attractions. It takes up the entire two main blocks of the shopping district and typically lasts from 4-8PM.