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The beach at Coronado ferry landing.
NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE

A guide to local favorites in Coronado

The beach at Coronado ferry landing.
  • By Nina Garin
  • Photos by Sandy Huffaker
Neighborhoods
Coronado
San Diego
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Coronado isn’t the most convenient beach community: You have to get there via bridge, ferry or very long car ride. But it’s definitely the most beautiful, with a picturesque skyline and a beach ranked regularly among the best in the United States. It’s also a vacation destination that has welcomed presidents and celebrities. Spend a day in Coronado’s golden haze and you’ll understand why L. Frank Baum took up residence here to write sequels to “The Wizard of Oz.”

Meet Nina Garin

Nina is a San Diego native who was also partly raised in Baja California, Mexico. She’s an arts journalist who, as a reluctant stage mother to two daughters, spends more time in theaters than the outdoors. Although she lives a few blocks from the ocean, she’s never been surfing and is too terrified of rip currents to try.

ninagarin
ninagarin

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Email bytheway@washpost.com
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Coronado

Clayton’s Coffee Shop
A Coronado staple since 1941, Clayton’s feels like a step back in time, complete with red leatherette booths, mini tabletop jukeboxes and friendly counter service. The menu mixes classic diner fare with Mexican dishes.
Clayton’s Coffee Shop, 979 Orange Ave. Coronado, Calif. 92118
Hotel Del Coronado
This iconic beachfront hotel was built in 1888 and is a designated National Historic Landmark. Sunday brunch at the Crown Room is a local favorite, but you can also take one of the daily tours to learn more about its famous ghost, Kate Morgan.
Hotel Del Coronado, 1500 Orange Ave. Coronado, Calif. 92118
Lamb’s Players Theatre
This small but impressive professional theater company attracts some of San Diego’s top actors. Shows range from Broadway favorites like “Once” to original Christmas-themed musicals.
Lamb’s Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave. Coronado, Calif. 92118
Village Pizzeria
This New York-style pizza joint does slices, pastas, hoagies, calzones and salads. It’s a family-owned neighborhood favorite, especially among groups who can conquer the 28-inch pie.
Village Pizzeria, 1206 Orange Ave. Coronado, Calif. 92118
Coronado ferry landing
If you do visit Coronado on a ferry, this is where you’ll disembark. You can easily spend the afternoon here browsing the surf shops, making sand castles and eating outdoors. You can also rent bikes for a trip into town or to the ocean.
Coronado ferry landing, 1201 First St. Coronado, Calif. 92118
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Nina Garin
Nina is a San Diego native who was also partly raised in Baja California, Mexico. She’s an arts journalist who, as a reluctant stage mother to two daughters, spends more time in theaters than the outdoors. Although she lives a few blocks from the ocean, she’s never been surfing and is too terrified of rip currents to try.
ninagarin
ninagarin
Sandy Huffaker
Sandy, a contributing photographer for The Washington Post, arrived in San Diego 30 years ago and fell in love with the diversity of the border region. When he’s not shooting, he loves eating great Mexican food, trail running and snorkeling with the seals off La Jolla.
sandy_huffaker

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