Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center — Attraction in San Diego

A Visit to Cabrillo National Monument

We recently spent the holidays in San Diego, California, and for the first time, we visited Cabrillo National Monument. It was a wonderful experience that left me feeling both delighted and educated. We walked around the monument for quite some time, taking in the sights and learning about its rich history.

Cabrillo National Monument is named after Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, the first European to set foot on the West Coast of the United States in 1542. Cabrillo was a Portuguese explorer who sailed under the Spanish flag. He is known for his expedition from the port of Navidad, Mexico, up the coast of what is now California. Cabrillo's journey was significant as it marked the early European exploration of the Pacific Coast, eventually leading to further expeditions and settlements in the region. Unfortunately, Cabrillo died during the expedition and was buried on one of the Channel Islands.

The monument commemorates this historic event and honors Cabrillo's exploration. As we explored the site, we were captivated by the beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and the city of San Diego. On a clear day, the site offers an excellent vantage point for viewing the bay, the city, and distant mountains.

One of the highlights of our visit was the statue of Cabrillo himself, which stands proudly overlooking the bay. It serves as a reminder of his significant contribution to California's history. We also enjoyed the visitor center, where we found informative exhibits about Cabrillo's journey, the ships he sailed, and the native peoples he encountered. The center also features a film that provides a detailed account of Cabrillo's voyage and its impact.

Another fascinating aspect of the monument is the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. Built in 1855, it guided ships safely into San Diego Bay for many years. We had the chance to tour the lighthouse and learn about the life of the lighthouse keepers who once lived there. It was like stepping back in time and imagining the challenges they faced in their daily lives. The lighthouse exhibits maritime history and lighthouses' role in navigation.

The tide pools at Cabrillo National Monument are another highlight of the site, which we did not have the time to explore during this visit. These pools, formed by the rocky coastline, are home to various marine life. One can observe various sea creatures, including starfish, sea anemones, and small crabs. I was told it is an engaging and educational experience for all, particularly children, who may be thrilled to see the marine organisms up close. Additionally, the monument offers several hiking trails that allow visitors to explore the area's natural beauty. The Bayside Trail offers stunning views and a chance to see native plants and wildlife. The monument also hosts various events and ranger-led programs that provide deeper insights into the region's history and ecology.

Overall, our visit to Cabrillo National Monument was an enriching experience. We all agreed that it is a historic treasure that should be cherished and savored. It offered a perfect blend of natural beauty and historical significance, making it a must-visit destination for anyone in the San Diego area. I look forward to returning someday to explore more of what this incredible...

This national monument is a hidden gem in my opinion. Situated on the very edge of the coast west of San Diego, it has spectacular views of the city and the coast all the way to Mexico. And, of course, you can see the beautiful Pacific ocean and the rugged coast line going north.

If all you did was drive here and enjoy the views, it would be worth it IMHO! 😉 However there is a lot more to see. They have a very informative and creatively done visitors' center. It's like most national parks in the quality of centers. It had a small auditorium with short movies about related subjects. We saw one about the gray whales that was very interesting and informative.

Nextdoor was the museum-like display area that told you all about Juan Cabrillo who was credited with "discovering" California for Spain. Nextdoor to that was a large gift store with park rangers who would answer your questions. Of course, they have a scavenger hunt paper that our grandkids used to earn a ranger sticker which they did. 👍

The next thing we saw was the original light house built in the mid-1800's. You could go in it and climb almost to the top. Again, very interesting. The kids loved it! From there we stopped at a small building that was a communication center for the WW2 military operations in the area. There was a base that was built to help defend the coast from the Japanese. I learned a lot about that whole effort that I never knew. Very educational!

The last thing we did was drive down to the tidal pools at the base of the cliffs. You have to time your visit to them to get there when it's low tide. It's a bit of a climb down to the pools so you have to be able to scramble a bit. Once down, you walk carefully around looking for sea life. It was a little disappointing in that respect as there wasn't as much as when we had seen the pools in the La Jolla area, but kids still loved the adventure of it all.

Once back up, we took a walk along the ocean that was just so beautiful! At one point we were overlooking a rocky inlet that must have had a least a hundred pelicans sunning themselves on the rocks! 😯

In conclusion, it was a very wonderful day and one I highly recommend if you are ever in the area. Oh, by the way, if you have a senior park pass, bring it. I, unfortunately, forgot mine otherwise I would have saved the $20 entrance fee, but it...

Great NPS place to visit on the tip of San Diego’s Point Loma peninsula. The visitors center has a gift shop, a small theater shows various videos about the area, there’s an exhibit which has Spanish colonization and ships history, the Cabrillo National Monument, a light house, vista points, walking trails, & tide pools.

As an avid NPS Junior Ranger myself having been to more than 30+ NPS parks and sites I highly encourage you to participate in The Junior Ranger Program on your visit. Get your Junior Ranger Activity Book at the Visitor Center Desk.

This is a must for kids and adults alike which offers a unique opportunity to learn and complete activities at every park you visit. Complete the activities required for your age group to be sworn in and earn a junior ranger souvenir wooden badge which is uniquely different at every NPS location. Wear it with pride, protect the park & its ecosystem for all to enjoy, and share what you have learned with others.

The east side view overlooks the San Diego bay, downtown, harbor with Naval Base Ships, Submarine Base, Coast Guard Base by the airport, The Embarcadero with Clipper ship & the U.S.S Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum, & Coronado Island Naval and Marine base.

The west side overlooks the ocean, with a road that takes you down to lower light house at the active Coast Guard station which is not accessible to the public, there parking in several areas along with many tide pools to explore which are best visited afternoons at low tide and closes promptly by 430pm. It’s best to wear footwear with some grip on it as the rocks are slippery and tide comes in so rock hopping can be necessary to avoid getting wet.

Be a good junior ranger, don’t touch or step on the sea-life in tide pools so everyone can enjoy exploring the tide pools and remind others to do the same.

Remember to have fun, lean something, enjoy these unique places...